Questions and answers tagged #natural-english.
I’ve heard the phrase “can’t see the forest for the trees” a few times and I think I understand it, but I’m not totally sure when it’s appropriate to use. For …
I’ve heard people use the phrase “break the ice” when talking about meeting new people, but I’m not sure exactly what it means or if I’m using it correctly. Fo…
I'm writing an email to my English speaking colleague, and I want to say that her suggestion was exactly right for our project. I was thinking about using the …
Yesterday at work, my manager told me I needed to 'bite the bullet' and finish a complicated report. I've never heard this phrase before and wasn't sure what s…
Hi everyone, I'm writing a short story about a student who stays up late to finish their homework, and I came across the phrase "burn the midnight oil." I'm a …
Hi everyone! I'm watching a TV show where one of the characters says, "That apartment costs an arm and a leg!" I think I kind of understand, but I'm not sure e…
Hi everyone! I recently heard someone say, "I eat dessert only once in a blue moon." I'm confused about what this phrase really means. For example, should I sa…
Hi everyone! Yesterday at work, my colleague said she was feeling 'under the weather' and couldn't join our meeting. I think she meant she was sick, but I'm no…
Today at work, one of my colleagues said, "Come on, spill the beans!" when we were talking about a surprise party. I was a bit confused, because I’ve never hea…
Hi everyone! Today at work, my manager told me, "the ball is in your court now," after we finished a meeting about a project. I have never heard this phrase be…
Hi everyone, I recently overheard a coworker say, "Stop beating around the bush and just tell me!" I think I get the general idea, but I'm not totally sure how…
Yesterday, my coworker lost his job, but later he said it was 'a blessing in disguise' because he found a better opportunity soon after. I've never heard this …
I'm writing a description for an event at my local community center, and I'm a bit stuck on choosing the right word. For example, I want to say, 'The event fre…
I'm writing a story about a character who discovers an old friend has become famous. I'm not sure whether to say she was 'surprised,' 'shocked,' or 'amazed' wh…
Yesterday, my boss said, 'Let's call it a day' when we wrapped up a big project. It was the first time I'd heard this phrase. I want to make sure I use it corr…
I'm trying to write a letter to a friend and I got stuck choosing between 'depend on', 'rely on', and 'count on'. For example, I want to say, 'I really you to …
I'm working on a story in English and I'm a bit confused about when to use 'tired', 'exhausted', or 'sleepy.' Last night, I wrote a scene where my main charact…
Yesterday at my new job, my supervisor told me, 'We can't afford to cut corners on this project.' I understood that it was important, but I'm not sure what 'cu…
This morning, I couldn't find my car keys and ended up running late for work. While texting my friend about it, I got confused about which verb to use: should …
I'm writing a message to apologize to my friend because I completely forgot their birthday, and now I’m not sure which word to use. Should I say, 'I was so emb…