Sound More Natural: A2 → B1 Upgrades — English But Better

Every row below starts with a correct but very basic A2 sentence — the kind you learn first. Next to it are several ways a real native speaker would more naturally say the exact same thing at a B1 level. You don't need to memorize all the alternatives for each phrase — just start swapping one or two into your own speech at a time.

Everyday Phrases by Category

20 categories, 600 phrase pairs, over 2,400 natural alternatives in total.

Opinions & Beliefs

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I think that...	I reckon that... / I'd say... / As far as I'm concerned... / My take is that...
I don't think so.	I wouldn't go that far. / I'm not so sure. / I doubt it, to be honest. / That doesn't sound right to me.
I agree.	You're spot on. / I couldn't agree more. / That's exactly how I see it. / I'm with you on that.
I disagree.	I see it differently. / I'm not entirely convinced. / I beg to differ. / That's not quite how I'd put it.
I believe it is true.	I'm inclined to believe it. / It seems to be the case. / I'd bet it's true. / Chances are it's true.
I am sure.	I'm certain. / I'm convinced. / I have no doubt about it. / I'm positive about that.
I am not sure.	I'm a bit hesitant. / I'm in two minds. / I'm on the fence about it. / I couldn't tell you for sure.
In my opinion...	From my perspective... / The way I see it... / If you ask me... / Speaking for myself...
What do you think?	What's your take on it? / How do you feel about it? / Where do you stand on this? / What's your view?
It is good.	It's quite impressive. / It's decent. / It's pretty solid. / It's not half bad.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
It is bad.	It's pretty awful. / It's substandard. / It's pretty poor. / It leaves a lot to be desired.
I understand.	I get where you're coming from. / I follow you. / That makes sense to me. / I hear you.
I don't understand.	I'm not following you. / It's not quite clear to me. / I'm lost. / That went over my head.
It is easy.	It's a piece of cake. / It's straightforward. / It's a walk in the park. / There's nothing to it.
It is difficult.	It's a bit of a challenge. / It's tricky. / It's easier said than done. / It's no walk in the park.
I know.	I'm aware of that. / I'm well aware. / Tell me about it. / That's common knowledge to me.
I don't know.	I haven't got a clue. / It's beyond me. / Your guess is as good as mine. / Search me.
It is important.	It's crucial. / It's a high priority. / It really matters. / It's worth taking seriously.
I prefer this one.	I'd opt for this one. / I have a preference for this one. / This one's more my style. / I'd go with this one.
I doubt it.	I'm skeptical about it. / I have my doubts. / I wouldn't count on it. / I'm not buying it.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I am wrong.	I stand corrected. / I got that wrong. / I was off the mark. / My bad on that one.
I am right.	I was spot on. / I called it. / I nailed it. / I got that one right.
It makes sense.	That checks out. / That adds up. / That tracks. / It's only logical.
It doesn't make sense.	That doesn't add up. / That doesn't quite click. / I can't wrap my head around that. / Something's off there.
I have no opinion.	I'm neutral on that. / I'm not fussed either way. / It's all the same to me. / I don't have a strong view on it.
I changed my mind.	I've had a change of heart. / I'm thinking differently now. / I've come around on that. / I've reconsidered.
That's true.	That's a fair point. / There's some truth to that. / Can't argue with that. / Fair enough.
That's not true.	That's not quite right. / That doesn't hold up. / That's a bit of a stretch. / I'd push back on that.
I want to know more.	I'd like to dig deeper into that. / I'm curious to learn more. / Tell me more about that. / I'd love to get into the details.
It depends.	It's a bit of a toss-up. / That depends on a few things. / It could go either way. / It's hard to say without more info.

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Wishes & Preferences

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I want to...	I'd love to... / I'm dying to... / I'm keen to... / I'm itching to...
I like this.	I'm quite fond of this. / It really appeals to me. / This is right up my alley. / This is growing on me.
I love this.	I'm really into this. / I'm a big fan of this. / I'm mad about this. / This is my kind of thing.
I don't like this.	I'm not a big fan of this. / It's not my thing. / This isn't really my cup of tea. / I could take it or leave it.
I want to go.	I'm planning to head out. / I'm thinking of going. / I fancy going. / I'm up for going.
I want to eat.	I'm feeling a bit peckish. / I'm looking for a bite. / I could go for a snack. / I fancy something to eat.
I want to sleep.	I'm exhausted. / I'm ready to turn in. / I could use some shut-eye. / I'm about to crash.
I want to buy this.	I'm thinking of picking this up. / I fancy getting this. / I'm tempted to get this. / I might treat myself to this.
I want to see it.	I'd love to check it out. / I'm keen to see it. / I'm dying to see it. / I can't wait to see it.
I prefer coffee.	I'd rather have coffee. / Coffee is my go-to. / I lean towards coffee. / Coffee's more my thing.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I don't want to talk.	I'm not really in the mood to talk. / I'd rather not talk right now. / I need some quiet time. / I'm not up for chatting.
I wish I could.	If only I could. / I only wish I were able to. / I'd give anything to be able to. / I really wish that were possible.
I hope so.	I certainly hope so. / Let's hope for the best. / Fingers crossed. / Here's hoping.
I need help.	I could really use a hand. / Could you give me a hand? / I could use some assistance. / I'm in need of a bit of help.
I would like to...	I'm keen to... / I'm interested in... / I'd jump at the chance to... / I wouldn't mind...
Do you want...?	Would you be up for...? / Fancy...? / Are you in the mood for...? / How about...?
Can I have...?	Could I possibly have...? / Might I trouble you for...? / Would it be alright if I had...? / Any chance I could get...?
I am bored.	It's a bit tedious. / I'm fed up. / I'm bored out of my mind. / There's nothing to do.
I am excited.	I'm thrilled. / I'm really looking forward to it. / I can hardly wait. / I'm buzzing about it.
I don't mind.	It's all the same to me. / I'm easy either way. / Whatever works. / No preference here.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I would rather not.	I'd sooner not, if that's alright. / I'm not keen on that. / I'd pass on that, thanks. / I'll give that a miss.
I really want it.	I've got my heart set on it. / I'm desperate to get it. / I'd give anything for it. / I've been dying to have it.
I feel like doing something fun.	I fancy doing something fun. / I'm in the mood for some fun. / I could do with a bit of fun. / Let's do something exciting.
I changed my mind about it.	I've gone off the idea. / I'm not so keen anymore. / I've had second thoughts. / It's not appealing anymore.
I would love that.	That would be brilliant. / That sounds amazing. / I'd be thrilled. / Count me in.
I am craving something sweet.	I've got a sweet tooth right now. / I could really go for something sweet. / I'm dying for a dessert. / I fancy something sugary.
I want to relax.	I could do with some downtime. / I fancy chilling out. / I need to unwind a bit. / I'm after some me-time.
I want to try something new.	I'm up for something different. / I fancy switching things up. / I'm game for trying something new. / Let's mix it up.
I am not interested.	It's not really my cup of tea. / I'll pass, thanks. / That doesn't do it for me. / Count me out.
I would appreciate it.	I'd really appreciate that. / That would mean a lot. / That'd be great, thanks. / I'd be grateful for that.

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A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
How are you?	How's life treating you? / How have you been? / How's it going? / How's everything with you?
How is your work?	How's everything going with your work? / How's the job treating you? / How's work been lately? / How are things at work?
I am busy.	I'm swamped. / I've got a lot on my plate. / I'm snowed under. / I'm up to my eyes in it.
I am free.	I've got a bit of breathing room. / I've got some free time. / My schedule's pretty open. / I've got nothing on.
Let's meet.	Let's catch up. / Let's get together. / Let's meet up. / Let's arrange to meet.
See you later.	Catch you later. / See you around. / Take care, see you soon. / Catch you soon.
Can you help me?	Could you give me a hand? / Could you lend me a hand? / Would you mind helping me out? / Any chance you could help?
Thank you.	I really appreciate it. / Cheers for that. / I owe you one. / Much appreciated.
You are welcome.	Don't mention it. / My pleasure. / No worries at all. / Anytime.
Sorry I am late.	Sorry for keeping you waiting. / Apologies for the delay. / Sorry, I got held up. / Sorry, I couldn't get here sooner.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I have an idea.	I've got a thought. / I've got something in mind. / Here's a thought. / It just occurred to me...
What time is it?	Do you have the time? / What's the time, roughly? / Any idea what time it is? / Have you got the time on you?
I am ready.	I'm all set. / I'm good to go. / I'm sorted. / Ready when you are.
It is okay.	It's not an issue. / It's fine by me. / No problem at all. / It's all good.
Have a nice day.	Have a good one. / Take care and have a great day. / Enjoy the rest of your day. / Hope you have a great one.
Good luck.	Best of luck. / Fingers crossed for you. / All the best. / Wishing you luck.
I am tired.	I'm worn out. / I'm beat. / I'm knackered. / I'm running on empty.
Call me later.	Give me a shout later. / Get in touch later. / Give me a ring later. / Drop me a line later.
What do you do?	What do you do for a living? / What line of work are you in? / What's your profession? / What field are you in?
Where do you work?	Where are you based? / Whereabouts do you work? / Which company are you with? / Where do you work these days?

