In this video, you will learn essential phrases and expressions for everyday English conversations. Whether it’s ordering food from a restaurant over the phone, discussing how your day went, or talking about your hobbies, this video has got you covered! Perfect for English learners aiming to sound more like native speakers. Let’s jump right in and boost your conversational skills!
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3 Real-Life English Conversations
Conversation 1: Ordering food from a Restaurant over the phone
Person 1: Hello, is this Gino’s Pizza?
Person 2: Yes, it is. How can I help you today?
Person 1: Great! I’d like to place an order for delivery, please.
Person 2: Certainly! What can I get for you?
Person 1: I’ll have a large cheese pizza and, um… do you guys have any specials running?
Person 2: Actually, we do! We’ve got a combo deal going on – you can add a side and a drink for just $5 more.
Person 1: Oh, that sounds tempting. What sides do you offer?
Person 2: We’ve got garlic knots, buffalo wings, or a Caesar salad.
Person 1: Hmm, I’m torn between the wings and the garlic knots. Which would you recommend?
Person 2: Personally, I’m a big fan of our buffalo wings. They’re pretty popular and pair well with pizza.
Person 1: Alright, you’ve convinced me. I’ll go for the wings and… let’s add a large Coke to round out the meal.
Person 2: Excellent choice! So that’s a large cheese pizza, buffalo wings, and a large Coke. Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Person 1: No, that should do it. How long will the delivery take?
Person 2: We’re looking at about 30-40 minutes.
Person 1: Perfect, see you soon.
Definitions and Examples
Specials running: Current promotional offers or discounts available at a restaurant or business.
- The cafe has some great specials running this week on breakfast items.
- I always ask about specials running before ordering to get the best deal.
- The restaurant had a two-for-one special running on appetizers.
Combo deal: A package or offer that combines multiple items at a discounted price.
- The fast-food restaurant offered a combo deal that included a burger, fries, and a drink.
- I saved money by choosing the combo deal for my phone and internet service.
- The gym had a combo deal for a membership that included access to classes and the pool.
Add a side: To include an additional small dish or item to complement the main order.
- Would you like to add a side of fries to your burger?
- I decided to add a side salad to make my meal more balanced.
- For just $2 more, you can add a side of onion rings to any entree.
Tempting: Appealing or attractive, often in a way that makes someone want to have or do something.
- The smell of freshly baked cookies was tempting.
- The job offer was tempting, but I decided to stay with my current company.
- The idea of sleeping in was tempting, but I knew I had to get up for work.
Buffalo wings: A spicy chicken wing dish, typically deep-fried and coated in a vinegar-based cayenne pepper hot sauce and butter.
- We ordered a plate of buffalo wings to share during the game.
- The restaurant claimed to have the best buffalo wings in town.
- He always gets his buffalo wings extra spicy with blue cheese dressing on the side.
Torn: Unable to choose between two options or alternatives.
- I’m torn between taking the job offer and staying at my current position.
- She was torn about whether to attend her friend’s wedding or her cousin’s graduation.
- The committee was torn on which candidate to select for the position.
Pair well: To go together nicely or complement each other, especially in terms of food and drink.
- Fresh berries pair well with creamy yogurt for a healthy breakfast.
- A crisp salad pairs well with grilled chicken to create a balanced meal.
- Cheese and crackers pair well for a simple appetizer.
Convinced: Persuaded to do something or to believe that something is true.
- After hearing all the evidence, the jury was convinced of the defendant’s innocence.
- His passionate speech convinced many people to support the cause.
- I wasn’t sure about the movie at first, but the reviews convinced me to give it a try.
Go for: To choose or decide on a particular option.
- I think I’ll go for the chicken sandwich today.
- After considering all options, we decided to go for the economy car rental.
- If you can’t decide between the two, just go for the one you like best.
Round out: To complete or make something more well-balanced.
- Adding a salad to your meal will help round out your nutritional intake.
- We need one more player to round out our team for the tournament.
- The company hired a marketing expert to round out their management team.
Conversation 2: Discussing How Someone’s Day Was
Person 1: Hey, how was your day?
Person 2: Oh, it was quite a rollercoaster. How about yours?
Person 1: Mine was pretty standard. But tell me more about yours – what made it a rollercoaster?
Person 2: Well, it started off rough. My alarm didn’t go off, so I was running late for work.
Person 1: Oh no, that’s never a good way to start the day. What happened next?
Person 2: I managed to make it to the office just in time for an important meeting. And guess what? My presentation was a hit!
Person 1: That’s great! Sounds like things turned around.
Person 2: Yeah, it really did. My boss was so impressed, he treated the whole team to lunch.
Person 1: Wow, that’s awesome! Anything else exciting happen?
Person 2: Actually, yes. On my way home, I ran into an old friend from college. We decided to catch up over coffee.
Person 1: Sounds like your day really was a rollercoaster! I’m glad it ended on a high note.
Person 2: Thanks! Yeah, it just goes to show you never know how a day will pan out.
Definitions and Examples
Rollercoaster: A situation or experience with many ups and downs or sudden, extreme changes.
- The stock market has been a rollercoaster this week with dramatic rises and falls.
- Her emotions were a rollercoaster throughout the intense movie.
- The team’s performance this season has been a rollercoaster of wins and losses.
Rough: Difficult or unpleasant.
