0:00 Are you ready for a proper English upgrade?
0:04 Perfect if you said yes,
0:06 because this might be one of the most useful lessons I've ever put together.
0:11 If you know these 75 words and phrases, your English is truly outstanding.
0:20 This is a total masterclass.
0:23 You're going to hear each word or phrase in context.
0:27 You're going to understand exactly how we use it,
0:30 and I'm going to test you along the way with quick quizzes to help
0:35 you retain it all in your brain.
0:37 And to make things even easier for you,
0:39 I have created a free PDF ebook to go with this lesson.
0:45 Beautifully designed, full of examples, explanations, and exercises.
0:50 Everything we cover in today's lesson, all in one place.
0:53 To download it, click on the link in the description box
0:57 or scan the QR code there.
0:59 Join the mailing list, and the PDF will arrive directly in your inbox.
1:03 Let's get started with the lesson.
1:08 Let's focus now on the 15 phrases I'm about to teach you.
1:12 If you get most of these right,
1:15 it means you are well on your way to fluency.
1:18 And don't worry if you don't know all of them,
1:20 this is a fantastic way to start.
1:22 Let's begin with number one.
1:24 In.
1:27 I realize I should have studied harder for that exam.
1:31 Take a few seconds to think about how we could fill that gap.
1:40 The answer is hindsight.
1:43 In hindsight, I realize I should have studied harder for that exam.
1:48 We use the phrase in hindsight to talk about looking back at a situation
1:53 and understanding it better now than we did at the time.
1:57 It combines hind, meaning behind or back, and sight, meaning seeing.
2:06 It's like saying, I see clearly when I look back.
2:09 Okay, keep note of your scores cuz I'll ask you to share them at
2:12 the end.
2:13 Let's move on to number two.
2:15 Can you send me the files before 5:00 p.m.?
2:20 Do.
2:20 Have you got it?
2:21 I'll give you 5 seconds.
2:28 The answer is will.
2:30 Will do.
2:31 Saying will do is a short and informal way of saying,
2:36 I'll do it or I'll take care of it.
2:39 It's fun and it's casual and I use it about 15 times a day.
2:43 Yep, will do.
2:44 Will do.
2:44 Don't worry, will do.
2:45 Now, you might also hear can do.
2:48 Can do.
2:49 If you said can do, I will also give you the point.
2:53 Okay, moving on to number three.
2:55 I need you to fill in both blanks here.
2:58 You can trust her, she knows when it comes to organizing events.
3:06 I'll give you 5 seconds.
3:07 If you need a hint, both words start with W.
3:16 Okay, the missing words here are what's what.
3:21 You can trust her, she knows what's what when it comes to organizing events.
3:26 So, this is a bit of a strange one,
3:28 but we say someone knows what's what to mean they understand the important facts
3:35 or are very knowledgeable about something.
3:37 It sounds far more natural than saying something like,
3:41 she is quite knowledgeable on the subject of etc.
3:45 Now, let's move on to number four.
3:47 These next three phrases are quite fun.
3:50 Here we are.
3:51 Are you finished with that report?
3:54 More or Take a few seconds.
4:02 The answer is less.
4:04 More or less.
4:05 Now, this is a really common expression.
4:07 We use it instead of saying almost, not quite, or approximately.
4:12 More or less.
4:13 It's particularly useful when you want to soften your reply of not having something
4:18 ready.
4:19 Rather than saying, "No, I haven't finished." you could say,
4:23 "I'm more or less finished."
4:25 Are you ready for number five?
4:26 I've been picking up a few freelance projects here and nothing super steady.
4:33 Take a few minutes.
4:35 Actually, don't take minutes.
4:36 Take a few seconds.
4:42 It's here and there.
4:44 Here and there.
4:46 We use here and there to describe something that happens randomly or irregularly,
4:52 without a fixed plan.
4:54 It suggests an occasional occurrence rather than something consistent.
4:58 And it can also be used more literally to mean in various places
5:03 or all around.
5:05 For example, the dog's toys were scattered here and there about the room.
5:10 Okay, number six.
5:11 Here's your sentence.
5:12 The journey to the village will take an hour or take a few minutes.
5:19 Have a think.
5:25 The missing word is give.
5:27 Give or take a few minutes.
5:29 We use this phrase when we're estimating time, amounts, or measurements.
5:34 It means approximately or plus or minus a small amount.
5:39 It's an expression that helps you sound positively fluent.
5:42 Okay, number seven.
5:44 I need two words this time.
5:46 Hey Mom, can Jamal and I go to a concert tonight?
5:50 It starts at 11:00 p.m.
5:53 That's absolutely of the It's a school night.
6:00 Okay, take your time here.
6:06 Okay, here are the answers. out and question.
6:11 That's absolutely out of the question.
6:14 This is a strong emphatic way of saying absolutely not
6:19 or just giving a firm no.
6:21 That is out of the question.
6:23 No, you may not.
6:24 It's much more forceful than just saying no.
6:27 It shows that there is no room for debate or negotiation.
6:32 And it's a great expression for
6:33 when you want to shut down any argument straight away.
6:37 Okay, we're over halfway through here.
6:40 Let's take a look at number eight.
6:41 I need to buy a new laptop.
6:44 Speaking of How's your new MacBook?
6:48 Take a few seconds.
6:54 The answer is which.
6:56 I need to buy a new laptop.
6:58 Speaking of which, how's your new MacBook?
7:02 So, speaking of which is a fabulous transition phrase.
7:06 It helps us to smoothly change topic
7:08 or add to a topic
7:10 when something reminds us of a related point.
7:13 It's much more natural than suddenly jumping to a new subject.
7:17 Number nine.
7:18 Let's see how you do with this one.
