30 natural English expressions that native English speakers use

Sound more native with these common phrases and idioms that I use regularly.

This article is a transcript from this video:

List of expressions you will learn:

What's up?
What are you up to?
What did you get up to?
Any word from…?
It's up to you.
It's no wonder, it's a wonder, I wonder.
So far so good.
Under the weather.
On my way, versus in my way.
I'm behind on my work. I have a delay. I need to catch up on my work.
Bring me up to speed
Never mind. Do you mind, or would you mind. Out of my mind.
Here you are. Here you go.
I wish I could. That's too bad. That's a pity.
Sorry to bother you. When you get a chance.
It's my fault. I'm to blame, or I blame you.
It's familiar to me.
That sounds familiar or that looks familiar.
Better than nothing.

Hi, I'm Sabrena from Inglés con Killian, I am Irish, and my husband and I specialize in getting professionals & companies speaking English fluently and confidently.

One of the ways to speak more fluently and naturally is to use more natural - less academic - idioms and phrases in your daily conversation.

Today I would like to teach you some of these expressions that native speakers - including me - use every day in English.

Let's go!

What's up?

What are you up to?

What did you get up to?

Any word from…?

What's up means how are you in a very colloquial, street way. It is of course the origin of the name Whatsapp.

We can also use it to ask what's wrong? What happened? You look sad.

What are you up to? means what are you doing? it often refers to being secretive as well. For instance, I often say this if my children are acting suspiciously, in order to ask them what they are doing!

What did you get up to at the weekend? or what are you getting up to next weekend? The answer would be I'm not up to anything if it's negative or I'm not doing anything or I'm going kayaking, or I went to the moon or whatever. So if it's a positive answer, you do not start the sentence with I am up to….you say what you're doing.

Any word from…? This expression is used to ask if you have heard from/been in contact with someone or something. For example, any word back from your interview? Have you heard anything about your interview or any word from your mom? I haven't heard from her in a while.

It's up to you.

This expression means it's your decision. If someone says it's up to you, they want you to make the decision. E.g. We can go for Chinese or we can go for Indian, it's up to you.

It's no wonder, it's a wonder, I wonder.

As well as meaning something marvellous, wonder means other things in other contexts.

If someone says to you it's no wonder, it means that it's not strange for them. For example, he failed the exam. It's no wonder because he didn't study.

It's a wonder means it's strange. It's a wonder he didn't pass the exam because he studied very hard. It's strange that he didn't pass the exam.

And then finally, I wonder, I ask myself, I wonder if he will pass the exam because he didn't study a lot or I wonder what we're going to do.

So far so good.

This expression means until this moment everything is okay. So if someone asks you how your work is going, you could say so far so good.

Under the weather.

We use the expression under the weather when we're not feeling very well. It means mildly sick, not very sick. I'm not going to go to the party because I'm feeling under the weather. I have a cold.

On my way, versus in my way.

On my way means that you are travelling in the direction of someone or something.

For example, you could call and say I'm on my way, I will be there in five minutes. In the way or in my way means that you're in the middle of my path. You're blocking my path. For instance, can you please move the car, it's in my way, or could you stand to one side, you are in my way.

I'm behind on, catch up on, and bring me up to speed on.

I'm behind on my work. I have a delay. I need to catch up on my work means I need to stop being delayed with my work and recuperate the schedule. Bring me up to speed is tell me what has been happening.

To catch up with can also be to meet someone that you haven't seen for a long time. We should catch up and have a drink together. You could use this when you haven´t seen the person in a long time.

Never mind. Do you mind / would you mind and Out of my mind.

If someone says never mind, it means it doesn't matter, it's okay. For example, can you help me with this project? I'm sorry, I don't have time. Never mind - It's okay. For the expressions do you mind, or would you mind, someone is going to ask you for something. Do you mind is less formal.

A common example is: Do you mind helping me with my project? And you could say no problem, or I don´t mind to say yes, you will help. Or someone could say, would you mind helping me? It's a little more polite.

If someone says you are out of your mind, it means that they think you're crazy for doing something, or thinking of doing something, usually. For instance, I want to leave my job and travel the world - are you out of your mind?

If you are going out of your mind, it means you are going crazy. I'm going out of my mind with worry is a common way to say this expression.

Here you are. Here you go.

These expressions are used when someone is handing you or giving you something. So if you're in a cafe and you ask for a coffee, for example, the waiter could say, here you go, or here you are.

I wish I could. That's too bad. Or that's a pity.

If someone says, I wish I could They're saying they want to help you, but no they can't.

Can you help me with the project? Oh, I wish I could, sorry. You could reply that's too bad or that's a pity. That's too bad means that´s unfortunate or I wish you could or that's a pity.

Better than nothing.

Better than nothing means whatever you have or whatever you're doing isn't the best, or it is very little, but it's better than nothing. Basically, something is better than nothing.

For example sorry, I only have one piece of bread left. It's okay. Better than nothing. Or I only have 10 minutes to help you, but it´s better than nothing.

Sorry to bother you / when you get a chance.

Sorry to bother you is used when you're going to ask for help, or you're going to ask someone something.

Examples include sorry to bother you, could you tell me where the bank is? or sorry to bother you, do you have a moment to help me? Basically, you are apologizing first for something that you're going to ask. You can also say when you get a chance and it means when you have an opportunity or when you have a few minutes of free time. When you get a chance, can you send me the report?

It's my fault. I'm to blame, or I blame you.

If something happens and you did it, you could say it's my fault, sorry. Or I am to blame, or you can blame me. Also, you could say I think you did this. It's your fault. I blame you. You are to blame.

It's familiar to me.

This little expression means that something sounds like something you should know.

You're not very sure, but it's ringing a bell in your head because you think you have heard it before.

For example: Do you know the grammar structure with used to? it's familiar to me, but I don't know it very well.

Variations include that sounds familiar or that looks familiar.

So you recognize something, but not very well.

That concludes our short explanations of common expressions and phrases that native speakers use every day - try to incorporate them into your speaking to sound more natural!

If you want to create your own personalized plan to improve your English, download this eBook - you will also receive a 3-day challenge to help you make your plan step by step:

https://inglesconkillian.com/f/ebook-the-ultimate-guide-to-improving-your-english

For more expressions to use, especially when you first meet someone or you need to talk to someone in an informal way, read this article: Introductions and small talk in English.

Good luck with your English!

Sabrena x

More ways to improve your English:

MEMBERSHIP PROGRAMME

Follow us:

Categories: Grammar & Vocabulary