Shadowing Practice: I use these phrases Every. Damn. Day... So YOU should probably learn them too! ✌🏻🇬🇧 - Learn English Speaking with Video
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Hello lovely students and welcome back to English with Lucy.
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Today I've got a really useful video for you full of English that I personally use every day.
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Now you're going to learn around 19 phrases that I
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and a lot of other people who speak English use on a daily basis.
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Before we get started I want to remind you that I've made a beautiful free pdf to go with this video.
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It It contains all of the vocabulary, phonetic transcriptions to help with your pronunciation, extra examples, and a quiz at the end to test your understanding.
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If you'd like to download that, just click on the link in the description box, enter your name and your email address, you sign up to my mailing list,
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and the PDF will arrive directly in your inbox.
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After that, you will automatically receive all of my free weekly lesson PDFs, plus my news, course updates, and offers.
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It's a free service and you can unsubscribe at any time.
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Okay, let's get started with our phrases.
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While I like to imagine that I have a huge vocabulary
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and I use all kinds of interesting and beautiful phrases every day,
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the truth is that I repeat myself quite often from one day to the next.
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I cling onto words like a magnet and I use them again and again and again until people say, can you stop saying that please?
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Like most of you, I spend most days doing similar activities, working, eating, hanging out with friends, hanging out with my pets actually.
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And I have a bank of phrases that I use every day without even thinking about them.
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And that's what I want to give you in this lesson, my bank.
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And I'm not talking about my money, I'm talking about my personal vocabulary bank.
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Learn these phrases and you'll be able to get through a lot of the day in an English speaking environment,
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without having to think too hard about what you're saying.
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And that's what we want in life, to not think too hard.
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I'm going to start with some general phrases that I say anytime and any place.
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Number one, what a shame.
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What a shame, what a shame.
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This is such a great response to something negative or unfortunate that happens or someone tells you about.
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It's better to use it for small inconveniences like our favorite restaurant is booked up on our anniversary, what a shame.
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Or Jean can't come tonight, she's busy, what a shame.
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Don't use this when someone tells you that their pet died or something more serious happened.
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I don't feel it's strong enough for that.
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Number two, I haven't got a clue.
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I haven't a clue, I haven't got a clue.
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This phrase means I really don't know.
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Now, I wouldn't recommend using this phrase with your boss or
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when something is very important because it can seem a bit too casual, like you don't care that you don't know.
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I haven't a clue.
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I haven't got a clue.
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We normally use got with haven't.
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I haven't got a pen.
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I haven't got time.
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But in this phrase, sometimes we go a bit more old fashioned and say, I haven't a clue.
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I use I haven't got a clue with friends or family.
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Do you know where the binoculars are?
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I haven't got a clue, sorry.
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Okay, number three, I use this all the time, to cut a long story short, to cut a long story short.
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I really do need to work on making my long stories shorter.
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I have the habit of starting a story with a lot of enthusiasm, especially in front of a group of people.
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And then I just, I lose the plot.
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It doesn't go anywhere.
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I don't finish it, I just trail off.
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To cut a long story short, We use this phrase to say, I'm going to tell you the main point of the story.
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I'll cut out all the extras.
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I'm going to make this long story shorter by just telling you the essential information.
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We often say this when we realize that we've been waffling on for a
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while and we need to get to the point.
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To waffle, or here I used it in a phrasal verb, to waffle on, is to talk for a long time,
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without saying anything really of value or anything really interesting.
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Sorry, I've been waffling on for hours.
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I've been waffling for hours.
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You add the preposition on to turn waffle into a phrasal verb and it just adds emphasis, implies that this is an ongoing action.
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I actually can't believe I've been waffling on about the phrase to waffle and to waffle on.
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That is just so explanatory.
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Let's go back to cut a long story short.
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Sometimes we preface this phrase with anyway, which is another word I use about 150 times a day.
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Anyway, to cut a long story short, I am sorry if I go on a bit, I just get really excited by words and phrases.
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I want you to know them all.
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Let's go to number four, which is make up your mind.
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Make up your mind.
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This is the last general one, and it means decide or make a decision.
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We tend to use this phrase when we're a bit frustrated because someone can't or won't decide.
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I say it to my dog Diego when he's standing in the doorway wondering whether to go outside or not,
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letting in lots of cold air and lots of leaves.
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Make up your mind, Diego, make a decision.
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Okay, so those are my general phrases.
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Now I'm going to move through my work day from morning to evening, so let's get cracking.
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Let's get on with it.
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I'm starting in the morning, but I only have three phrases to put here because I don't talk a lot in the morning.
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However, if I am saying anything at 7 a.m., these are the ones I'd use.
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Mind if I grab the last.
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Mind if I'd grab the last.
