Practice
Fixed expressions in everyday English
Sign in to saveYou may know every word in take your time, but the phrase is easier to understand and use when you learn the words together. It means that there is no need to hurry. English has many familiar groups like this.
Recognise common fixed expressions, understand their usual meaning in context, and use them as complete word groups in everyday conversation and writing.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
Could you give me a hand with this? /kʊd juː ɡɪv miː ə hænd wɪð ðɪs/
The short answer
Learn a fixed expression as a complete chunk of language. Notice its usual words, grammar, situation, and meaning. Do not replace one word just because it has a similar dictionary meaning.
Please take your time. The meeting does not start for another ten minutes.
Why it works: Take your time is a polite way to tell someone that they do not need to hurry.
5 more examples
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After comparing the two courses, Farah made a decision.
Make a decision is the usual verb and noun combination for choosing something.
Not this:After comparing the two courses, Farah
did a decision. What changes: Do a decision is not the normal English combination. Use make a decision. -
Could you give me a hand with these boxes?
This friendly request asks for help, not for a person's hand.
Not this:Could you
help mewith these boxes? What changes: This has the same practical meaning but uses a direct, non-idiomatic verb. -
The receptionist said, Make yourself at home while you wait.
This welcoming expression tells a guest to feel relaxed and comfortable.
Not this:Please
feel comfortablewhile you wait. What changes: The direct sentence is clear, but make yourself at home is a familiar welcome. -
I need to catch up on my messages after the trip.
Catch up on means to do work or read information that you missed earlier.
Not this:I need to
read the messages I missedafter the trip. What changes: This explains the action directly. Catch up on is a shorter fixed expression. -
Please keep in touch after you move to Bristol.
Keep in touch means to continue communicating with someone.
Not this:Please
send me newsafter you move to Bristol. What changes: The direct request explains one way to stay in contact. Keep in touch covers regular contact more generally.
Read the full guide
When you meet a useful expression, write down the whole phrase and one short situation where it fits. For example, make a decision is more useful than learning decision by itself. You can then notice which verb normally comes before the noun and use the combination with confidence.
Learn the whole group
A fixed expression works best when you remember its words together. The phrase pay attention is a common combination. Learning only attention does not tell you which verb usually comes before it.
Please pay attention to the platform number.
Pay attention means to listen or watch carefully.
Which verb normally goes with attention in this expression?
Use pay: pay attention.
Notice common verb and noun pairs
Many everyday expressions use a particular verb with a noun. The noun may seem simple, but a different verb can sound unnatural. Make plans, take a break, and have a look are useful combinations to learn as units.
We made plans for Saturday after work.
Make plans is the normal combination when people arrange future activities.
Complete the phrase: Let us ___ a break after this task.
Use take: Let us take a break after this task.
Use expressions for polite interaction
Some fixed expressions help you sound friendly and polite in everyday situations. They have a social purpose, so their meaning depends on the situation as well as the words.
Would you mind closing the door when you leave?
Would you mind is a polite way to ask someone to do something.
Does Would you mind asking about a person's opinion here?
No. In this pattern, it introduces a polite request.
Check for a meaning beyond the words
A fixed expression can have a meaning that is not completely literal. Context tells you how to understand it. Do not translate each word separately if the result does not fit the situation.
When the printer stopped working, Leo kept his cool.
Keep your cool means to stay calm in a difficult or stressful moment.
What did Leo do when the printer stopped working?
He stayed calm.
Keep the pattern but change the grammar
The core words in a fixed expression usually stay together, but grammar can change around them. A verb may move into the past, present, or future, and a possessive can match a different person.
Nadia has kept in touch with her former manager.
The verb has changed for the present perfect, but keep in touch remains the same expression.
Change I make an effort every day to the past simple.
I made an effort every day.
Before you go
Remember this
Treat common expressions as useful groups, not as separate vocabulary items. Learn the usual word combination, the grammar around it, and a real situation where it works. Reuse the phrase in your own sentence soon after you learn it.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Fixed expressions in everyday English"
What is a fixed expression in English?
A fixed expression is a word group that speakers commonly use in one usual pattern. It may be a frequent combination such as make plans, a polite phrase such as would you mind, or an expression with a wider meaning such as keep your cool.
After comparing the two courses, Farah made a decision.
Are fixed expressions the same as idioms?
Some fixed expressions are idioms, but the term is broader. An idiom often has a meaning that is hard to guess from the separate words. Other fixed expressions are simply common word combinations, such as pay attention or take a break.
After comparing the two courses, Farah did a decision.
Can I change the words in a fixed expression?
You can often change grammar around the core phrase. For example, make a decision can become made a decision or will make a decision. Avoid replacing a main word with a near synonym unless you have seen that new combination used naturally.
Could you give me a hand with these boxes?
How can I remember fixed expressions?
Write the full expression, a short meaning, and one situation where you could use it. Say the phrase aloud in a complete sentence. Review it later and make a new sentence with the same core word group.
Could you help me with these boxes?
Should I use fixed expressions in formal writing?
Choose the expression for the situation. Common combinations such as make an effort and reach an agreement work well in many formal contexts. More informal expressions can suit conversation better. A learner's dictionary can help you check the register of a phrase.
The receptionist said, Make yourself at home while you wait.