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I got a new job.	I've landed a new job. / I've started a new position. / I've got a new gig. / I've moved to a new role.
I lost my job.	I got let go. / I was made redundant. / I got laid off. / I'm between jobs at the moment.
I have a lot of friends.	I've got a wide circle of friends. / I'm quite sociable. / I know loads of people. / I have a big social circle.
Let's hang out.	Let's chill for a bit. / Fancy hanging out? / Let's spend some time together. / Let's kick back together.
I introduced myself.	I broke the ice. / I made an introduction. / I said my hellos. / I made myself known.
I get along with him.	I'm on good terms with him. / We hit it off. / We get on really well. / We see eye to eye.
I don't get along with her.	We don't really see eye to eye. / We rub each other the wrong way. / There's some friction between us. / We're not exactly close.
I made a new friend.	I've hit it off with someone new. / I've made a new connection. / I've clicked with someone new. / I've made a new mate.
I have to go now.	I'd better get going. / I need to head off. / I should make a move. / I'm going to shoot off now.
Nice to meet you.	Great to meet you. / Pleasure to meet you. / Lovely to meet you. / It's great putting a face to the name.

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Emotions & Health

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I am happy.	I'm over the moon. / I'm thrilled. / I'm on cloud nine. / I couldn't be happier.
I am sad.	I'm feeling a bit down. / I'm blue. / I'm feeling low. / I'm a bit gloomy.
I am angry.	I'm fuming. / I'm hopping mad. / I'm livid. / I'm seeing red.
I am scared.	I'm terrified. / I'm scared stiff. / I'm petrified. / I've got the jitters.
I am relaxed.	I'm laid-back. / I'm chilled out. / I'm at ease. / I'm feeling pretty mellow.
I am confused.	I'm a bit baffled. / I'm all mixed up. / I'm thrown off. / I'm a bit muddled.
I am surprised.	I'm taken aback. / I'm astonished. / I'm gobsmacked. / That caught me off guard.
I am hungry.	I'm starving. / I could eat a horse. / I'm famished. / My stomach's growling.
I am thirsty.	I'm parched. / I could really use a drink. / My throat's dry. / I need to wet my whistle.
I am cold.	I'm freezing. / I'm chilled to the bone. / I'm frozen stiff. / I'm shivering.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I am hot.	I'm sweltering. / It's boiling. / I'm roasting. / I'm burning up.
I feel sick.	I'm feeling under the weather. / I'm feeling off-colour. / I'm not feeling myself. / I'm feeling a bit rough.
I am better.	I'm on the mend. / I'm feeling much better. / I'm bouncing back. / I'm on the road to recovery.
I am worse.	I've taken a turn for the worse. / I'm feeling worse than before. / It's gotten worse. / I've gone downhill.
I am hurt.	I've got an injury. / I've hurt myself. / I've done myself an injury. / I'm in a bit of pain.
I am lonely.	I'm feeling a bit isolated. / I'm feeling a bit alone. / I could use some company. / I've been feeling cut off.
I am proud.	I'm chuffed. / I'm really proud. / I couldn't be prouder. / I'm beaming with pride.
I am ashamed.	I'm mortified. / I feel embarrassed. / I could die of embarrassment. / I feel a bit sheepish.
I am calm.	I'm composed. / I'm keeping my cool. / I'm level-headed about it. / I'm not fazed at all.
I am curious.	I'm eager to know. / I'm intrigued. / I'm dying to find out. / My curiosity is piqued.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I am nervous.	I'm on edge. / I've got butterflies. / I'm a bag of nerves. / I'm a bit jittery.
I am stressed.	I'm stressed out. / I'm under a lot of pressure. / I'm frazzled. / I'm at my wits' end.
I am jealous.	I'm a bit envious. / I'm green with envy. / It's making me jealous. / I can't help feeling envious.
I am disappointed.	I'm a bit let down. / I'm underwhelmed. / It didn't live up to expectations. / I'm a little deflated.
I feel great.	I'm on top of the world. / I'm firing on all cylinders. / I feel fantastic. / I couldn't feel better.
I have a headache.	My head is pounding. / I've got a splitting headache. / My head is killing me. / I've got a bit of a headache coming on.
I need to rest.	I could use some rest. / I need to take it easy. / I need to recharge. / I need some downtime.
I feel weak.	I'm feeling a bit run down. / I've got no energy. / I'm feeling drained. / I'm feeling a bit off.
I am grateful.	I'm really thankful. / I'm truly grateful. / I can't thank you enough. / I really appreciate it.
I am confident.	I'm feeling pretty confident. / I'm sure of myself. / I'm feeling good about it. / I've got this.

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Daily Actions

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I wake up.	I get up. / I'm up and about. / I rise early. / I roll out of bed.
I go to bed.	I turn in. / I hit the sack. / I call it a night. / I head to bed.
I take a shower.	I have a quick rinse. / I hop in the shower. / I freshen up. / I jump in the shower.
I eat breakfast.	I have a bite to eat. / I grab some breakfast. / I have a quick breakfast. / I fuel up for the day.
I go to work.	I head to work. / I commute. / I head off to the office. / I make my way to work.
I clean the house.	I tidy up. / I give the house a clean. / I do a bit of tidying. / I straighten things up.
I cook dinner.	I whip up dinner. / I throw dinner together. / I rustle up something to eat. / I put dinner on.
I watch TV.	I catch a show. / I put the telly on. / I unwind in front of the TV. / I binge a show.
I read a book.	I'm engrossed in a book. / I get stuck into a book. / I curl up with a book. / I'm absorbed in a good read.
I listen to music.	I'm tuning into music. / I pop some music on. / I put some tunes on. / I stick my headphones in.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I call my friend.	I give my friend a ring. / I give my friend a call. / I ring my friend up. / I get in touch with my friend.
I go shopping.	I'm doing the groceries. / I pop to the shops. / I run some errands. / I do a bit of shopping.
I walk the dog.	I take the dog out. / I take the dog for a walk. / I give the dog a walk. / I get the dog some exercise.
I study English.	I'm working on my English. / I put in some study time. / I brush up on my English. / I get some studying done.
I relax.	I'm unwinding. / I put my feet up. / I take it easy. / I chill out for a bit.
I exercise.	I'm working out. / I get some exercise in. / I hit the gym. / I get moving.
I pay bills.	I'm settling the bills. / I sort out the bills. / I take care of the bills. / I get the bills paid.
I drive to work.	I drive in. / I make the commute by car. / I drive to the office. / I drive myself in.
I use the computer.	I'm browsing the web. / I'm on my laptop. / I'm messing about online. / I'm on the computer.
I finish work.	I'm calling it a day. / I wrap up for the day. / I clock off. / I'm done for the day.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I make coffee.	I brew up a coffee. / I put the kettle on for coffee. / I fix myself a coffee. / I get a coffee going.
I get dressed.	I get ready. / I throw some clothes on. / I put myself together. / I get sorted for the day.
I go grocery shopping.	I pop to the supermarket. / I do a big shop. / I stock up on groceries. / I do the weekly shop.
I do the laundry.	I put a wash on. / I get the washing done. / I chuck a load in the machine. / I sort the laundry.
I take a nap.	I have a quick kip. / I catch forty winks. / I have a lie-down. / I grab a nap.
I check my phone.	I check my messages. / I have a scroll on my phone. / I glance at my phone. / I check what's going on online.
I brush my teeth.	I give my teeth a clean. / I do my teeth. / I get my teeth sorted. / I have a quick brush.
I go to sleep late.	I stay up late. / I burn the midnight oil. / I turn in late. / I'm a bit of a night owl.
I get things done.	I tick things off my list. / I power through my to-do list. / I get through my tasks. / I make progress on things.
I take a break.	I take five. / I have a breather. / I step away for a bit. / I take a quick pause.

