These are advanced level phrases that will help you to master the English language! Follow our vocabulary boost series HERE to achieve a C1 to C2 level vocabulary.
For example:
Shed light on – reveal information
Could you shed some light on what happened yesterday?
Eager = want
I am eager to improve my English.
Aware = be conscious of
I was not aware that you were our new teacher.
Keen (on) = like
I am keen on learning English on this website.
Naïve = unknowing
I wasted a lot of time when I started studying English because I was naïve.
Fancy = feel like
Do you fancy practising the speaking exam next week?
Unwind = relax
It is important to unwind after work.
Willing = be up for
I am willing to study every day in order to improve my English.
Reluctant = not intend on
I am reluctant to move to the USA until my English is much better.
Worth = be of value
Is it worth buying a book to learn English quicker?
Regret = feel bad
Do you regret having failed your exams? (Already happened and you feel bad)
I regret to inform you that you are going to fail the exam. (You will fail in the future)
Prevent (from) = impede
I prevented the problem from getting worse.
Manage = succeed in
I managed to pass the exam with ease.
Handle = deal with
How do you handle pressure at work?
Boast (about) = gloat
It is not a good idea to boast about your salary.
According (to)
According to my teacher, English is one of the easiest languages to learn.
Pick up = learn
Do you find it easy to pick up languages?
Bump into = see by coincidence
Last week I bumped into an old friend in the city centre.
Come up with = think of
My boss came up with an amazing new project at work.
Put up with = tolerate
I find it tedious to put up with foolish behaviour.
Brush up on = improve
I need to brush up on my understanding of phrasal verbs.
Let down = disappoint
When I fail exams, I feel really let down.
Mess about = use
Do you enjoy messing about with computers?
Hang out = spend time with
I love hanging out with friends at weekends?
Fit in = find your place
When you are a teenager, you normally try to fit in with other people.
Run out of = not have any left
We have run out of milk so we should go to the shop.
Drop out of = leave
I think it is a really bad idea to drop out of university.
Work = function
I will walk today because my car doesn´t work.
Take up = start doing
I would like to take up a new hobby in the near future.
Take to = become get into
I have taken to learning English a lot.
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