7:20 We have two gaps to fill.
7:22 Get me I love chocolate, but that cake was way too sweet.
7:28 Take a few seconds.
7:34 We need don't and wrong.
7:39 Don't get me wrong, I love chocolate, but that cake way too sweet.
7:43 So, don't get me wrong is a lovely phrase we might use
7:47 when we think someone might misunderstand what we're saying
7:51 or we want to soften something
7:53 that might upset someone.
7:54 We often use it just before we're about to say something
7:57 that might sound negative
7:59 or controversial.
8:01 Don't misunderstand me.
8:02 Don't get me wrong.
8:03 So, how are you doing so far?
8:05 Are you feeling pretty fluent?
8:07 I hope you're counting your scores.
8:08 I'd love you to share them at the end.
8:10 Let's move to number 10 now.
8:12 This is another expression I use absolutely every single day.
8:16 One gap here.
8:17 How's your first day at work going?
8:20 So far, so The missing word is good.
8:31 So far, so good.
8:32 So, this is a cautiously optimistic way of saying
8:36 that things are going well at the moment,
8:39 though you might be holding your breath a bit.
8:41 You know that there's still a way to go,
8:43 but everything's going well so far.
8:45 Okay, number 11.
8:46 Let's see if you know what two words we need here.
8:50 I know you're torn about moving abroad for what I think you'd really thrive
8:57 there.
8:58 You've always adapted to new situations easily.
9:01 Have a few seconds.
9:08 Ready?
9:08 We need it's worth.
9:13 For what it's worth.
9:14 For what it's worth, I think you'd really thrive there.
9:15 So, for what it's worth is a lovely humble way to share your thoughts
9:21 or opinions on a matter,
9:22 and we often use it
9:23 when we want to offer our opinion without coming across
9:26 as pushy or when we're not entirely sure
9:30 that what we're saying is relevant
9:32 or useful.
9:33 It's almost like saying my opinion isn't everything,
9:37 but in case it's worth something to you,
9:39 I'm going to give it to you for what it's worth.
9:42 Okay, number 12.
9:43 Fill in the blank with a word starting with M.
9:47 Her reaction to the election results was definitely a bit Have a think.
10:00 We need much here.
10:03 Her reaction was definitely a bit much.
10:06 A bit much is how we politely say that something was over the top,
10:13 unreasonable, or went too far.
10:15 It's softer than saying that was ridiculous.
10:19 Instead, we say, "That was a bit much."
10:22 And here's our next one, number 13.
10:24 You need a three-letter word, okay?
10:28 Here it is.
10:30 I've got a fair of work to do this week.
10:34 Take a few secs.
10:41 The missing word is bit, b i t.
10:44 I've got a fair bit of work to do this week.
10:47 So, a fair bit is a wonderfully British way of saying quite a lot.
10:53 It's not in our British nature to come right out
10:56 and say that we are buried in work,
10:58 so we prefer the softer, more polite a fair bit.
11:02 We like to overstate things by understating them, if you catch my drift.
11:07 Okay, penultimate one, the second-to-last, number 14.
11:12 I'm going to need two words in this one.
11:15 Ready?
11:15 Oh, no.
11:16 I spilled water on your book.
11:20 Don't worry, no Take some time.
11:30 You should have said, "Harm done."
11:33 Don't worry, no harm done.
11:36 This is one of my go-to phrases to reassure someone
11:38 that everything is fine
11:40 and their actions haven't caused serious damage.
11:43 There's nothing to worry about
11:45 and it's particularly useful
11:46 when someone is feeling embarrassed about a minor mishap
11:50 and you want to put them at ease quickly.
11:52 Also, did you notice the spelling and pronunciation of spilt in British English?
12:00 We tend to spell it like this,
12:01 s p i l t and pronounce it spilt.
12:05 In American English, they tend to lean towards spilled
12:10 and spell it s p i l l e d.
12:13 Sometimes when I show words with the British spelling,
12:17 I get accused of misspelling things in my videos.
12:21 But I assure you it is a correct version.
12:24 Okay, last one, number 15.
12:28 How you didn't tell me about this sooner.
12:36 The missing word is come.
12:38 How come you didn't tell me about this sooner?
12:41 How come is a friendly, casual way of asking why.
12:46 How come?
12:46 Why?
12:47 It's much softer than demanding, "Why didn't you?"
12:51 Why can sometimes sound a bit accusatory.
12:56 How come feels more relaxed and natural.
12:59 Okay, so how many phrases out of the 15 did you know
13:04 or guess correctly?
13:05 If you managed to complete most of them,
13:08 you are well on your way to English fluency.
13:13 Let's get started with our 15 words.
13:16 Make sure you share your score out of 15 in the comment section.
13:20 I'll be looking out for them.
13:21 The first one, frothy.
13:24 Frothy.
13:25 I love how this word sounds.
13:28 The f sound can be a bit tricky to get though. frothy frothy Now,
13:35 does the word sound familiar to you?
13:38 Here it is in context.
13:40 The cappuccino was topped with a layer of frothy milk.
13:44 We use the adjective frothy to describe liquids which have loads of air bubbles.
13:50 Perhaps you've ordered yourself a frothy coffee or a frothy hot chocolate.
13:55 Number two, clock. clock Now, I'm not talking about the noun clock.
14:01 Believe it or not, we can use clock as a verb.
14:06 Any ideas what this could mean?
14:07 Take a look at this sentence.
14:09 He clocked their suspicious behavior and immediately reported it to security.
14:14 Clock actually has several meanings as a verb,
14:18 so I've included some more in the PDF.
14:21 But what about right here?
14:23 Well, in British English, we often use clock to mean notice or realize.
14:29 To clock something to notice something.
