Everyday Expressions

noun a small amount of something, especially a snack or light meal

verb to be defeated or fail, especially in a dramatic or final way

• Unfortunately, the company had to bite the dust due to financial difficulties.
• I heard that the new restaurant down the street already bit the dust.
• That old car finally bit the dust after years of use.
• His dreams of becoming a professional athlete quickly bit the dust after his injury.

adjective describing a person who is lacking in thoughts or ideas, empty-headed

• She appeared blankminded during the important presentation.
• I always feel so blankminded after a long day at work.
• Don't be so blankminded, just focus and get the task done.
• His mind felt blankminded as he tried to process the shocking news.

verb to be in a situation where one lacks something essential or necessary

adjective suddenly faced with a difficulty or problem without any warning or preparation

• Unfortunately, I was caught short without any cash on me when I needed to pay for parking.
• I got caught short and had to borrow some money from a friend to buy lunch.
• I was caught short and had to run to the nearest restroom.
• She was caught short during the exam and couldn't remember the answer.

adjective describing someone who lacks coordination or is awkward in movement

• The clumsy waiter spilled water on the customer's lap.
• I'm so clumsy, I keep dropping things everywhere.
• She's such a klutz, always tripping over her own feet.
• His clumsy attempt at flirting left her unimpressed.

verb to obtain or acquire something, especially something that is difficult to find or rare

• It is not easy to come by such high-quality products in this market.
• I heard that you can come by some great deals at the farmer's market.
• If you're ever in the area, come by my place and hang out.
• Opportunities like this don't just come by every day, so make sure to seize it when it does.

noun a term used to describe someone who is fearful or cowardly

• The young child was often called a 'fraidy cat' by his classmates because he was afraid of the dark.
• Don't be such a 'fraidy cat', just jump in the pool!
• Stop being a 'fraidy cat' and just ask her out on a date.
• He may act tough, but deep down he's just a 'fraidy cat' when it comes to facing his fears.

noun A noun is a person, place, thing, or idea. 'Here' and 'there' can also function as nouns when referring to specific locations or points in space.

adverb An adverb modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. 'Here and there' functions as an adverbial phrase, indicating the location or direction of something.

conjunction A conjunction is a word that connects words, phrases, or clauses. In the phrase 'here and there', 'and' is a conjunction connecting the two locations.

• The artist scattered small sculptures here and there throughout the gallery.
• I like to move my furniture around here and there to change up the look of my living room.
• We were just chilling, hanging out here and there, not really doing much.
• In life, we may encounter obstacles here and there, but it's important to keep moving forward.

noun a word or phrase that is familiar or common in everyday language

• The phrase 'household words' refers to words or expressions that are widely known and used within a particular community or society.
• In our family, 'Netflix and chill' has become a household word for relaxing on the weekends.
• Among teenagers, 'lit' is a household word for something that is exciting or cool.
• In the world of fashion, 'little black dress' is a household word for a versatile and timeless piece of clothing.

noun a slight indication or suggestion

• She had no inkling of the company's financial troubles until it was too late.
• I didn't have an inkling that they were planning a surprise party for me.
• I had a sneaky inkling that he was up to something fishy.
• The first drops of rain were just an inkling of the storm that was about to come.

noun a person who lays on something

verb to place or spread something on a surface

• The patient was instructed to lay on the examination table for the doctor to perform the check-up.
• Just lay on the couch and relax, I'll bring you a blanket.
• Let's lay on the grass and chill for a bit.
• The success of the project will lay on the team's ability to work together effectively.

adverb used to emphasize the truth and accuracy of a statement or description

• The scientist's research findings literally changed the way we understand the universe.
• I literally can't believe how fast time flies when I'm having fun.
• She literally slayed that performance on stage last night.
• His words were so powerful, they literally pierced my heart.

noun meaningless or foolish talk; nonsense

• The politician dismissed the accusations as mere malarkey.
• Don't listen to him, he's just spouting malarkey.
• I can't believe she fell for that load of malarkey.
• His excuses were nothing but a smokescreen of malarkey.

noun a slang term used to describe something that is not functioning properly or is broken

• The computer system at the office is on the fritz and needs to be repaired.
• My phone has been acting on the fritz lately, I think I need to get it checked out.
• My car is on the fritz again, I swear it's always breaking down.
• His relationship with his girlfriend is on the fritz, they've been arguing a lot lately.

noun a unit of currency equal to one hundredth of a dollar

• He refused to pay a single red cent for the damaged goods.
• I wouldn't give him a red cent for that old car.
• I'm not giving you a red cent for that junk.
• She didn't have a red cent to her name after losing her job.

noun a statement or assertion

verb to express something in words

• According to the witness's statement, the suspect did not say so.
• I heard from Sarah that she didn't say so during the meeting.
• I swear he didn't say so, bro.
• Her actions spoke louder than words, indicating she didn't say so.

noun a small amount of money in the form of coins or low-denomination bills

• The company made a small change to their pricing strategy.
• I just made a small change to the recipe for dinner tonight.
• Let's make a small change and see if it improves the situation.
• Sometimes a small change can make a big difference in how things turn out.

noun material, items, or things

verb to fill or pack tightly with material

adjective informal term meaning miscellaneous or unspecified items

• The storage unit is filled with a variety of stuff that needs to be organized.
• I have a bunch of stuff to bring to the party tonight.
• Let's go check out the new stuff at the mall.
• She always carries around emotional stuff from her past.

noun a meal eaten in the evening, typically a light or informal one

• We will be hosting a formal supper party next weekend.
• Do you want to grab supper together after work?
• Let's ditch the formalities and just have supper at that new burger joint.
• The sunset painted the sky with hues of orange and pink, like a beautiful supper for the eyes.

