Phrases & Expressions

In aviation, aligned with the radio signal that guides an aircraft horizontally to the runway.

• The aircraft is now on localizer.
• We are on localizer for runway 27.

Air traffic control instructions to guide an aircraft onto the final approach path.

• The controller gave vectors to final for the landing.
• We received vectors to final from ATC.

The four key principles of the Japanese tea ceremony: harmony, respect, purity, and tranquility.

• The tea master embodied wa kei sei jaku.
• These ideals guide the ceremony: wa kei sei jaku.

A large amount or number of something.

• Don't bring anything to eat – there'll be loads of food at the party.
• There are loads of free online resources for practising IELTS listening at home.

Used after one or more examples to refer vaguely to similar things or activities.

• At weekends I like cycling, hiking and that kind of thing – anything that gets me outdoors.
• The job involves answering emails, booking meetings and that kind of thing, so it's mostly admin.

Used at the end of a list to mean other similar things.

• Tourists usually ask about restaurants, public transport and things like that.
• The course covers grammar, essay structure, punctuation and things like that, so it's very useful before university.

To be paid for by a particular person as a treat, used about meals or drinks.

• You helped me move house all weekend, so tonight's dinner is on me.
• To celebrate the team's success, the manager announced that the drinks were on her that evening.

A formal greeting used at the start of a letter to an unnamed reader, such as an organisation.

• If the advert gives no contact name, start your cover letter with Dear Sir or Madam.
• Some people find Dear Sir or Madam rather impersonal, so they try to find out the reader's name.

To take action in order to solve a problem or improve a bad situation.

• Unless governments do something about rising air pollution, the number of people with breathing problems will keep increasing.
• The tap in the bathroom has been dripping for weeks; can you please do something about it?

A lot of people or things, used when the exact number is not important.

• The library has dozens of past exam papers that students can borrow for practice.
• I've applied for dozens of jobs since graduating, but I've only had two interviews.