Learning advanced English phrases and phrasal verbs is a great way to enhance your English fluency and sound more natural in everyday conversations. Below, we have summarized some useful phrases and idioms along with their meanings and example sentences.
List of Advanced English Phrases
By practicing these advanced phrases and phrasal verbs, you can elevate your English skills and feel more confident in conversations. For more lessons and resources, stay tuned to our blog!
1. Bump Into
Meaning: To meet someone by chance.
Example:
- I was walking to the store when I bumped into my old neighbor.
- I bumped into an old-school friend the other day.
- She bumped into her college professor at the airport yesterday.
2. Stumble Across
Meaning: To find something by chance.
Example:
- I stumbled across my old notebook from primary school in the garage.
- While cleaning the attic, I stumbled across some childhood toys.
- He stumbled across a rare book in the second-hand shop.
3. Hook Up
Meaning: To form a relationship (often informal).
Example:
- I hooked up with a beautiful girl the other night at the club.
- We hooked up at the reunion and rekindled our friendship.
- After a few meetings, they decided to hook up for a business venture.
4. Drift Apart
Meaning: To gradually become less close to someone.
Example:
- Jack and I were intimate friends, but we have drifted apart over time.
- Over the years, we drifted apart due to our busy schedules.
- After the disagreement, they slowly drifted apart and stopped talking.
5. Split Up
Meaning: To end a relationship.
Example:
- Elizabeth and her boyfriend split up after a long argument last week.
- The band split up after their final concert. [advanced English phrases]
- They decided to split up because their goals no longer aligned.
6. Put Up With
Meaning: To tolerate something unpleasant without complaining.
Example:
- He’s always complaining about everything, but his parents put up with him.
- She had to put up with the noisy construction outside her apartment.
- I can’t put up with his rude behavior any longer.
7. Mess Somebody Around
Meaning: To treat someone badly or unfairly.
Example:
- She really messed me around when she cheated on me.
- Don’t let him mess you around; stand up for yourself.
- She realized her boss was messing her around with false promises.
8. Figure Out
Meaning: To understand something or come up with a solution.
Example:
- It’s a very hard issue, and I can’t figure out what to do.
- I finally figured out how to solve the math problem.
- We need to figure out the best way to approach this issue.
9. Deal With
Meaning: To handle or manage a difficult situation.
Example:
- The situation was tough, but I managed to deal with it well.
- It’s important to deal with conflicts calmly and professionally.
- She learned how to deal with stressful situations effectively.
10. Grapple With
Meaning: To struggle with something difficult.
Example:
- I’m still grappling with the breakup. [advanced English phrases]
- He’s been grappling with a tough decision about his career.
- They are still grappling with the aftermath of the financial crisis.
11. Get Over
Meaning: To move past or recover from something.
Example:
- It’s been five years; you should get over it.
- It took her a while to get over the loss of her pet.
- He needs to get over his fear of public speaking.
12. Stick Up For
Meaning: To defend or support someone.
Example:
- I’ll always stick up for you no matter what.
- She always sticks up for her friends when they’re in trouble.
- You should stick up for yourself when someone treats you unfairly.
13. Harp On About
Meaning: To keep talking about something in an annoying way.
Example:
- Can you stop harping on about how great Miranda looked at the party?
- He kept harping on about the importance of punctuality.
- Can you stop harping on about that mistake? It’s already fixed.
14. Build Somebody Up
Meaning: To praise someone excessively.
Example:
- Stop building him up; he’s not that great.
- They built her up so much before the competition that she felt extra pressure.
- The reviews were good, but they didn’t build up the product unnecessarily.
15. Pig Out
Meaning: To eat a lot of food in an excessive way.
Example:
- I pigged out last night because the food was amazing.
- During the holidays, it’s easy to pig out on desserts.
- We ordered pizza and just pigged out while watching movies.
16. Eat Up
Meaning: To eat everything on your plate.
Example:
- You must eat up your meal; don’t waste food.
- The kids were told to eat up their vegetables before dessert.
- If you eat up all your food, there’s a surprise for you.
17. Pick At
Meaning: To eat very little or in small bites, often because you’re not hungry or don’t like the food.
Example:
- I wasn’t hungry, so I just picked at my food. [advanced English phrases]
- She picked at her salad while everyone else enjoyed their meals.
- He picked at his dinner because he wasn’t feeling well.
Practice Exercise
Here are some fill-in-the-blank exercises to practice these phrases:
- I ______ an old friend at the supermarket yesterday. (bump into / stumble across)
- After their fight, they decided to ______. (split up / hook up)
- I couldn’t ______ the difficult situation, so I asked for help. (deal with / get over)
- He kept ______ about his achievements, which annoyed everyone. (harping on / putting up with)
Also Read:
Ordering a Coffee at C1 C2 Level – Advanced English
C1 Advanced English Vocabulary & Grammar Lesson