When was the last time you painted the town red or saw a flying pig?
We wouldn’t be surprised if you are scratching your head in confusion right now. English is full of funny, colourful and often quite difficult expressions. Not only are they fun to learn and say, but they – when used sparingly – can really improve your fluency and understanding of the language.
We’ve put together 15 of some of our favourite commonly used expressions that you can learn today. So check out infographic below!
![15 Useful English Expressions to Improve your Fluency [Infographic] | Oxford House Barcelona](https://oxfordhousebcn.com/wp-content/uploads/improve-your-fluency-correccion2.jpg)
Which of these expressions was the most surprising? Do you have any favourite English expressions you’d like to share? Tell us in the comments!
There are roughly 170,000 words in use in the English language. Thankfully, most native English speakers only have a voc... Read More
You're probably very familiar with sending emails (and sometimes letters) in your first language. But how about in Engli... Read More
Keep kids’ minds sharp over the Easter holidays with some entertaining, educational activities in English. There are l... Read More
Roxana Milanes is twenty five and from Cuba. She began English classes back in May 2019 at Oxford House, and since then ... Read More
“Your future is whatever you make it, so make it a good one.” - Doc Brown, Back to the future. Just like the and... Read More
Business idioms are used throughout the workplace. In meetings, conversations and even whilst making at the coffee mac... Read More
We spend hours consuming the news. With one click of a button we have access to thousands of news stories all on our pho... Read More
Imagine the scene. It’s exam day. You’re nearly at the end of your . You’ve just finished writing Part 1 - , and n... Read More
Back in December 2019, we sat down and attempted to make a list of . No one could have predicted the year that was about... Read More
Christmas movies are one of the best things about the holiday season. They’re fun, they get you in the mood for the ho... Read More
Oxford House are extremely proud to announce our partnership with MigraCode - a Barcelona-based charity which trains ref... Read More
The age of telecommunication is well and truly here. Most of our business meetings now take place via video conferencing... Read More
One of the biggest challenges for Spanish speakers when learning English is pronunciation. Often it’s a struggle to pr... Read More
“Alexa, what exactly are you?” Alexa is a virtual AI assistant owned by Amazon. She is voice-activated - like Sir... Read More
Okay, take a deep breath. We’re about to enter the danger zone of the Cambridge exam - Reading and Use of English Par... Read More
Welcome to the new school year! It’s great to have you back. We’d like to remind you that , and classes are all st... Read More
The 26th of September is . It’s a day to celebrate Europe’s rich linguistic diversity and show the importance of lan... Read More
It’s the start of a new academic term and new courses are about to begin. This is the perfect opportunity to set your ... Read More
If there’s one good thing to come out of this year, it’s that learning a language has never been so easy or accessib... Read More
Are you bored of Facebook? Tired of Instagram? Don’t feel part of the Twitter generation? Perhaps what you’re lookin... Read More
It’s a fact! The UK is obsessed with the way people talk. And with , it’s no surprise why. That’s right, accents a... Read More
Summer is here! And more than ever, we’re in need of a bit of sunshine. But with travel restrictions still in place, m... Read More
As Barcelona and the rest of Spain enters the ‘new normality’, it’s time to plan ahead for the summer. Kids and te... Read More
Are you preparing for a Cambridge English qualification? Have you devoured all of your past papers and need some extra e... Read More
The word ‘get’ is one of the most common and versatile verbs in English. It can be used in lots of different ways, a... Read More
There are three main verb tenses in English - , the present and the future - which each have various forms and uses. Tod... Read More
On average, Netflix subscribers spend streaming their favourite content. With so many binge-worthy series out there, it... Read More
Due to the ongoing emergency lockdown measures imposed by the Spanish Government . We don’t know when we will be a... Read More
The feast of Sant Jordi is one of Barcelona’s most popular and enduring celebrations. Sant Jordi is the patron saint o... Read More
Educational institutions all over the world have shut their doors. From nurseries to universities, business schools to l... Read More
Whatever your new year’s resolution was this year, it probably didn’t involve staying at home all day. For many of u... Read More
With the recent outbreak of Covid-19, many of us may have to gather our books and study from home. Schools are clos... Read More
Being stuck inside can make you feel like you’re going crazy. But why not use this time to your advantage, and work on... Read More
Dear students, Due to the recent emergency measures from the Government concerning COVID-19, Oxford House premises wi... Read More
Reading is one of the best ways to practice English. It’s fun, relaxing and helps you improve your comprehension skill... Read More
So that’s it! It’s decided, you’re moving to the USA. It’s time to hike the soaring mountains, listen to country... Read More
The is an excellent qualification to aim for if you’re thinking of studying or working abroad. It’s recognised by u... Read More
Like it or not, small talk is an important part of business. Whether it’s in a lift, at a conference, in a meeting roo... Read More
It’s time for that famous celebration of love and romance - Valentine’s Day! It is inspired by the sad story of Sain... Read More
When it comes to exams, preparation is the key to success - and the IELTS Writing Paper Part 2 is no exception! It is wo... Read More
At Oxford House, we know learning a language extends beyond the classroom. It’s important to practise your skills in m... Read More
Congratulations! You’ve passed your Cambridge B2 First exam. It was a hard road but you did it. Now what’s next? Som... Read More
Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle. When you see its lush green landscape and breathtaking views, it’s easy to see w... Read More
New year, new you. As one year ends and another begins, many of us like to set ourselves goals in order to make our live... Read More
Each year new words enter the English language. Some are added to dictionaries like . Others are old words that are give... Read More
2019 went by in a flash - and what a year it’s been! We’re just as excited to be looking back on the past 12 months ... Read More
Telephone interviews in English can seem scary. Employers often use them to filter-out candidates before the face-to-fa... Read More
Writing in your only language can be a challenge, but writing in another language can be a complete nightmare ! Where do... Read More
Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving. Traditionally, it signals the start of the Christmas shopping period. Expect... Read More
The (CAE) is a high-level qualification, designed to show that candidates are confident and flexible language users who... Read More
Many people believe that artificial intelligence (AI) translators are surpassing human translators in their ability to a... Read More
Apps are a great tool for learning English. They are quick, easy to access and fun. It’s almost like having a mini cla... Read More
There are four linguistic skills that you utilise when learning a new language: reading, writing speaking and listening.... Read More
So, you’ve moved onto Part 3, and after completing Part 2 it’s probably a welcome relief to be given some help with ... Read More
Whether it’s in meetings, telephone conversations or networking events, you’ll find specific vocabulary and buzzword... Read More
[video-item url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOWgWTkBwOw&t=2s" width="870" height="577"][/video-item] We’... Read More
It’s time for some back-to-school motivation. The new school year is about to start and everyone is feeling refreshed ... Read More
Haven’t you heard? Nobody is watching the TV anymore - 2019 is the year of the YouTuber! If you’re an English langu... Read More
So, you’ve completed the of your Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE). Now it’s time to sit back and enjoy the rest of the e... Read More
“The problem with the French is that they have no word for entrepreneur.” This phrase was attributed to George W. B... Read More
The Gràcia Festival, or , is an annual celebration taking place in the lovely, bohemian neighbourhood of Gràcia in upt... Read More
Barcelona residents will often tell you than nothing happens in August. It’s too hot and everyone escapes to little vi... Read More
Do you have difficulty with the past tenses in English? Do you know the difference between the past simple and past perf... Read More
Students who are taking their B2 First Certificate exam (FCE) will be asked to do two pieces of writing within an 80 min... Read More
Unless you were raised to be bilingual, speaking two languages can require years of study and hard work. Even once you... Read More
What’s better than watching a fantastic, original-language movie in a theatre? Watching a fantastic, original-language... Read More
Ever wonder how much time you spend on your phone a day? According to the latest studies, the average person spends on ... Read More
Here comes the sun! That’s right, summer is on its way and, for many, that means a chance to take a well-deserved brea... Read More
You’ve done the hard part and finally registered for your , congratulations! Now all you need to do is pass it! H... Read More
Everyone is talking about soft skills. They are the personal traits that allow you to be mentally elastic, to adapt to n... Read More
Are you struggling to decide which English language exam to take? You’re not alone: with so many different options on ... Read More
We’re sure you’ve done a great job answering the questions for of your . But now you’re faced with a completely d... Read More
Imagine you have woken up in Barcelona for the first time in your life. You walk outside and you notice something unusua... Read More
Have you ever put on an English radio station or podcast and gone to sleep, hoping that when you wake up in the morning ... Read More
What’s the most challenging thing about going on holiday in an English speaking country? Twenty years ago you might ha... Read More
No matter how long you've been learning a language, you're likely to make a mistake every once in a while. The big ones ... Read More
Passing a job interview in a language that’s not your mother tongue is always a challenge – but however daunting i... Read More
“How many languages do you speak?” This is what we ask when we want to know about someone’s language skills... Read More
You have survived the Use of English section of your , but now you are faced with a long text full of strange language, ... Read More
Turn on a radio anywhere in the world and it won’t take long before you’re listening to an English song. And, if you... Read More
It’s nearly Valentine’s day and love is in the air at Oxford House. We’ll soon be surrounded by heart-shaped ballo... Read More
Graded readers are adaptations of famous stories, or original books aimed at language learners. They are written to help... Read More
Written language is as important today as it has ever been. Whether you want to prepare for an , to respond to or it’... Read More
The new year is here and many of us will be making promises about improving our language skills in 2019. However, how ma... Read More
It’s been a whirlwind 2018. We’ve made so many amazing memories - from our twentieth-anniversary party to some enter... Read More
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to get a job in an international company? Perhaps you’ve thought about tr... Read More
We are delighted to be going through the final stages of our accreditation, which will help us provide the best languag... Read More
Making the decision to do a Cambridge English language qualification can be intimidating. Whether you’re taking it bec... Read More
A language exchange (or Intercambio in Spanish) is an excellent way to practise English outside of the classroom. The a... Read More