14:32 Number three, this is cute. tinker tinker He spent days tinkering with the old
14:39 radio in the hope of getting it to work again.
14:43 If you tinker with something,
14:44 you make small changes in an attempt to improve or fix it.
14:49 And why not just use the verb improve or fix?
14:53 Well, we often use the verb tinker
14:56 if we're not very hopeful
14:57 that the object will be improved
15:00 or fixed.
15:01 I often tinker with things, my dad fixes things.
15:05 He fixes the things that I've tinkered with.
15:08 Okay, number four.
15:09 Number four.
15:11 >> >> It's unbelievable how often I do
15:13 that. feign feign Notice the e i spelling here.
15:20 We normally write i e.
15:22 It's normally i before e except after c, but here feign e i.
15:28 Have you heard this word before?
15:30 Here it is in a sentence.
15:32 She feigned surprise when she heard the news even though she already knew.
15:38 If you feign something, you pretend to have a particular feeling.
15:42 She feigned surprise means she pretended to be surprised.
15:49 Feigned surprise is a very strong collocation that I clearly enjoy acting out.
15:55 We can also feign enthusiasm, interest, and illness as well.
16:01 Speaking of illness, there's a bit of a clue for the next phrase for
16:04 number five.
16:05 The sniffles.
16:07 The sniffles.
16:08 Maybe you've heard the word sniff.
16:10 That's another clue.
16:11 Well, the word sniff is onomatopoeic.
16:15 And this means that it sounds very similar to the word it describes.
16:19 Words like bang, swoosh, and crack.
16:24 They are all onomatopoeic.
16:26 Okay.
16:29 Sniff.
16:30 >> >> Sniff is the sound you make when you breathe in through your nose.
16:33 And to have the sniffles is a really cute expression
16:37 which means you have a slight cold.
16:39 You're sniffing a lot.
16:41 >> >> Can you pass me the tissues?
16:43 I've got the sniffles.
16:45 Okay, let's move on to number six.
16:50 Peruse.
16:51 Peruse.
16:51 I love how formal I sound when I say this word.
16:55 An example.
16:57 There is a selection of newspapers
16:59 and magazines for you to peruse at your leisure.
17:03 I sound like I'm in Bridgerton or something.
17:06 We often use this word in a humorous way to mean to read something,
17:11 especially in a careful or thorough way.
17:14 Now, be careful not to mix this up with the word pursue,
17:18 just swapping over those letters.
17:20 That means to try and achieve or get something.
17:23 Number seven, berserk.
17:29 Berserk.
17:30 You can say berserk or beserk.
17:32 I pronounce this word with the voiced z,
17:35 but you can also pronounce it with the unvoiced beserk.
17:39 Here's an example, my mom went berserk
17:41 when she found out I took her car without asking.
17:45 If someone goes berserk, they become uncontrollably angry, and I mean really angry.
17:52 You can make it even stronger and say, my mom went absolutely berserk.
17:58 I'm pretty sure that's the angriest you can ever be.
18:00 We also do sometimes use it in a slightly more positive way to describe
18:04 extreme excitement.
18:07 For example, the crowd went berserk when Taylor Swift came on stage.
18:12 Now, some of you may know that I am a bit of a Swifty,
18:16 and the next word appears in one of my favorite songs.
18:19 Extra points if you can tell me which one it is in the comments.
18:23 Number eight, antithetical.
18:28 Antithetical.
18:28 An example, the act of violence was antithetical to our national values.
18:33 Now, this is a tricky one
18:35 and I will admit I looked it up in the dictionary
18:37 when I heard it for the first time.
18:39 If something is antithetical, it's directly the opposite of someone or something.
18:45 Even though Taylor Swift uses it in one of her songs,
18:48 it is pretty formal and you'll likely read it more than you'll hear it.
18:53 Okay, time for number nine.
19:01 Parched.
19:01 Parched.
19:01 An example, I'm parched after that long hike.
19:03 So, this is an informal expression that means very thirsty.
19:08 I'm parched.
19:09 We can also use it more generally to describe something that is incredibly dry,
19:14 like parched land, parched soil, or parched lips.
19:19 My lips become parched if I sleep in a room with air conditioning.
19:24 Number 10, inculcate.
19:28 Inculcate.
19:28 An example, my parents tried to inculcate a strong sense of responsibility in me
19:34 from a young age.
19:35 If you inculcate something in or into someone, you gradually put an idea, habit,
19:42 or attitude into their mind.
19:44 This usually involves persistent instruction over a long period of time.
19:49 Okay, just five to go now.
19:51 How are you doing so far?
19:53 Are you ready for number 11?
19:54 I was talking about this today with my mother.
19:57 It is doom scrolling.
20:00 Doom scrolling.
20:02 Oh, great word.
20:04 This combines the words doom and scrolling.
20:08 Do you recognize either of them?
20:10 Any guesses as to what it means when we join the two?
20:13 Maybe you've heard the phrase doom and gloom,
20:16 which refers to a feeling of hopelessness.
20:19 Scrolling is the act of moving down a screen to read text
20:25 or to watch short videos,
20:27 which is my problem.
20:28 Here's the compound doom scrolling in a sentence.
20:32 He realized his mood was getting worse
20:34 because of his habit of doom scrolling before bed.
20:37 The word doom scrolling refers to the action of addictively consuming negative news on
20:43 social media,
20:45 usually on a mobile device.
20:46 I need to stop doom scrolling.
20:49 There's another phrase I love, which is to get into a scrolling hole.
20:52 You know, when you're on TikTok or Instagram and you realize, "Oh my word,
20:57 have I just spent 30 minutes just scrolling through my phone?
21:02 I'm in a scroll hole.
