Phrases & Expressions

To be given money for your studies because of excellent academic results or ability.

• She won a scholarship to study medicine abroad, which covered her tuition and most of her living costs.
• He won a scholarship to a music college after impressing the judges at a national competition.

To be given a prize or honour for an achievement or for the quality of your work.

• Her first novel won an award for the best debut by a young writer.
• The school won an award for its recycling programme, which cut its waste by half in one year.

To work during the night as part of a system in which groups of workers take turns.

• Nurses who work the night shift often sleep during the day with blackout curtains and earplugs.
• My dad worked the night shift at the factory, so we only saw him properly at weekends.

To do your job well even when you are stressed, short of time or facing many demands.

• Journalists must be able to work under pressure, especially when a major story breaks late at night.
• Air traffic controllers are trained to work under pressure and make quick decisions without panicking.

A casual way of speaking directly to two or more people, whether male or female.

• Are you guys ready to order, or do you need a few more minutes to look at the menu?
• Thanks for coming, you guys; I couldn't have organised the charity event without your help.

Used to show that you are very surprised by something or think it is unreasonable.

• Fifty pounds for a cinema ticket? You must be joking – I'll wait until the film is on TV.
• Twenty chapters to read before tomorrow's seminar? You must be joking – there's no way I can finish that!

A change that makes a situation worse than it was before.

• Many teachers see the decision to cut music lessons as a backward step for education.
• Reopening the old coal mine would be a backward step in the fight against climate change.

Used before a noun to make a problem or criticism sound less serious.

• Finding a flat near the university was a bit of a nightmare.
• The final question was a bit of a shock – none of us had studied that topic.

An error that makes you lose a lot of money, time or opportunities.

• Choosing a university course without researching career prospects can be a costly mistake.
• Forgetting to back up my files turned out to be a costly mistake when my laptop crashed before the deadline.

A strong feeling of wanting to do or have something.

• Many volunteers are driven by a desire to help people less fortunate than themselves.
• Her desire to see the world led her to take a gap year before university.