Phrases & Expressions

To tell a restaurant or shop what you would like to buy.

• Are you ready to place your order, sir?
• You can place your order online or by phone.

(British English) To turn on the heating system in a building.

• She put the heating on because it was cold.
• They put the heating on early this year.

(British English) To turn on the kettle to boil water, usually for tea.

• She put the kettle on as soon as guests arrived.
• Shall I put the kettle on for some tea?

To turn off the sound on your phone so it doesn't ring or beep.

• Please put your phone on silent during the film.
• He put his phone on silent before the meeting.

To capture an image of what is currently shown on a screen.

• She took a screenshot of the error message.
• He took a screenshot to save the conversation.

A clever or original idea, sometimes used sarcastically about a bad plan.

• Painting the fence at midnight was not a bright idea.
• She had a bright idea for the school project.

A noticeable way of pronouncing words that shows where a speaker is from.

• He speaks English with a strong accent.
• She has a strong accent from growing up abroad.

A meal made up of a starter, a main dish, and a dessert.

• The restaurant offers a three-course meal for a fixed price.
• They enjoyed a three-course meal to celebrate their anniversary.

To find and use a document or other material on the internet.

• Students can access lecture recordings online if they miss a class through illness.
• Many newspapers now charge readers a monthly fee to access their articles online.

To formally request official permission to enter another country.

• They applied for a visa two months before the trip.
• You need several documents to apply for a visa.