- The first few months at the new job were rough, but it got better.
- We had a rough time finding our way in the unfamiliar city.
- The sea was rough, making the boat trip uncomfortable.
Running late: Behind schedule; not on time.
- I’m running late for the meeting due to heavy traffic.
- She’s always running late, so we told her the party starts an hour earlier than it actually does.
- The project is running late, and we might miss the deadline.
Make it: To arrive or succeed, often just in time or with difficulty.
- We made it to the airport just before the check-in counter closed.
- Despite the challenges, the team made it to the championship.
- I wasn’t sure if I’d make it through the tough exam, but I did!
Hit: A success; something that is very popular or well-received.
- The new song became an instant hit on the radio.
- Her speech was a hit with the audience, receiving a standing ovation.
- The restaurant’s new menu item has been a hit with customers.
Turned around: To change from bad to good, or to improve a situation.
- The company was struggling, but the new CEO turned things around.
- He turned his grades around in the last semester and graduated with honors.
- The team was losing at halftime, but they turned the game around in the second half.
Treated: To pay for someone else’s food, drink, or entertainment as a kind gesture.
- To celebrate my promotion, I treated my friends to dinner.
- My parents treated us to a movie on my birthday.
- As a thank you, the client treated the entire office to lunch.
Ran into: To meet someone by chance.
- I ran into my old teacher at the grocery store yesterday.
- We ran into each other at the concert and decided to hang out.
- She ran into her ex-boyfriend while on vacation in Paris.
Catch up: To talk with someone you haven’t seen for a while and share recent news.
- Let’s meet for coffee and catch up; it’s been ages since we last talked.
- I spent hours on the phone catching up with my sister who lives abroad.
- The high school reunion was a great opportunity to catch up with old classmates.
Pan out: To develop or end in a particular way, especially successfully.
- We’ll see how the new business venture pans out over the next few months.
- Their blind date didn’t pan out; they had nothing in common.
- The risky investment panned out, yielding significant returns.
Conversation 3: Asking about your hobbies
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Person 1: Hey, I’ve been meaning to ask, what are some of your hobbies?
Person 2: Oh, I love photography and hiking. How about you?
Person 1: That’s cool! I’m more into reading and cooking. How long have you been into photography?
Person 2: I’ve been dabbling in it for about five years now. It’s really grown on me.
Person 1: Wow, that’s quite a while! Do you have a favorite type of photograph?
Person 2: I’m really into landscape photography. It ties in nicely with my love for hiking.
Person 1: That makes sense! Do you have any go-to spots for hiking and photography?
Person 2: There’s a great trail about an hour from here. It’s a bit of a hidden gem.
Person 1: Sounds awesome! Maybe you could show me the ropes sometime?
Person 2: Absolutely! I’d be happy to. It’s always fun to share your passions with others.
Person 1: Great! I’m looking forward to it. Thanks for letting me pick your brain about your hobbies!
Person 2: Anytime! It’s always a pleasure to talk about the things you love.
Definitions and Examples
Dabbling in: To take part in an activity in a casual or superficial way.
- She’s been dabbling in painting as a weekend hobby.
- I’ve been dabbling in learning French, but I’m not fluent yet.
- He dabbles in stock trading, but it’s not his main source of income.
Grown on me: To become more appealing or likeable over time.
- I didn’t like jazz at first, but it’s really grown on me.
- The city’s charm has grown on me since I moved here.
- That new coworker has grown on me; he’s actually quite funny.
Ties in nicely: To connect or relate well with something else.
- My love for languages ties in nicely with my job as a translator.
- His background in psychology ties in nicely with his current role in HR.
- Studying history ties in nicely with understanding current global politics.
Go-to spots: Favorite or regularly visited places.
- The cafe around the corner is my go-to spot for a quick lunch.
- That quiet beach is our go-to spot for weekend relaxation.
- The library is my go-to spot when I need to focus on work.
Hidden gem: Something valuable or excellent that is not well-known or appreciated.
- We discovered a hidden gem of a restaurant in the old part of town.
- This little-known book is a hidden gem in the world of science fiction.
- The small museum was a hidden gem, filled with fascinating local history.
Show me the ropes: To teach someone how to do a job or activity.
- Could you show me the ropes on how to use this new software?
- My mentor offered to show me the ropes of the publishing industry.
- The experienced climber showed us the ropes before we attempted the difficult route.
Happy to: Willing or pleased to do something.
- I’m happy to help you move this weekend.
- She’s always happy to share her expertise with new team members.
- We’re happy to accommodate your dietary restrictions at the dinner party.
Share your passions: To talk about or involve others in the activities or subjects you love.
- He loves to share his passion for astronomy by hosting stargazing nights.
- The chef shared her passion for Italian cuisine through cooking classes.
- Parents often try to share their passions with their children.
Letting me pick your brain: Asking someone for advice, information, or opinions on a particular subject.
- Thanks for letting me pick your brain about starting a business.
- I’d love to pick your brain about your experiences living abroad.
- The new intern was eager to pick the CEO’s brain during the company mixer.
Anytime: A casual way of saying “you’re welcome” or expressing willingness to help again in the future.
- Thanks for your help! Anytime, just let me know if you need anything else.
- I appreciate you listening to me. Anytime, that’s what friends are for.
- Thanks for the ride! Anytime, it was on my way home anyway.