Phrases & Expressions

To shock or amaze someone so much that they cannot find anything to say.

• The scale of the damage after the earthquake left the rescue workers speechless.
• His rude reply to such a polite question left me speechless, so I just turned and walked away.

To put an electrical device into a low-power mode instead of switching it off completely.

• I always leave my laptop on standby between lectures so I can carry on exactly where I left off.
• Many offices waste electricity overnight because staff leave their computers on standby instead of shutting them down.

To make no plans or preparations for something and simply hope that it will turn out well.

• Successful candidates rarely leave anything to chance; they research the company thoroughly before the interview.
• The organisers left nothing to chance and checked every microphone twice before the conference began.

A series of actions or stages that takes a long time to complete.

• Applying for a student visa can be a lengthy process, so start preparing your documents early.
• Recovering from a serious sports injury is often a lengthy process that requires patience and physiotherapy.

To have an income lower than the official minimum level a person needs to survive.

• Rising rents mean that many working families now live below the poverty line, even with two incomes.
• Children who live below the poverty line are more likely to leave school early and have health problems.

To want to do something very much, especially something you have wanted for some time.

• After weeks in hospital, he longed to sleep in his own bed again.
• Every child in the class longs to be chosen for the school football team.

A commercial company that continues to operate and succeed over many years.

• Building a long-lasting business requires customer trust and financial discipline.
• The family managed to run a long-lasting business across multiple generations.

To appear untidy because your clothes are old, dirty or badly cared for.

• Candidates who look scruffy at a job interview may give the impression that they do not take the position seriously.
• I don't want to look scruffy at the conference, so I'm going to iron my shirt tonight.

To lose all the money you have put aside during your working life.

• Thousands of pensioners lost their life savings when the investment company suddenly collapsed.
• Gambling addiction can destroy families, and some addicts lose their entire life savings in just a few months.

To bring the pressure of the blood in your arteries down to a healthier level.

• Cutting down on salt is one of the simplest ways to lower your blood pressure without medication.
• Since he started cycling to work, he has managed to lower his blood pressure considerably.