MicroEnglish. https://microenglish.com/ Learn English by Listening Thu, 04 Jul 2024 09:52:10 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.1 https://microenglish.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/MicroEnglish-square-100x100.png MicroEnglish. https://microenglish.com/ 32 32 chip away https://microenglish.com/phrasal-verbs/chip-away/ https://microenglish.com/phrasal-verbs/chip-away/#respond Thu, 04 Jul 2024 09:52:08 +0000 https://microenglish.com/?p=40348 chip away at something: meaning and explanation To "chip away at something" means to slowly work on a big task or problem, doing a little...

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chip away at something: meaning and explanation

To "chip away at something" means to slowly work on a big task or problem, doing a little bit at a time.

The literal/original meaning of this expression is to describe the gradual creation of a sculpture from a large block of stone, piece by piece.

We use this phrasal verb to talk about making slow but steady progress on something difficult or time-consuming.

e.g. She's been chipping away at her thesis for months, writing a little each day.

This phrasal verb often communicates the idea of patience and persistence, and of gradually working towards a long term goal.

However, chipping away at something can sometimes be used more negatively, to describe something being gradually destroyed, damaged, or reduced.

e.g. These energy bills are really chipping away at our savings.

Here are some examples of this phrasal verb in context:

, .

About the sentence

...a mountain of paperwork...

We can use the phrase 'a mountain of something' to talk about a large quantity of something.

e.g. Can you give me a hand? There's a mountain of washing up to do.

. .
, .

About the sentence

...I do my best to rise above it...

To "rise above something" means to not let a difficult situation or negative behavior affect you. It's about staying calm and behaving well even when things are hard or when others are being unkind. We use this phrase when talking about dealing with problems or conflicts in a mature and positive way.

e.g. Try to rise above the gossip at work and focus on doing your job well.

. .

About the sentence

...in one go...

If you do something in one go, then you do it all at once, without stopping or taking breaks. You complete the task or action in a single attempt.

e.g. I was so thirsty, I drank the whole bottle of water in one go.

Extra practice

Here are some questions/links to help you learn the new vocabulary:

  • What long-term goal are you currently chipping away at? How do you stay motivated?
  • Have you ever had to chip away at a debt? What strategies did you use?

Photo by Delia Giandeini on Unsplash

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give it a miss https://microenglish.com/idioms/give-it-a-miss/ https://microenglish.com/idioms/give-it-a-miss/#respond Tue, 02 Jul 2024 21:40:30 +0000 https://microenglish.com/?p=40324 Give it a miss: meaning and explanation To "give something a miss" means to deliberately avoid or skip an activity, event, or opportunity. If you...

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Give it a miss: meaning and explanation

To "give something a miss" means to deliberately avoid or skip an activity, event, or opportunity. If you give something a miss, then you are consciously deciding not to participate in or attend something.

e.g. I think I'll give the party a miss tonight. I'm feeling tired.

This phrase is often used in casual conversation, particularly in British English, but it's understood in other English-speaking countries as well.

We can use this phrase to decline something in a more polite, indirect or gentle way. It's less abrupt or direct than saying "I won't go" or "I'm not doing that."

e.g. It's very kind of you to invite me for lunch but I think I'll have to give it a miss - I've got a lot of work to do unfortunately.

Here are some dictations using this expression in context:

, .

About the sentence

...I'm on a tight budget...

If you're on a tight budget then money is limited and must be carefully controlled. There's little or no room for extra expenses beyond essential costs.

e.g. We're on a tight budget this month, so we can't afford to eat out

, .
, .

About the sentence

...this time around...

"This time around" refers to the current instance or occurrence of something, often implying a contrast with previous or future times, or suggesting that things may be different now compared to before/after.

e.g. I know I've picked some bad films recently, but I'm pretty sure it's a good one this time around.

Here's a natural example in an Irish accent (for context, Galway is a city by the sea on the west coast of Ireland):

, Galway . . Galway .

About the sentence

...I'll just leave it until...

The phrase "I'll leave it" is used to say that you're choosing not to do or have something, or to not continue with something.

e.g. It doesn't look like we're going to reach an agreement on this, so I think it's best if we leave it for now.

