Learn 8 Smart English Phrases in Daily Use for Improving Your English Vocabulary

If you are searching for free English classes near me so today we are going to teach you eight smart English phrases for daily use and when you use the right phrase at the right time you're going to sound like this fluent and natural English speaker.

Read below about the eight smart English phrases for daily use, their meanings their origin some example sentences and also some other words and phrases that you can use instead as synonyms.

Most of the phrases and idioms that we are covering in this the article have been important for all of you for your daily vocabulary bytes and especially for all that want to learn English.

Now let's begin with the 8 smart English phrases for daily use to radically improve your vocabulary in about 10 minutes of reading time.

Smart English Phrase # 1 

“my way or the highway” now this is a tough expression it's almost like an ultimatum which means do things that we have asked you to do or you can leave.

It actually originated from the idea that either you follow the path, that I'm following or take the car onto a highway and leave “I’m telling you straight it's my way or the highway.

for example, if your boss is very particular about you doing things exactly the way he or she wants them, then they could perhaps say to you hey buddy do this project exactly the way I've asked you to because it's my way or the highway.

In this case, the employee knows that if he doesn't follow his boss's instructions actually step by step he might as well just quit.

I loved my boyfriend a lot but I was frustrated with his my way or highway attitude you can use this if you have a teacher or a parent or someone at work who's a tough taskmaster then perhaps you can say that Vector is a tough taskmaster and he has this way or the highway approach.  Other phrases that you can use are taking it, leave it or end of the story.

Smart English Phrase # 2

“ cloud 9” cloud 9 means being in the state of happiness or bliss example he was on cloud nine after his girlfriend agreed to marry him.

The origin is sort of uncertain but perhaps dates back to the time when the U.S met Department named a particular cloud as cloud 9 and that cloud was very fluffy and very beautiful looking.

so people said, hey if I could be on this cloud 9 then I would be really happy, for example when she got chosen for the job she was on cloud 9 and the entire team was on cloud 9 after winning the championship or when he got the good news he was on cloud nine now you can go and tell your friends that when I read this article on www.infobox247.com  I am on cloud nine.

Other phrases that you can use instead of cloud nine are head in the clouds, seventh heaven or on top of the world.

Smart English Phrase # 3

“tongue-in-cheek”  tongue-in-cheek means to say something jokingly while appearing serious for example the latest movie I watched was tongue in cheek about how the media sometimes tends to over-hype certain news situations.

The origin of the word tongue-in-cheek literally comes from physically putting your tongue in your cheek and when you do that sometimes it also creates a wink which means they don't take me seriously and some people say that putting your tongue in your cheek might be a way to stop yourself from smiling.

for example, friend one says hey buddy how's your job doing and friend two says oh I love this new job their work ethic is amazing I love working 7 hours a day in a whole week without taking a break and maybe it's going to do some good to my resume and credentials.

So friend one says tongue in cheek isn't it - then a friend two says, of course, I didn't mean it seriously the workload is horrible, instead of this, you can use to describe tongue in cheek is cheeky or playful.

Smart English Phrase # 4

“Mover and shaker” many of you read this phrase sometimes in newspapers a mover and a shaker is an influential person that makes things happen a powerful person that initiates events and influences people example he is a mover and shaker because he knows a lot of people in powerful positions.

Mover and shaker can also be used to describe someone who's willing to make big changes and get things done.

for example, the new director of the company is a mover and shaker or the conference is going to have a lot of movers and shakers from the industry, so I better make a good impression but these days a mover and shaker is applied just to someone who may be rich and powerful especially in the area of politics and business.

For example, she thinks her father can get her admission into law school because he is quite a mover and shaker in society and other words that you can use instead of mover and shaker are big guns or prominent.

Smart English Phrase # 5

“Face the music” face the music means to accept the consequences of one's actions and be prepared for any kind of criticism or punishment that you may get as a result of it.

 The origins go back to the Army when someone, for example, committed an atrocious act and they were asked to leave the service in a disgraceful manner they were literally drummed out to the sound of drumbeats and that's when the term started getting associated with facing the music implying facing the consequences of your action.

for example, if she lied to me she would have to face the music one day or someday or the other you would end up facing the music for your actions or since the boy cheated on the exam now he'll have to face the music.

Other phrases that you can use instead of face the music face the facts face up to it or bite the bullet.

Smart English Phrase # 6

“dime-a-dozen” dime-a-dozen means something that is common plentiful and therefore inexpensive these plastic toys are available dime-a-dozen.

A word dime is actually a unit of the US currency which is one-tenth of a dollar or ten cents now back in the day you could actually get things for a dime.

For example, you could get a dozen eggs for a dime or you could get a dozen apples for a dime but over time as the value of the dime became insignificant it's used more figuratively.

for example, writers like this are dime a dozen which means that this person's writing skills are very common and therefore of no significant value.

for example, these glass cups might look expensive but they're available a dime a dozen on the Internet when my friend attended a family reunion she came back and told me that hugs were available dime a dozen since everyone was so happy to meet each other another word that you can use in place of a dime a dozen is commonplace.

Smart English Phrase # 7

“Goody two-shoes” goody-two-shoes refers to somebody who's always good sweet nice and has this perfect behavior and never seems to do anything bad or rebellious now this is not a compliment while it is referring to the person goody-goody correct and perfect behavior.

it's also hinting to the fact that this person may be a little arrogant about that perfect behavior and maybe showing off a little also about it.

for example, Mary was a goody-two-shoes in school but when she joined college she became quite a rebel,  she is goody-two-shoes sits in the front bench of the class waves her the hand at every question that the teacher asks and then tell tales about the rest of the class to the teacher.

so if you have a friend for instance that doesn't come for any parties and doesn't stay beyond the curfew time and sometimes also shows off about the fact then you can certainly call them goody-two-shoes, other words that you can use instead of goody-two-shoes is prudish or stuffy.

Smart English Phrase # 8

“Hard nut to crack” or a “tough nut to crack” refers to a problem a thing a situation or even a person that may be particularly difficult to understand solve or crack.

For example, I've been dating Lara for over a year but I think she's a hard nut to crack.

This phrase originates literally from some hard nuts that are so difficult sometimes to crack wide open example the spy that we've captured is a hard nut to crack and hasn't said a word since we started interrogating him.

Now if you want approval from your principal and you know that it may be difficult to get you may say she's a hard nut to crack and it may not be so easy to get her approval.

Jack is a hard nut to crack sometimes he's so quiet and sometimes he's super friendly I don't even know whether he likes me.

Another phrase that you can use instead of a hard nut to a crack or tough nut to crack is a tough cookie.

Thanks for taking the time to read and hope you enjoyed these eight phrases just comment down telling us which one of these was your favorite make sentences with them and put them down as well.