I use these words EVERY DAY: Advanced English Vocabulary Lesson

About this video

This lesson focuses on real, practical vocabulary that native speakers use in daily conversation, not textbook English. Vanessa demonstrates each of the ten phrases (inside out, comfy, clean up a mess, father figure, in charge of, get in the habit of, look back fondly, ideally, do chores, and fancy) through real clips from her earlier video about folding laundry and family routines. She explains the exact grammatical structure and meaning of each phrase, then shows authentic contexts where she actually used them. A bonus British English warning concludes the lesson: in the UK, 'fancy dress party' means costume party, not an elegant dress event—a mistake Vanessa made years ago.

This is excellent shadowing material because Vanessa speaks at a natural pace that is still clear and deliberate. She repeats key phrases multiple times, explains pronunciation differences (like 'comfortable' vs. 'comfy'), and uses accessible everyday topics (laundry, chores, family life) that make the vocabulary immediately relatable. The inclusion of bonus audio download content for speaking practice aligns perfectly with shadowing methodology.

The video suits B1 learners who are ready to move beyond isolated vocabulary into phrases and collocations used in real conversations. A learner will gain not just vocabulary but also confidence using these expressions naturally, plus insight into a key cultural difference between varieties of English.

Idioms & expressions

**Inside out — wearing or turning a garment so the seams and inner lining face outward. Can be literal (clothing) or used as a fixed phrase: "This shirt is inside out."

**Right side out — the opposite of inside out; the correct, normal way a garment should be worn. "I have to turn it right side out."

**Clean up a mess — to tidy or remove something spilled or scattered on the ground or in a space. "I use this sometimes to clean up messes."

**Father figure — an important male role model or mentor who is not one's biological father; someone young people look up to. "My husband Dan is a father figure for some of his students."

**In charge of — responsible for managing, controlling, or overseeing something or someone. "My husband is in charge of dishes."

**Look back fondly — to remember a past time with warm, nostalgic, and often bittersweet happiness. "Someday when my kids are grown, I'll look back fondly on those silly things."

**Fancy dress party — in British English, a costume party or themed event (like Halloween), not a party where you wear expensive clothing. "In the UK, a fancy dress party is a costume party."

Keep practicing

• More English lessons videos
• More B1 videos
• More from Speak English With Vanessa