12 English Phrasal Verbs and Idioms for Learning & Improving 4 skills | Lesson 1 – Intermediate Level

• Example: I feel too tired to go out for dinner. Let’s eat in again tonight.
• Ex: When you eat out, what restaurant do you generally go to?

• Ex: The results of the national election were rather cut and dried; the Republicans won easily.
• Ex: A job on a factory assembly line is certainly cut and dried.

• Ex: Grandma will look after the baby while we go to the lecture.
• Ex: Who is going to take care of your house plants while you are away?
• Ex: I’d appreciate it if you’d keep an eye on my car while I’m in the store.

This idiom is usually followed by a gerund (the –ing form of a verb used as a noun).

• Ex: I don’t feel like studying tonight. Let’s go to a basketball game.
• Ex: I feel like taking a long walk. Would you like to go with me?

• Ex: My daughter told her boyfriend once and for all that she wouldn’t date him anymore.
• Ex: Once and for all, john has quit smoking cigarettes.

• Ex: To hear from is used for receiving a letter, telephone call, etc., from a person or organization.
• Ex: I don’t hear from my brother very often since he moved to Chicago.
• Ex: Have you heard from the company about that new job?

• Ex: The second definition is always used in the negative.
• Ex: When I asked for directions to Mill Street, the police officer said that she had never heard of it.  Byron strongly disagreed with my request by saying, “I won’t hear of it!”

• Ex: They are making fun of Carla’s new hair style. Don’t you think that it’s really strange?
• Ex: Don’t make fun of Jose’s English. He’s doing the best he can.

• Ex: The weatherman’s forecast for today’s weather certainly came true.
• Ex: Everything that the economists predicted about the increased cost of living has come true.

• Ex: Hans thinks he knows English well but, as a matter of fact, he speaks very poorly.
• Ex: I didn’t say that. In fact, I said quite the opposite.

• Ex: My brother always wants to have his way, but this time our parents said that we could do what I wanted.
• Ex: If Sheila doesn’t get her way, she becomes very angry.

This idiom can be followed by a regular noun or a gerund.

• Ex: We’re greatly looking forward to our vacation in Mexico.
• Ex: Margaret never looks forward to going to work.