2017 December (Written) Flashcards
You’re watching a TV talk show. The lead singer of a rock band is being interviewed, and the host asks what the band is doing in the near future. This is the musicians replay.
We have a few shows coming up later this month.
have (something) coming up (on a certain date)
The phrase “___is coming up” means that something is scheduled, and is going to happen soon:
│ Sorry, I can’t. Final exams are coming up in a couple of weeks.
│ Our anniversary is coming up soon.
│ The final deadline is coming up at the end of this month.
These examples are all about events that are scheduled for a certain day. But you wouldn’t use “coming up” to talk about things that you’re not sure about, like an earthquake.
shows
When a band plays live music in a concert hall, club, arena, or other place for fans, it’s called a “show”.
You can also call shows “concerts”:
│ We have a few concerts coming up later this month.
But “concert” doesn’t sound as cool as “show”, so fans and musicians who want to seem cool and young are likely to use the word “show”. Classical performances and large, commercial events are more likely to be called “concerts”.
Some English learners call shows “lives”, but that’s incorrect English and sounds funny.
later this (week/month/year/etc.)
You can explain when something is going to happen this way:
│ She’s coming by later today.
│ I’m moving to Miami later this year.
if today is Monday, “later this week” might be Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday. If today is Friday or Saturday, you probably won’t use this expression.
A client asks you for some research information about the results of your company’s product. You don’t have the research, but you will send it to your client when you get it. You tell them this.
We’ll pass that along as soon as we have it.
pass (some information) along
“Passing something along” means passing something from one person to the next person in a line. People often use this phrase to talk about the information: one person gets some information, then tell someone else.
For example:
│ We’re expected to have an answer later this week. When we hear, we’ll pass it along to you.
│ Just tell Jun and have him pass it along to everyone.
(do something) as soon as (something happens)
The phrase “as soon as” expresses something that happens immediately after something else:
│ He called as soon as he heard the news.
│ I went straight to sleep as soon as I got home.
Another way of expressing a similar idea is “when”:
│ I’ll start dinner when I finish writing this e-mail.
But you use “as soon as” to emphasize that you’re doing it as quickly as you can. So this phrase is useful in situations where you’re making an excuse for being late.
Your back hurts. You usually sit a little hunched over, with your shoulders forward and your back bent. You don’t think that’s healthy, so you think this to yourself.
I need to work on my posture.
work on (something) People "work on" things that they want to change about themselves, like skills that they'd like to improve or bad habits that they'd like to get rid of. "Working on" these things means improving them.
Here are some common things that people “work on”:
│ work on your marriage
│ work on your attitude
│ wonk on your technique (for a skill like sports or music)
│ work on your self-esteem
You can use “work on ___” in either spoken or written English.
(one’s) posture
Your “posture” is the way that you stand, walk, and sit.
When a person sits, stands, and walks with a straight back, people say that this person “has good posture”. When someone’s back is usually “hunched over” (bent or curved), we say that they “have bad posture”.
Earlier in the day, you saw someone that you used to know but haven’t seen for several years & were surprised. You say this when you tell your sister about it later.
I ran into someone I haven’t seen in years.
I haven’t seen (someone) in years
Talk about seeing someone for the first time in a long time with the phrase “I haven’t seen ___ in ____”:
│ I haven’t seen you in over a year!
You use “in years” when you can’t remember how long it’s been since you saw the, but you know it was more than one or two years.
You can use this phrase when talking to anyone - it’s not especially casual or formal.
run into (someone) This means to unexpectedly meet someone you know or know about. For example: │ I ran into a few former coworkers there. That was a nice surprise. │ You'll never believe who I ran into at the supermarket: Leonardo DiCaprio!
A common place to “run into” someone is “on the street”:
│ I can’t believe I just ran into you on the street like that. What a coincidence!
That means outside in a public place, like on a sidewalk.
