Common English Expressions

Common English Expressions

English is full of expressions that native speakers use every day—many of which don’t translate word-for-word. These common English expressions help you sound natural, understand everyday conversations, and communicate confidently.

What Are English Expressions?

English expressions are short phrases or sentences that convey specific meanings. They’re often used idiomatically and sometimes can’t be understood literally.

For example:

• “Hang on a sec” means “Wait a moment”, not literally to grab onto something.
• “I’m broke” means “I have no money”, not physically broken!

List of Common English Expressions

Here’s a handy list of useful expressions for everyday conversations, with meanings and examples:

Expression	Meaning	Example Sentence
How’s it going?	How are you?	Hey! How’s it going?
Long time no see!	Haven’t seen you in a while	Long time no see! How have you been?
What’s up?	What’s happening?	Hey, what’s up?
Hang on a sec	Wait a moment	Hang on a sec, I’ll be right back.
No worries	It’s okay / Don’t worry	No worries, it’s not a big deal.
I’m just kidding	I’m joking	Relax, I’m just kidding!
Fingers crossed	Hoping for a good outcome	I’ve got my fingers crossed for your exam!
Let me think	Give me a moment to decide	Let me think… maybe Friday?
You never know	Anything is possible	He might show up — you never know!
It depends	It varies / not sure	Will you come? It depends on my schedule.
Take care	Goodbye / Stay safe	Bye! Take care!
That makes sense	I understand now	Oh, that makes sense. Thanks for explaining!
I’m in	I agree / I’m joining	Game night? I’m in!
I’m out	I’m not joining / I disagree	Sorry, I’m out this time.
I can’t wait	Excited for something	I can’t wait for the weekend!
It’s up to you	You decide	Pizza or pasta? It’s up to you.
I’m on it	I’ll take care of it	No problem, I’m on it!
Not a big deal	It’s not important	Don’t worry, it’s not a big deal.
That’s a good one	Funny joke or clever response	Haha! That’s a good one.
I messed up	I made a mistake	I messed up my schedule.
That’s it	That’s all	That’s it — I’m done.
It’s a no-brainer	Very obvious decision	Taking the job was a no-brainer.
I’m starving	I’m very hungry	Let’s eat — I’m starving!
I’m broke	I have no money	I can’t go shopping — I’m broke.
I’m beat	I’m very tired	After that workout, I’m beat.
I’ve had enough	I can’t take it anymore	That’s it! I’ve had enough!
Fair enough	That’s reasonable	Okay, fair enough.
That’s the last straw	Final annoyance before losing patience	That’s the last straw! I’m done with him.
You’ve got to be kidding me	Expression of disbelief	You lost your phone again? You’ve got to be kidding me!
Don’t push it	Don’t ask for too much	I helped you once — don’t push it.
Give me a break	Stop bothering / I don’t believe that	Oh come on, give me a break!
No way!	I can’t believe it / Refusal	No way! You got the job?
You bet!	Of course / Definitely	Will I help? You bet!
What do you mean?	Asking for clarification	What do you mean by that?
I’m not sure	I don’t know exactly	I’m not sure what time it starts.
I’ll get back to you	I’ll answer later	Let me check and I’ll get back to you.
Let’s get started	Let’s begin	Everyone’s here? Great — let’s get started.
You nailed it!	You did perfectly	Great speech! You nailed it!
Let me know	Inform me later	Let me know if you need help.
Same here	Me too	I’m tired. — Same here.

Using common English expressions can make your speech sound more authentic, confident, and natural. They’re not just for textbooks they’re used every day by native speakers. Start by learning a few, and gradually add more to your conversations.

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