Phrases & Expressions

Dry, pleasant weather, without rain or strong wind.

• Organisers of the outdoor festival are hoping for fair weather this weekend.
• Forecasters predict fair weather for most of the country, with only light winds.

To fall suddenly and completely in love with someone.

• While studying abroad in Spain, Emre fell head over heels in love and decided to stay on after graduating.
• Within a week of meeting her, Daniel had fallen head over heels in love and was talking about marriage.

An area of business in which products, methods and trends develop very quickly.

• In a fast-moving industry like technology, workers need to update their skills constantly.
• Social media marketing is a fast-moving industry, so techniques that worked last year may already be out of date.

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 extremely happy and confident, usually because things are going well.

• Getting a place at my first-choice university, after months of waiting, made me feel on top of the world.
• Regular exercise doesn't just improve your health; on a good day it can make you feel on top of the world.

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.