Phrase

noun phrase

pros and cons: the advantages and disadvantages of something

invaluable support: extremely useful support

a cheat sheet：a written or graphic aid (as a sheet of notes) that can be referred to for help in understanding or remembering something complex

🖍️After a long day of programming, I created a cheat sheet with the most commonly used code snippets to save time during future projects.

jet lag: "jet lag" refers to the physical and mental discomfort experienced by a person after a long flight across different time zones.

🖍️Every time I fly to the States,I get really bad jet lag.

blind date: A "blind date" refers to a social engagement where two people who have not met each other before agree to meet for the purpose of getting to know each other, usually with the potential of developing a romantic relationship.

🖍️My parents met each other through a blind date.

verb phrase

take forever: It is often used informally to express impatience, frustration, or exaggeration about the perceived slowness of a process, event, or task

✒️You take forever in front of the mirror in the morning.

work overtime: means that an individual is working beyond their regular or standard working hours.

✒️I have to work overtime today to get it done.

come before: means to take precedence or be considered more important than something else in terms of priority or order.

✒️Your family should always come before your job.

see sb. off: it is a phrasal verb that means to accompany someone who is leaving, especially for a journey, to their point of departure, often as a gesture of farewell or to show support. When you "see someone off," you typically go with them to the airport, train station, bus stop, or another departure location and stay with them until they actually leave.

✒️I'll come to the airport to see you off before your flight.

✒️She saw her guests off at the front door after the party.

back sb. up: means to support or assist someone, often in a challenging situation or in their actions or opinions. It can be used in various contexts to convey the idea of providing assistance or reinforcement.

✒️My wife backed me up over my decision to quit my job.

call into question: to make people uncertain about whether something is right, good, or true.

✒️Some called into question whether or not the developers of Palword, Pocketpair Inc, would come under fire.

look no further than: used to emphasize the importance of something or to suggest that there is no alternative.

✒️To reduce the risk of cancer, look no further than your fridge.

attribute sth. to sb./sth.: to believe or say that a situation or event is caused by someone or something.

✒️The fall in the number of deaths from heart disease is generally attributed to improvements in diet.

run into sth.: to start to experience a difficult or unpleasant situation.

✒️The following are common error types that Python programmers run into.

adjective phrase

brick and mortar: relating to or being a traditional business serving customers in a building as contrasted to an online business.

✏️The explosive growth of online shopping and the death of brick and mortar stores.

adverb phrase🫡

over time: if something happens over time, it happens gradually during a long period.

🪶They don't help right away, but over time can make lungs healthier.

above all: used to emphasize or stress something that is important or significant.

🪶Max is hard-working, cheerful, and above all honest.

at length: if you talk at length about something, you talk about it for a long time.

🪶The young people spoke at length about their experiences.

prepositional phrase

in exchange of: used to express a promise or agreement to do something in return for something else.

🖌️Women with children are handed social acceptance for their vital investment in “the future”, in exchange for unrewarded, unsupported labour that props up and stabilises the economic and social status quo.

casual conversation☕

Can I get you something to drink? 我给你拿点喝的嘛？

Would you like an aisle or window seat? 你想要靠走道的位置还是靠窗的位置？alsle-/aɪl/

miscellaneous

among other things: used when you are giving one fact, reason, effect etc but want to suggest that there are many others.

🖊️The substance is used in the manufacture of cosmetics and drugs, among other things.

never mind: used to say that something is not possible or likely, because even a less extreme thing is not possible or likely.

🖊️Well, you would have hardly got a bed in that room, never mind anything else.

gonna: [spoken informal] a way of saying 'going to'

🖊️My video went viral last night, I'm gonna be an internet celebrity.

suffix

Definition

a letter or letters added to the end of a word to form a new word, such as ness in kindness or ly in suddenly.

-free

without something that you do not want 无…的

• a trouble-free journey无忧无虑的旅行
• duty-free cigarettes免税香烟
• a salt-free diet无盐饮食
• They live in the house rent-free.他们住的房子是免租金的
• virtually fat-free yogurt几乎无脂的酸奶

prefix

Definition

a group of letters that is added to the beginning of a word to change its meaning and make a new word, such as un in untie or mis in misunderstand.

hyper-

more than normal; too much

• hypercritical过分挑剔的，苛求的

pro-

supporting or approving of something

• the pro-choice lobby主张堕胎合法的游说团体
• The rally is the largest pro-life event in the world, and the White House says it stands with the marchers.这次集会是世界上最大的反堕胎活动，白宫表示与游行者站在一起。

post-

later than or after something

• the post-war years (=the years after a particular war)战后的年月
• post-operative care手术后护理

confusable words

Word	Meaning	Example
status	n. The condition or position of something or someone at a particular time.	"What is the status of the project?"
statue	n. A carved or cast figure of a person or animal, especially one that is life-size or larger.	"We saw a statue of a famous general in the park."
state	n. A particular condition that someone or something is in at a specific time.	"The meaning of 'obscurity' is the state of being unknown or forgotten."
state	v. To express something in words clearly.	"He stated his opinion during the meeting."
statute	n. A written law passed by a legislative body.	"The new statute was enacted last year."
stature	n. A person's natural height or level of respect gained.	"She gained great stature in her profession."
stat	n. A short form of "statistic" or used in medical contexts to mean "immediately."	I need those figures stat. Dr.Spot, please report to the ER (emergency room) stat.

Word	Meaning	Example
radical	adj. a radical change or difference is very big and important. adj. radical ideas are very new and different, and are against what most people think or believe.	They are proposing radical changes to the way the company is run. I was shocked by her radical views.
rational	adj. rational thoughts, decisions etc are based on reasons rather than emotions.	Parents need to be fully informed so they can make a rational decision.

Word	Meaning	Example
coincidence	n. when two things happen at the same time, in the same place, or to the same people in a way that seems surprising or unusual.	It was sheer coincidence that we were staying in the same hotel.
conscience	n. the part of your mind that tells you whether what you are doing is morally right or wrong.	Well, at least I can face them all with a clear conscience.

Word	Meaning	Example
vigorous	adj. using a lot of energy and strength or determination.	Environmentalists have begun a vigorous campaign to oppose nuclear dumping in the area.
rigorous	adj. careful, thorough, and exact	There is a rigorous analysis of defence needs.

Word	Meaning	Example
complement	v. to make a good combination with someone or something else.	The dark red walls complement the red leather chair.
compliment	n. a remark that shows admire someone or something.	All the guests paid her extravagant compliments.
implement	vt. to take action or make changes that you have officially decided should happen.	We have decided to implement the committee's recommendations in full.

collocations

earn somebody something: That performance earned her an Oscar as Best Actress.