And another in an Australian accent, from a conversation about beauty products:

, . , .

About the sentence

...make sure it fits before diving in...

If you dive into something, you start or engage in something enthusiastically, quickly, or without hesitation. 

e.g. Beginning an essay is usually the hardest part. Don't overthink it, just dive in and start writing.

Extra practice

Here are some questions/links to help you learn the new vocabulary:

  • When was the last time you decided to give something a miss? Why did you make that choice?
  • Have you ever regretted giving something a miss? What was it, and why do you regret it now?
  • How do you politely tell someone you're going to give an event a miss without hurting their feelings?

Photo by David Clode on Unsplash

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grow apart https://microenglish.com/phrasal-verbs/grow-apart/ https://microenglish.com/phrasal-verbs/grow-apart/#respond Mon, 24 Jun 2024 09:46:23 +0000 https://microenglish.com/?p=40298 grow apart: meaning and explanation The phrasal verb grow apart is used to describe how two people (friends, relatives, a couple) gradually become less close...

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grow apart: meaning and explanation

The phrasal verb grow apart is used to describe how two people (friends, relatives, a couple) gradually become less close to each other over time.

This phrasal verb is used when a relationship change happens slowly, resulting from one or both of the people changing in some way.

For example - imagine childhood friends who are very close through primary and secondary school. If one of the friends goes off to university while the other stays in their home town, then they would probably become more different to each other over time, with different interests, experiences and relationships. Gradually, their relationship would become less close - they would grow apart.

Here are some examples of this phrasal verb in context:

, .

About the sentence

...we used to be inseparable...

When two people are very close and spend a lot of time together, we can describe them as inseparable.

e.g. I grew up on the same street as my cousin, and we were pretty much inseparable.

Mike , , .

And here's another example from a discussion about friendship (Australian accent):

, . . , . .

Extra practice

Here are some questions/links to help you learn the new vocabulary:

  • Do you have an experience of growing apart from someone? What happened, and how do you feel about it now?
  • In your opinion, what are the most common reasons people grow apart over time?
  • Have you ever recovered a relationship with someone after growing apart? What happened?
  • Is it possible to have a long distance relationship without growing apart?

Photo by Francesco Gallarotti on Unsplash

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Micro-listening #39 https://microenglish.com/micro-listenings/micro-listening-39-2/ https://microenglish.com/micro-listenings/micro-listening-39-2/#respond Mon, 10 Jun 2024 11:29:24 +0000 https://microenglish.com/?p=40036 An interview with a professional whistler about early challenges she faced in her career.

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Accent: Northern Ireland

A scammer is someone who attempts to obtain money from people by deceiving or tricking them. Today, this often takes the form of email or phone scams.

This is an extract from an interview with a man who works to disrupt these scemes - he attempts to scam the scammers.

In this first extract, he explains why he uses an alias (a fake name).

. , .
a spur . It is I disrupt and I'd who I my door , at least .

About the sentence

...it was a spur of the moment thing...

If you do something on the spur of the moment, then you do it spontaneously, without planning it in advance.

A spur of the moment thing/decision is a spontaneous thing/decision.

e.g. I'm sorry we didn't invite you to the cinema with us. It was a spur of the moment thing, to be honest.

In the following extracts, the speaker explains how he operates.

, , . .
, so I, them. I their scam .

About the sentence

...I lead on scammers...

If you lead someone on, you trick them into believing something isn't true. In this context, the man is making the scammers believe that their scam is working. In the process, they waste their time and increase the risk of getting caught.

e.g. She doesn't love you - she's just leading you on.

, .
they try , I reverse and I've unravel as a .

About the sentence

...I've been able to unravel a whole lot of scams...

If you unravel a knot or a piece of knitted fabric, you separate it into a single thread or threads. Someone can do this themselves (they unravel something) or it can happen by itself (it unravels).

e.g. My jumper is starting to unravel at the sleeves - I need to get it fixed.

We use this word metaphorically to say that something (often a plan) is going wrong or falling apart.

e.g. When the main investor pulled out, everything started to unravel quickly.