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Problems & Solutions

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I have a problem.	I've run into an issue. / I've hit a snag. / I've got a bit of a problem. / Something's come up.
It is broken.	It's on the blink. / It's malfunctioning. / It's given up on me. / It's on the fritz.
I lost my key.	I've misplaced my key. / I can't find my key anywhere. / My key's gone missing. / I've lost track of my key.
I am lost.	I've lost my bearings. / I've got no idea where I am. / I've gone the wrong way. / I'm not sure where I am.
I am late.	I'm running behind. / I'm running late. / I'm cutting it fine. / I'm behind schedule.
I made a mistake.	I've messed up. / I've slipped up. / I dropped the ball. / I got that wrong.
I forgot.	It's slipped my mind. / It went clean out of my head. / I completely forgot. / It escaped me.
I am sorry.	I apologize. / I'm really sorry about that. / My apologies. / I feel bad about that.
Don't worry.	Don't sweat it. / No need to worry. / Don't stress about it. / It's nothing to worry about.
It is my fault.	I'm to blame. / That's on me. / I take full responsibility. / My bad.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
Help me.	Give me a hand. / Lend me a hand. / Help me out here. / Could you help me out?
What is wrong?	What's the matter? / What's up? / What's going on? / Is something wrong?
I need more time.	I could do with more time. / I need a bit more time. / I'm going to need extra time. / Could I have more time?
It is too expensive.	It's a bit pricey. / It's overpriced. / It costs an arm and a leg. / It's a bit steep.
It is too slow.	It's sluggish. / It's dragging. / It's crawling along. / It's taking forever.
It is too small.	It's a bit cramped. / It's on the small side. / It's a bit tight. / It's too tiny.
It is too big.	It's oversized. / It's too bulky. / It's on the large side. / It's a bit much.
I can't do it.	I'm struggling with this. / I'm not managing. / I'm at a loss here. / This is beyond me.
Try again.	Give it another go. / Have another crack at it. / Give it another shot. / Take another stab at it.
It is okay.	It's no big deal. / It's fine, don't worry. / It's not a problem. / It's all sorted.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
It stopped working.	It's packed in. / It's given up. / It's konked out. / It's stopped dead.
I need to fix this.	I need to sort this out. / I need to patch this up. / This needs fixing. / I need to get this fixed.
It is complicated.	It's a bit of a mess. / It's complex. / It's not so simple. / There's a lot going on with it.
I gave up.	I threw in the towel. / I called it quits. / I threw in the sponge. / I packed it in.
I solved it.	I sorted it out. / I cracked it. / I figured it out. / I worked it out.
I need advice.	I could use some guidance. / I'd appreciate some advice. / I need a second opinion. / I could do with some pointers.
It went wrong.	It went pear-shaped. / It backfired. / It didn't pan out. / It fell apart.
I ran out of time.	I've run out of time. / Time got away from me. / I couldn't fit it all in. / The clock beat me.
It is not working.	It's not doing what it should. / It's playing up. / It's acting up. / It's not cooperating.
I need to cancel.	I need to call it off. / I have to back out. / I need to pull out. / I have to scrap it.

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Communication & Questions

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
What is this?	What's this all about? / What's this exactly? / What are we looking at here? / What am I looking at?
Who is he?	Who's that chap? / Who's that guy? / Who might he be? / Who's this fellow?
Where is it?	Whereabouts is it? / Any idea where it is? / Where's it got to? / Where on earth is it?
Why are you here?	What brings you here? / What's brought you here? / What are you doing here? / How come you're here?
Can you repeat?	Could you say that again? / Could you run that by me again? / Come again? / Sorry, what was that?
Speak slowly.	Could you slow down? / Could you take it slower? / Mind slowing down a bit? / Could you say that more slowly?
What does it mean?	What's the meaning of that? / What does that stand for? / What's that supposed to mean? / Could you explain what that means?
How do I say...?	How do you put that? / How would you say that? / What's the word for that? / How do you phrase that?
Can you explain?	Could you clarify? / Could you break that down for me? / Could you walk me through it? / Could you spell that out?
I didn't hear.	I didn't catch that. / Sorry, I missed that. / Could you say that again, I didn't hear you. / I couldn't quite make that out.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
Listen to me.	Pay attention. / Hear me out. / Give me a moment, please. / Just listen for a second.
Look at this.	Take a look at this. / Check this out. / Have a look at this. / Get a load of this.
Tell me.	Give me the lowdown. / Fill me in. / Let me know. / Spill the details.
Ask him.	Check with him. / Run it by him. / Have a word with him. / See what he says.
Write it down.	Jot it down. / Make a note of it. / Note it down. / Scribble it down.
Read this.	Take a read of this. / Have a look through this. / Give this a read. / Skim through this.
Open the book.	Open the book up. / Flip the book open. / Crack the book open. / Get the book open.
Close the door.	Shut the door. / Pull the door to. / Close it up. / Shut that behind you.
Sit down.	Take a seat. / Grab a seat. / Have a seat. / Pull up a chair.
Stand up.	Get up. / Get to your feet. / Rise. / Get yourself up.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I have a question.	I've got a query. / Quick question. / Mind if I ask something? / I wanted to ask something.
I don't agree with that statement.	I'd push back on that. / That doesn't sit right with me. / I'm not on board with that. / I take issue with that.
Speak up.	Could you speak a bit louder? / Speak a little louder, please. / I can barely hear you. / Could you raise your voice a bit?
Keep your voice down.	Keep it down. / Lower your voice a bit. / Could you tone it down? / Mind keeping it down?
Let's talk about it.	Let's hash it out. / Let's discuss it. / Let's talk it through. / Let's chat about it.
I have nothing to say.	I've got nothing to add. / I'm out of things to say. / Nothing comes to mind. / I'm at a loss for words.
That's a good question.	That's a fair question. / Good question, actually. / That's worth asking. / Now that's a tricky one.
Correct me if I'm wrong.	Feel free to correct me. / Pull me up if I'm mistaken. / Set me straight if I'm off. / Let me know if I've got that wrong.
I'll explain later.	I'll fill you in later. / I'll get into it later. / I'll walk you through it later. / I'll explain when I get the chance.
Don't interrupt me.	Let me finish. / Hold on, let me get this out. / Give me a second to finish. / Please don't cut me off.

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Travel & Getting Around

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I want a ticket.	I'd like to reserve a ticket. / I'd like to book a ticket. / Could I get a ticket? / I need to grab a ticket.
Where is the bus?	Whereabouts is the bus stop? / Any idea where the bus stops? / Where do I catch the bus? / Where's the bus stop around here?
It is far.	It's a fair way off. / It's quite a trek. / It's a good distance away. / It's a bit of a hike.
It is near.	It's within walking distance. / It's just around the corner. / It's a stone's throw away. / It's not far at all.
Turn left.	Take a left. / Hang a left. / Head left. / Bear left.
Turn right.	Take a right. / Hang a right. / Head right. / Bear right.
Go straight.	Keep going straight. / Carry straight on. / Go straight ahead. / Keep straight on.
I am tired of walking.	My feet are killing me. / I'm walked out. / My legs are done in. / I could really use a sit-down.
Is it open?	Is it operational? / Is it up and running? / Is it open for business? / Is it in service?
Is it closed?	It's out of service. / It's shut for the day. / It's closed up. / It's not open right now.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I want to book a room.	I want to make a booking. / I'd like to reserve a room. / I need to book somewhere to stay. / I'd like to book accommodation.
Where is the toilet?	Where's the restroom? / Where can I find the loo? / Is there a bathroom nearby? / Where's the nearest facilities?
I am hungry.	I'm famished. / I could eat a horse. / I'm ravenous. / I need to grab a bite.
I am thirsty.	I'm parched. / I could use a drink. / My throat is dry. / I need to hydrate.
The train is fast.	The train's high-speed. / The train really flies. / It's a quick train. / The train makes good time.
I like this place.	I'm quite taken with this spot. / This place has really grown on me. / I've fallen for this place. / This spot is really nice.
I want to go home.	I'm heading back. / I'm ready to head home. / I fancy going home. / Let's call it a day and go home.
Take me there.	Take me that way. / Drop me off there. / Can you get me there? / Head that way, please.
Have a good trip.	Have a safe one. / Safe travels. / Enjoy the trip. / Have a great journey.
I missed my flight.	I've missed my flight. / I didn't make my flight. / My flight took off without me. / I got there too late for my flight.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
My flight is delayed.	My flight's been pushed back. / My flight's running late. / There's a delay on my flight. / My flight's been held up.
I need to check in.	I need to check myself in. / I have to do check-in. / I need to sort out check-in. / Time to check in.
I am packing my bags.	I'm getting my things together. / I'm sorting out my luggage. / I'm throwing my stuff together. / I'm getting packed up.
The traffic is bad.	The traffic's terrible. / We're stuck in gridlock. / Traffic's crawling. / It's bumper to bumper out there.
I need directions.	I need pointing in the right direction. / Could you point me the right way? / I need to find my way. / I need help getting my bearings.
I got on the wrong bus.	I hopped on the wrong bus. / I ended up on the wrong bus. / I boarded the wrong one. / I got on the wrong one by mistake.
The road is closed.	The road's shut off. / There's a road closure. / That way's blocked off. / That road's out of action.
I want a window seat.	I'd prefer a seat by the window. / Could I get a window seat? / I'd like to sit by the window. / Window seat, if possible.
We arrived early.	We got there ahead of schedule. / We made good time. / We showed up early. / We beat the clock.
I need a taxi.	I need to grab a cab. / I need to hail a taxi. / Could you call me a cab? / I need a ride.

