15 English words and phrases that will make you a native speaker

In English, there are a huge number of phrases that are constantly used by speakers, but almost do not know foreigners.

Фото: Depositphotos

Edition “Life hacker» has collected 15 such expressions that will allow you to pass for one in an English-speaking company.

1. Firstly, secondly, thirdly ...

"Firstly Secondly Thirdly…"

For English, the ear sounds quite official first, second, third), but these words will show that you know English well. But in the first, in the second and so on can not speak.

Firstly, I prefer airplane because it's fast. Secondly, they give you meals, and thirdly, I like a view from the window. — I prefer airplanes, because, firstly, it’s fast, secondly, because it’s fed there, and thirdly, I like to look out the window.

2. Very good

"Wonderful"

Just like in Russian, in English this phrase can have the meaning that is completely opposite to the literal one.

- I left your glasses at home. - I forgot your glasses at home.

- Very good. - Wonderful.

3. Get out!

“Go you!”, “Oh well!”, “Come on!”

In addition to the direct meaning, it may express surprise or disbelief.

- I'm going to get married. - I am getting married.

- Get out! - Go you!

4. Never ever

"Never ever"

Used to enhance the meaning of the word "never."

I will never ever do it again. — I will never, never do that again.

5. It's not rocket science

"This is not the highest mathematics", "this is not Newton's binom"

If a person considers something incredibly difficult, and you disagree with him, then in English you can say (literally) that this is “not rocket science”.

Managing people is hard but it's not rocket science. — Managing people is not easy, but this is not the highest mathematics.

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6. Ain't no

Conversational design am / is / are not or have / has not. Used by young people and ordinary people, educated native speakers can grimace. But will appreciate.

I ain't got no cigarettes. — I have no cigarettes.

7. Going nuts (be nuts)

"Went crazy", "went to the roof"

A colloquial expression that has nothing to do with nuts.

Tornado is about to come, everyone's going nuts. — Soon the tornado will come, and everything is crazy.

John is nuts. — John went to the roof.

8. Let's just say

"Let's just say ...", "if in a nutshell, then ..."

The expression is used when you do not want to explain something in detail.

Let's just say I'm not a big fan of Elvis. — Let's just say I'm not a big fan of Elvis.

9. Let's sleep on it

"Let's postpone until the morning"

Sometimes it takes time to make a decision. As they say, the morning of the evening is wiser, therefore in the English-speaking world they say that “it is necessary to sleep”.

I can't make a decision right now, let me sleep on it. — I can not make a decision right now, I need to think about tomorrow.

10. Not really

"Not really"

It is strange that such a common phrase is not studied in school.

- Are you ready to go? - Are you ready to go?

- Not really. - Not really.

Фото: Depositphotos

11. Help yourself

“Help yourself”, “use”

In addition to the direct meaning, it is often used as a suggestion or permission to act independently.

- May I use your phone? - Can I use your phone?

- Help yourself! - Take advantage!

12 Indeed

“Really”, “not the word”, “undoubtedly”

This word is used to enhance what was said or express consent.

- He sounds reasonable. - He says intelligent things.

- He is indeed. - Not that word.

13. May I be excused?

"May I go out?"

The pearl of this list, the phrase in a million dollars. Ask ten English teachers how to say “Can I get out?” And at least nine will say something like: “May I get out?”, “May I go out?”. Checked on colleagues.

The girl raised her hand and said, “Mrs Jones, may I be excused?” — The girl raised her hand and said: "Mrs. Jones, can I go out?"

14. I'm done

“I have finished”, “I am tired”

The phrase is very often used in oral speech.

I'm done washing dishes, let's go. — I finished washing the dishes, let's go.

15. So are you / so am I; me neither

“And you / me too”; "I also do not"

If you want to say “me too”, “you too”, and do it very “in English” rather than me toothen just take a word so, then the auxiliary verb and the subject. If you want to agree with denial, instead of so use neither. Yes, when denying the first person ("I also do not") you can use the phrase me neither, and regardless of the time of the verb. Attention: if the interlocutor does not have very good English, he most likely will not understand you. In this case, it will help simple too (it is quite in English and without frills).

- I wanna go home. - I want to go home.

- So do I. - And me.

- Your girlfriend doesn't like her new roommate. - Your girlfriend doesn’t like her new neighbor.

- Me neither. - Like me.

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