Recent Posts
Oh Bollocks! : How to swear in British English
Swearing in British English can be quite an art form—often combining humour, sarcasm, and just enough cheekiness to keep things interesting. The swear word bollocks is a prime example of this, so let’s have a look at what this classic British swear word means, where it comes from, and—most importantly—how you can use it (with plenty of examples, of course).
Learn 20 English Collocations with ‘Family’
Many of us, all over the world gather with family during December and January. Perhaps you’ve just celebrated a family Christmas or a New Year’s Dinner with your loved ones, or maybe you’re preparing for Lunar New Year and a chance to catch up with more distant relatives. Today I’ve got a useful list of English collocations with the word family, along with their meanings and example sentences.
8 English Idioms For Talking About Your Goals
Hey everyone and happy New Year! As English learners, you might be setting fresh goals for the year ahead—like improving your English listening skills, expanding your English vocabulary, or becoming more confident in your English conversations. These goals can feel challenging, but having a few idioms in your toolkit will give you the language to express yourself and speak about your plans and intentions fluently. Today I’ve got 8 English idioms you can use to talk about your goals.
9 Tips for Achieving Your English Learning Goals in 2025
As we move into a new year, it's the perfect time to reflect on your English learning journey and set yourself some personal goals for 2025. Whether you're looking to improve your fluency, expand your vocabulary, or master advanced grammar, setting clear goals can help keep you motivated and on track.
So, with that in mind, here are 9 practical steps and tips to help you achieve your English learning goals in the year ahead.
English Word of the Day - Chaotic
Advanced English Vocabulary for Everyday Life- In this blog post, we’ll look at the definition of the English adjective chaotic, explore its synonyms and antonyms, share real-life examples of how to use this word in sentences and offer practical tips to help you talk about those hectic moments that we all encounter. Plus we look at an example of the word from the recent news.
10 Phrasal Verbs for Talking About the New Year in English (2025 Edition)
As one year draws to a close, it’s natural to reflect on the past twelve months while dreaming of fresh starts and new possibilities. Whether you’re celebrating achievements from 2024 or planning your intentions for 2025, here are ten phrasal verbs that will help you talk about your goals, ambitions, and reflections in English with confidence!
10 Must Watch British Christmas Movies To Boost Your English
My Very British English Christmas Movie Recommendations With Trailers.
Few things capture the magic of the festive season quite like a good Christmas film. The following 10 festive movie recommendations (including a few of my absolute favourites!) will help you to fine-tune your English listening skills, expose you to a variety of British English accents and give you the chance to learn a bit about British Christmas traditions and culture.
How to Start a Conversation with a Stranger in English: 10 Tips You Need to Know
Starting a conversation with a stranger can feel a bit daunting, can’t it? Even more so if English isn’t your first language!
If you’re looking to improve your confidence and connect more easily with others, these 10 tips will help you master the art of starting conversations in English.
10 Phrasal Verbs for Talking About Advice in English
When discussing advice in English, phrasal verbs are an excellent way to sound more natural and conversational. These versatile expressions combine a verb with one or more particles (prepositions or adverbs) to create a meaning that is often different from the individual words. Here’s a guide to some of the most useful phrasal verbs for talking about giving, receiving, and acting on advice.
How to Use the Idiom ‘Take Something with a Pinch of Salt’ in English
Have you ever received advice or information that seemed a little... questionable? Maybe a friend swore by a bizarre life hack, or you read a too-good-to-be-true tip online. In moments like these, English speakers often use the idiom ‘take something with a pinch of salt’ to express healthy skepticism. Let’s explore what this idiom means, how to use it, and some common examples to help you sound more natural in English conversations.
Using Advice vs. Advise in English: A Simple Guide
If you're an English learner, you’ve likely come across the words ‘advice’ and ‘advise’ and wondered if they’re the same thing. Although they look similar, their meanings and usage are different. In this blog post, I'll break down the difference between these two words and show you how to use them correctly in your writing and conversations.
Ways to give advice in English- 5 useful phrases
Struggling to find the right words to give advice in English ?
Here are five easy and natural expressions you can use to give advice in English—gently and effectively. Plus, I'll share tips for when to use them and how to make your advice sound even more supportive.
Talking about Christmas Traditions in British English
Christmas is a magical time of year in the UK, filled with traditions, festive gatherings, and a generous sprinkling of British charm. It’s a time for families and friends to come together, eat good food, exchange gifts, play board games, watch movies and have a few days off work.
Whether you're celebrating the holiday season in the UK or just want to expand your festive vocabulary, this guide will help you brush up on some common British Christmas traditions.
Learn 20 English Collocations With The Noun ‘Lie’
This week here on the blog, we’ve been looking at English language for talking about deceit, dishonesty and lies.
Enhancing your English fluency involves more than just vocabulary and grammar; it includes understanding how words naturally combine, known as collocations.
Today we’re going to explore 20 common collocations with the noun ‘lie'‘ and how to use them in everyday English.
Talking About Lies and Deceit in English: Useful Vocabulary and Phrases
Lies and deceit are universal concepts, but English has a rich vocabulary to describe the shades of dishonesty, from small ‘white lies’ to outright deception. In this post, we’ll explore idioms, collocations, and phrases that you can use to discuss lies and deceit effectively in English.
Talking About Fear in English: 8 Essential Phrasal Verbs
Fear is a universal emotion, and in the English language, there are many ways to express it, especially using phrasal verbs.
These phrasal verbs are invaluable for communicating those nerve-wracking moments in everyday language, giving you the precise words to convey what you're feeling. Below, we’ll explore eight useful phrasal verbs for talking about fear, complete with definitions and examples to help you put them to use confidently.
Learn Idioms to Talk About Fear in English
Ever felt so scared you ‘jumped out of your skin’? Or maybe someone ‘made your blood run cold’? English is full of idioms that capture the feeling of fear, shock, and those spine-tingling moments that really get to us. Whether you’re sharing a real experience, telling a story, or simply adding a bit more depth to your conversation, these expressions are a great way to capture and convey moments of fear. Let’s go through 7 idioms that are perfect for talking about fear in English
8 Ways to Embrace Imperfection in Your English Journey
Learning English is a journey, not a destination. For many speakers of English as a second language, the pressure to be ‘perfect’ can create unnecessary stress, especially when it comes to speaking. But here’s the thing: it’s okay not to speak perfectly! In fact, embracing imperfection can lead to greater progress and confidence. Here are eight ways to embrace imperfection in your English journey.
Mastering the Art of the Apology in English: 13 Collocations You Need to Know
In English, apologies come in all shapes and sizes—there’s no one-size-fits-all way to say ‘sorry.’ Whether you’ve made a mistake, someone expects an apology from you, or you’re navigating a public mishap, knowing the right language for each situation makes all the difference.
Let’s look at some key collocations with ‘apology’ to help you communicate more confidently and naturally in English.
How to Use ‘Sorry’ in British English
Did you know that the average Brit uses the word ‘sorry’ around 8 times a day?
In English, particularly in British English, we use the word ‘sorry’ in many ways that go beyond a simple apology. Whether we’re late, in someone’s way, or simply trying to ask for help, ‘sorry’ slips into our sentences almost automatically.
But why do we say it so much, and what are the different ways we use this little word in everyday life?