21:04 I don't even know how I got here."
21:05 Number 12, this one's a bit different.
21:07 This is an initialism.
21:10 An initialism.
21:11 An initialism is an abbreviation formed by taking the first letter of the words
21:16 in the name.
21:17 Each letter is pronounced individually.
21:19 For example, DVD, digital versatile disc.
21:23 Our initialism is ASMR.
21:25 Notice how I stress the last letter, R.
21:28 An example, she watches ASMR videos to help her relax and fall asleep.
21:34 These kind of videos have become super popular on YouTube recently.
21:38 Maybe you're a fan.
21:39 ASMR is an abbreviation of autonomous sensory meridian response.
21:45 It refers to the pleasant sensation you may feel,
21:49 especially at the top of the head and back of the neck,
21:52 when you hear certain gentle noises or movements.
21:57 These feelings are often referred to as tingles,
22:01 and the noises or movements that cause them, triggers.
22:05 I could try it.
22:07 Does this make you feel weird?
22:10 Maybe I should try ASMR one day.
22:12 Not sure if I'd be that good at it.
22:14 Number 13, cringeworthy.
22:18 Cringeworthy.
22:19 This adjective perfectly describes my Facebook posts from 10 to 15 years ago.
22:27 An example, his attempt at telling a joke during the meeting was
22:31 so cringeworthy that everyone fell silent
22:34 and avoided eye contact.
22:36 When you cringe, you feel horrendously embarrassed
22:41 and will often make this kind of face
22:43 or movement.
22:44 Ugh.
22:45 If something is cringeworthy, it will make you cringe.
22:49 What would you describe as cringeworthy?
22:51 Maybe it's your dad's silly dancing or watching a video of yourself singing karaoke.
22:57 Okay, the penultimate one now.
22:59 Nimby.
23:01 Nimby.
23:02 This, like ASMR, is also an abbreviation, but we don't pronounce each letter separately.
23:09 And in British English, we don't write it in capital letters.
23:13 In the US, you will likely see it written like this, NIMBY.
23:17 What is a NIMBY and what does the word stand for?
23:21 See if you can guess.
23:22 I think you're going to like this one.
23:23 Let's give you an example.
23:25 The NIMBYs are opposing the development of a new wind farm in East Lancashire.
23:31 NIMBY stands for not in my backyard.
23:38 Not in my backyard, NIMBY.
23:39 It refers to when people oppose developments close to them,
23:44 but do not object to them being built elsewhere.
23:47 A backyard is similar to a garden.
23:50 So, you're essentially saying, "No, I don't want that in my garden,
23:53 but you can build it in someone else's."
23:55 And number 15, bouncebackability.
24:01 Bouncebackability.
24:01 Try saying that really fast.
24:02 Bouncebackability.
24:04 Here it is in a full sentence.
24:06 United's bouncebackability was evident
24:10 when they won the match after losing their star player to injury early in
24:14 the game.
24:15 This phrase refers to the ability to recover quickly from setbacks, especially in sport.
24:21 It comes from the phrasal verb to bounce back, which means to recover.
24:26 Okay, how many did you get right?
24:29 How many of these words were new to you?
24:31 And which ones were your favorites?
24:34 I do really love NIMBY.
24:36 It's so funny, cuz it's so true.
24:38 So many people are like that.
24:43 With these words, I will say them once,
24:46 so you can think about whether you recognize it.
24:49 And then when I say it the second time, I'll show it on screen.
24:52 Let's get the ball rolling with a relatively easy word, reckon.
25:01 Reckon.
25:01 Does it ring any bells?
25:02 Here it is in a complete sentence.
25:05 I reckon it's going to rain soon.
25:08 Have you got it?
25:08 Reckon is an informal verb that means think or believe.
25:14 We use it so often in British English.
25:17 I reckon that I use it around a hundred times a day.
25:21 Number two, core.
25:27 Core.
25:27 Notice how I don't pronounce the r in core.
25:30 There's no er sound there.
25:32 It's just that long vowel sound or.
25:35 Core.
25:36 An example using core.
25:37 My dad reading me a story before bed is one of my core childhood
25:42 memories.
25:43 Core is such a beautifully versatile word.
25:46 As a noun, it means the central or middle part of something,
25:50 like an apple core or the Earth's core.
25:53 When used as an adjective,
25:55 it usually refers to the central or key part of something.
25:59 A core memory is a significant memory from your childhood.
26:03 It's often something that has a direct impact on your personality.
26:08 We also often talk about core beliefs or core values.
26:11 Number three, deliberate.
26:15 Deliberate.
26:17 The teacher made a deliberate mistake to check
26:20 if the students were still paying attention.
26:23 If you've never heard this word before,
26:25 can you guess its meaning from the context?
26:28 A deliberate action is intentional.
26:32 We can also say the teacher made a mistake on purpose.
26:36 The opposite of deliberate is unintentional or by accident.
26:42 British English, in American English, they also say on accident.
26:47 We favor by accident in British English.
26:50 Now, deliberate has an uh sound at the end, the schwa, deliberate.
26:56 You will also hear it squeezed down to three syllables, deliberate, deliberate,
27:03 in fast-spoken English.
27:05 Be careful, though.
27:06 There is also a verb that is spelled in exactly the same way,
27:10 but it has a different meaning and pronunciation.
27:14 The verb form is to deliberate, deliberate, with a at the end.
27:19 Words like this are called heteronyms,
27:21 and I've included some more examples in the PDF.
27:25 Bonus point if you know what deliberate means.
27:28 If you deliberate something, you think about it very carefully.
27:33 For example, the judges deliberated for hours before reaching their final decision.
27:38 Time for number four.
27:43 Elsewhere.
27:44 Elsewhere.