noun a certain or guaranteed outcome or result

• Certainly, I can assist you with that task. Sure thing.
• Sure thing, I'll meet you at the coffee shop at 3pm.
• You want me to pick up some snacks for the party? Sure thing!
• If you need help with your presentation, sure thing, I've got your back.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action or a state of being

adverb a word that modifies or describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb

pronoun a word that takes the place of a noun in a sentence

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• Please take it into consideration before making your decision.
• Just take it easy and relax.
• Take it from me, you don't want to mess with him.
• Sometimes you just have to take it on the chin and move on.

noun a verb used to describe the action of walking in a slow, unsteady manner, often associated with young children

• The children began to toddle along the path, holding hands.
• Let's just toddle along and see where the day takes us.
• We decided to just toddle along and chill at the park.
• She watched the old man toddle along, lost in his thoughts.

noun an act of throwing something lightly or casually

verb to throw something lightly or casually

adjective none

adverb none

pronoun none

preposition none

conjunction none

interjection none

article none

• The chef demonstrated the proper technique to toss a salad.
• Hey, can you toss me the remote?
• Let's toss some ideas around and see what sticks.
• She decided to toss her worries aside and focus on the present moment.

verb to strike forcefully

adjective to be exhausted or tired

adverb in a forceful or violent manner

• The suspect was whacked with a heavy object, causing severe injuries.
• I can't believe he just whacked the hornet's nest without thinking!
• She whacked that exam out of the park!
• The sudden change in weather really whacked my mood.

noun the act of concluding or finishing something

verb to conclude or finish something

adjective concluding or finishing

• The windup of the project took longer than expected due to unforeseen complications.
• I always enjoy the windup of a good movie, it's the best part!
• She's always the last one to windup at the party.
• His speech had a lengthy windup before getting to the main point.

noun a clever or witty remark or comment

• The speaker concluded his presentation with a clever witticism that left the audience chuckling.
• My grandpa always has a funny witticism ready to share during family gatherings.
• I love watching stand-up comedians who have a knack for delivering hilarious witticisms.
• Her witticism cut through the tension in the room like a sharp knife, bringing laughter and relief to everyone.

noun a word (other than a pronoun) used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things

verb a word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence

article a word that is used with a noun to specify grammatical definiteness of the noun

• The driver was instructed to hit the gas in order to accelerate quickly.
• When the light turns green, hit the gas and let's go!
• Dude, hit the gas and let's get out of here before the cops show up.
• After a slow start, the team decided to hit the gas and push forward with their project.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

verb a word that expresses an action or a state of being

pronoun a word that takes the place of a noun

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

interjection a word or phrase that expresses strong emotion or surprise

• May I grab a copy of the report before the meeting?
• Can I grab a slice of pizza from the kitchen?
• Yo, can I grab a ride to the party tonight?
• Can I grab a moment of your time to discuss this important matter?

interjection used to express a range of emotions including surprise, pain, or joy

• Oh dear, it seems we have encountered a problem with the system.
• Oh no, I forgot to bring my umbrella and now it's raining!
• Oh snap, did you see that crazy stunt he just pulled off?
• Oh, the possibilities are endless when it comes to pursuing your dreams.

noun a small amount of money, typically considered insignificant or of little value

• The amount of money he offered was merely chump change compared to the total cost of the project.
• I found some chump change in the couch cushions and used it to buy a snack.
• Don't worry about it, it's just chump change.
• To him, a thousand dollars was just chump change, he was used to dealing with much larger sums.

noun A word used to identify any of a class of people, places, or things. In this case, 'gas' is a noun referring to a fuel used for vehicles.

verb A word used to describe an action, state, or occurrence. In this case, 'be' is the verb indicating a state of being.

preposition A word governing, and usually preceding, a noun or pronoun and expressing a relation to another word or element in the clause. In this case, 'out of' is a preposition indicating lack or depletion.

• The car ran out of gas on the highway and had to be towed to the nearest gas station.
• We can't drive to the party tonight, we're out of gas!
• I can't believe we're out of gas again, this is so annoying.
• After a long day at work, I feel like I'm out of gas and just want to relax at home.

adverb a word or phrase that modifies or qualifies an adjective, verb, or other adverb or a word group, expressing a relation of place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, degree, etc.

pronoun a word that can function by itself as a noun phrase and that refers either to the participants in the discourse (e.g., I, you) or to someone or something mentioned elsewhere in the discourse (e.g., she, it)

interjection an abrupt remark, made especially as an aside or interruption

• Is that so? Could you provide more details to support your claim?
• Is that so? I didn't know that, thanks for sharing!
• Is that so? No way, that's crazy!
• Is that so? It's like finding a needle in a haystack.

noun a word used to refer to a person, place, thing, or idea

adverb a word that modifies or describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb

interjection a word or phrase that expresses strong emotion or surprise

• After reviewing all the evidence, we have come to a decision. Okay then, we will proceed with the next steps.
• You want to go get some ice cream? Okay then, let's go!
• You're not coming to the party? Okay then, suit yourself.
• If you're not willing to compromise, okay then, we will have to find another solution.

noun a small movement or adjustment, typically made to make more space or to get comfortable

• Could you please scooch over a bit so there's room for everyone at the table?
• Hey, scooch over and make some space for me on the couch.
• I had to scooch past the crowd to get to the front of the line.
• She had to scooch her way through the dense forest to find the hidden treasure.

adjective a term used to describe someone who is confused, muddled, or unable to think clearly

• The professor was frustrated with the addlebrained student who couldn't grasp the concept.
• I can't believe I forgot my keys again, I must be addlebrained!
• She's acting so addlebrained lately, I wonder what's going on.
• His mind felt addlebrained after staying up all night studying for the exam.