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Finishing with ACCORDINGLY?

22/3/2023

 
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The word "accordingly" is an adverb that means in a manner that is appropriate to the circumstances or in a way that follows from or is in agreement with what has just been said. 
This is what your dictionary will tell you. But let's try to tame this definition a bit by looking at different examples and the meaning in the sentences.
  • ​I studied hard for my exam, and I received a good grade accordingly. (meaning: as a result)
  • The airline cancelled the flight, and they refunded my ticket accordingly. (meaning: appropriately)
  • The team won the game, and they celebrated accordingly. (meaning: in a way that was suitable for the occasion)
  • She arrived late to the meeting, and her colleagues started without her accordingly. (meaning: in response to the situation)
  • He requested more time to complete the project, and the deadline was extended accordingly. (meaning: in agreement with the request)

A CRAZY LITTLE ALTOGETHER

28/2/2023

 
It appears here and there, usually causing some confusion. It's more often avoided than used (by students, of course). I think it's time to befriend this little fellow.
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The word "altogether" can be used in different ways, depending on the context. Here are some common examples:
​
  • I stopped eating meat altogether. (meaning: completely, entirely, or in total)
  • Altogether, it was a very successful event. (meaning: overall, all things considered, or in summary)
  • I don't like that idea altogether. (meaning: not at all, completely opposed to it)

Note: Altogether is one word and not to be confused with "all together" which means "in a group or all at once".

AVOIDING TRULY

24/2/2023

 
​"Truly" is a pretty common word we use all the time, but sometimes we might wanna spice things up with different words that mean the same thing. In this post, we're gonna check out some other words that can replace "truly" and make your words sound cooler.
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and some examples to make our lives much easier
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TIP: If you are an intermediate learner pick 3 ideas from above. If you are an advanced learner, try to put all of them into your active vocabulary. The ones that are causing more pronunciation problems leave for writing. 

Sorry, I can't come to your ...

31/1/2023

 
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Try these:
  1. Thank you for the invitation, but I won't be able to attend.
  2. I appreciate the offer, but I already have plans.
  3. I'm sorry, but I won't be able to make it this time.
  4. Unfortunately, I have a prior commitment that I need to attend to.
  5. Thank you for thinking of me, but I'll have to pass this time.
Or these, if the situation is really informal: 
  1. Thanks for the invite, but I can't make it.
  2. Appreciate the offer, but I got other plans.
  3. Sorry, but I won't be there.
  4. Gosh, can't make it, I've got something else going on.
  5. Cheers for the offer, but I'll pass this time.
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​Vocabulary Booster Test Yourself
will take you to an online exercise for further practice. Just click the icon on the left.

I have a lot of work

26/1/2023

 
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EXPRESSIONS WITH HAVE

  • I have a heavy workload
  • I have a lot on my plate
  • I have a lot to handle
  • I have a lot to take care of
  • I have a lot to do

EXPRESSIONS WITH BE

  • I am swamped with work
  • I am buried in work
  • I am overwhelmed with work
  • I am up to my ears in work
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​Vocabulary Booster Test Yourself
will take you to an online exercise for further practice. Just click the icon on the left.
Learning Tip:
Don't learn all of them. Pick and choose. Max 3 to start with. Once you feel confident using the first three you have chosen you can come back for more. 

CHEESY, LOUSY & FLIMSY

18/1/2023

 
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Cheesy, lousy and flimsy are used to describe something that is bad. Mind that cheesy and lousy are informal. 

Cheesy = of bad quality or in bad taste
cheesy hotel music
cheesy adverts
Lousy = very bad
lousy service
I had a lousy weekend.
I feel lousy - I'm going home.
Flimsy = very thin, or easily broken or destroyed:
You won't be warm enough in that flimsy dress.
We spent the night in a flimsy wooden hut.


The words lousy and flimsy we can use with excuse and argument.
When I asked him why he was late, he gave me some flimsy/lousy excuse about having car trouble.


CHUFFED, GUTTED and LIVID

9/1/2023

 
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Chuffed, gutted and livid are the adjectives that we can use to describe our feelings.
chuffed and gutted are pretty informal, British expressions.
Chuffed is a positive word, and gutted and livid are to describe negative emotions.
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Meanings and examples
Chuffed = pleased or happy
I was really chuffed with his present.
Gutted = extremely disappointed and unhappy
He was gutted when she finished the relationship.
Livid = extremely angry
The rude letter from his mother-in-law made him livid.


PRONUNCIATION

chuffed UK  /tʃʌft/ US  /tʃʌft/
gutted UK 
 /ˈɡʌt.ɪd/ US  /ˈɡʌt̬.ɪd/
livid UK 
 /ˈlɪv.ɪd/ US  /ˈlɪv.ɪd/
PRACTISE WITH ELSA

FISHY, DOdgY AND IFFY

13/12/2022

 
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All of these words we could use to express our lack of trust. We use them to say that something is unreliable, dubious or untrustworthy.

Example:
"Listen to this -A beautiful, 4 bedroom house in the mountains. Price 50,000"
"That seems fishy (dodgy, iffy)"

This post cannot really be trusted. The offer looks too good to be true so there must be some catch. 

MORE EXAMPLES
They got involved with a dodgy businessman and lost all their savings.
Listen! There’s something fishy going on.
The milk smells a bit iffy.


​PRONUNCIATION
iffy UK  /ˈɪf.i/ US  /ˈɪf.i/
fishy UK  /ˈfɪʃ.i/ US  /ˈfɪʃ.i/
dodgy UK 
 /ˈdɒdʒ.i/ US  /ˈdɑː.dʒi/
PRACTISE WITH ELSA
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RELAX

24/9/2022

 
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HESITATE

13/9/2022

 
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    WORDS

    All
    Accordingly
    Altogether
    Cheesy
    Chuffed
    Difficult
    Dodgy
    Expensive
    Fishy
    Flimsy
    Great
    Gutted
    Hesitate
    I Can't Come To Your ...
    Iffy
    I Have A Lot Of Work
    Livid
    Lousy
    Relax (v)
    Truly
    Worry (v)

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