27:44 Notice how the main stress is on the second syllable, elsewhere.
27:48 Here is the word in context.
27:50 Any idea what it means?
27:52 The restaurant is fully booked.
27:55 We'll have to go elsewhere.
27:57 There's actually a bit of a clue in the word itself.
28:00 To go elsewhere means to go somewhere else.
28:05 Elsewhere, somewhere else.
28:07 I think it's a beautiful word,
28:09 the way that somewhere else is inverted to become elsewhere.
28:13 We usually use it after a verb, like we did in the example sentence.
28:18 Okay, how are you getting on so far?
28:20 Let's do number five.
28:22 Grab.
28:24 Grab.
28:25 For example, someone just grabbed my bag and ran off with it.
28:30 Grab literally means to take hold of something very quickly, often using force.
28:36 But, we can also use grab as a casual expression,
28:40 meaning to get something to eat or drink quickly.
28:43 It's a great phrase that we use all the time.
28:46 For example, we've got 30 minutes before the next meeting.
28:50 Should we go and grab a coffee?
28:52 Obviously, I'm not going to snatch the coffee like that.
28:55 We're just going to get it quickly.
28:57 It implies speed.
28:59 Number six, ready?
29:00 I love this vowel sound, urge.
29:05 Urge.
29:06 I love this word,
29:07 but it can be tricky to pronounce
29:09 because of the long vowel sound at the beginning.
29:13 Imagine you've just seen something that's disgusting and say "Urgh."
29:17 It's the same sound you find in world and work.
29:21 Urge.
29:22 Have you heard this word before?
29:27 Okay, let's look at the meaning.
29:28 Can you replace urge with a synonym in this sentence?
29:34 The government urged the public to remain calm.
29:38 It's a pretty formal word.
29:39 You might have heard it on the news.
29:41 Still not sure?
29:43 Maybe you can think of another word that begins with the letters u, r,
29:46 g, and e.
29:47 We have urgent.
29:49 This has the same root or origin as urge.
29:52 It's similar in meaning to recommend, but it's stronger.
29:58 The structure is to urge somebody to do something.
30:03 It's also often used in the passive.
30:06 For example, she was urged to follow safety procedures at all times.
30:12 Okay, here comes lucky number seven.
30:18 Gig.
30:18 Gig.
30:18 I've just bought tickets for the Coldplay gig in September.
30:23 Gig is another word for concert.
30:25 We normally use it with popular music concerts like pop, rock, or jazz.
30:31 We don't normally say a classical music gig.
30:34 Here, the word concert would be more appropriate.
30:37 Musicians or comedians do or play a gig,
30:41 but most of us go to a gig.
30:43 Sometimes it's used in a slang way to mean a job.
30:47 I've got a gig as a children's party entertainer, for example.
30:51 It's like a one-off.
30:53 It can also be used as a verb,
30:55 and I've left more information about all of this
30:57 and all of the other words,
30:58 plus some more, in the PDF.
31:00 The link's in the description.
31:01 Okay, we're over halfway through now,
31:03 and we're moving things up a notch to some advanced-level words.
31:08 Number eight, I love how this word sounds.
31:15 Cling.
31:15 Cling.
31:15 Here it is in a sentence.
31:17 He always clings to his girlfriend's arm when they watch horror films together.
31:22 So, if you cling to or onto something, you hold it very tightly,
31:27 usually because you're afraid.
31:29 You probably have some cling film in your kitchen.
31:32 It's also known as plastic wrap.
31:34 We use it to cover food tightly.
31:36 So, if you describe a person as clingy, clingy, what are you saying?
31:42 It's a fairly disapproving adjective,
31:45 meaning that a person depends on another person too much and lacks independence.
31:50 We often use it to describe children
31:52 or partners who are perhaps a bit too possessive.
31:56 For example, Sarah is a clingy child.
31:59 She never leaves her mother's side.
32:01 Ready for number nine?
32:02 We're moving into super advanced territory now.
32:08 Gabble.
32:09 Gabble.
32:09 He got nervous in the interview and started to gabble.
32:13 If you gabble, you speak
32:14 so quickly that people find it difficult to understand you.
32:18 We often use it with the prepositions on and away.
32:21 What do you tend to gabble on about or gabble away about?
32:25 I have to admit, I tend to gabble on a bit about Spain.
32:27 I'm here right now, and I love it.
32:29 Number 10, this is a word that I learned fairly recently,
32:33 and now that I know what it means, I see and hear it everywhere.
32:38 It's a regular verb.
32:44 Gaslight.
32:44 Gaslight.
32:44 For example, the boss made a mistake
32:47 and then gaslighted me into thinking it was my fault.
32:51 To gaslight means to manipulate someone's memory of an event.
32:56 And this usually involves trying to make somebody believe things
32:59 that aren't true in an attempt to control them.
33:02 If someone gaslights you, you might start to doubt your memory of an event.
33:07 And you're probably thinking, "Where on earth does this come from?"
33:10 Well, interestingly, this term comes from the 1930s British play called Gaslight,
33:16 in which a man manages to convince his wife
33:19 that she has a mental illness.
33:21 Really creepy.
33:22 Number 11, we have ghost.
33:29 Ghost.
33:29 Now, I know you're thinking, "Lucy,
33:31 there's no way that ghost is an advanced word."
33:35 Well, you're not wrong.
33:36 The noun ghost is definitely an intermediate word,
33:39 but could you use ghost as a verb?
33:43 Here's an example.
33:44 We chatted online for over a year, and then she completely ghosted me.
33:48 If you ghost somebody, you suddenly stop all communication with someone without explanation.
33:55 You simply And then I'll go down like this.
34:02 Disappear.
