Essential English Expressions

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.

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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

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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.

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Practice: Read the transcript of this episode, take a quiz, and practice using "Take advantage of": https://plainenglish.com/expressions/take-advantage-of

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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.

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Practice: Read the transcript of this episode, take a quiz, and practice using "At once": https://plainenglish.com/expressions/at-once

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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.

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Practice: Read the transcript of this episode, take a quiz, and practice using "For good": https://plainenglish.com/expressions/for-good

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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.

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Practice: Read the transcript of this episode, take a quiz, and practice using "Keep track of": https://plainenglish.com/expressions/keep-track-of

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At the last minute

Learn the English expression, "At the last minute"

Have you heard the expression, "at the last minute?" It means to do something almost as late as you possibly can--right before it's too late.

Sometimes we decide to do things at the last minute.

If you celebrate Christmas, you might buy gifts for friends and family. If you wait until December 23 to do your shopping, you're doing it at the last minute. There isn't much time left!

But sometimes it's not our choice. Imagine you have an appointment to get your hair cut at 11:00. But you have an emergency at 10:15: now you can't make your appointment. You have to cancel it at the last minute.

"At the last minute" isn't about a specific time. It's about the feeling that something is happening very late--almost as late as it could possibly happen.

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Practice: Read the transcript of this episode, take a quiz, and practice using "At the last minute": https://plainenglish.com/expressions/at-the-last-minute

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Take care of

Learn the English expression, "Take care of"

"Take care of" is a common expression with a few meanings.

You've probably heard it like this: "I'm taking care of a sick friend this weekend." That means to provide care or support to someone who needs it.

Here's another way to use it. Parents might look for someone to take care of their kids after school. It's kind of like babysitting: to take care of the kids is to supervise the kids and help them while their parents are away.

Going on vacation? You might look for someone to take care of your pets while you're away.

Next, "take care of" can mean to handle tasks or responsibilities. When dividing the work in a group project, you might say, "I'll take care of that!" if you offer to do something.

One last tip: When you say goodbye in English, you can say, "Take care!" to the other person. That's a short way of saying, "Take care of yourself" (until we meet again).

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Practice: Read the transcript of this episode, take a quiz, and practice using "Take care of": https://plainenglish.com/expressions/take-care-of

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Have a hard time

Learn the English expression, "Have a hard time"

If you have a hard time with something, it's difficult for you, but it's not impossible.

You can use "have a hard time" with a verb or a noun.

If an action is difficult for you, use an -ing verb. For example, "I'm having a hard time solving this complex math problem."

But if it's a thing that's hard, use a preposition like "with, at, or in." For example, "I'm having a hard time at work these days" or "I'm having a hard time in math class."

Just remember: use "a hard time" with something that's difficult but not impossible.

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Practice: Read the transcript of this episode, take a quiz, and practice using "Have a hard time": https://plainenglish.com/expressions/take-care-of

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In charge of

Learn the English expression, "In charge of"

Who's in charge here? The person "in charge" is the person who is responsible for a situation.

At your local café, there might be a barista and a manager. The manager has responsibility for the store and has to solve any problems that come up. That's why we say the manager is "in charge."

You can say, "in charge of" plus the thing the person is responsible for. The manager at the café is in charge of setting the schedule. But the barista is in charge of serving customers as they come in.

Here's another way to use "in charge." You can put someone in charge if you give that person responsibility. You might put a colleague in charge of answering your emails while you're on vacation.

However you use it, remember that the person "in charge" is the person with responsibility.

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Practice: Read the transcript of this episode, take a quiz, and practice using "In charge of": https://plainenglish.com/expressions/in-charge-of

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Take for granted

Learn the English expression, "Take for granted"

If you take something for granted, you don't fully appreciate that thing.

We take a lot of things for granted in our lives: modern conveniences, our health and safety, and even the people around us.

When we take something for granted, we know it's there. But we don't stop to appreciate it.

If you're young, you might take your health for granted. You don't appreciate how lucky you are to be healthy. If you live in a safe neighborhood, you might take your safety for granted. It's easy to forget that not everyone has that advantage.

We're lucky to have the things that we have! Don't take them for granted.

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Practice: Read the transcript of this episode, take a quiz, and practice using "Take for granted": https://plainenglish.com/expressions/take-for-granted

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