🇺🇸 American English Phrases

• 🇺🇸 American English Phrases
• University

🇺🇸 American English Phrases

🧠 Warm-Up (5 mins)

Ask:

“What’s one English phrase or expression you like to use a lot?”

“Have you ever heard a phrase in a movie or series that you didn’t understand?”

💬 30 Common American English Phrases (Teaching Version)

# Phrase & Emoji Meaning Example Sentence Mini Dialogue

1 What’s the catch? 🎣 There must be a hidden problem. “The trip is free? What’s the catch?” A: “You can stay at my cabin for free.”

B: “Hmm… what’s the catch?”

2 Let’s play it by ear. 🎶 Decide as we go. “We’ll see what time we finish dinner — let’s play it by ear.” A: “Do we need reservations?”

B: “Nah, let’s play it by ear.”

3 I’m beat. 😴 I’m very tired. “After teaching all day, I’m beat.” A: “Wanna go out tonight?”

B: “No way. I’m beat.”

4 That’s not my cup of tea. ☕ That’s not my style. “I like action movies, but horror isn’t my cup of tea.” A: “Want to go to a metal concert?”

B: “Nah, not my cup of tea.”

5 Better late than never. ⏰ Late is better than not at all. “He finally apologized — better late than never!” A: “Sorry I’m late.”

B: “It’s okay, better late than never.”

6 Hit the nail on the head. 🔨 Say something exactly right. “You hit the nail on the head — that’s the real problem.” A: “It’s about respect, not money.”

B: “Exactly! You hit the nail on the head.”

7 Speak of the devil. 😈 We were just talking about you! “Speak of the devil — we were just talking about you!” A: “Where’s Tom?”

B: “Oh, speak of the devil — here he comes!”

8 The ball is in your court. 🎾 It’s your decision now. “I gave her the offer, now the ball’s in her court.” A: “Should we confirm the trip?”

B: “You decide — the ball’s in your court.”

9 Cut to the chase. ✂️ Get to the point. “Let’s cut to the chase — are you in or out?” A: “Well, I was thinking…”

B: “Cut to the chase!”

10 I’ll keep you posted. 📨 I’ll update you later. “I’ll keep you posted on the meeting time.” A: “When’s the event?”

B: “Not sure yet — I’ll keep you posted.”

11 Bite the bullet. 💪 Do something unpleasant but necessary. “I didn’t want to call, but I bit the bullet and apologized.” A: “Did you tell her?”

B: “Yeah, I bit the bullet.”

12 Break a leg! 🎭 Good luck! “Break a leg at your audition!” A: “Wish me luck for my job interview.”

B: “Break a leg!”

13 I’m all ears. 👂 I’m listening carefully. “Tell me everything — I’m all ears.” A: “You won’t believe what happened.”

B: “I’m all ears.”

14 Out of the blue. 🌩️ Unexpectedly. “He called me out of the blue after 10 years.” A: “Guess who texted me?”

B: “Who?”

A: “My ex — out of the blue!”

15 You’re pulling my leg. 😂 You’re joking. “You got tickets to Taylor Swift? You’re pulling my leg!” A: “I met Beyoncé.”

B: “You’re pulling my leg!”

16 Go the extra mile. 🛣️ Do more than expected. “She always goes the extra mile for her students.” A: “You made slides and notes?”

B: “Yep, I went the extra mile.”

17 It’s not rocket science. 🚀 It’s simple. “Come on, just restart the app — it’s not rocket science.” A: “I can’t log in!”

B: “Try your password — not rocket science!”

18 Feeling under the weather. 🌧️ Feeling sick. “I stayed home because I was under the weather.” A: “You look tired.”

B: “Yeah, under the weather today.”

19 Let’s call it a day. 🌇 Stop working for now. “We’ve done enough — let’s call it a day.” A: “It’s already 7 p.m.”

B: “Call it a day?”

A: “Yeah.”

20 That rings a bell. 🔔 Sounds familiar. “Her name rings a bell, but I can’t remember where from.” A: “Do you know Emily Tran?”

B: “Rings a bell.”

21 Costs an arm and a leg. 💰 Very expensive. “That new iPhone costs an arm and a leg!” A: “How much?”

B: “Too much — an arm and a leg.”

22 A blessing in disguise. 🎁 Something good that seemed bad first. “Losing that job was a blessing in disguise.” A: “You lost your job?”

B: “Yeah, but it was a blessing in disguise.”

23 In the nick of time. ⏳ Just in time. “We made it to the airport in the nick of time.” A: “The gate’s closing!”

B: “We’re here — nick of time!”

24 Don’t sweat it. 😎 Don’t worry. “Don’t sweat it — everything’s under control.” A: “Sorry I’m late.”

B: “Don’t sweat it.”

25 Hang in there. 💪 Keep going, don’t give up. “Hang in there — the weekend’s almost here.” A: “This week is killing me.”

B: “Hang in there.”

26 Get your act together. 🧠 Be more organized or focused. “You need to get your act together before the exam.” A: “I keep missing deadlines.”

B: “Get your act together!”

27 You nailed it! ✅ You did perfectly. “Your presentation was flawless — you nailed it!” A: “Was it okay?”

B: “Okay? You nailed it!”

28 Hit the sack. 🛏️ Go to sleep. “It’s late — time to hit the sack.” A: “Are you staying up?”

B: “No, I’m hitting the sack.”

29 It’s a piece of cake. 🍰 It’s easy. “That test was a piece of cake.” A: “How was the exam?”

B: “Piece of cake.”

30 That ship has sailed. 🚢 It’s too late now. “I wanted to apply, but the deadline passed — that ship has sailed.” A: “Can I still join?”

B: “Nope, ship’s sailed.”

🗣️ Speaking Practice Ideas (10 mins)

Students choose 3 favorite phrases and use them in personal sentences.

Pair work: “Use at least 5 of today’s phrases in a mini-dialogue about your week.”

“Guess the Phrase” — teacher gives example → students guess which phrase fits.