34:02 We often use the term with online relationships,
34:05 but you could also be ghosted by a friend
34:08 or someone you're dating in person
34:10 or in real life.
34:11 It's quite sad, actually.
34:13 Let's move on to number 12, to another word I love saying, finicky.
34:20 Finicky.
34:21 This word has two meanings, so let's hear it in context.
34:25 I'm a bit finicky when it comes to coffee,
34:27 so I always buy from the same independent coffee shop.
34:31 Another example, different meaning, "Can you help me put this shelf together?
34:36 It's a bit finicky."
34:37 So, in the first sentence, finicky means fussy.
34:42 It's a disapproving adjective, which means that you worry too much about certain things.
34:47 This worrying can make it difficult for you to be happy
34:50 or satisfied with something.
34:53 In the second sentence,
34:55 assembling the furniture is finicky
34:57 because it requires a lot of attention to detail
35:00 as there may be lots of small parts.
35:02 Okay, we are on the home stretch now.
35:05 Our final three words.
35:07 Number 13, situationship.
35:12 Situationship.
35:12 An example, "I'd love to move things on from being in a situationship to
35:17 actually being boyfriend and girlfriend.
35:19 Any ideas?"
35:20 This is a great word to use when you're more than friends with somebody,
35:23 but you're not officially dating or in a serious relationship.
35:27 It's a blend of the words situation and relationship,
35:30 and it's being used more and more frequently.
35:33 Number 14, ableism.
35:38 Ableism.
35:38 Do you recognize any parts of this word?
35:40 Able or ism?
35:43 Perhaps you're familiar with the words racism, sexism, and feminism.
35:49 Here's the word in context.
35:51 "As a wheelchair user, Sally is forced to face ableism on a daily basis."
35:56 Ableism refers to discrimination against disabled people.
36:01 And I love this word
36:02 because it draws attention to unacceptable attitudes
36:05 and behaviors towards people with mental
36:07 and physical disabilities.
36:09 Okay, now it's time for our final word of the day,
36:12 and this is a word that I most definitely relate to, nomophobia.
36:18 Nomophobia.
36:20 Perhaps you recognize the last part of the word, phobia.
36:24 Here's the word in context.
36:26 "She has a severe case of nomophobia.
36:29 She can't go anywhere without her mobile phone.
36:32 So, a phobia is an extreme fear of something,
36:36 and nomophobia is a fear of not having your mobile phone.
36:40 Something I can kind of relate to,
36:43 although I'm trying to spend more time away from my mobile phone.
36:46 How many of these wonderful words did you already know?
36:50 And which one is your favorite?
36:52 Let me know in the comments section.
36:56 Okay, let's begin the quiz.
36:59 There will be three rounds with different question types.
37:03 First, multiple choice.
37:05 Question one.
37:07 I'm fed with this rainy weather.
37:12 Is it A, on, B, down, or C, up?
37:24 It should be C, up.
37:28 I'm fed up with this rainy weather.
37:31 If you're fed up, you're bored or annoyed,
37:35 often because something has lasted for too long.
37:38 It's common to hear fed up with,
37:41 but fed up of is also common in British English, especially in informal speech.
37:48 She got fed up with waiting and went to look for him.
37:52 Or, I'm fed up of hearing that song on the radio.
37:55 Notice how we usually use the ing form of the verb after prepositions.
38:01 Question two.
38:02 My new car doesn't much fuel, so it's cheap to run.
38:08 Is it A, spend, B, consume, or C, contain?
38:21 It should be B, consume.
38:24 It doesn't consume much fuel.
38:27 Consume means use, often referring to fuel, energy, or time.
38:33 Notice how both fuel and consume have this invisible y sound before the ooh.
38:46 Fuel.
38:47 Consume.
38:48 Another example with consume.
38:48 The project has consumed all of our time.
38:52 It's used up all of our time.
38:55 Number three.
38:56 The couple behind me talked the film.
39:01 It was so annoying.
39:03 Is it A, while, B, completely, or C, throughout?
39:17 It should be C, throughout.
39:21 Throughout means during the whole of a period of time
39:25 or in every part of a place.
39:28 And notice how I stress the second syllable.
39:31 It's not throughout, it's throughout.
39:35 If you want to improve your pronunciation and sound more natural when you speak,
39:41 focusing on syllable stress is going to get you there fast.
39:46 I always try to highlight the syllable stress for you.
39:49 Another example.
39:51 People throughout the world watch the Olympics.
39:55 People all over the world, in every part of the world.
39:58 Okay, question four.
40:00 She politely pointed that I had forgotten to sign the form.
40:06 Is it A, out, B, up, or C, to?
40:17 It should be A.
40:20 Out.
40:20 She pointed out the tide forgotten.
40:23 If you point something out, you tell someone about something important,
40:29 often because you think they don't know or have forgotten.
40:32 Another example, I was going to cook lamb until my husband pointed out
40:39 that Simon is a vegetarian.
40:41 And the last question in this round, number five,
40:45 which word best completes the sentence?
40:47 The medicine was very and I felt better quickly.
40:53 Is it A, effective, B, active, or C, successful?
41:06 It should be A, effective.
41:10 We don't tend to say that medicine is active or successful.
41:15 A treatment could be successful, but a medicine is usually effective.
41:21 If something is effective,
41:22 it produces a result that you want or it works well.
41:26 Okay, we've finished the first round.
41:29 What is your score out of five?
41:31 Note it down and then we'll start round two.
41:34 Are you ready to start round two?
41:36 This time, first I'll say the word and show it on the screen.
41:42 See if you know what it means.
41:45 Then I will give you an example with the word.
41:48 Finally, I'll explain the meaning and you can check if you got it right.
41:55 Ready?
