Talk to me - Intermediate
Phrases in English
Thanks to Shayna Oliviera.
Thanks to Freddy Chávez for additional phrases.
Intermediate
1. Pardon?
(if you didn’t hear or understand what the person said)
2. Would you mind repeating that?
3. What do you mean?
4. I’m not sure I follow you.
5.
Could you
explain… ?
6.
Sorry! What did
you say?
5
Ways to Check if the Other Person Understands You
1. Do you understand what I’m saying?
2. Does that make sense?
3. Do you know what I mean?
4. Are you with me
so far?
5.
Is that clear?
5
Ways to Ask for Help
1. I need a little help.
2. Could you help me out?
3. Could you give me a hand?
4. Could you spare a couple minutes?
5.
Could you do me a
favor?
5
Ways to Ask Someone Else to Do Something
1.
Would you mind…
[opening the window]?
2.
Could you please…
[turn off the lights]?
3.
Can you… [pass
me the chicken]?
4.
Please… [send me
the information].
5.
I’d appreciate it
if you could… [wash the dishes].
5
Ways to Interrupt Someone
1.
Sorry to
interrupt, but…
2.
Excuse me – could
I talk to you for a minute? / do you have a minute?
(when interrupting a conversation between two other people, to talk to
one of them)
3.
Could I jump in
here?
(use this when interrupting a discussion among many people)
4.
Sorry – I just
want to say that…
5.
May I have a
word?
10
Ways to Encourage Someone
1.
Keep up the good
work!
2. That was a nice
try.
3.
That’s a real
improvement.
4.
You’re on the
right track.
5.
You’ve almost got
it.
6.
You’re doing
great.
7.
Don’t give up! /
Hang in there!
(when someone is currently having difficulties)
8.
You can do it!
9.
Give it your best
shot.
(best shot = best try, best effort)
10.
Nice job! / You
did great!
5
Phrases for Complaining
1.
I’m not happy
about this.
2.
I’m sorry, but
this is unacceptable.
3.
I’m not very
satisfied with... [ex. this product / this situation]
4.
I can’t stand it
when… [ex. the internet is slow]
5.
This sucks.
1.
I’ll always
remember… / I’ll never forget…
2.
If I remember
correctly… / As far as I can recall…
3.
I have a vague
recollection of…
4. It’s on the tip
of my tongue.
5. My mind went
blank.
6. It doesn’t ring a
bell.
7.
Please remember
to… / Please don’t forget to…
8.
I’d like to
remind you about…
9.
You haven’t
forgotten to/about… have you?
10. It completely slipped my mind!
10
Phrases for Saying Something is Easy
& Difficult
1.
It’s a piece of
cake.
2.
It’s a cinch.
3.
It’s a breeze.
4.
Anyone can do it.
5.
There’s nothing
to it.
6.
It’s hard.
7.
It’s a bit
tricky.
8.
It’s really
tough.
9.
It’s not a walk
in the park.
10. It’s very
demanding. 
10
Expressions about Age
1. She’s in her
early twenties.
2. He’s in his late thirt
3. She just turned
4. Act your age!
(use this when an adult is being immature, acting like a child)
7. He’s no spring chicken.
8. She’s wise beyond her years.
9. I’m having a senior moment.
10. He lived to a ripe old age.
10
Phrases for Shopping
1.
Do you have… ?
2.
Where can I find…
?
3. I’m just
browsing.
4.
I’m looking for…
5.
How much is this?
6.
Is this on sale?
7. Can I try it on?
8.
I’ll take it!
9.
Do you take
credit cards?
10.
I’d like to
return/exchange this.
10
Phrases for Talking about Food
1.
I’m starving!
(= I’m very hungry)
2.
Let’s grab a bite
to eat.
3. How about eating out tonight?
4.
I brought some
snacks.
5.
This soup is
delicious!
6. Could I have another helping of… [potatoes]?
7. I’ll have…
8. Could we get the check, please?
9. I’m full.
10. I’m stuffed.
10
Phrases for Talking About TV
1.
Where’s the
remote?
(remote = remote control)
2.
Is there anything
good on?
3.
Can I change the
channel?
4.
I’ve already seen
this episode.
5. This is a rerun.
6.
I love this show!
7.
There are too
many commercials.
8.