You’re on an airplane that’s about to take off. There’s a video explaining what to do in different emergency situations. The video is showing how to use an oxygen mask. The speaker on the video says this.
Always secure your own mask before assisting others.
assist (someone) with (something)
The word “assist” means “help” but is more formal. Use it with customers and other people that you need to speak to respectfully.
│ How can i assist you?
│ Can you assist this gentleman with his question?
secure (something)
To “secure” something means to keep something safe by making sure that it doesn’t move, fall, slip, etc.
You can “secure” something by tying it, strapping it in, locking it, and so on. For example:
│ Make sure to secure the straps on your harness.
│ After you’re finished, replace the cover and secure the bottom screws.
You can also use “secure” to mean “protect” in a wider range of situations:
│ They feel that the country should be making more of an effort to secure its southern border.
others
“Others” is a formal way to say “other people”:
│ Please be respectful of others.
│ Kids who go to preschool learn to play well with others.
You’re having lunch with a friend. He’s complaining about how the government hasn’t done enough to prevent global warming. He’s expressing his opinions really strongly, like he’s trying to convince you, but you already agree with his opinions.
Hey man, you’re preaching to the choir.
Hey man. Use the expression "Hey man" at the beginning of a sentence for a few different purposes: · to greet someone: │ A: Hey man. │ B: Hey man. What's up?
· to get someone’s attention:
│ Hey man, are you finished with that?
· to correct someone’s understanding of what you’re thinking:
│ Hey man, I didn’t mean to offend you. I apologize for saying that.
“Hey man” is mostly used by men when talking to other men.
(someone) is preaching to the choir
“Preaching to the choir” is an idiom which means sharing your ideas with people who already agree with those ideas. It is considered to be a bit of a waste of time.
You can imagine that this phrase comes from the idea of a minister preaching to a church choir (which is a group of singers). Since the people in the church choir are already involved in the church, they probably already agree with what the preacher is saying.
When someone tries hard to convince you of something that you already believe, you can tell them that you already agree by saying “You’re preaching to the choir.”
You’re about to drive somewhere with your kids. You want to make sure that they have their seat belts on before you go anywhere. You ask them this.
All buckled up?
(someone is) buckled up
A “buckle” is the part of a belt where you attach the two ends to each other. The belts people wear on their pants have buckles. So do some shoes, straps for handbags and luggage, and seatbelts.
The buckle on a seatbelt gives the phrase “buckled up”, which means having your seatbelt closed and attached.
All (adjective)?
When you ask “All ___?” it means “Are you completely ___? For example, if you’re getting ready to leave home for a vacation, you can ask your family:
│ All set?
If it’s a cold day and you’ve put an extra blanket on your daughter’s bed, you can ask:
│ All warm and comfy?
This phrase sounds really positive and comforting.
You’re in a big argument with your boyfriend. He called you a bad word. You can’t believe he said that to you, so you’re extremely angry. This is your response.
Don’t you dare talk to me like that!
Don’t you dare!
“Don’t you dare!” is an expression that communicates a warning to someone. It’s a way of saying “If you do that I will be extremely angry!” Say it in situations like these:
· Your children try to disobey you.
· You’re in an angry argument with someone who’s trying to blame you for something that’s not your fault.
You can also include the action that you don’t want someone to do:
│ Don’t you dare talk to me like that!
│ Don’t you dare leave without cleaning up this mess, young man.
“Don’t you dare” is usually said very angrily or strictly, so be careful about when you use “Don’t you dare!” However, there are some situations where people use it without any sense of anger. In TV commercials, you might hear something like:
│ Don’t you dare miss this sale!
talk to (someone) like that Talking to someone "like that" usually means speaking: · rudely · very directly · angrily
For example:
│ I’m her mother! What makes her think that she can talk to me like that?
│ Don’t talk to me like that.
It’s very rare to describe someone speaking politely and pleasantly as “like that”.
A baseball player on your favorite team was caught using drugs to improve his performance. You just saw the news about it on TV. You’re disappointed. You think this to yourself.