1 / 3

Shopping & Money

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I want to buy this.	I'd like to pick this up. / I'm thinking of getting this. / I fancy buying this. / I'm tempted to grab this.
How much is it?	What's the price? / What am I looking at, price-wise? / What does it go for? / How much does it set me back?
It is too much.	It's a bit steep. / It's asking a lot. / That's a bit much. / That's on the high side.
I have no money.	I'm a bit strapped for cash. / I'm skint. / I'm short on funds. / I'm a bit tight on money right now.
I pay by card.	I'll pay by card. / I'll put it on card. / Card, please. / I'll tap my card.
I pay by cash.	I'll pay in cash. / I'll settle in cash. / Cash, please. / I'll cover it in cash.
Where is the shop?	Where's the store? / Whereabouts is the shop? / Where can I find the shop? / Any idea where the shop is?
I need a bag.	I need a carrier bag. / Could I get a bag for that? / I'll need something to carry it in. / Do you have a bag for this?
I want a refund.	I'd like my money back. / I'd like a refund on this. / Could I get reimbursed? / I'd like to be refunded.
It is on sale.	It's on offer. / It's discounted. / It's up for a bargain. / It's marked down.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
Do you have size M?	Do you stock size M? / Have you got this in a medium? / Is this available in size M? / Do you carry size M?
Can I try this on?	Can I see if this fits? / Mind if I try this on? / Could I give this a try? / Is it alright if I try this on?
I am looking for...	I'm in search of... / I'm on the hunt for... / I'm trying to find... / I'm after...
I will take it.	I'll go for it. / I'll take that one. / I'll grab it. / Sold, I'll have it.
It is cheap.	It's a bargain. / It's a steal. / It's dirt cheap. / It's a good price.
It is expensive.	It's a bit pricey. / It costs a fortune. / It's on the pricier side. / It'll cost you.
Where is the receipt?	Where's the till slip? / Do you have the receipt? / Where'd the receipt go? / Can I get my receipt?
I want to return this.	I'd like to exchange this. / I'd like to bring this back. / I need to return this item. / Can I send this back?
Do you accept credit cards?	Are you taking cards? / Can I pay by card here? / Do you take card payments? / Is card okay here?
I am saving money.	I'm putting money aside. / I'm setting some money by. / I'm tightening my belt. / I'm cutting back to save up.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I spent too much.	I overspent. / I went overboard with spending. / I splashed out too much. / I blew my budget.
This is a good deal.	This is a great bargain. / This is quite the steal. / You can't beat this price. / This is worth every penny.
I am broke.	I'm flat broke. / I'm skint. / I'm cleaned out. / I haven't got a penny to my name.
I need to withdraw money.	I need to take out some cash. / I need to hit the cash machine. / I need to get some money out. / I need to visit the ATM.
I want to compare prices.	I want to shop around a bit. / I want to see what else is out there. / I want to check other prices first. / I'll have a look around before deciding.
That's a rip-off.	That's daylight robbery. / That's overpriced. / That's a total con. / You're being ripped off there.
I paid in full.	I settled the whole amount. / I paid it off completely. / I cleared the balance. / I paid it all upfront.
I am on a budget.	I'm watching my spending. / I'm keeping to a budget. / I'm being careful with money. / I'm trying to save where I can.
Can I get a discount?	Any chance of a discount? / Could you knock something off the price? / Is there any wiggle room on price? / Could you do a better price?
This is worth the price.	This is worth every penny. / This is good value for money. / This is worth what you pay. / You get your money's worth here.

1 / 3

Time & Plans

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
What time is it?	Do you have the time? / What's the time, roughly? / Have you got the time? / What time do you make it?
See you tomorrow.	Catch you tomorrow. / See you same time tomorrow. / Until tomorrow, then. / Speak tomorrow.
See you next week.	See you the week after. / Catch you next week. / Until next week, then. / See you same time next week.
I am free on Friday.	I'm free on Friday. / Friday works for me. / I'm open on Friday. / Friday's clear for me.
I have a meeting.	I have an appointment. / I've got something scheduled. / I'm tied up with a meeting. / I've got a meeting on.
I am busy today.	I'm fully booked today. / My day's packed. / I've got a full plate today. / I'm run off my feet today.
It is early.	It's a bit early. / It's still early days. / We're ahead of time. / It's on the early side.
It is late.	It's running late. / It's getting on a bit. / We're behind schedule. / It's later than I thought.
Do you have time?	Are you available? / Have you got a minute? / Can you spare some time? / Are you free right now?
I am in a hurry.	I'm in a rush. / I'm pressed for time. / I'm racing against the clock. / I've got no time to spare.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
Wait for me.	Hold on a second. / Give me a moment. / Hang on for me. / Just a sec, wait up.
It takes time.	It's time-consuming. / It doesn't happen overnight. / It takes a while. / It's a slow process.
I am ready.	I'm set. / I'm all set to go. / I'm good to go. / I'm prepped and ready.
Let's go.	Let's get going. / Let's head off. / Let's get a move on. / Let's hit the road.
I have a busy schedule.	I've got a tight schedule. / My calendar's packed. / I've got a lot on this week. / My schedule's jam-packed.
Are you free?	Are you at a loose end? / Are you tied up right now? / Are you around? / Are you doing anything right now?
I am checking my calendar.	I'm looking at my diary. / I'm having a look at my schedule. / Let me check what I've got on. / I'm just checking my agenda.
I finished.	I'm all done. / I've wrapped up. / I'm finished up. / That's done and dusted.
I will be there.	I'll make it. / I'll be there without fail. / Count on me being there. / I'll show up.
Can we change the time?	Can we reschedule? / Could we move the time? / Any chance we could push it back? / Could we shift the time?

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
Let's plan ahead.	Let's plan in advance. / Let's get ahead of it. / Let's sort this out early. / Let's think this through beforehand.
I need to reschedule.	I need to push things back. / I need to move things around. / I have to shuffle my schedule. / I need to rearrange things.
I am running out of time.	I'm racing against the clock. / Time's slipping away. / The clock's ticking. / I'm cutting it close.
It happened suddenly.	It happened out of the blue. / It came out of nowhere. / It caught everyone off guard. / It happened all of a sudden.
I will do it soon.	I'll get to it shortly. / I'll sort it out soon enough. / I won't be long doing it. / I'll get round to it soon.
I have plenty of time.	I've got time to spare. / I'm not pressed for time. / There's no rush. / I've got all the time in the world.
Let's start on time.	Let's kick off on time. / Let's get started right on schedule. / Let's not be late starting. / Let's begin promptly.
It's overdue.	It's well overdue. / It's long overdue. / It should've happened by now. / It's past its due date.
I lost track of time.	Time got away from me. / I lost all sense of time. / I didn't notice the time slipping by. / Time flew by without me realizing.
Let's set a deadline.	Let's put a timeframe on it. / Let's fix a cut-off date. / Let's agree on a deadline. / Let's set a target date.

1 / 3

Weather & Nature

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
It is sunny.	It's a scorcher. / The sun's out in full force. / It's a beautiful sunny day. / It's glorious out there.
It is raining.	It's pouring down. / It's chucking it down. / It's bucketing down. / It's tipping it down.
It is windy.	It's gusty out there. / It's blowing a gale. / There's a strong breeze. / It's really blustery today.
It is cold outside.	It's freezing out there. / It's bitterly cold. / There's a chill in the air. / It's absolutely arctic out.
It is hot outside.	It's baking out there. / It's a scorcher today. / It's sweltering out. / The heat's brutal today.
The weather is nice.	The weather's lovely. / It's a gorgeous day. / We're having great weather. / It's a cracking day out.
The weather is bad.	The weather's rough. / It's grim out there. / We're in for a wash-out. / The weather's taken a turn.
It is cloudy.	It's overcast. / The sky's clouded over. / It's a grey day. / The clouds have rolled in.
It is snowing.	It's snowing heavily. / The snow's coming down thick. / We're getting a proper snowfall. / It's a proper snowstorm out there.
There is a storm.	We're in for a storm. / There's a storm brewing. / A storm's rolling in. / It's looking stormy out there.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
It might rain later.	It looks like rain later. / It could turn wet later. / Rain's on the cards later. / There's a chance of rain later.
The forecast is good.	The forecast looks promising. / We're in for good weather, apparently. / The outlook's looking good. / Forecast says it'll be nice.
It is humid.	It's muggy out. / The air's thick and sticky. / It's close and clammy today. / It's really humid out there.
I love the outdoors.	I'm big into the outdoors. / I love being out in nature. / I'm an outdoorsy type. / Nothing beats being outside.
The sky is clear.	It's a clear sky out there. / There's not a cloud in sight. / The sky's completely clear. / It's a crisp, clear day.
I saw a rainbow.	I spotted a rainbow. / There was a rainbow out just now. / A rainbow came out after the rain. / I caught sight of a rainbow.
The leaves are falling.	The leaves are coming down. / Autumn's setting in, leaves everywhere. / The trees are shedding their leaves. / Leaves are dropping all over.
The flowers are blooming.	The flowers are in full bloom. / Everything's blossoming right now. / The garden's bursting with flowers. / Spring's really in full swing.
It is a beautiful sunset.	The sunset's stunning tonight. / That's a gorgeous sunset. / The sky's putting on a show tonight. / What a breathtaking sunset.
I like being in nature.	I love getting out into nature. / I'm most at peace out in nature. / Nature really recharges me. / I need my time out in the wild.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
The river is flowing fast.	The river's really moving. / The current's strong today. / The river's flowing at quite a pace. / That river's really flowing.
There was an earthquake.	There was a bit of a tremor. / The ground shook earlier. / We felt a quake earlier. / There was some shaking earlier.
The air is fresh.	The air's really crisp. / It's nice and fresh out here. / The air feels clean out here. / There's a freshness in the air.
It is foggy.	It's misty out there. / There's a thick fog rolling in. / Visibility's poor with this fog. / It's murky out there today.
The moon is full.	It's a full moon tonight. / The moon's out in full tonight. / There's a full moon up there. / Look at that full moon tonight.
I saw wild animals.	I spotted some wildlife. / I came across some animals out there. / I caught sight of some wild animals. / There was wildlife everywhere out there.
The plants need water.	The plants need a good watering. / The garden's crying out for water. / Those plants are gasping for water. / The plants could use a drink.
It is getting dark.	It's getting dark out. / Night's drawing in. / The light's fading fast. / Dusk is setting in.
The trees are tall.	Those trees are towering. / The trees around here are massive. / Those are some impressive trees. / The trees tower over everything.
I want to go hiking.	I fancy going for a hike. / I'm up for a good hike. / I'm itching to hit the trails. / I could do with a hike this weekend.

