EXCELLENT Advanced expressions for daily use | Phrases for daily conversation

Hi there, this is Harry and welcome back to  advanced English lessons with Harry, where I try  

to help you to get a better understanding of the  English language. In our advanced English lesson  

today, we're looking at advanced expressions  that we can use in daily use. And with these  

advanced expressions, you're going to be able to  improve your vocabulary and your English speaking.

As I always say, in every lesson, the best way for  you to improve your vocabulary is to practice. I'd  

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Okay, let's get back to our lesson, as I said, an  advanced English lesson using advanced expressions  

for daily use. Okay, so I have 10 of them  in total, and I go through them one by one.

To take something for granted. Well, you can also  take someone for granted to take something for  

granted is to assume that it's going to happen  or to assume that it will always be there. So  

we often use it in the negative we shouldn't take  it for granted that so what should we not take for  

granted, we shouldn't take it for granted that  the government will always be there to help us  

when there are problems with fuel costs or other  energy costs, we shouldn't take it for granted,  

the government might announce that people  shouldn't take it for granted that the government  

are going to step in and pay the difference. So  perhaps we have to cut back on our spending. So we  

shouldn't take it for granted. Sometimes we take  people for granted. Our parents. We take them for  

granted because they're always there when we need  them. And then when they're not, what do we do?  

Yeah, we're feeling a little bit sad or sorry.  So taking something for granted means to assume  

that it's always going to be there, it's never  going to change. And of course, we all know, as  

we get a little bit older, the word does change.  And we should never take anything for granted.

Next, having said that, this is an expression  we use when we're talking about something and we  

want to give some information usually contrasting.  Yeah. Okay. So for example, we could be talking to  

people and say, Okay, guys, I think we need to  get ready for a really difficult time over the  

next few months, having said that, the sales in  the year to date have been really good. I've been  

quite surprised. So we are warning people that  the next few months might be difficult. But having  

said that, we're just going to give them a little  bit of a boost by telling them that the sales in  

the year to date have actually been much more  promising than we had originally expected. Okay,  

so so when we you having said that it's a way  of introducing another point that might be in  

contrast to the point that we have already or  we have just made. Okay, so you might say, Well,  

guys, we're going to work a little bit longer  and harder, perhaps you might have to do some  

overtime. However, having said that, I would  like to remind you that we will still honour all  

holidays and anybody who's got some annual leave  to take, of course, we won't interfere with that  

we're not going to ask you to cancel the holidays.  But you know, when you are working, we may be in  

the situation that we have to work a little longer  and a little harder. Okay, so having said that.

To have something in mind. Well, when we have  something in mind, it's a suggestion that we  

want to make, it's an idea that we have that  we want to raise or introduce or it's some  

information that we want to give some people.  Okay, so you might be talking to your partner,  

your wife, your husband, boyfriend, girlfriend,  and there's some issue with the kids and A school  

and you're trying to discuss what you should do  next. And your partner may turn to you and say,  

Well, have you something in mind? Have you  got something to suggest? And he said, Well,  

actually, yes, I do. What I think we should do  is go down and talk to the head teacher or talk  

to the class teacher, and try and clear  the air. Yes, to have something in mind.

Now, it might be just a simple suggestion you  making for the weekend? Yeah. Or I think we  

should go out on Saturday or Sunday, you know,  the weather forecast is really, really good. So  

why don't we go somewhere? Oh, that'd be great  idea. Do you have something in mind? So do you  

have somewhere that you would like to suggest  or a place we haven't been before, or perhaps  

a place we have been that we liked, and we can  go back there? So do you have something in mind.  

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On the point of. Okay, so, on the point of  it is means you're just about or you were  

just going to do something to say something, to  do something to go somewhere on the point of,  

okay. So perhaps you are working late and you're  looking at your watch, it's time to go home,  

and you're begin to clear your desk, and  you're just about to switch off your computer,  

when you get a knock on the door and somebody  sticks the head around the door said,  

have you got 10 minutes? I  just wanted to talk to you.

Well, I was just on the point of wrapping up  for the day and leaving it but if it's quick,  

yes, certainly come in. And  we'll have a talk. Okay,  

so I was just on the point of leaving,  or is just in the point of going home.

Or you get... you're sitting down and your  phone buzzes and you pick up the phone,  

and it's your partner is Ah, I was just on the  point of calling you. You got to me first. Yeah,  

look, I'll be there in 10 minutes. If you're  waiting outside the office, I'll just pull up  

outside on the street, and you can jump in, and  we can head home together now. Okay, so I was  

just on the point of calling you. Okay, so it's  all about something you were just about to do,  

or you're in the process of doing. And so you're  just done the point of calling, you're just in  

the point of going, you're just on the point of  sending. You might get an email on your laptop.  

And when you open it, it's from a customer looking  for some report or something you had promised. And  

you send a quick reply, I was just on the point  of sending it when I got your email, please find  

attached the document or the information that  you had requested. Okay, so on the point of.

Keep an eye on. Well, we can keep an eye on  somebody or something. Can you keep an eye on  

the soup in case it boils over and just have to  run to the shop and get some bread to keep an eye  

on the soup? Don't let it boil over? Don't let it  burn? Can you keep an eye on the kids? They're out  

in the garden. They're there. Okay, but just  in case something happens I I'd be upstairs,  

changing the bed clothes. Okay,  so please keep an eye on somebody  

the kids keep please keep an eye on  something. Keep an eye on the soup.

We should keep an eye on the weather. It looks  like it's going to get a little bit wet later on.  