That’s a real letdown.
(something) is a real (something)
You use “very” and “really” with adjectives like this:
│ That’s very dangerous. You shouldn’t be doing that.
│ He’s a really nice guy.
But you can’t use “very” to modify nouns. Instead, you can use “a real ___”:
│ You’re a real pain in the neck, you know?
│ Angelo is a real pleasure work with.
(something) is a letdown.
When you had high expectations for something, but it disappointed you, you can say “That’s a letdown.”
A “letdown” is something that’s disappointing. For example:
│ Is it just me, or was that a bit of a letdown?
The phrase “That’s a letdown” is pretty specific, though. You say it when something has just disappointed you, and you’re felling a little sad.
For example, you might say this if you read in the newspaper that your favorite bookstore is shutting down, or if your daughter tells you that she didn’t get into the college that she applied for.
You work in the accounting department of a company. Your company has hired someone new (Jared) who will be doing some of the work that you used to do. You write an announcement to all of the other employees and explain which questions they should ask Jared.
Please refer any payroll-related questions to Jared going forward.
Please (do something).
Writing “Please ___” is a formal way to ask a question. You can use “Please ___”:
· for very important requests
· when you are angry at someone and don’t want to be too friendly with them
· when you’re writing to someone who you don’t know
· when you’re writhing or making an announcement to a group of people
For a friendlier, but still very polite, way to make a request, you can write:
│ If you could get back to me by the end of the day, that would be appreciated.
refer (a question) to (someone)
This formal phrase is used in business communication. “Referring” a question to someone means asking that person the question.
For example:
│ Please refer any questions you may have to J. Martin Forrester, Public Relations Director.
(something)-related questions
The phrase “___-related questions” means “questinos about ___”. This is a formal phrase.
(do something) going forward
“Going forward” means “from now on” or “starting now and continuing permanently”.
This phrase is used mostly in business settings
It’s useful because the phrase “from now on” sounds critical and aggressive. People say “from now on” when they’re angry like this:
│ From now on, check with me before you do that.
“Going forward”, on the other hand, sounds more formal but also doesn’t sound angry.
payroll
“Payroll” means:
1. the process of paying employees at a business
2. a list of the employees at a company
3. the money that the business has to spend on its employees:
For example:
│ I leave all of the payroll stuff up to our Financial officer.
│ We have over 3,000 employees on our payroll.
│ All employers are required to contribute 2 percent of their total payroll to unemployment insurance.
This word comes up in some phrases like: │ payroll taxes │ cut (a company's) payroll │ payroll records │ a payroll check
One of the students at your English language school is moving back to his home country. Some of the students contributed to buy him a gift. On the card for the gift, you want to write a nice, friendly message. You write this.
Keep in touch!
“Keep in touch” is a common phrase to use when you’re permanently saying goodbye to someone, like when you:
· leave a job
· graduate from a school
· move to another city
To “keep” doing something means to continue to do it. Being “in touch” means that you communicate with someone. So “Keep in touch!” means “Continue to communicate with me!”
However, people say “Keep in touch!” so often that sometimes it doesn’t really mean much. If someone tells you to “Keep in touch”, they probably don’t expect you to call or email them.
If you really do want to “keep in touch” with someone, you might need to say or write it in a different way like this:
│ Let’s definitely keep in touch.
You like watching a certain late-night TV talk show. You’re telling a friend why you like that show. This is how you describe the host.
I love that dry, deadpan style of humor he has.
I love (something)
Depending on where you’re from and your culture, “love” might seem like a really strong word. In English, people use “love” to describe how they feel about things that they like such as art, music, products, clothes, and so on:
│ I love your shirt!
│ I absolutely love my new phone.
a dry sense of humor
A person with a “dry” sense of humor often says funny things with a serious, calm expression. They don’t smile, laugh, or make silly faces. Here’s an example in a sentence:
│ She has a dry sense of humor.