Source

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Micro-listening #38 https://microenglish.com/micro-listenings/micro-listening-38/ https://microenglish.com/micro-listenings/micro-listening-38/#respond Sat, 08 Jun 2024 12:36:18 +0000 https://microenglish.com/?p=40022 An interview with a professional whistler about early challenges she faced in her career.

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Accent: Northern Ireland

This is an extract from an interview with an explorer and writer talking about travelling and storytelling. The speaker has a faint Northern Irish accent.

.
of advice to, to at least ever spoke when I I've always .

About the sentence

...I've always tried to keep that in mind...

If you keep something or somebody in mind, then you make an effort to remember somebody or something.

e.g. Thanks for the advice, I'll definitely keep it in mind.

e.g. Please keep me in mind for any other vacancies that open in up the near future.

, , , .
and I that when , that , um, inclined to .

About the sentence

...I like to travel slowly...

If you like to do something, then it is your preference. Note the difference with like doing something, which means to enjoy something. Compare:

e.g. I like to wake up early so I can have a relaxed breakfast (= waking up early is my choice/preference)

e.g. I like waking up early - I've always been a morning person (= I enjoy waking up early)

...makes people more inclined to...

If you are inclined to do something, then you are likely to do it or are considering doing it.

e.g. Both candidates were impressive, but overall I'm inclined to offer the job to the first one, as she has more relevant experience.

It can also mean that you have a tendency to do something:

e.g. He's a good student, but he's inclined to be quite lazy at times.

...to open up...

If you open up to someone then you become more communicative, trusting and honest with someone.

e.g. After a few drinks he really opened up to me about his childhood.

Source

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Micro-listening #37 https://microenglish.com/micro-listenings/micro-listening-37/ https://microenglish.com/micro-listenings/micro-listening-37/#respond Thu, 06 Jun 2024 07:54:33 +0000 https://microenglish.com/?p=40015 An interview with a professional whistler about early challenges she faced in her career.

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Accent: England (London)

In this extract, a man is talking about his relationship with his uncles when he was growing up:

, , , , , . , ? ? ? ?
So, like, , but my , like, I couldn't at their . sort of like, ? ? coming back? going to ?

About the sentence

...I always looked up to them...

If you look up to somebody, then you admire and respect them. They are a role model for you.

e.g. Remember that your little brother looks up to you, so you must set him a good example.

Source

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Micro-listening #36 https://microenglish.com/micro-listenings/micro-listening-36/ https://microenglish.com/micro-listenings/micro-listening-36/#respond Mon, 20 May 2024 12:08:42 +0000 https://microenglish.com/?p=40003 An interview with a professional whistler about early challenges she faced in her career.

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Accent: North America

This extract is from a podcast discussing how noisy it can get in restaurants these days.

, , , , uh, , , , , ?
wrote me proposed to his , hear her , right across restaurant, at home , uh, he was , , , here's a is , ?

About the sentence

...One guy in particular wrote me...

This is an example of a difference between American and British English.

In American English, you write somebody (i.e. send them a message of some kind), while in British English you write to somebody. Same meaning, but British English requires the preposition to.

. . .
And experience the room . It's in a talk . control.

About the sentence

...this experience gets even worse...

When we use even + comparative we are adding a kind of emphasis to the comparison.

If situation B is even better than situation A, then situation A was already good, and the comparison requires a bit of extra emphasis.

e.g. My last job was seriously stressful, but my new one is even worse.

e.g. Somehow, May was even wetter than April this year.

Source

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Micro-listening #35 https://microenglish.com/micro-listenings/micro-listening-35/ https://microenglish.com/micro-listenings/micro-listening-35/#respond Thu, 18 Apr 2024 09:32:36 +0000 https://microenglish.com/?p=39970 An interview with a professional whistler about early challenges she faced in her career.

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Accent: North America

This extract is from an interview with a professional whistler.

. . , , .
and . . And that for me, was , that this of a .

About the sentence

...that was the big hurdle for me...

In athletics, hurdling is the event in which runners have to jump over multiple obstacles while sprinting.

We can use the word hurdle to describe an obstacle or a challenge.

e.g. Our offer has been accepted, so the next hurdle will be to convince the bank to provide funding.