41:55 Number six, duty.
42:01 Duty.
42:01 An example sentence, it is my duty to help my younger brother with his
42:06 homework.
42:07 What do you think?
42:13 A duty is something
42:14 that you must do
42:16 because it is your job
42:18 or because it is right.
42:19 You'll hear this pronounced in a few different ways.
42:22 In British English, it might be duty with a d sound
42:28 or duty with a j sound.
42:31 In North American English, it's more likely to be duty or duty.
42:38 Next word, number seven. cruel cruel Here's an example.
42:45 It was very cruel to leave the cat outside in the cold.
42:50 Have a think about the definition.
42:57 If something is cruel, it hurts others, causes them pain, or makes them sad.
43:04 You will hear this pronounced cruel with two syllables
43:09 or cruel with just one syllable.
43:12 Both are correct.
43:13 You can use whichever is more comfortable for you.
43:16 Normally, my students find it easier to use one syllable, cruel.
43:20 Word number eight. keen keen An example, she's keen to travel to new places.
43:34 Keen means very interested in or enthusiastic about something.
43:39 If you're keen, you often want to do something or want something to happen.
43:45 You'll hear keen to do something like in our example or keen on something.
43:52 For example, he's keen on sailing.
43:56 He likes it very much.
43:58 A little pronunciation note here.
44:00 Notice the consonant to vowel linking. kee non Instead of saying keen on,
44:10 I link them together and say keen on.
44:13 Keen on.
44:14 He's keen on sailing.
44:17 Our next word, number nine, is to fool.
44:21 To fool.
44:22 An example sentence, don't let his friendly manner fool you.
44:28 He's not as nice as he seems.
44:35 To fool means to make someone believe something that's not true.
44:40 A similar word is to trick.
44:43 She fooled me.
44:44 She tricked me.
44:45 And the last one in this round, to expand.
44:49 To expand.
44:51 An example, the company decided to expand its online shop to reach more customers.
45:03 Here's the definition.
45:04 To expand means to become larger in size, number, or amount,
45:11 or to make something do this.
45:14 To make something become larger.
45:16 It's often pronounced expand with an i, expand,
45:21 but you will also hear expand with an e sound as well.
45:26 Both are fine.
45:27 Another example, metal expands in the heat.
45:31 Okay, how are you doing so far?
45:33 How's your score out of 10?
45:35 Now, let's start the final round of our quiz.
45:37 You're going to complete the gaps.
45:40 Number 11, we always spend our summers at the playing on the beach.
45:46 The word we're looking for starts with S, and it has seven letters.
45:58 The word is seaside.
46:02 Seaside.
46:03 So, this is a really common word in British English,
46:06 but I rarely hear my students use it.
46:09 Did you know it?
46:10 The seaside is the area near the sea where people often go for a
46:15 holiday or to relax.
46:17 It is the seaside, not a seaside.
46:21 We're going to the seaside next week.
46:23 Number 12.
46:25 Wolves have thick that keeps them warm in cold weather.
46:30 I'm not going to give you a clue here on the letters.
46:38 It should be fur.
46:41 Did you know that one?
46:43 Fur is the soft hair that covers some animals' bodies, specifically mammals.
46:49 Dogs and cats have fur, apart from those Sphinx cats.
46:53 You can also say that animals have a coat,
46:57 but that would have required an article.
47:00 Fur or a coat.
47:02 Okay, number 13.
47:03 I was at the range of cakes on offer in the tiny bakery.
47:09 We're looking for a word starting with A with six letters.
47:19 It should be amazed.
47:22 I was amazed.
47:24 This means very surprised.
47:26 We often say we're amazed at or by something or someone.
47:30 And notice how I pronounce it.
47:35 Amazed.
47:36 Amazed.
47:36 I have a schwa uh in the first syllable.
47:39 Amazed, not amazed.
47:42 Amazed.
47:42 Number 14.
47:44 The heavy rain caused a that washed away several houses.
47:56 It is a flood.
48:01 A flood is a large amount of water
48:03 that covers an area
48:04 that is usually dry.
48:06 Floods often happen when rivers become too full of water.
48:10 And finally, question 15.
48:13 Most people were in of adding a playground to the park.
48:19 We need a word with a similar meaning to approval.
48:25 It begins with F and it has six letters.
48:34 It should be favor.
48:37 Most people were in favor of adding a playground.
48:42 If you are in favor of something or someone,
48:45 you agree with and support it or them.
48:48 So, what was your score out of 15?
48:51 If you scored higher than 12,
48:54 I think you ought to have a look at some B2 level materials
48:58 as well.
49:02 Let's start with this quiz.
49:04 The first round is called level up.
49:07 You will see a sentence with a word in bold.
49:10 I want you to replace it with a more advanced B2 level one.
49:15 Are you ready?
49:16 Keep score as we go.
49:18 Number one.
49:19 The book is full of stories from the author's travels.
49:23 Replace stories with a B2 level word starting with A.
49:35 It should be anecdotes.
49:37 Now, stories is totally fine, but anecdotes is more precise.
49:43 An anecdote is a short, often funny story about a real event or person.
49:49 And note the pronunciation, anecdote, not anecdote.
49:55 An example, he told a funny anecdote about getting lost in Paris.
49:59 Number two.
50:00 I'm sure we made the right decision.
50:03 Replace sure with a B2 level word starting with C.
50:13 If you said certain, it's a good guess and it does fit,
50:19 but certain is not a B2 level word.
50:22 We are looking for the word convinced.
50:26 It means completely sure or certain about something.
50:31 The stress is on the second syllable.
50:34 Convinced.
50:36 Three.
50:37 She cut some wood for the fire.
50:40 Replace cut with another verb starting with C.
