Natural Expressions and Idiomatic Alternatives (Part 1)

A collection of vocabulary flashcards mapping common words and phrases to more natural, idiomatic expressions and linking words from the lecture.

not understand

not make head nor tail

In addition

On top of that, additionally

attempt

go the extra mile / go to great lengths

surprise

Take sb by surprise / To my surprise

expensive

Cost an arm and a leg

happy

have a spring in my step

captivating

hard to take your eyes off / keep people on the edge of the seat

creative

think outside the box / give my imagination free rein

initially

at first glance

be one's favorite

right up your street / to your liking

once popular

all the rage

reliable option

my go-to choice

still remember

be still crystal clear in my mind / leave a lasting impression on me

durable

stand the test of time

unique

one-of-a-kind

positive

keep my chin up

advantageous

a big/ huge plus / a real lifesaver / a real game-changer

ignored (in remote areas)

left out in the cold

groundbreaking / make a big difference

make all the difference

encourage

give people the extra push they need

get moving

get off the couch

a stimulous

a major draw

get a promotion

climb the career ladder

offer chances

open doors for

supermarket

one-stop solution

can overlap

there is a common ground between men and women

exhaust yourself

burn the candle at both ends

learn to the fullest

get the most out of the experience

stay relaxed

put my mind at ease / clear my head / feel a wave of peace wash over me

stay relaxed-

escape from the hustle and bustle of city life

new experience

a breath of fresh air

study hard

study day and night

stressed

completely stressed out = burned out

go to bars and parties

paint the town red

meaningful

mean a lot to me = mean the world to me

suit

go well with + item of clothing

be fitted with

be suitable

look after carefully

take extra care of

gain sb's trust

win sb over

keep

hold on

associated with

tied to

want to buy sth most

at the top of my wish list

grateful to sb

ower sb a huge debt of gratitude

become vivid

come alive -> breathe life into sth

not adj

far from

rarely explore

open my eyes to a whole new way/ world / broaden my horizons about

understand deeply

understand on a deeper level >< look at sth on the surface

see sth in person

see sth with my own eyes / see sth up close

chat with friends

catch up with friends

relax

unwind, let off steam, recharge my batteries