📚 Useful Idioms, Phrasal Verbs, Collocations and Fixed Phrases
✨ Idioms
| Nr | Idiom | English Definition |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | be the teacher’s pet | A student who is especially favored by the teacher, often because they try to please or flatter the teacher. |
| 2 | mind one’s p’s and q’s | To be very careful about one’s manners and behavior; to act politely and correctly. |
| 3 | learn something by heart | To memorize something completely so that you can recite or use it without looking. |
| 4 | be as easy as one, two, three | To be extremely simple or effortless to do. |
| 5 | be of the old school | To have traditional ideas, tastes, or methods that belong to an earlier generation. |
| 6 | know something like the back of one’s hand | To know something very thoroughly and be extremely familiar with it. |
| 7 | pass with flying colours | To succeed brilliantly, achieving very high marks or results. |
| 8 | make the grade | To reach the required standard; to succeed in a task or competition. |
🚀 Phrasal Verbs
| Phrasal Verb | English Definition |
|---|---|
| drag down | To make someone feel unhappy, ill, or less successful than they could be. |
| keep to (sth) | To remain faithful to or strictly follow a plan, rule, promise, etc. |
| keep up with (sb/sth) | To stay at the same level, speed, or standard as someone or something. |
| drag out (sth / info) | To persuade someone to say something they are reluctant to reveal. |
| keep back (sth) | To reserve or withhold a part of something for future use. |
| drag in (sth) | To mention something or someone in a conversation when it is not relevant or appropriate. |
| drag on | To continue for an annoyingly long time. |
| keep on (sb) | To continue employing someone; let them stay in their job. |
🌟 Collocations (Adjective + Noun)
| Adjective (A) | Noun (B) | Full Collocation |
|---|---|---|
| first-class / Master’s | degree | Master’s degree |
| higher / first-rate | education | higher education / first-rate education |
| correspondence / refresher | course | refresher course |
| compulsory / formal | schooling | compulsory schooling |
| postgraduate / 2-year | diploma | postgraduate diploma |
| long-distance / accelerated | learning | long-distance learning |
| tuition / registration | fees | registration fee(s) |
| school-leaving / medical | certificate | school-leaving certificate |
📝 Phrases with Sit, Get, Have, Do
| Phrase | Sit | Get | Have | Do |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| good marks | ✔︎ | |||
| an exam | ✔︎ | |||
| one’s homework | ✔︎ | |||
| for one’s finals | ✔︎ | |||
| expelled / suspended | ✔︎ | |||
| an Easter break | ✔︎ | |||
| a biology project | ✔︎ | |||
| extracurricular activities | ✔︎ |
🔗 Fixed Expressions with "by"
| Nr | Sentence (underlined) | Fixed Expression |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | came to nothing | (fell) by the wayside |
| 2 | Incidentally | by the way |
| 3 | coincidentally | by chance |
| 4 | through conversations | by word of mouth |
| 5 | exactly as instructed | by the book |
| 6 | eventually | by and by |
| 7 | Generally speaking | by and large |
| 8 | Legally | by law |
📖 Important Vocabulary Definitions
- long-distance learning — Education delivered remotely so students can study far from the institution.
- compulsory schooling — Schooling that children are legally required to attend.
- school-leaving certificate — Official document proving completion of secondary education.
- registration fee — Money paid to enrol or secure a place on a course or at an institution.
- Master’s degree — Post-graduate academic qualification obtained after a Bachelor’s degree.
- higher education — Education at universities, colleges, or similar post-secondary institutions.
- refresher course — Short course that reviews or updates previously learned skills or knowledge.
- postgraduate diploma — Advanced career-focused qualification taken after a first degree, shorter than a Master’s.
- sit an exam / sit for one’s finals — To take a formal test, especially in British English.
- get good marks — Obtain high grades in tests or coursework.
- get expelled / suspended — Be forced to leave school temporarily or permanently for misconduct.
- have an Easter break — Enjoy a holiday period around Easter.
- do one’s homework — Complete homework assignments.
- do a biology project — Carry out a practical or research task for biology.
- do extracurricular activities — Take part in non-curricular clubs or sports at school.
- by the way — Used to introduce a new subject; incidentally.
- by chance — Accidentally; without planning or intention.
- by word of mouth — Via spoken communication rather than written or official sources.
- by the book — Strictly according to rules or instructions.
- by and by — After a while; eventually.
- by and large — Generally speaking; on the whole.
- by law — According to legal requirements.
- (fall) by the wayside — Fail to continue or be successful; be abandoned.