1 / 3

Food & Dining

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
The food is good.	The food's really tasty. / This food really hits the spot. / The food's spot on. / This is proper good food.
The food is bad.	The food's pretty rubbish. / This isn't great food. / The food leaves a lot to be desired. / This food's a letdown.
I want to eat out.	I fancy eating out tonight. / Let's grab a bite out. / I'm up for dining out. / I'm in the mood to eat out.
Can I see the menu?	Could I have a look at the menu? / Mind if I check out the menu? / Could you bring the menu over? / Can we get the menu, please?
I would like to order.	I'm ready to order. / I'll have..., please. / Could I place an order? / I think I'll go with...
The bill, please.	Could we get the check, please? / Could I settle up, please? / Can we pay whenever you're ready? / Could we sort the bill out?
This is delicious.	This is scrumptious. / This tastes amazing. / This is absolutely delicious. / This really hits the spot.
This tastes bad.	This is pretty gross. / This doesn't taste great. / This is not to my taste. / This has a funny taste to it.
I am full.	I'm stuffed. / I couldn't eat another bite. / I'm completely full up. / I've had more than enough.
I am still hungry.	I could still eat. / I've still got room for more. / I'm not quite full yet. / I could go for seconds.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I want spicy food.	I fancy something spicy. / I'm in the mood for something hot. / I could go for a spicy dish. / I love a good spicy meal.
This is too salty.	This is a bit over-salted. / There's too much salt in this. / This is really salty. / This needs less salt.
Can we book a table?	Could we reserve a table? / Any chance of booking a table? / Could we get a table booked? / I'd like to reserve a spot.
The restaurant is crowded.	The place is packed. / It's rammed in here. / The restaurant's heaving. / It's absolutely packed in there.
I am on a diet.	I'm watching what I eat. / I'm being careful with my diet. / I'm trying to eat clean. / I'm cutting back on certain foods.
This dish is my favorite.	This dish is a real favorite of mine. / I can never say no to this dish. / This is my go-to dish. / I always order this one.
Let's have a coffee.	Let's grab a coffee. / Fancy a coffee? / Let's pop out for a coffee. / How about a coffee break?
I cooked this myself.	I whipped this up myself. / I made this from scratch. / This is my own creation. / I put this together myself.
It smells great.	It smells amazing. / That smell is making me hungry. / It smells incredible in here. / That aroma is fantastic.
I want to try new food.	I fancy trying something different. / I'm up for trying new dishes. / I'm keen to branch out food-wise. / I like experimenting with new food.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
This is undercooked.	This isn't cooked through. / This needs a bit longer. / This is still a bit raw. / This could do with more time.
This is overcooked.	This is a bit overdone. / This has been cooked too long. / This is past its best. / This has gone a bit dry.
I need a table for two.	Could we get a table for two? / A table for two, please. / We need seating for two. / Table for two, if possible.
Do you have vegetarian options?	Do you cater for vegetarians? / Have you got anything meat-free? / Any veggie options on the menu? / What do you have for vegetarians?
I would like a refill.	Could I get a top-up? / Mind topping this up? / Could I have another one of these? / Could you refill this, please?
The service is slow.	Service is a bit sluggish. / We've been waiting a while for service. / Service is dragging today. / It's taking forever to get served.
The portion is big.	That's a generous portion. / That's a hearty serving. / They don't skimp on portions here. / That's a proper-sized plate.
I want dessert.	I fancy something sweet after. / I'm saving room for dessert. / Let's see the dessert menu. / I could go for a pudding.
This place is expensive.	This place isn't cheap. / This place will set you back a bit. / This is a pricier spot. / You pay a premium here.
Let's split the bill.	Let's go halves on the bill. / Let's go Dutch. / Let's each pay our share. / Let's divide it between us.

1 / 3

Family & Relationships

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I have a big family.	I come from a big family. / I've got a large family. / My family's pretty big. / There's a lot of us in the family.
I love my parents.	I'm really close to my parents. / My parents mean the world to me. / I owe everything to my parents. / I have a great bond with my parents.
We get along well.	We're really close. / We get on great. / We see eye to eye on most things. / We're tight-knit.
We don't get along.	We don't see eye to eye. / There's tension between us. / We're not exactly close. / We tend to clash.
I miss my family.	I'm homesick for my family. / I really miss being around family. / My family's always on my mind. / I long to see my family.
My parents raised me well.	My parents brought me up right. / I was raised with good values. / My parents did a great job raising me. / I had a great upbringing.
I am getting married.	I'm tying the knot. / I'm getting hitched. / I'm walking down the aisle soon. / Wedding bells are coming.
We had an argument.	We had a falling out. / We got into it. / We had a bit of a row. / Things got heated between us.
We made up.	We patched things up. / We buried the hatchet. / We're back on good terms. / We sorted things out between us.
I trust him completely.	I'd trust him with my life. / He has my full trust. / I trust him through and through. / There's no doubting his word with me.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I don't trust her.	I've got my doubts about her. / I'm wary of her. / I don't fully trust her. / Something about her doesn't sit right with me.
We are close friends.	We're thick as thieves. / We go way back. / We're practically inseparable. / We're as close as it gets.
I grew up here.	I was raised here. / This is where I grew up. / I spent my childhood here. / I'm from around here originally.
My grandparents live far away.	My grandparents live quite a way off. / My grandparents are based far from here. / It's a trek to visit my grandparents. / My grandparents live at quite a distance.
I take care of my kids.	I look after my kids. / I'm raising my kids. / I'm bringing up my children. / My kids are my priority.
We had a family reunion.	The whole family got together. / We had a big family get-together. / The family reunited for the occasion. / It was a proper family gathering.
I look like my mother.	I take after my mother. / I'm the spitting image of my mum. / People say I'm just like my mum. / I've got my mother's looks.
We are expecting a baby.	We've got a little one on the way. / We're expecting. / A baby's on the way for us. / We're due to have a baby soon.
My siblings and I are close.	My siblings and I are tight. / I'm really close with my brothers and sisters. / My siblings and I have always been close. / We're a close-knit sibling group.
I don't see them often.	I rarely see them. / We don't cross paths much. / It's not often we meet up. / We've lost touch a bit.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
We are like a second family.	We're basically family at this point. / They feel like family to me. / We're as close as family. / They're practically my own family.
I inherited this from my grandfather.	This got passed down from my grandfather. / This was handed down from my grandad. / My grandad left this to me. / This came from my grandfather originally.
I broke up with my partner.	I split up with my partner. / We called it off. / We went our separate ways. / It ended between us.
We are dating.	We're seeing each other. / We're an item. / We're going out together. / We're a couple now.
I depend on my family.	I lean on my family a lot. / My family's my support system. / I rely heavily on my family. / My family's always got my back.
I support my siblings.	I look out for my siblings. / I've always got my siblings' backs. / I'm there for my siblings. / I stick up for my siblings.
We are very different.	We're chalk and cheese. / We're worlds apart in personality. / We couldn't be more different. / We don't have much in common.
I respect my elders.	I have a lot of respect for older relatives. / I look up to the older generation. / I hold my elders in high regard. / I've always respected my elders.
I want to start a family.	I'm ready to settle down and have kids. / I'm keen to start a family. / I'm thinking about having kids soon. / I'd like to have a family someday.
We keep in touch.	We stay in contact. / We check in with each other regularly. / We make an effort to stay close. / We never lose touch.

