Thank you for the greatest work you are doing

To get distracted = to have your attention drawn away so you cannot concentrate

I was trying to study for my exam, but I kept getting distracted by my phone and social media.



To have your head in the game  =  to be fully focused on what you are doing

Our team was losing badly, but I had my head in the game and managed to score the winning goal.



To be in the zone = to be completely focused and immersed in what you are doing

I was in the zone while I was practicing the piano and played for hours without even realising it.



To be lost in thought =  to be so focused on your own thoughts that you're not paying attention to what's going on around you.

I was walking to the store and got completely lost in thought, only to realise that I had walked right past the store without noticing it.

Concentration

The other day I met up with my friend Mr. Grumble and we went shopping together. 
He was looking for a new phone so we went around a local shopping mall and he started grumbling about the price of the phones, about it being a rip-off (too expensive), about the quality. 
In the end, he was whingeing so much that I decided to take him for a coffee and a snack just to perk up (cheer up / to be happier / in a better mood), but then he started harping on about the coffee. It's too cold, it's too weak. 
Oh dear some people they're just never happy.

Mr. Grumble: IELTS Listening Task (Complaints)

1. If you have a bad habit, you can use the following, 
I have a habit of _____
Do you know you have a habit of interrupting me when I am speaking?



I have fallen into the habit of _____
I have fallen into the habit of eating cake every evening before going to bed



2. If you want to stop a habit, you can say,
I am trying to break this habit 
I’m trying to get out of the habit
I am trying to break the habit of eating too many sweets.
I am trying to get out of the habit of staying up till 1am on weekdays.

Bad Habits

Friends

To catch up with someone = to meet up with a friend and get all the latest news about their life

Whenever I go back to the UK, I like to catch up with friends and family

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To pop over (inf.) = to visit someone (usually in their home)

Why don’t you pop over tomorrow at 6pm and we can watch a film together

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To hang out = to spend time with friends

I always hang out with my friends in the park on Saturdays.

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To chew the fat = to chat informally

Let’s go for a coffee and we can chew the fat

To curb loneliness  = to reduce the feeling of being alone
Many retired people keep pet dogs to curb their loneliness


To keep you company  = to be with you so you are not alone
My grandmother had a pet cat to keep her company after my grandad past away (=died)


A sense of well-being = a feeling of being happy and well
Some pets nowadays are called ‘emotional support animals’ because they can help give their owners a sense of well-being.


To mingle with others = to meet and socialise with other people
Many young people get a pet dog, so they can mingle with others in the park and make new friends.

Pets And Animals

To turn over a new leaf = to start anew / start something fresh
I used to be really lazy at work, but my new boss has inspired me to work hard. I am going to turn over a new leaf and be much more productive.


To get into someone’s good books = to win someone’s favour, so they like you.
I am going to ask my boss for a raise, so I should work hard first and get into his good books.


To throw the book at someone = to scold or tell someone off strongly 
My boss threw the book at me after I lost that contract with our biggest client.


To take a leaf out of someone’s book = learn from someone (who is better than you)  
Mary is such a good presenter because she prepares every meeting so well, I am going to take a leaf out of her book.

Idioms Books And Work

To be out of shape = not fit due to lack of exercise
I haven’t done any sport for months, I am totally out of shape

To be fighting fit = to be very healthy 
After his operation, he needed time to recover, but he has started exercising again and now he is fighting fit

To be as fit as a fiddle = to be very fit and healthy
After changing to this new diet and working out every day, I feel as fit as a fiddle

To be/feel off colour = to feel a little sick
I was a bit off colour yesterday so I didn’t go into work

To be / feel as right as rain = to feel healthy and well
I was a little sick yesterday, but after a good night’s sleep, I feel as right as rain today

Keeping Fit

A backseat driver = someone who doesn’t drive, but tells the driver how to drive!
My wife is a backseat driver and she drives me crazy when she starts giving me directions. 
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​To travel light = to take very few things with you when you travel
I always travel light when I take a weekend trip, I just take the bare essentials.
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​By the skin of our teeth = just in time or just narrowly manage to do someting
We caught the train by the skin of our teeth, just minutes before it left the station!
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To hit the road = to start a journey 
It’s already 6 o’clock and time we hit the road

Transport

off-the-peg clothes = all standard sizes, not specially made for you
I usually wear off-the-peg clothes as they are cheaper than tailor-made ones.
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To fit like a glove = to fit perfectly 
I love this dress as it fits like a glove
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To wear in (for new clothes, e.g. shoes, jacket) = to wear something new until it feels comfortable
The only problem with new shoes is that they take a few days to wear in.
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To follow the dress code = to wear clothes according to the rules (at work or school)
As a teacher, I don’t have to follow a strict dress code, but I need to be smart
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To go for = to choose
When I buy shirts, I usually go for long-sleeved ones

Clothes

To be tech savvy = to be good with technology
I don’t really understand how computers work, I am not very tech savvy.
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To feel brain-dead = to feel tired and unable to focus (usually after a long time sat at a computer)
At the end of the working day, I feel totally brain-dead and I need to go outside for a walk or a run.
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In layman’s terms = in simple language 
Listen I am not very good with computers, can you explain how to do this in layman’s terms?
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Hit-and-miss (adj.) = random, (sometimes successful, sometimes not). 
The Internet connection is rather hit-and-miss today, maybe we should postpone the video call.
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To sift through = to go through or examine something in detail (e.g. photos, documents, books)
I am just sifting through my photos to send you that one with the cute cat.

Friends

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