Real English doesn’t move one word at a time — it flows in ready-made chunks that native speakers grab without thinking. This collection of around 1,200 phrases and expressions covers the everyday combos you’ll hear in casual chats, work emails, and weekend plans. No dusty textbook lists, just the real stuff that helps you sound more natural from day one.
Each entry in the interactive table gives you a clear meaning, a realistic example sentence, and easy-to-read US IPA so you can nail the pronunciation. There’s a play button right next to every phrase — tap it to hear the audio, because your ears need training too. When you’re ready to study offline, a free PDF download button sits below the table.
Words are handy, but phrases are what you actually say out loud. Our free chunk‑based English lessons help you speak in whole expressions — start with Lesson 1 — First Greetings and see how quickly conversations click.
- English Vocabulary hub
- Learn English guide
- Most Common Phrasal Verbs
- Cambridge Dictionary — phrasal verbs & phrases
English Phrases Quiz
Think you’ve already got a handle on common phrases? Try the quick quiz below to see how many you really know.
Common English Phrases and Expressions
| Phrase | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| my bad | My mistake; I apologize. | I forgot to bring the book — my bad. |
| my battery is low. | My phone has little power left. | A: "Can you talk?" B: "Sorry, my battery is low. I'll call you back." |
| My birthday is [month] (day). | States the date of one's birthday. | My birthday is January 5. |
| My cell phone doesn't have good reception. | My mobile phone cannot get a strong signal. | In this basement, my cell phone doesn't have good reception. |
| My cell phone doesn't work. | My mobile phone is not functioning. | I dropped it and now my cell phone doesn't work. |
| My daughter is here. | Stating that one's daughter is present. | My daughter is here with me today. |
| My father has been there. | Stating that one's father visited a place. | My father has been there and he loved it. |
| My father is a lawyer. | Stating one's father's profession. | My father is a lawyer, so he gives legal advice. |
| My grandmother passed away last year. | Stating that one's grandmother died. | My grandmother passed away last year, and I miss her. |
| My house is close to the bank. | My house is near the bank. | My house is close to the bank, so I can walk there. |
| My luggage is missing. | Stating that your luggage is lost. | My luggage is missing from the carousel. |
| My name is [name]. | Introduces oneself by name. | My name is John. |
| my phone is not working. | Device malfunction. | My phone is not working, the screen is black. |
| my pleasure | Polite response to thanks; glad to help. | Thank you for your help. — My pleasure. |
| My son studies computers. | My son is learning about computers as his main subject. | My son studies computers at university. |
| My son. | Referring to one's male child. | My son is five years old and loves dinosaurs. |
| My stomach hurts. | Stating that you have a stomachache. | My stomach hurts after eating that spicy food. |
| My throat is sore. | Stating that your throat is painful. | My throat is sore from yelling at the game. |
| My watch has been stolen. | Stating that someone stole your watch. | My watch has been stolen from my locker. |
| Near the bank. | Close to the bank. | The pharmacy is near the bank. |
| never mind | Ignore what I said; it's not important. | Never mind, I found my keys. |
| Never mind. | Used to tell someone not to worry about something or to ignore it. | I forgot what I was going to say, never mind. |
| Next time. | Refers to a future occasion or opportunity. | We didn't win this time, but we'll do better next time. |
| Nice to meet you | Polite phrase when meeting someone for the first time. | I'm Sarah. Nice to meet you. |
| nice to meet you. | Polite greeting when meeting someone for the first time. | Nice to meet you, I'm John. |