1 / 3

Technology & Internet

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
My phone is broken.	My phone's on the blink. / My phone's given up on me. / My phone's packed in. / My phone's out of action.
I need to charge my phone.	My phone needs juicing up. / I need to plug my phone in. / My phone's about to die. / I need to top up my battery.
The internet is slow.	The internet's crawling. / The connection's dragging. / The Wi-Fi's really sluggish. / The internet's taking forever.
I lost my connection.	I got disconnected. / My connection dropped. / I lost signal. / The connection cut out.
I need to update my phone.	My phone needs an update. / I've got to run an update. / I need to install an update. / My phone's due for an update.
I sent you an email.	I shot you an email. / I dropped you an email. / I fired off an email to you. / I sent that over by email.
Check your messages.	Have a look at your messages. / Check your inbox. / Give your messages a check. / See what's come through.
I am on social media.	I'm scrolling through social media. / I'm on my socials. / I'm doing the social media rounds. / I'm browsing social media.
I took a photo.	I snapped a photo. / I got a picture of it. / I grabbed a shot of it. / I took a quick pic.
I need to reset my password.	I need to reset my login. / I've forgotten my password again. / I need to sort my password out. / I'm locked out, need a reset.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
My computer crashed.	My computer's packed in. / My computer's frozen up. / My laptop's given up the ghost. / My computer just died on me.
I am downloading a file.	I'm pulling a file down. / I'm grabbing that file. / The download's underway. / I'm getting that file downloaded.
The app is not working.	The app's playing up. / The app's on the fritz. / The app keeps crashing. / The app's misbehaving.
I need a new charger.	My charger's had it. / I need to replace my charger. / I need to grab a new charger. / My charger's given out.
I am watching a video.	I'm watching a clip. / I'm catching a video online. / I'm watching something online. / I'm streaming a video.
I searched it online.	I looked it up online. / I googled it. / I had a search online. / I checked it out on the internet.
My screen is cracked.	My screen's shattered. / My screen's smashed. / The screen's got a crack in it. / The screen's busted.
I need to back up my files.	I need to save copies of my files. / I should back everything up. / My files need backing up. / I need to make sure my files are safe.
I am streaming a show.	I'm binge-watching a show. / I'm streaming something. / I've got a show on in the background. / I'm watching an episode.
I need to install this software.	I need to set this software up. / I have to get this installed. / I need to load this software on. / This software needs installing.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I forgot my login details.	I've blanked on my login. / I can't remember my details. / My login's slipped my mind. / I've forgotten how to log in.
I am on a video call.	I'm on a call. / I'm mid-call right now. / I'm dialed in. / I'm on a video chat.
The Wi-Fi is down.	The Wi-Fi's out. / We've lost the Wi-Fi. / The Wi-Fi's gone kaput. / The internet's down completely.
I posted online.	I put it out there online. / I shared it online. / I posted about it. / I put it up online.
I got a notification.	I got pinged. / Something just popped up. / I got an alert. / My phone just buzzed.
I bought this online.	I ordered this online. / I picked this up online. / I got this off the internet. / I bought it through a website.
My battery is dying.	My battery's about to go. / I'm about to lose battery. / My phone's on its last legs, battery-wise. / I'm nearly out of charge.
I need better signal.	I've got no bars. / Signal's really weak here. / I can't get a signal here. / Reception's terrible around here.
I updated my profile.	I gave my profile a refresh. / I touched up my profile. / I made some changes to my profile. / I updated a few things on my profile.
This website is not loading.	This site's not loading up. / The page won't load. / This website's hanging. / The page keeps freezing.

1 / 3

Home & Housing

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I live in a small house.	I live in a cosy little place. / My place is fairly compact. / I'm in a small house. / I've got a modest-sized home.
I need to clean my room.	My room could do with a tidy. / I need to give my room a clean. / My room's a bit of a mess right now. / I should sort my room out.
The room is messy.	The room's a bit of a tip. / It's a real mess in here. / This room's a state. / It's chaos in here right now.
I fixed the sink.	I sorted the sink out. / I got the sink fixed. / I patched up the sink. / I got the sink working again.
The lights are off.	The lights are switched off. / Everything's dark in here. / The power's off in here. / The lights are out.
I need to buy furniture.	I need to get some furniture sorted. / I'm on the hunt for furniture. / I need to furnish the place. / I've got to pick up some furniture.
The house is quiet.	It's dead quiet at home. / The house is peaceful right now. / There's not a sound in the house. / It's really still in here.
I need to move house.	I need to relocate. / I'm looking to move. / I've got to find a new place. / It's time for a move.
The heating is broken.	The heating's packed in. / The heating's on the blink. / We've got no heat at all. / The heating's given up.
I redecorated my room.	I gave my room a makeover. / I've done up my room. / I've spruced up my room. / I've given the room a refresh.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I need to do repairs.	The place needs some work done. / There's some fixing up to do. / I've got repairs to sort out. / A few things need patching up.
The neighbors are noisy.	The neighbors are a bit loud. / The neighbors make a racket. / It's noisy next door. / The neighbors are pretty rowdy.
I am renting an apartment.	I'm renting a flat. / I'm in rented accommodation. / I've got a flat on rent. / I'm renting at the moment.
I own my house.	I've got my own place. / My house is mine outright. / I'm a homeowner. / I own the place outright.
The garden needs work.	The garden could do with some attention. / The garden's a bit overgrown. / The garden needs tidying up. / The garden's gone a bit wild.
I locked the door.	I locked up. / I bolted the door. / I made sure it was locked. / I secured the door.
I am painting the walls.	I'm giving the walls a coat of paint. / I'm doing up the walls. / I'm repainting in here. / I'm putting a fresh coat on.
It is cozy here.	It's really snug in here. / It's nice and cozy. / This place has a homely feel. / It feels warm and inviting here.
The kitchen is spacious.	The kitchen's got plenty of room. / There's loads of space in the kitchen. / The kitchen's nice and roomy. / It's a good-sized kitchen.
I need a bigger place.	I could do with more space. / I'm outgrowing this place. / I need somewhere with more room. / It's time to size up.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
The rent is expensive.	The rent's pretty steep. / Rent's costing me a fortune. / The rent's a lot to cover. / Rent's on the high side here.
I set up the furniture.	I got the furniture arranged. / I sorted the furniture layout. / I put the furniture in place. / I got everything set up.
The pipes are leaking.	We've got a leak in the pipes. / The pipes are dripping. / There's a leak somewhere in the plumbing. / The pipes have sprung a leak.
I turned off the tap.	I shut the tap off. / I stopped the water. / I turned the water off. / I switched the tap off.
The house needs cleaning.	The house could use a proper clean. / The place needs a good tidy. / The house is overdue for a clean. / This place needs sorting out.
I moved into a new apartment.	I've just moved into a new place. / I've settled into a new flat. / I'm in a new apartment now. / I've relocated to a new flat.
I share the house with roommates.	I live with flatmates. / I've got roommates. / I share the place with a couple of others. / I split the rent with flatmates.
I need to declutter.	I need to clear out some stuff. / I've got to sort through my things. / I should have a good clear-out. / I need to get rid of clutter.
The air conditioning is on.	The AC's running. / We've got the aircon on. / The air con's blasting. / The AC's keeping things cool.
I feel at home here.	This place feels like home. / I've settled right in here. / I feel really settled here. / This has become home for me.

