Phrases & Expressions

A workplace or situation where things happen quickly and people have to react fast.

• Working in a fast-paced environment like a hospital emergency department can be exhausting but very satisfying.
• If you enjoy pressure and variety, a fast-paced environment such as a newsroom might suit you perfectly.

To have lost your enthusiasm and your wish to work hard, often because of problems at work.

• Employees feel demotivated when their efforts are never recognised by senior management.
• After failing the driving test twice, he felt completely demotivated and nearly gave up.

To feel too warm and then too cold in turn, often because you have a fever.

• Flu usually starts with a headache, aching muscles and feeling hot and cold.
• I felt hot and cold all night and kept pulling the blanket on and then throwing it off again.

To worry that you are not good, attractive or capable enough in some way.

• Constant comparison on social media makes many teenagers feel insecure about their appearance.
• He felt insecure about his English at first, but his confidence grew after a few months abroad.

To feel nervous or embarrassed because you think other people are noticing and judging you.

• Many language learners feel self-conscious about their accent and avoid speaking up in class.
• As a teenager I felt self-conscious about wearing glasses, but now I hardly think about it.

To have a very firm opinion about something and care about it a lot.

• Many young people feel strongly about climate change and take part in protests to demand action.
• If you feel strongly about the new parking rules, you should write to your local council.

A happy, lively feeling in a place where people are celebrating something.

• Coloured lights and live music created a festive atmosphere throughout the old town.
• The school tries to create a festive atmosphere at graduation, with music, flowers and a family picnic.

To resist an illness and stop it from developing, using the body's natural defences.

• Regular exercise and a balanced diet help the immune system fight off infections more effectively.
• Antibiotics can help the body fight off a bacterial infection, but they are useless against viruses.

Money that you receive in return for your work or effort.

• Many people who work for charities say that helping others matters more to them than financial reward.
• Scientific research rarely brings great financial rewards, but many researchers find the work deeply satisfying.

To feel that something is unpleasant in a way that makes you lose interest in it.

• Many diners find loud background music off-putting and choose quieter restaurants instead.
• Some international students find the complicated application process off-putting and apply to other universities.