Essential English Expressions

Keep an eye on / out

Keep an eye on / out Learn the English expression, "Keep an eye on / out" Have you heard the expressions, "keep an eye on" and "keep an eye out"? They're both about watching, but without giving your full attention. Here's what I mean. If you're making rice, you should keep an eye on the stove. You don't have to stare at it the whole time, but you don't want to forget about it either. Watch it, but don't give it your full attention. Likewise, if you're expecting a package, you should keep an eye out for the delivery driver. You don't have to wait at the door all day. But just be aware that the delivery truck might come. See what I mean? "Keep an eye on" and "keep an eye out" are both about watching, but without giving your full attention. -- Practice: Read the transcript of this episode, take a quiz, and practice using "Keep an eye on / out": https://plainenglish.com/expressions/keep-an-eye-on-out --- Like this episode? Listen to the full series of Essential English Expressions inside Plain English: https://plainenglish.com/join [https://plainenglish.com/join] -- Like this episode? Plain English is the modern way to upgrade your English skills with short, interactive, and fun lessons. They help you improve your English listening, learn new words, and speak English with more confidence. Sign up for free at: https://PlainEnglish.com/ [https://PlainEnglish.com/] Or subscribe to our English-learning podcast about current events and trending topics: https://plain-english.captivate.fm/listen [https://plain-english.captivate.fm/listen] Mentioned in this episode: Leave us a rating or review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave us a rating, a review, or a comment in your podcast app. This is the best way you can say "THANK YOU" for this free podcast. It will help spread the word so we can teach you even more English expressions.

Take advantage of

Take advantage of Learn the English expression, "Take advantage of" Have you heard the expression, 'take advantage of'? It’s super common, but did you know there are two ways to use it? One is positive, and one is… not so much. Make sure you don't get them confused. The most common meaning of 'take advantage' is to make the most of an opportunity. Like when there's a big sale, and you snag a great deal. But be careful—'take advantage' can also mean treating someone unfairly for your own gain, like if a manager makes employees work overtime without paying them. Here's a hint. If you're going to use "take advantage of," make sure it's clear which of the two definitions you mean. -- Practice: Read the transcript of this episode, take a quiz, and practice using "Take advantage of": https://plainenglish.com/expressions/take-advantage-of --- Like this episode? Listen to the full series of Essential English Expressions inside Plain English: https://plainenglish.com/join [https://plainenglish.com/join] -- Like this episode? Plain English is the modern way to upgrade your English skills with short, interactive, and fun lessons. They help you improve your English listening, learn new words, and speak English with more confidence. Sign up for free at: https://PlainEnglish.com/ [https://PlainEnglish.com/] Or subscribe to our English-learning podcast about current events and trending topics: https://plain-english.captivate.fm/listen [https://plain-english.captivate.fm/listen] Mentioned in this episode: Leave us a rating or review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave us a rating, a review, or a comment in your podcast app. This is the best way you can say "THANK YOU" for this free podcast. It will help spread the word so we can teach you even more English expressions.

At once

At once Learn the English expression, "At once" "At once" is an English expression with two meanings. First, it can mean to do something immediately, without any delay or waiting. If someone has a medical emergency, you might say, "Call a doctor at once!" That means, call a doctor right now, without waiting. When people use "at once" like this, there's always some urgency in their voices. Here's the second meaning. "At once" can also mean to do two or more things at the same time. If you make a careless mistake at work, it might be because you were trying to do too many things at once (too many things at the same time). So here are your two meanings. If something has to happen immediately, do it at once. And if you do two things at the same time, you do two things at once. -- Practice: Read the transcript of this episode, take a quiz, and practice using "At once": https://plainenglish.com/expressions/at-once --- Like this episode? Listen to the full series of Essential English Expressions inside Plain English: https://plainenglish.com/join [https://plainenglish.com/join] -- Like this episode? Plain English is the modern way to upgrade your English skills with short, interactive, and fun lessons. They help you improve your English listening, learn new words, and speak English with more confidence. Sign up for free at: https://PlainEnglish.com/ [https://PlainEnglish.com/] Or subscribe to our English-learning podcast about current events and trending topics: https://plain-english.captivate.fm/listen [https://plain-english.captivate.fm/listen] Mentioned in this episode: Leave us a rating or review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave us a rating, a review, or a comment in your podcast app. This is the best way you can say "THANK YOU" for this free podcast. It will help spread the word so we can teach you even more English expressions.

For good

For good Learn the English expression, "For good" If something happens "for good," it's permanent. Use this expression to emphasize that you mean something is is not temporary. For example, in the sentence, "That restaurant is closed for good," "for good" tells your listener that that the restaurant is closed permanently. It will not reopen. We often use "for good" to say that something has stopped and will not start again. A former smoker might have tried to quit a few times. But then she might say, "I finally quit for good when I had kids." Apple used to make portable music players called iPods. But the company stopped making iPods for good in 2022. Remember, "for good" is not about good or bad. If something happens "for good," it's permanent--and that can be a good thing or a bad thing. -- Practice: Read the transcript of this episode, take a quiz, and practice using "For good": https://plainenglish.com/expressions/for-good --- Like this episode? Listen to the full series of Essential English Expressions inside Plain English: https://plainenglish.com/join [https://plainenglish.com/join] -- Like this episode? Plain English is the modern way to upgrade your English skills with short, interactive, and fun lessons. They help you improve your English listening, learn new words, and speak English with more confidence. Sign up for free at: https://PlainEnglish.com/ [https://PlainEnglish.com/] Or subscribe to our English-learning podcast about current events and trending topics: https://plain-english.captivate.fm/listen [https://plain-english.captivate.fm/listen] Mentioned in this episode: Leave us a rating or review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave us a rating, a review, or a comment in your podcast app. This is the best way you can say "THANK YOU" for this free podcast. It will help spread the word so we can teach you even more English expressions.

Keep track of

Keep track of Learn the English expression, "Keep track of" There are two ways to use the English expression, "keep track of." It can mean to organize information or to stay informed. But whichever way you use it, "keep track of" is about understanding what's going on. You might use an app to keep track of which books you've read. You enter each book and the date you finished it. This is about organizing information. Or you might keep track of your kids' homework assignments. That's not about writing down every detail. Instead, its about staying informed and knowing the latest information. So whether you organize information or just stay informed, "keeping track" helps you understand what's going on. -- Practice: Read the transcript of this episode, take a quiz, and practice using "Keep track of": https://plainenglish.com/expressions/keep-track-of --- Like this episode? Listen to the full series of Essential English Expressions inside Plain English: https://plainenglish.com/join [https://plainenglish.com/join] -- Like this episode? Plain English is the modern way to upgrade your English skills with short, interactive, and fun lessons. They help you improve your English listening, learn new words, and speak English with more confidence. Sign up for free at: https://PlainEnglish.com/ [https://PlainEnglish.com/] Or subscribe to our English-learning podcast about current events and trending topics: https://plain-english.captivate.fm/listen [https://plain-english.captivate.fm/listen] Mentioned in this episode: Leave us a rating or review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Did you enjoy this episode? If so, please leave us a rating, a review, or a comment in your podcast app. This is the best way you can say "THANK YOU" for this free podcast. It will help spread the word so we can teach you even more English expressions.