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Studies & Education

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I am studying for a test.	I'm cramming for a test. / I'm swotting up for an exam. / I'm revising for a test. / I'm putting in the hours for a test.
I passed the exam.	I aced the exam. / I sailed through the exam. / I got through the exam fine. / I did well on the exam.
I failed the exam.	I flunked the exam. / I didn't make the grade. / I bombed the exam. / I came up short on the exam.
I don't understand this subject.	This subject's got me stumped. / This subject's over my head. / I'm struggling to wrap my head around this. / This topic's not clicking for me.
I need to do homework.	I've got homework to get through. / I need to knuckle down on homework. / I've got assignments to finish. / Homework's calling.
I am learning a new language.	I'm picking up a new language. / I'm getting to grips with a new language. / I'm learning the ropes of a new language. / I'm working my way through a new language.
My teacher is strict.	My teacher's pretty tough. / My teacher doesn't cut corners. / My teacher's no pushover. / My teacher runs a tight ship.
I got a good grade.	I scored well. / I did really well on that. / I got top marks. / I nailed that grade.
I got a bad grade.	I scored poorly. / I didn't do so well. / That grade wasn't great. / I underperformed on that one.
I have a lot of homework.	I'm swamped with homework. / I've got a mountain of homework. / Homework's piling up. / I've got loads on my plate, homework-wise.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I need to focus.	I need to knuckle down. / I need to buckle down. / I have to concentrate properly. / I need to zero in on this.
I am distracted.	My mind keeps wandering. / I keep losing focus. / I'm easily sidetracked today. / I can't seem to concentrate.
I want to go to university.	I'm aiming for university. / I want to pursue higher education. / Uni's the goal for me. / I'm hoping to get into university.
I dropped out of school.	I quit school. / I left school early. / I called it quits on school. / I didn't finish school.
I graduated last year.	I finished up last year. / I got my degree last year. / I wrapped up my studies last year. / I completed my course last year.
I am taking notes.	I'm jotting things down. / I'm scribbling notes. / I'm getting notes down. / I'm noting the key points.
I need to review my notes.	I need to go over my notes. / I should brush up on my notes. / I need to run through my notes again. / I've got to revisit my notes.
The lesson was interesting.	The lesson was really engaging. / That was a great class. / The lesson kept me hooked. / That class was actually interesting.
The lesson was boring.	The lesson dragged on. / That class was a real snooze. / The lesson was pretty dull. / I struggled to stay awake in that class.
I asked a question in class.	I put my hand up in class. / I spoke up in class. / I chimed in with a question. / I raised a point in class.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I am doing research.	I'm digging into some research. / I'm looking into a topic. / I'm gathering information. / I'm doing some digging on it.
I need extra help.	I could use some extra support. / I need a bit more guidance. / I could do with some tutoring. / I need a helping hand with this.
I improved a lot.	I've come on leaps and bounds. / I've really progressed. / I've made great strides. / I've come a long way.
I need to catch up.	I need to get up to speed. / I've got some catching up to do. / I need to close the gap. / I have to play catch-up.
I have an assignment due.	I've got a deadline coming up. / I have an assignment to hand in. / There's a submission due soon. / I've got work due.
I am preparing a presentation.	I'm putting a presentation together. / I'm getting a presentation ready. / I'm working on my presentation. / I'm pulling my presentation together.
I made a lot of progress.	I've come a long way. / I've really moved forward with it. / I've made great headway. / I've progressed quite a bit.
I got into a good school.	I got accepted into a great school. / I made it into a top school. / I landed a place at a good school. / I got in, and it's a solid school.
I want to study abroad.	I'm keen to study overseas. / I'd love to study abroad. / I'm looking into studying in another country. / I'm considering studying abroad.
I need to memorize this.	I need to commit this to memory. / I have to learn this by heart. / I need to drill this into my head. / This needs to stick in my memory.

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Sports & Leisure

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I like playing sports.	I'm big into sports. / I'm quite the sports fan when it comes to playing. / I'm really into playing sports. / Sports are a big part of my life.
I am watching a game.	I'm catching the match. / I'm watching the game unfold. / I'm tuned into the match. / I've got the game on.
My team won.	My team came out on top. / We took the win. / My team pulled it off. / We came out victorious.
My team lost.	My team went down. / We got beaten. / My team came up short. / We lost out in the end.
I go to the gym.	I hit the gym. / I get my gym sessions in. / I train at the gym regularly. / I'm a regular at the gym.
I need to get in shape.	I need to shape up. / I've got to get fit. / I need to work on my fitness. / It's time to get back into shape.
I am good at football.	I'm pretty handy at football. / I've got a good touch with football. / I hold my own on the football pitch. / I've got a real knack for football.
I am bad at swimming.	I'm not much of a swimmer. / Swimming's not really my strong suit. / I'm pretty hopeless at swimming. / Swimming's never been my thing.
Let's play a game.	Fancy a game? / Let's have a match. / How about a quick game? / Let's get a game going.
I hurt myself playing sports.	I picked up an injury playing sports. / I did myself a mischief on the pitch. / I got knocked about playing. / I injured myself out there.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I enjoy hiking.	I love a good hike. / Hiking's one of my favorite things. / I'm big into hiking. / I'm always up for a hike.
I like to relax on weekends.	I like to kick back on weekends. / Weekends are for chilling out. / I like to unwind at the weekend. / I take it easy on weekends.
I am a big fan.	I'm a massive fan. / I'm mad about it. / I'm a die-hard fan. / I follow it religiously.
The match was exciting.	That match was a thriller. / It was a real nail-biter. / That game had everyone on the edge of their seats. / What a cracking match.
The match was boring.	That match was a real snooze-fest. / The game dragged on forever. / That was a dull match. / Nothing much happened in that game.
I want to try a new sport.	I fancy having a go at a new sport. / I'm up for trying something new, sports-wise. / I've been wanting to give a new sport a shot. / I fancy giving a new sport a whirl.
I train every day.	I put in training every day. / I train like clockwork. / I'm disciplined about training daily. / I never miss a training day.
I am tired after training.	I'm wiped out after training. / Training left me shattered. / I'm running on empty after that session. / That session took it out of me.
I like outdoor activities.	I'm into outdoor stuff. / I love getting out and about. / I'm an outdoorsy person. / I love being active outside.
I am watching a movie.	I'm catching a film. / I've got a movie on. / I'm watching something tonight. / I'm settling in for a movie.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I like board games.	I'm big on board games. / Board games are my thing. / I love a good board game night. / I'm always up for board games.
I want to travel more.	I'd love to see more of the world. / I'm itching to travel more. / I want to get out and explore more. / I've got the travel bug.
We are going camping.	We're heading off camping. / We're going to rough it for a bit camping. / We're off camping this weekend. / We've got a camping trip planned.
I love music festivals.	I'm big into music festivals. / Festivals are my thing. / I never miss a good festival. / I live for festival season.
I like painting as a hobby.	Painting's my creative outlet. / I love dabbling in painting. / Painting's how I unwind. / I'm into painting in my spare time.
I am learning to dance.	I'm picking up dancing. / I'm getting into dancing. / I'm learning some dance moves. / I've taken up dancing.
I like to read for fun.	I love losing myself in a good book. / Reading's my go-to way to relax. / I always curl up with a book. / I'm a big reader in my free time.
We had a great time.	We had a blast. / We had a whale of a time. / It was a brilliant time. / We had a great laugh.
I want to join a sports club.	I'm keen to join a club. / I'm thinking of signing up to a club. / I fancy joining a sports team. / I'd like to get involved with a club.
I am practicing a new skill.	I'm working on a new skill. / I'm honing a new skill. / I'm getting the hang of something new. / I'm putting in the practice on something new.

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Debates & Disagreements

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I don't agree with you.	I'm not with you on this one. / I see it differently, to be honest. / I have to disagree there. / That's not how I see it.
Let's not argue.	Let's not fall out over this. / Let's not make this into a fight. / Let's keep things civil. / There's no need to argue about it.
You are wrong.	I think you've got that wrong. / That's not quite right, I'm afraid. / I'd say you're mistaken there. / I don't think that's accurate.
I have a different opinion.	I look at it differently. / I see things from another angle. / I've got my own take on it. / My view's a bit different.
Let's compromise.	Let's meet in the middle. / Let's find some middle ground. / Let's work out a compromise. / Let's meet each other halfway.
I don't want to fight.	I'd rather not get into it. / I'm not looking for a fight. / Let's not go there. / I'd rather keep the peace.
We disagree on this.	We're not on the same page here. / We're at odds over this. / We see this quite differently. / We just don't agree here.
That's not fair.	That's a bit unfair, if you ask me. / That doesn't seem right to me. / That's out of order. / That's hardly fair.
I understand your point.	I see where you're coming from. / I get your point. / Fair point, I hear you. / I take your point on that.
I still disagree.	I still don't buy it. / I'm still not convinced. / I hold my ground on that. / I still see it my way.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
Let's agree to disagree.	Let's just leave it there. / We'll have to agree to differ. / Let's not push this any further. / We'll just see it differently, and that's fine.
You have a point.	Fair enough, that's a good point. / I'll give you that. / You're not wrong there. / That's a valid point.
I take back what I said.	I'll retract that. / I was out of line saying that. / Forget I said that. / I shouldn't have said that.
Let's settle this.	Let's get this sorted once and for all. / Let's hash this out. / Let's put this to bed. / Let's iron this out.
We had a disagreement.	We had a difference of opinion. / We locked horns over it. / We butted heads on it. / There was a bit of friction between us.
I stand by what I said.	I'm sticking to my guns. / I won't take that back. / I meant what I said. / I stand firm on that.
Calm down.	Take it easy. / Let's keep calm. / No need to get worked up. / Just breathe, let's stay calm.
You are overreacting.	You're blowing this out of proportion. / You're making a mountain out of a molehill. / That's a bit much, don't you think? / You're taking this too far.
Let's talk it out.	Let's hash it out properly. / Let's sit down and talk it through. / Let's air things out. / Let's get to the bottom of this together.
I don't want to talk about it anymore.	I'd rather drop it. / Can we leave it there? / I'm done discussing this. / Let's just let it go.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
We need to find common ground.	We need to meet somewhere in the middle. / We should find some overlap in our views. / Let's figure out what we agree on. / We need to find some middle ground.
That's a fair point.	I can't argue with that. / That's a solid point. / You've got a point there. / I'll concede that point.
I misunderstood you.	I got the wrong end of the stick. / I took that the wrong way. / I misread what you meant. / I got that mixed up.
Let's not blame each other.	Let's not point fingers. / There's no point placing blame. / Let's not turn this into a blame game. / Let's focus forward, not on blame.
I want to clear the air.	I want to sort things out between us. / Let's clear things up. / I'd like to set the record straight. / I want to smooth things over.
That's a valid concern.	That's a fair worry to have. / That's a legitimate concern. / You raise a good point there. / That's worth taking seriously.
I regret what I said.	I wish I hadn't said that. / That came out wrong. / I shouldn't have said that. / I regret how that came out.
Let's move on from this.	Let's put this behind us. / Let's leave this in the past. / Time to move forward from this. / Let's not dwell on this anymore.
I respect your opinion.	I respect where you're coming from. / Fair enough, that's your view. / I can respect that, even if I disagree. / Your opinion's valid, even if I see it differently.
This isn't worth arguing about.	This isn't worth the hassle. / It's not worth falling out over. / This is such a small thing to argue about. / Let's not sweat the small stuff.

