Vocabulary practice · Episode 166

Review the useful expressions from the episode

Study the episode’s central expressions with English definitions, nuance and examples, plus reviewed support-language versions where available.

B1–B2Everyday EnglishAbout 4 min + dynamic ads5 PDF versions available
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A short study session

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  1. Choose one expression. Read its definition, nuance and examples.
  2. Make it yours. Write one true sentence from your own life.
  3. Return to the episode. Listen for the expression in its original context.

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Vocabulary from the episode

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Expression 1

come clean

To admit the truth about something you have hidden.

Nuance: Informal; usually implies a mistake or secret. Use come clean about something; it is more specific than simply being honest.

I came clean about the wrong time on the poster.

She finally came clean about losing the keys.

Expression 2

take something at face value

To accept something as it appears without investigating or looking for a hidden meaning.

Nuance: This is about accepting the surface explanation, not merely reading words literally. The past tense is took.

I took your explanation at face value.

Do not take every online promise at face value.

Expression 3

get your facts straight

To check that your information is correct before explaining or claiming something.

Nuance: The direct command can sound sharp or accusatory. The phrase “Let us check the details” is often a softer alternative.

Let us get our facts straight before we order new posters.

I need to get my facts straight before I explain what happened.

Expression 4

pull the wool over someone's eyes

To deliberately deceive someone so that they do not see the truth.

Nuance: Informal and critical. It suggests intentional deception, not an innocent misunderstanding; change the possessive to match the person deceived.

The seller tried to pull the wool over our eyes about the damaged phone.

He blamed the printer to pull the wool over her eyes.

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