Stop
channel-surfing.
(channel-surfing = changing the channel quickly)
9. Check the TV
guide.
10. It’s the season finale!
(= the final episode of the season)
10
Phrases You’ll Hear in the Airport
1.
Do you have any
bags to check?
2. Would you like a window seat or an aisle seat? (aisle = corridor)
3.
Here’s your
boarding pass.
(boarding pass = the paper that permits you to enter the plane)
4.
Your flight
leaves from gate 15.
5.
Your seat number
is 8F.
6.
Flight 800 is now
boarding.
(boarding = passengers can enter the plane)
7.
Your flight has
been delayed.
8.
Your flight has
been canceled.
9.
This is the final
call for flight 800.
10.
What is the
purpose of your trip?
10
Ways to Talk About Price
1.
It cost a
fortune.
2.
It cost an arm
and a leg.
3.
That’s a rip-off.
(= overpriced; far more expensive than it should be)
4. I can’t afford
it.
5.
That’s a bit
pricey.
6. That’s quite reasonable.
7. It’s 20% off.
8. That’s a good
deal.
9.
It was a real
bargain.
10. It was dirt cheap.
(= extremely inexpensive)
5
Phrases for Hot Weather
1.
It’s nice and
warm today.
2. It’s absolutely
boiling!
3. We’re having a
real heat wave.
4.
The sun’s really
strong today.
5.
It’s hot and
humid.
5
Phrases for Cold Weather
1.
It’s a little
chilly.
2.
It’s freezing.
(= extremely cold)
3.
The temperature’s
dropping.
4.
Make sure to
bundle up.
(bundle up = put on warm clothes for protection against the cold)
5. We’re expecting
some winter weather.
5
Phrases for Talking about Rain
1.
It’s drizzling.
(= raining lightly)
2.
It’s pouring.
(= raining heavily)
3.
It’s raining cats
and dogs.
(= raining heavily)
4.
I got caught in a
downpour.
5.
I think the
rain’s letting up.
(letting up = getting lighter and stopping)
10
Ways to Say You’re Tired
1.
I’m exhausted.
2.
I’m dead tired.
3.
I’m pooped.
4.
I’m spent.
5.
I’m beat.
6.
I’m running on
fumes. / I’m running on empty.
7.
I can hardly keep
my eyes open.
8.
I’m off to bed.
9.
I’m gonna hit the
sack.
(hit the sack = go to bed)
10.
It’s bedtime for
me.
5
Phrases for Promises & Resolutions
1.
I really should…
2.
I promise that
I’ll…
3.
I swear I’ll / I
won’t…
(a very strong promise)
4.
No matter what
happens, I’m going to…
5.
Come hell or high
water, I’ll…
10
Excuses for Being Late
1.
Sorry I’m late.
2.
I overslept.
(= I slept longer than I should have)
3.
My alarm didn’t
go off.
4. I had to wait ages for a bus. (ages = a very long time)
5.
The bus was late.
6.
The traffic was
terrible.
7.
I couldn’t find a
parking spot.
8.
I got lost coming
here.
9.
I was tied up in
a meeting.
(tied up = occupied, impossible to escape)
10.
I just lost track
of time.
(= I didn’t notice what time it was)
5
Ways to Say Someone is Correct
1.
That’s right.
2.
That’s spot on.
3.
You’ve hit the nail
on the head. / You’ve nailed it.
4.
I suppose so.
(use this when you agree, but you are not completely convinced)
5.
I’m afraid you’re
right.
(use this in response to bad news, to say the bad news is correct)
5
Ways to Say Someone is Wrong
1.
I’m afraid that’s
not quite right.
2.
I’m afraid you’re
mistaken.
3.
No, you’ve got it
wrong.
4.
No, that’s all
wrong.
5.
(informal
– rude) Baloney. /
Bullshit.
5
Ways to Say Someone is Smart
1.
He’s really
sharp.
2.
She’s brilliant.
3.
He’s very bright.
4.
She’s a genius.
5.
He’s a smart
cookie.
5
Ways to Say Someone is Stupid
1.
He’s not the
sharpest tool in the shed.
2.
She’s a few cards
short of a deck.
3.
He’s a bit slow.
4.
She’s a complete
idiot.
5.
He’s really dumb.
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