Phrases & Expressions

Nights when you cannot sleep well, usually because you are worried or unwell.

• Money worries are one of the most common causes of sleepless nights among young adults.
• Our new baby has given us weeks of sleepless nights, but she is worth every minute.

Work done carelessly and without enough attention to detail.

• Our manager will not accept sloppy work, so always check your reports before you send them.
• Many of the building's problems were caused by sloppy work during construction.

A home or rooms that are large and have plenty of space to move around in.

• Many international students struggle to find spacious accommodation near the city centre at a price they can afford.
• After years in a tiny studio, we finally moved into more spacious accommodation with a separate study.

To cause people to start discussing or arguing about something, often suddenly.

• The study sparked a national debate about how much homework primary school children should be given.
• The decision to ban mobile phones in schools has sparked a debate among parents and teachers.

To make your body turn food into energy more quickly.

• Personal trainers often recommend lifting weights to clients who want to speed up their metabolism.
• There's no magic drink that will speed up your metabolism overnight, whatever the adverts say.

The most modern and advanced equipment or methods currently available.

• The gym advertises state-of-the-art technology, but most of its machines are more than ten years old.
• The new school building is full of state-of-the-art technology, from interactive whiteboards to 3D printers.

To keep digital files on internet servers instead of on your own computer or phone.

• Many schools now ask students to store their coursework in the cloud so that it does not get lost.
• If you store your photos in the cloud, you won't lose them when your phone breaks.

To say clearly and firmly that something matters a great deal.

• The report stresses the importance of early education in reducing inequality later in life.
• Doctors constantly stress the importance of regular exercise and a balanced diet.

Close relationships between relatives, who keep in regular contact and support each other.

• Students with strong family ties often cope better with homesickness when they move abroad to study.
• Moving abroad for work can weaken even strong family ties if people do not make an effort to stay in contact.

To go to court to claim money from a person or organisation that you believe has harmed you.

• The patient decided to sue the hospital for negligence after a routine operation went badly wrong.
• Several musicians plan to sue the company for using their songs without permission.