So perhaps we we might need to think of something  indoors to plan for the weekend. So the weather  

is going to be bad. There's no point heading out  for our usual weekend cycle. So we'll keep an eye  

on the weather forecast to see what is expected or  what's the forecast to be okay to keep an eye on.

By no means. Well, we often use this expression,  by no means certain that it is by no means certain  

that the team is going to survive this year.  Because while they've had a really bad run in the  

last few weeks, and if they keep playing this way,  well, I think they're going to be in a relegation  

fight by the end of the season. So it's by no  means certain that they are safe. It's by no means  

certain that I'll get that promotion. Okay, the  boss is going to support me and he's told me it's  

as good as mine. But we all know what can happen.  New people can change their minds, something can  

happen. blardy blardy blar. Yeah, so it's by  no means certain that is by no means certain  

that we will get through this winter without  any problems because inflation is increasing.  

The energy costs are high. So everybody's going to  have a problem. So it's by no means certain that  

we're going to have a good or as enjoyable  winter, as perhaps we've had in the past.

Turn out to be. Well, things can turn  out to be they can turn out to be a  

little different than we expected,  or things can turn out to be great.

Ah, that meal has turned out to be wonderful.  I mean You know, you haven't cooked it before.  

And wow, it was really tasty, and it looked and  smelled and tasted like a professional. So really,  

really well done. It's great. It's turned  out to be a really good idea now to get the  

family together once a month. I get the family  together at the weekends to turn out to be.

The weather has turned out to be great. Yeah,  the forecast was for lots and lots of rain and  

for that to be wind. But wow, today is wonderful.  We don't even need those heavy jackets we bought.  

But it's, it's, it's really nice. Yeah. So  it's turned out to be better than I expected.

Or if you're doing some renovation or redecorating  in your home. And when you get everything done,  

and all the paintings hanging again, and your  friends come around to see this war. Wow,  

that really changes the room. It really looks  great. So you can see you can smell it. So yeah,  

it's turned out to be really good. I wasn't  expecting it to be so good, but just a few  

little finishing touches. And yeah, those colours  really go well together. So turns out to be.

Contrary to popular belief. So this is a really  well used expression. So we can use it in many,  

many ways. Contrary to popular  belief means going against what  

the popular people think or the  popular thought of people. Yeah.

So contrary to popular popular belief, our  president or prime minister is actually quite  

a hard working individual. People are always  moaning and groaning. But you know, the guy has  

done really great things since he came into power.  I mean, we've introduced better quality bosses,  

better quality public transport, the school  system is working well. There's no more strikes,  

you know. So contrary to popular belief, he's  turned out to be a much better president or prime  

minister than anybody had ever expected. Okay.  Contrary to popular belief, the manager of the  

football team is really made a difference to this  team. When he took over the team we're near the  

bottom of the division, but look at them now that  mid table and looking up rather than looking down  

so contrary to popular belief, he's turned out to  be quite a godsend, quite a influential and good  

person, people manager Contrary to popular belief,  or we can say it in a slightly joking manner.  

You know, people think you can't cook. So Harry,  useless, you know, don't let him near the kitchen.  

It's a disaster. But contrary to popular  belief, I actually can cook pretty well,  

when I have the time. And when people have  tasted what I've cooked they go, Whoa,  

that's that's nice. That's a surprise. So yeah,  contrary to popular belief, I can actually cook.

To be taken aback. This is a little bit more  formal to be... When we're taking the back,  

we are surprised. Okay, when to be taken aback, we  are surprised in a negative way by what has been  

sad or something that has happened, I was really  taken aback by the company announcement that  

they were going to cut over 1000 jobs. I mean,  that's 50%, half of the workforce. Wow. I mean,  

what are those people going to do? It's not a  good time to be looking for a job. So to be taken  

aback is to be taken by surprise. But usually in a  negative way. I was taken aback by their reaction,  

everybody was so negative. Yeah, I was  taken aback by the view of the city,  

when I visited there, I thought it was  going to be really modern. And you're  

really up to scratch in the same level as  other cities that I've visited. But wow,  

it's really dark, dull, depressing, poor. So  I was really taken aback when I arrived there,  

I won't be going there again in a hurry. So to  be taken aback means to be negatively surprised.

And then finally, keep in touch. This is  quite common and quite easy to use. Keep  

in touch is a expression we use every day,  you know, please keep in touch. Meaning,  

please let me know how things are going. We  should keep in touch. So your little hint.  

Will... Don't leave it so long the next time.  Yeah, I'll keep in touch with you. And I'll let  

you know if there are any developments. So  this is just different ways to tell people,  

whether we will contact them but don't wait for  the message or contact you and there's something  

to be said or, you know, please keep in touch.  You really want somebody to keep contacting you  

or I'll be in touch later. I'll keep in touch with  you when things develop. So you're just letting  

them know that you will tell them but it's not  going to be immediate. Okay, so to keep in touch.

Okay, so there are 10 well-used  well-known daily expressions, okay,  

and they're at that advanced level  so you can try and practice them,  

drop them into your conversations, see how  you get on make sure you understand them.

So here they are. Take something for  granted. Take something for granted.  

Having said that, having said that. Have something  in mind, have something in mind. On the point of.  

To keep an eye on. By no means.  

Turn out to be. Contrary to popular  belief, contrary to popular belief.  

To be taken aback, taken aback. And then  finally, keep in touch, keep in touch.

And as always, you know the drill. If there's  something in particular that you want more  

information on, just come back to me, and I'll  give you some other examples. Okay, I really,  

really appreciate you watching this video and  looking around and the lesson and I look forward  

to join you again soon when we have another  lesson. That's Harry saying goodbye for now.