Some people really like a dry sense of humor; other people don’t understand it very well. It can be either positive or negative to say that someone has a “dry” sense of humor.
a deadpan style of humor
A “deadpan” style of humor is a way of telling jokes where you don’t change your expression. You just make the joke with a straight (serious) face.
“Deadpan” and “dry” are very similar ways to describe humor. English speakers more often use “dry” to describe the sense of humor of someone that they know, while “deadpan” is specifically for talking about the technique of telling a joke, and use more often to talk about a professional comedian or actor.
You’re talking to the mother of one of the other children at your child’s daycare. You want to tell her something about the head teacher at the daycare, but you don’t remember the head teacher’s name.
Uhh… I’m blanking on her name.
I’m blanking on (something)
Use the phrase “blanking on ___” to talk about forgetting something temporarily. You can “blank” on something like the name of a person or thing even when you usually know it well.
Here’s an example for talking about the name of an actress on a TV show that you like:
│ I’m blanking on the name of the actress. Who’s the one with the red hair?
Uhh…
This is a sound that people make when they can’t remember something. It’s very similar to “Um”:
│ That’s a very generous offer. Um, let me think it over for a few days and get back to you.
But “um” is more likely to be used for emotional reasons, like to be polite or to seem undecided.
“Uh” can also be used like “um” but is often used when a person simply can’t figure out what to say next.
│ A: How many are left?
│ B: Uhh… let me see. About twenty?
You’re on an airplane. The plane is shaking a little bit. The captain makes this announcement to all of the passengers.
Ladies and gentlemen, we’re experiencing some turbulence. Please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts.
Please (do something).
Writing “Please ___” is a formal way to ask a question. You can use “Please ___”:
· for very important requests
· when you are angry at someone and don’t want to be too friendly with them
· when you’re writing to someone who you don’t know
· when you’re writing or making announcement to a group of people
For a friendlier, but still very polite, way to make a request, you can write:
│ If you could get back to me by the end of the day, that would be appreciated.
Ladies and gentlemen
Use this phrase to address a group of people (with both men and women) in a formal way. You do this in situations like when you’re giving a formal speech, when you’re introducing a stage performance, when you’re making an announcement over an intercom, etc.
(an airplane) is experiencing turbulence
“Turbulent” air or water is not smooth. It’s unpredictable and chaotic. When an airplane files through turbulent wind, it shakes. To describe this situation, you can say that the airplane “is experiencing turbulence”.
“Experience ___” means to go through an unusual situation. This word is also used in the expression “experience outages”.
You can also use “experience turbulence” in the past tense like this:
│ A: How was you flight?
│ B: We experienced a little turbulence. It freaked me out!
return to your seat
“Return” is a more formal way to say “go back”. When you want a stranger to sit back down, say “Please return to your seat.”
An example of when you might say this is if you’re a teacher, and one of your students is walking around the classroom and distracting other students.
fasten your seatbelt "Fasten" is a slightly formal word which means to connect something or put something on. Some things that you can "fasten" include: │ fasten you belt │ fasten a screw │ fasten your bra │ fasten a harness
“Fasten your seatbelt” means putting your seatbelt on and specifically, connecting the buckle.
Your company has been having trouble. Most of the people in your department have been laid off, and now it’s just you, your boss, and one other employee. You’re telling a friend about this situation.
We’re down to only 3 people now.
(something) is down to (a number of something)
When there used to be more of something, but now there’s less of it, you can use the phrase “down to ___”.
For example, you can talk about a sports playoff:
│ They’re down to four teams now.
Or about getting rid of things that you own:
│ We sold the van, so we’re down to two vehicles now.
Or about food:
│ We’re down to half a bag of rice.
Usually you say the number of things that you are down to, but you can also list what’s left like this:
│ Now it’s down to just me, Brad, and Gbenga.
Notice that it’s common to include “now” somewhere in the sentence.