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Mind if I grab the last piece of toast, bagel, teabag?
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This is a way to ask if you can eat or use or take the last of something.
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It's a question I ask my husband or he asks me several times a day.
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Notice how we omit do you from the beginning of the question.
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This is called ellipsis and it's really common in informal questions.
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Mind if I grab the last.
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Number six, I use this a lot.
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I've got to dash or just for short, gotta dash, gotta dash.
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This means I have to leave quickly, normally because I'm late.
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You can use it at any time of the day, but I often say it in the mornings because that's usually when I'm in a hurry.
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Number seven, another similar one, let's get a move on or let's get going.
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This is a phrase we often say when we really want to leave or we need to leave with someone else.
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It means come on, we need to go.
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Let's get going, let's get a move on.
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It's quite colloquial, quite casual, informal, and it's not rude.
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but it also isn't polite.
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I feel annoyed when Will says it to me.
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If he says let's get a move on, he's implying that I'm being slow or I'm going to be late and I know, I know I'm slow, I know I'm going to be late, you don't have to tell me.
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Because of that, use it with your friends and family, but don't use it with your boss.
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Let's move on to some things that I say every day during my work day.
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Let's get cracking.
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I said that one at the beginning, do you remember?
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It means let's begin.
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I love using this phrase because it's more interesting than just saying, let's start, let's get cracking.
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Let's get on with it.
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Number nine, I really do say this a lot.
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I've got back to back meetings today.
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Back to back meetings.
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If I'm not filming a video, which is my favorite part of the job, I'm probably in a meeting.
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And because Will and I work from home and work together and our entire team is remote, I have a lot of Zoom meetings.
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If my meetings are back to back, it means I have one meeting after another with no breaks.
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You could use it with any task you need to do one after another.
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Back to back presentations, back to back classes, back to back filming.
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Maybe you've got back to back social occasions over the holiday period.
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Number 10, I'm up to my ears.
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I'm up to my ears.
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And this one is related to the previous phrase.
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It means I'm very busy.
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I'm up to my ears is short for I'm up to my ears in work.
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I might use it in texts.
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If someone invites me out, I'll say, I'm so sorry, I can't come out tonight.
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I'm up to my ears.
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Number 11, I'm going to power through.
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I'm going to power through.
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This is a phrase I say when I'm going to work until I have finished.
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We often say this when we're tired or if the task is particularly difficult.
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You can also say power on through.
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Now I absolutely love filming and making videos, but I have a six video limit.
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You know that I post one YouTube video a week, but I've been working really hard behind the scenes to film a lot of videos for my courses.
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And when I get to that sixth video, because after then my tongue doesn't work properly,
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but I don't realise, so I waste a lot of time filming videos that cannot be used and have to be refilmed.
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When I get to that sixth video, I tell myself, I just need to power through this one and then I can take a break.
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Number 12 is give me a minute.
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Give me a minute.
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When someone needs me, I often want to finish what I'm working on.
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And when I'm speaking quickly, give me becomes gimme.
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Gimme a minute, I'm just finishing something.
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I don't know about you, but I find it quite hard to focus at the best of times.
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So if someone takes my focus away, It takes me another 20 minutes to get focused again.
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So sometimes I'm trying to hold on to my focus and say, give me a minute, give me a minute, I'm just focusing on something, I'll get to you afterwards.
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Number 13, I need to clear my head, I need to clear my head.
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I use this phrase to say that I need to take a break or do a different activity for a while, usually because I'm feeling stressed or confused.
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If I've had back-to-back meetings or filming, I often need a bit of fresh air to clear my head.
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And number 14, the final daytime phrase, I could do with a little pick me up.
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I could do with a little pick me up.
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I use this once a day, normally at around 4 p.m.
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Can you relate?
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Super healthy all day, nourishing meals.
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And then at 4 p.m.
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I'm like, I need chocolate or crisps.
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I don't mind which, I just need something.
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I really have to fight those 4 p.m cravings.
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Often at 4 p.m.
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I have a little energy dip.
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I'm sure it's something biological.
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It's probably a dip in blood sugar or something.
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And I need a little pick me up to boost my energy, a drink or a snack.
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I often have some coffee or a cereal bar in the afternoon.
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In American English, people often say I could use a little pick me up.
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Let's move on to the evening.
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At last, the day is coming to an end.
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Here are some things I say every evening.
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15, I'm just wrapping up for the day.
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This one means I'm finishing my work or finishing my tasks for the day,
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wrapping everything up, making sure everything is finished so I can leave work and not think about work anymore.
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16, next round's on me, next round's on me.
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When I lived in London, it was very common to go for after work drinks at the pub.
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This phrase means I will buy the next set of drinks for our group.
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I've talked a bit about rounds before in my videos.
