English Expressions and Slang Section 3

English Expressions and Slang Section 3

Freezing

"I'm freezing."

Meaning: to be very cold

Similar Expressions

• I'm freezing.
• I'm very cold.

When do we use it?

The real meaning of "to freeze" is to turn to ice or to harden or stiffen because of the cold.

• The water is freezing.
• The lake is frozen.
• It will freeze if you leave it outside in the winter.

However, we can also use "to freeze" to express that we are very cold or that something is very cold. We use this expression to exaggerate and when we want to use strong language.

• I'm freezing! Let's go inside.
• Your hands are freezing! Wear my gloves.

How do we use it?

We can always replace "to be very cold" with "to be freezing".

• My hands and feet are freezing.
• She says she is freezing.
• It is freezing outside.

However, we can say "to feel cold", but we do not usually say "to feel freezing".

• I feel very cold.
• I feel freezing.

Example English Conversation

A) Are you okay?
B) No. I am freezing. Can we go inside and warm up for a while?
A) Sure. To be honest, my hands are freezing and I could use a break.

Adding expressions and idioms to your vocabulary will help you become a better English speaker. You do not need to learn a million expressions or idioms at one time! If you study new English expressions and idioms steadily and consistently, then your vocabulary will get better and better. Use these free English lessons to expand your vocabulary and learn useful English idioms, slang, and expressions

Get out of hand

"get out of hand" / "be out of hand"

Meaning: to be out of control and difficult to control; to be crazy and unable to be controlled

Why does it mean that?

When something is in our hand, we are able to control out. However, once something leaves our hand, we cannot control or manage it anymore. So, if a situation or thing "gets out of hand" that means it has become chaotic and impossible or very difficult to control.

When do we use it?

We usually this when talking about a situation, thing, or people that have become crazy and hard to control or manage. This idiom implies that the situation is chaotic or crazy.

In this expression, "get" has the same meaning as "become". So, we use these expressions when a situation has changed from stable and predictable to unstable and crazy.

How do we use it?

We can use "get out of hand" to show that a situation has become chaotic. We put it after the situation or event. We can use it in any verb tense.

• The party is getting out of hand. I think the police will come.
• The situation got out of hand after you left.
• If we do not do something, the problem might get out of hand.
• We can control it now, but if we do not do something soon, then it will get out of hand.
• The class was getting out of hand so the teacher started to yell.
• Food prices are getting out of hand. The government needs to do something.

We can also use "be out of hand". This shows the state of the situation or thing.

• The situation was out of hand, but we have it under control now.
• The political situation in this country is out of hand.

Example English Conversation

A) Why did you leave the party?
B) It was getting out of hand, and I didn't feel comfortable.
A) I understand. There were two fights after you left.
B) See. I hate when things get out of hand like that.

Adding expressions and idioms to your vocabulary will help you become a better English speaker. You do not need to learn a million expressions or idioms at one time! If you study new English expressions and idioms steadily and consistently, then your vocabulary will get better and better. Use these free English lessons to expand your vocabulary and learn useful English idioms, slang, and expressions.

 

Give the benefit of the doubt

"to give someone the benefit of the doubt"

Meaning: to trust or believe someone even though you are not 100% sure that they are right or telling the truth; to keep a favorable or neutral opinion about something or someone until all information is available

Why does it mean that?

Even though there is doubt about somebody or something, we still keep a positive opinion of the person of thing. When we do not know what to think about some situation, we give the benefit or advantage to the person or thing. In other words, we regard somebody or something as innocent until we see clear evidence that they are guilty.

When do we use it?

We use this to show that we trust or support someone or something that is being accused of something.

When a person, company, or thing is accused of doing something bad or wrong, we can use this expression to say that we support or trust the person until we see clear evidence that they actually did the crime or bad thing.

How do we use it?

We can use "give somebody the benefit of the doubt" or "give the benefit of the doubt to somebody" in a sentence.

• Everybody says that Jane stole the watch, but I am not sure. I will give Jane the benefit of the doubt because she is my friend.
• Nobody gave me the benefit of the doubt when I was accused of stealing. Everybody thought I did it.
• Mark is my best friend, so I will always give the benefit of the doubt to him. I will always trust what he says.

Example English Conversation

A) I think we should always give a person the benefit of the doubt. We should know for sure if they committed a crime or did something wrong before we blame them.
B) I agree with. Many times, people jump to conclusions and start blaming people without proper evidence.
A) That is exactly what I mean. Everybody deserves the benefit of the doubt.

It is important that you know English expressions and idioms if you want to have fluent English conversations with native English speakers or other advanced English speakers. Do not try to learn many expressions and idioms at one time. Instead, study a few of these free English lessons each week and learn English expressions and words well. This will help your English vocabulary improve steadily, and you will start speaking English like a native speaker. 

Go back to the drawing board

"to go back to the drawing board"

Meaning: to start planning something again because the first attempt failed or did not work

Similar Expressions

• We need to go back to the drawing board.
• We need to start again.
• We need to think of a new plan.
• We need to find a different way.

When do we use it?

This a very useful expression especially at work or in business. The first step of any project is brainstorming and planning. We often use a whiteboard to write our ideas on while we are planning.

This expression does not mean that we need to use a whiteboard. It just means that we need to go back to the beginning and start again.

So, we usually use this expression to talk about things like a project, plan, strategy, etc.

How do we use it?

This expression is often used with the verbs "need", "must", and "have".

• Our plan didn't work. We need to go back to the drawing board.
• Our strategy isn't working. We must go back to the drawing board and think of a new strategy.

We can also use this expression after modals like "will", "should", and "could".

• We should go back to the drawing board and think of a new plan.
• It failed. We will go back to the drawing board and try again.

Example English Conversation

A) How is your team's project going?
B) It is not going well.
A) What are you going to do?
B) I think we need to go back to the drawing board and think of some new ideas.

Adding expressions and idioms to your vocabulary will help you become a better English speaker. You do not need to learn a million expressions or idioms at one time! If you study new English expressions and idioms steadily and consistently, then your vocabulary will get better and better. Use these free English lessons to expand your vocabulary and learn useful English idioms, slang, and expressions.