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Emergencies & Health

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
Call an ambulance.	Get an ambulance here. / We need an ambulance, quick. / Call for emergency medical help. / Get medics here now.
I need a doctor.	I need to see a doctor. / I need medical attention. / I should get checked out. / I need to get to a doctor.
It is an emergency.	This is urgent. / This can't wait. / It's a critical situation. / This needs immediate attention.
I feel dizzy.	I'm feeling lightheaded. / My head's spinning. / I feel a bit faint. / I'm feeling woozy.
I can't breathe well.	I'm struggling to breathe. / I'm short of breath. / I'm having trouble catching my breath. / My breathing's off.
I am bleeding.	I'm bleeding pretty badly. / There's blood coming from the cut. / It won't stop bleeding. / I'm losing blood.
I broke my arm.	I've fractured my arm. / I did my arm in. / My arm's broken. / I've done some damage to my arm.
I need medicine.	I need to get some medication. / I could use some medicine. / I need to pick up something for this. / I need treatment for this.
I have a fever.	I'm running a temperature. / I've come down with a fever. / I'm burning up. / I've got a bit of a temperature.
I feel faint.	I feel like I might pass out. / I'm about to go lightheaded. / I feel like I could black out. / I'm on the verge of fainting.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
Where is the hospital?	Whereabouts is the nearest hospital? / Where's the closest hospital from here? / Which way to the hospital? / Where can I find a hospital nearby?
I need first aid.	I need some basic treatment. / I need first aid right away. / Someone needs to patch this up. / I need immediate care for this.
Someone fainted.	Someone's passed out. / Someone's collapsed. / Someone went down. / Someone blacked out.
I am allergic to this.	This sets off my allergies. / I react badly to this. / This doesn't agree with me. / I have a reaction to this.
Get help immediately.	Get help right away. / We need help now. / Someone get help, quick. / Fetch help immediately.
I took my medicine.	I've had my medication. / I've taken my dose. / I've had my pills. / I've taken care of my medication.
I need stitches.	This needs stitching up. / I'll probably need this stitched. / This cut needs stitches. / I might need this sewn up.
I sprained my ankle.	I've twisted my ankle. / I've done my ankle in. / My ankle's gone. / I've turned my ankle.
I am having a panic attack.	I'm having a bit of a panic moment. / I'm freaking out a little. / I'm having a moment here. / I'm struggling to keep it together.
The wound is infected.	The wound's turned nasty. / It's gone septic. / The cut's got infected. / It's infected and needs treatment.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I need to see a specialist.	I need to get referred to a specialist. / I should see someone more specialized. / This needs specialist attention. / I need an expert to look at this.
My blood pressure is high.	My blood pressure's up. / I've got high blood pressure at the moment. / My blood pressure's through the roof. / My readings are elevated.
I fainted for a moment.	I blacked out briefly. / I went out for a second. / I lost consciousness for a moment. / I came over dizzy and blacked out.
I need to go to the ER.	I need to head to A&E. / I need emergency care. / I have to get to the emergency room. / This needs A&E attention.
He is unconscious.	He's out cold. / He's not responding. / He's lost consciousness. / He's completely out of it.
I need to disinfect this cut.	I need to clean this wound properly. / This cut needs disinfecting. / I should sterilize this cut. / I need to treat this wound.
I twisted my back.	I've thrown my back out. / I've done something to my back. / My back's gone. / I've tweaked my back.
Call for help.	Shout for help. / Get someone over here. / Raise the alarm. / Get some assistance, quick.
I am recovering well.	I'm on the mend. / I'm bouncing back nicely. / I'm making a good recovery. / I'm healing up well.
I need to take it easy.	I need to rest up. / I should take things slow for a bit. / I've got to ease off for now. / I need to give myself a break.

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Meetings & Office Work

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
Let's start the meeting.	Let's get the meeting underway. / Let's kick things off. / Shall we get started? / Let's dive in, then.
I have a deadline.	I've got a deadline looming. / I'm up against a deadline. / I've got something due soon. / There's a deadline breathing down my neck.
I finished the report.	I've wrapped up the report. / The report's done and dusted. / I've got the report finished. / The report's all sorted.
I need to send an email.	I need to fire off an email. / I've got to shoot an email over. / I need to drop someone a line. / I need to send that over by email.
Let's schedule a call.	Let's set up a call. / Let's get a call in the diary. / Let's arrange a call. / Let's pencil in a call.
I am in a meeting.	I'm tied up in a meeting. / I'm mid-meeting right now. / I'm in the middle of a meeting. / I'm stuck in a meeting.
Can we reschedule the meeting?	Can we push the meeting back? / Any chance we could move the meeting? / Could we shift the meeting to another time? / Can we find another slot for the meeting?
I need to talk to my boss.	I need a word with my boss. / I've got to catch my boss. / I need to run something by my boss. / I need to have a chat with my manager.
I got a promotion.	I've been promoted. / I've moved up the ladder. / I've stepped up a role. / I've landed a promotion.
I have too much work.	I'm swamped with work. / I've got way too much on my plate. / I'm buried in work. / Work's piling up on me.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
Let's brainstorm ideas.	Let's throw some ideas around. / Let's bounce some ideas off each other. / Let's put our heads together. / Let's get some ideas flowing.
I disagree with the plan.	I'm not sold on the plan. / The plan doesn't sit right with me. / I've got reservations about the plan. / I'm not on board with this plan.
Let's take a break.	Let's take five. / Let's grab a quick break. / Let's pause for a moment. / Let's step away for a bit.
The presentation went well.	The presentation went down a treat. / That presentation was a hit. / The presentation landed well. / That went really smoothly.
I need to prepare for the meeting.	I need to get ready for the meeting. / I've got to prep for the meeting. / I need to get my ducks in a row before the meeting. / I need to sort myself out before the meeting.
Let's follow up on this.	Let's circle back on this. / Let's touch base on this later. / Let's pick this up again soon. / Let's revisit this.
I am working overtime.	I'm putting in extra hours. / I'm staying late again. / I'm doing overtime this week. / I'm working late tonight.
I need approval for this.	I need the green light on this. / This needs sign-off. / I need this approved first. / I need the go-ahead on this.
Let's finalize the details.	Let's iron out the details. / Let's nail down the details. / Let's tie up loose ends. / Let's get the details squared away.
I am on a business trip.	I'm away on business. / I'm out of office for a work trip. / I'm traveling for work. / I'm off on a work trip.

A2 (Basic)	B1 (More Natural)
I need to delegate this task.	I need to hand this off. / I should pass this along to someone else. / I need to offload this task. / I'll delegate this to the team.
The project is behind schedule.	The project's falling behind. / We're lagging on the project. / The project's slipping. / We're behind on this project.
I need feedback on this.	I could use some input on this. / I'd appreciate your thoughts on this. / Let me know what you think of this. / I'd like a second opinion on this.
Let's set clear goals.	Let's map out clear objectives. / Let's define what we're aiming for. / Let's set the targets straight. / Let's be clear on our goals.
I need to catch up on emails.	I've got a backlog of emails. / I need to work through my inbox. / My inbox is piling up. / I need to clear my inbox.
We hit our target.	We hit the mark. / We smashed our target. / We reached our goal. / We got there in the end.
We missed the target.	We fell short of the target. / We didn't quite make it. / We came up short this time. / We missed the mark.
Let's wrap up the meeting.	Let's bring the meeting to a close. / Let's call it there for today. / Let's wind things up. / Let's draw this to a close.
I need to submit this report.	I need to hand this report in. / This report's due for submission. / I need to get this report sent off. / I need to file this report.
I appreciate your effort.	I really value the effort you've put in. / Great work on this, thank you. / I'm grateful for the hard work here. / Nice work, I appreciate it.

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