...getting over nerves...

The phrasal verb to get over something means to overcome a challenge or a difficult situation, to get past something that is preventing you from doing something.

e.g. Joining the drama club at school really helped my to get over my shyness and become more confident.

Source

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Micro-listening #34 https://microenglish.com/micro-listenings/micro-listening-34/ https://microenglish.com/micro-listenings/micro-listening-34/#respond Mon, 15 Apr 2024 12:13:56 +0000 https://microenglish.com/?p=39964 Accent: North America This extract is from a discussion about cheating in relationships. Source

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Accent: North America

This extract is from a discussion about cheating in relationships.

, ? . .
So if that , you do if ? And will . Just .

About the sentence

...what would you do if you found out...

The phrasal verb to find something out means to discover or reveal something.

e.g. He was fired after his manager found out that he had been badmouthing the company to important clients.

...just put that out there first...

This is a variant of the phrase 'I'm just putting that out there', which is a way of introducing an idea or an opinion into a discussion. This might be to establish background information (as in this case), or to make a low-pressure suggestion or point.

e.g. I'm just putting this out there, but it might be time to have a word with Tom about getting into the office on time.

Source

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Micro-listening #33 https://microenglish.com/micro-listenings/micro-listening-33/ https://microenglish.com/micro-listenings/micro-listening-33/#respond Wed, 10 Apr 2024 09:50:38 +0000 https://microenglish.com/?p=39942 Accent: North America Here are three people describing their reactions to the total solar eclipse. Source

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Accent: North America

Here are three people describing their reactions to the total solar eclipse.

. . .
didn't to . have for . .

About the sentence

...nothing could have prepared me...

The past modal structures could have and couldn't have are used to describe hypothetical past possibilities and impossibilities. We're describing things that didn't happen.

e.g. You shouldn't hold yourself responsible for what happened. There was nothing you could have done to help.

...It .
and it at once of it was...It it's that I'll again .

About the sentence

...it was...dusk and dawn...

Dusk is last light, dawn is first light.

Dusk happens after sunset, dawn happens before sunrise.

...all at once...

The phrase all at once is used to mean at the same time or suddenly.

e.g. When I finished my presentation, everyone started talking to me all at once.

, . Yeah. , , , ? . . .
, . Yeah. I, doing , just and then , I ? I'll out. hear what's . and .

Source

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Micro-listening #32 https://microenglish.com/micro-listenings/micro-listening-32/ https://microenglish.com/micro-listenings/micro-listening-32/#respond Tue, 09 Apr 2024 17:03:25 +0000 https://microenglish.com/?p=39923 Accent: North America Here's an extract from an interview with a food delivery driver who is trying to work directly with clients rather than via...

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Accent: North America

Here's an extract from an interview with a food delivery driver who is trying to work directly with clients rather than via a food delivery app

is, is , , .
And that's is, is , to a versus , they're to be .
, , Tony, . Chipotle. Uber Eats, going , , ?
your drink , like, Tony, it's . to go Chipotle. forget Uber Eats, they're going to , yo on ?

About the sentence

...they'll be like...

This is a common way to report words and thoughts in a more informal, direct way.

e.g. When my boss asked me if I could work on Saturday again I was like, are you joking?

Compare the same sentence using standard reported speech:

e.g. When my boss asked me if I could work on Saturday again I asked her if she was joking.

Source

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Micro-listening #31 https://microenglish.com/micro-listenings/micro-listening-31/ https://microenglish.com/micro-listenings/micro-listening-31/#respond Mon, 08 Apr 2024 10:20:39 +0000 https://microenglish.com/?p=39917 Accent: English (RP) Source

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Accent: English (RP)
. .
The in the at that astronomically . .

About the sentence

...the chances of...

We can use the structure the chance(s) of something (happening) to talk about the probability of something.

e.g. I wouldn't get your hopes up if I were you. The chances of him changing his mind are virtually zero.

 ...astronomically low...

The adverb astronomically can be used to strongly emphasise certain adjectives, with a similar meaning to extremely.

e.g. That hotel is lovely but it's astronomically expensive. Can you find somewhere cheaper?

Source

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