50:49 It should be chopped.
50:52 To chop means to cut something into pieces with a sharp tool such
50:58 as a knife or an axe.
51:00 Again, cut is fine,
51:03 but chop collocates strongly with wood
51:07 and with logs as well
51:09 as with many vegetables.
51:11 We often say that we chop carrots, onions, or potatoes.
51:15 Next one.
51:17 I have clear memories of the first time I visited Rome.
51:22 Replace clear with a word starting with V.
51:31 It should be vivid.
51:33 We often use vivid to talk about memories
51:36 or descriptions that produce clear
51:39 and detailed pictures in our minds.
51:42 Another example, the book gave a vivid portrayal of life in rural France.
51:48 Number five, the company plans to build a new road.
51:53 What's a higher level synonym for build?
51:57 It starts with C.
52:04 It should be construct.
52:06 This means to build something or put parts together to create something.
52:11 Construct is more formal than build and you'll often see it in passive structures.
52:17 The building was constructed in the 19th century.
52:21 And notice how I pronounce it with a schwa on the first syllable
52:25 and the stress on the second.
52:30 Construct.
52:32 Not construct when we're using it as a verb.
52:33 All right, that's the end of the first round.
52:36 Did you know those five B2 level words?
52:39 Remember to keep score as we go along.
52:42 Let's move on to our next round.
52:44 You will see a word and two possible definitions.
52:48 You need to choose the correct one.
52:50 So, let's go with number six.
52:53 Alarmed.
52:53 Does it mean worried or annoyed?
53:02 It should be worried.
53:04 If you are alarmed,
53:06 you're worried or frightened because something unexpected or dangerous has happened or might happen.
53:12 Make sure to put the stress on the second syllable.
53:16 It's alarmed, not alarmed.
53:19 They were alarmed when smoke started coming under the door.
53:23 Number seven, restore.
53:25 Does it mean to refill something that's empty
53:28 or to repair something
53:31 so it's in its original condition?
53:38 It's the second definition.
53:40 We often restore paintings, furniture, and old buildings.
53:45 The stress is on the second syllable.
53:48 Restore, not restore.
53:51 Restore.
53:52 The old paintings have been lovingly restored.
53:55 Next, appeal.
53:57 Is this the skin of a fruit
54:00 or vegetable or a quality
54:03 that makes someone or something attractive?
54:11 It's the second, and we have another word that's stressed on the second syllable.
54:16 Appeal, not appeal.
54:19 Part of the appeal of this cafe is that it's never crowded.
54:24 Number nine, prospect.
54:27 Is this the possibility
54:30 that something good might happen in the future
54:33 or a detailed plan of action?
54:41 It's the first one.
54:43 The prospect of moving to a new country excites and terrifies me.
54:49 And number 10, rested.
54:53 Does this mean no longer working
54:55 because of old age
54:57 or feeling healthy and full of energy after a period of not working?
55:07 It's the second.
55:09 After a few days away, I came back feeling rested and ready to work.
55:14 So, how was that round?
55:16 What is your score so far out of 10?
55:18 Now, we're on to our final round, which is the most challenging.
55:22 Complete the gaps.
55:24 You ready?
55:25 Number 11.
55:27 Which word best completes the sentence?
55:30 When the last video rental shop closed in my city,
55:34 it was the end of a or an what?
55:44 era.
55:45 The end of an era.
55:47 An era is a period of time
55:49 that is known for particular events
55:51 or characteristics.
55:53 The end of an era is a common phrase.
55:56 We use it to say
55:57 that a certain period
55:58 and its characteristics have come to an end.
56:01 Number 12.
56:03 My first at skiing ended in disaster.
56:08 We're looking for a noun beginning with A.
56:11 I'll give you that.
56:17 Attempt.
56:18 An attempt is an act of trying to do something, especially something difficult.
56:23 The verb form is also attempt, meaning to try to do something difficult.
56:29 Both are stressed on the second syllable with a schwa in the first.
56:34 Attempt.
56:36 The umpt consonant cluster at the end can be tricky to pronounce.
56:42 Attempt.
56:43 You will hear that some people don't pronounce the p sound.
56:51 Attempt.
56:51 Attempt.
56:51 Let's have an example now.
56:52 I attempted to avoid work by organizing my sock drawer.
56:56 Okay, let's have two phrasal verbs now.
56:59 Number 13.
57:00 Kyle was definitely off when he started doing push-ups in the living room.
57:11 The best fit here is showing.
57:14 Showing off.
57:15 And notice how I give more energy to off.
57:19 Showing off.
57:21 Kyle was definitely showing off.
57:24 To show off means to behave in a way
57:26 that is meant to attract attention
57:28 or make others admire you.
57:30 Showing off is often annoying.
57:32 Notice how the stress shifts to the first word for the noun form.
57:38 A person who shows off is a show-off.
57:42 And number 14, I trust Kate.
57:45 She's never let me before.
57:53 It should be down.
57:55 She's never let me down.
57:57 To let somebody down means to disappoint someone by failing to do what they
58:02 expected.
58:03 And finally, the last one.
58:05 Number 15, it's a real film that leaves people feeling happy.
58:13 We're looking for a compound adjective starting with F.
58:25 It's feel-good.
58:26 It's a real feel-good film.
58:28 I bet you understand those words individually,
58:31 but did you know that we can combine them to create an adjective?
58:34 Feel-good means something that makes you feel happy and positive.
58:39 Or very simply, something that makes you feel good.
58:43 You'll see the adjective both with and without a hyphen.
58:46 So, that's a feel-good word to end on.
58:49 Do you have a B2 level in English?
58:52 Let me know your score in the comments.
58:56 At around 70% and above, you're getting really close.
59:00 >>