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It's very common in the UK,
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Ireland, Australia, and some other English-speaking countries for people in a group to take turns buying drinks for everyone.
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So if you're in a group of four, you buy the first round of four drinks, then the next person buys the second round, and so on and so on.
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Be careful when you get into a round of drinks with a big group of people
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because you might end up buying eight drinks and maybe even drinking eight drinks, which is not a good idea and I don't encourage that.
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I also said on me.
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The next round's on me.
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That means I'm buying it.
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This one's on me.
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I'm paying for this one.
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Dinner's on us.
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We're paying for dinner.
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Number 17, peckish.
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I'm a bit peckish after the pub or at dinner time.
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We need to eat something.
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This means I'm hungry, not super hungry.
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I don't want a full meal, but I could eat.
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I could eat.
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My husband always says that.
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When I'm distributing the food I have cooked for our evening meal together.
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I say, how hungry are you?
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Wanting to know how much food do I put on your plate?
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And he always says, I could eat.
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I'm like, well, that doesn't give me any indication as to how much food I should put on your plate.
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I'm sorry, you don't need to know this.
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Let's move on to number 18, fancy a nightcap.
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I always fancy a nightcap, but I try not to have nightcaps.
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This one is about alcohol.
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It means, do you want one last drink before you go to bed?
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It's usually alcohol, but it can actually refer to any drink, hot cocoa, tea, herbal tea.
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They could all be nightcaps, but most English speakers will think
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that you're offering them an alcoholic drink like a whiskey or a brandy or something like that.
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And number 19, the last one, I'm going to turn in.
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I'm gonna turn in, going to informal contraction, gonna.
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This phrase means I'm going to bed.
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And that's exactly how I end my day.
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Actually, I have a bonus phrase for you because it slipped my mind.
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No, that's it.
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That's the phrase.
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It slipped my mind.
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This means I forgot, but it's a nicer, softer way of saying it.
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I'm so sorry about forgetting your birthday.
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It totally slipped my mind or it slipped my mind to post that letter yesterday.
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It means I really wanted to, I tried to remember, but it just disappeared from my mind.
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It wasn't my fault.
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I say this all the time, all day, every day.
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Just got a lot going on.
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Anyway, it really is time to wrap up this video.
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I really hope you've enjoyed it.
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Don't forget to download the beautiful PDF that we've made for you with the quiz so you can test your understanding.
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The link to get that is in the description box.
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Don't forget to check out my beautiful English courses.
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They are so cool.
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We have worked so hard on making them what I believe to be the best English courses on the market study pronunciation,
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grammar, vocabulary, writing, listening, reading, conversation with me, just visit englishwithlucy.com and you can choose from B1,
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B2, C1 and decide which one is right for you.
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I will see you soon for another lesson.
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Bye.
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Why Practice Speaking with This Video?
Want to sound like a natural in everyday English? This video is a goldmine—packed with phrases native speakers use *constantly*. Practicing with it helps you master real-world conversation, not just textbook lines. Use the shadowing technique (repeat phrases out loud as you hear them) to nail pronunciation and fluency. You’ll learn to respond effortlessly in situations like chatting with friends, making plans, or reacting to small mishaps. Plus, these phrases are casual enough for daily use but versatile enough to fit most contexts—perfect for building confidence in English speaking practice.
Grammar & Expressions in Context
Let’s break down 3 key phrases that’ll level up your speaking:
- What a shame: A go-to response for minor letdowns (e.g., “The café ran out of croissants—what a shame!”). It’s warm and empathetic, but save it for small issues, not serious problems.
- I haven’t got a clue: A casual way to say “I don’t know” (e.g., “Where’s the remote? I haven’t got a clue!”). Avoid it with bosses—it’s too laid-back. Pro tip: “I haven’t a clue” sounds slightly old-fashioned but works with friends.
- To cut a long story short: Use this to simplify a rambling tale (e.g., “To cut a long story short, we missed the train but caught the next one”). It’s a lifesaver for keeping conversations concise!
Common Pronunciation Traps
Watch out for these tricky sounds! For “what a shame,” stress the first syllable of “shame” (/ʃeɪm/)—don’t rush it. “I haven’t got a clue” has a soft “t” in “got” (almost silent in fast speech) and a clear “clue” (/kluː/). “To cut a long story short” needs a sharp “cut” (/kʌt/) and a relaxed “short” (/ʃɔːt/). Use the shadow speak method: pause the video, repeat each phrase, and match the rhythm. Apps that let you record yourself can help compare your pronunciation to the speaker’s—great for refining your accent!
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on | we've been waffling · I've been waffling · I've been working |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've made · have finished · I've had |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | people who speak · anyway, which is · four, which is |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is booked · is called · be refilmed |
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.