The nights are drawing in and the leaves are falling from the trees. As our minds turn to the cold and frosty winter nig... Read More
If you’re a student at , you’ll know it is far more than just a language academy. It’s a place to socialise, make ... Read More
From funny bananas, super long words and excitable foxes, our latest infographic explores 10 intriguing facts about the ... Read More
If you’ve been studying at Oxford House for a while there’s a good chance that you’ll recognise Judy - with her bi... Read More
The new school year is about to begin and many of you are probably thinking that it’s about time to take the plunge an... Read More
We head off on vacation full of excitement and joy. It’s a time to explore somewhere new, relax and spend time with ou... Read More
Learning English is difficult! With its irregular verbs, tricky pronunciation and even harder spelling, lots of students... Read More
The next time you’re walking down the street, in a waiting room, or on public transport in Barcelona take a look aroun... Read More
Many students have aspirations to move abroad. This might be for a number of reasons such as to find a new job, to impro... Read More
What do English, Maori, Vietnamese and Zulu have in common? Along with another , they all use the . If your first la... Read More
Netflix has changed the way we spend our free time. We don’t have to wait a week for a new episode of our favourite TV... Read More
The year has flown by and we are already into the second week of our summer intensive courses. Today we look back at th... Read More
Things are hotting up in Barcelona. There’s so much to see and do during the summer months that it’s hard to know wh... Read More
The long summer holiday is almost here and we’ve got some top tips on how you can keep up your English over the summer... Read More
Football, football, football: the whole world is going crazy for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia! The beautiful ga... Read More
Learning a second language has a lot in common with learning to play an instrument or sport. They all require frequent p... Read More
Imagine, for a moment, taking a cooking class in a language you didn’t know - it could be Japanese, Greek, Russian. It... Read More
Exams are nerve-wracking. Between going to class, studying at home and worrying about the results, it’s easy to forget... Read More
Learning a second language, for many people, is one of the best decisions they ever make. Travel, work, culture, educati... Read More
Speech shadowing is an advanced language learning technique. The idea is simple: you listen to someone speaking and you ... Read More
Our children learn English at school from a young age - with some even starting basic language classes from as early as ... Read More
Teenagers today are definitely part of the smartphone generation and many parents are concerned about the amount of time... Read More
Are you taking an IELTS exam soon? Feeling nervous about the writing paper? Read this article for some top tips and usef... Read More
Love them or hate them, at some point we all have to give a business presentation. Occasionally we have to deliver them ... Read More
A lot of students think English is easy to learn - that is until they encounter phrasal verbs! We are sure you have hear... Read More
Have you heard of these fascinating British Easter traditions? Great Britain is an ancient island, full of superstition... Read More
Your is coming to an end and exam day is fast approaching. It’s about time to make sure you are prepared for what man... Read More
Have you ever wondered where English words come from? There are a whopping 171,476 words in the . From aardvark to zyzz... Read More
Students take language certifications like the Cambridge B2 First qualification for lots of different reasons. You might... Read More
Foreign accent and understanding When you meet someone new, what’s the first thing you notice? Is it how they look?... Read More
Are you a ski-fanatic that spends all week dreaming about white-capped peaks, fluffy snow and hearty mountain food? ... Read More
Quizlet, Duolingo, Busuu...there are lots of apps on the market nowadays to help you learn and improve your English. But... Read More
Is English really that difficult? English is a Germanic language, which means it has lots of similarities with Germa... Read More
If you’ve been studying English for a long time, you’ve probably tried lots of different ways of learning the langua... Read More
Learning another language as an adult can be frustrating. We’re problem-solvers. We look for patterns in language and ... Read More
Every year is the same. We promise ourselves to eat more healthily, exercise more and save money. It all seems very easy... Read More
Languages are constantly on the move and English is no exception! As technology, culture and politics evolve, we’re fa... Read More
All countries are proud of their quirky traditions and this is no more evident than . In South Africa they eat deep-fri... Read More
You’ve heard about the four skills: reading, writing, and . Some might be more important to you than others. Although... Read More
Business is all about communication. Whether it’s colleagues, clients or suppliers, we spend a big chunk of our workin... Read More
Why are phrasal verbs so frustrating? It’s like they’ve been sent from the devil to destroy the morale of English la... Read More
Exams are terrifying! The big day is here and after all that studying and hard work, it’s finally time to show what y... Read More
Speaking in a foreign language is hard work. Language learners have to think about pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary... Read More
Have you ever thought about dropping everything to go travelling around the world? Today, more and more people are quit... Read More
It’s October and you’ve just signed up for an English course. Maybe you want to pass an official exam. Maybe you nee... Read More
Learning English is more fun when you do it in a fantastic location like Barcelona. Find out why we think this is the pe... Read More
Is it better to do the paper-based or the computer-based exam? We recommend the computer-based exam to our stud... Read More
What exactly is the difference between an IELTS exam and a Cambridge English exam such as the First (FCE) or Advanced (C... Read More
Leave a Reply