Common Phrases in Spoken English (Part 1)

In this lesson, you will learn common phrases used in informal situations. They will help you sound more natural in English conversations. 

Read the examples to learn how you can use them in your everyday life. 


speaking of 
You can use this phrase to introduce something you are going to say that is related to what someone else has already mentioned. 

Examples: ​

• Speaking of Jane, where is she? 
• And speaking of gifts, I have one for you. 
• Speaking of holidays, we're planning to spend New Year in Sydney. 

not bother | not bother yourself 
When you tell someone that they do not need to do something for you. 

​Examples: 

• 'I'll get you a drink.' -- 'No, please don't bother.' 
• 'Are you sure you can do this by yourself?' -- 'Sure, I can manage. Don't bother yourself.' 
• 'Why didn't you ask me? I would come with you.' -- 'I didn't want to bother you.' 

off the top of one's head 
When you say something from memory or without much thinking or consideration. 

Examples: 

• 'That's a great idea!' -- 'Right off the top of my head.' 
• 'How many did we sell last month?' -- 'Off  the top of my head, I think around 50, but I'll check the figures again and let you know.' 
• 'How much does the ticket cost?' -- 'I don't know off the top of my head, but I can look it up online.' 

fall into place 
When events or details that you did not understand before fall into place, they suddenly make sense and become easy to understand. 

Examples: 

• Once they decided how to complete the project, things fell into place. 
• Party planners are coming tomorrow -- everything is falling into place. 
• Keep your options open and you'll see that everything will fall into place. 
• I was really jealous at first, but once I discovered that she was just a friend, everything fell into place. 

keep an eye on (something/someone) 
To look after something or someone or to watch carefully 

Examples: 

• Can you keep an eye on my bag while I'm buying some food for the trip? 
• Can you keep an eye on my cat for two days? I'll be away this weekend. 
• Don't worry, I'll keep an eye on the baby while you go to the store. 

​

make (the) time 
To have some time when you are not busy in order to do something you think you should do 

Examples: 

• I'm busy now, but I'll try to make time to do it tomorrow. 
• I'm looking for a new job. I need to make time to work on my résumé this weekend. 
• His work keeps him so busy that he can't even make time for the kids. He should definitely re-evaluate his priorities. 

Other lessons: 
Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English 
Spoken English: How to Agree and Show Interest 
​Discourse Markers for IELTS Speaking and Everyday English 

English collocation lessons: 
English Lesson: Collocations for Making Decisions 
English Lesson: Collocations for Describing a Conversation 

English conversation lessons: 
English Conversation: Saying Goodbye 
English Conversation: Socialising with people and working in coffee shops 


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DO YOU WANT TO IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH SPEAKING SKILLS?

​Our lessons are engaging and encourage students to speak more on a specific topic.
Students learn and practise new vocabulary, and improve grammar as well.
You will receive feedback on your mistakes and advice how to improve.

English Speaking Course