Vocabulary practice · Episode 25

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–B2ListeningAbout 16 min + dynamic ads5 PDF versions available
FREE TRANSLATED PDF PACKSStudy this episode with support in your language EspañolDeutschFrançaisفارسی Open the PDF library →

A short study session

Read here, or listen on the episode page

This reader does not play audio. The link above opens the episode with this support selected; press Play or Resume when you are ready.

  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.

Readable web version

Vocabulary from the episode

English only. Choose one support language if you need it.

Your reading position will be saved on this browser.

Expression 1

to put into words

to find the right language to describe a feeling, idea, or experience that is difficult to express

Nuance: Put into words acknowledges that some things exist before we have language for them. For second-language learners, this gap is even wider — the feeling exists in one language, the words in another.

She struggled to put into words how grateful she felt, but she tried in English anyway.

This podcast helps you put into words the things you feel but have never said in English.

Expression 2

heartfelt

deeply and sincerely felt; coming genuinely from the heart

Nuance: Heartfelt is a high-register adjective for sincere emotion. Unlike emotional, which can be negative, heartfelt is always positive — it describes genuine warmth without exaggeration.

She gave a heartfelt thank-you speech in English that moved everyone in the room.

A heartfelt message in imperfect English is always more powerful than a perfect message with no soul.

Expression 3

to strike a chord

to cause an emotional response; to resonate with someone's feelings or experiences in a meaningful way

Nuance: When something strikes a chord, it connects with something deep inside you — a shared feeling, memory, or truth. The metaphor is musical: the right chord vibrates sympathetically inside the listener.

His words struck a chord with everyone who had ever struggled to express themselves in a foreign language.

If this podcast strikes a chord, share it — someone you know probably needs it too.

Expression 4

to come across as

to give a particular impression to others; to appear a certain way in how you present yourself

Nuance: Come across as is crucial for self-presentation — knowing how you appear to others is different from how you intend to appear. Non-native speakers often worry they come across as rude when they are just being direct.

I don't want to come across as cold — I just find it hard to express warmth in English.

She was direct but she didn't come across as aggressive — she had the right tone.

Expression 5

bittersweet

both happy and sad at the same time; pleasant but with an element of sadness or regret

Nuance: Bittersweet is one of the most emotionally precise words in English — it captures the specific feeling of joy mixed with loss. Finishing an English course, saying goodbye, or reflecting on the past can all be bittersweet.

Finishing this podcast series was bittersweet — I had grown so much, but I was sad it was over.

Speaking English fluently for the first time felt bittersweet — proud, but aware of all the years it had taken.

Expression 6

raw emotion

a feeling that is intense, unfiltered, and expressed without any attempt to polish or soften it

Nuance: Raw emotion is what makes real communication powerful. In English, expressing yourself with raw emotion — not with textbook phrases — is what creates genuine connection with other people.

When she finally spoke about her experience in English, the raw emotion in her voice moved everyone in the room.

Raw emotion in a language you are still learning feels risky, but it is exactly what makes you sound real.

Expression 7

to be at a loss for words

to be so surprised, moved, or overwhelmed that you cannot find anything to say

Nuance: Being at a loss for words is a powerful state — it means the emotion or situation is stronger than your ability to respond. Knowing this phrase lets you name the experience rather than staying silent uncomfortably.

When she heard the news, she was completely at a loss for words — she just held the phone and breathed.

I was at a loss for words when my English teacher said my presentation was the best she had ever heard.

Expression 8

to pour your heart out

to talk very openly and honestly about your deepest feelings, especially when you have been keeping them inside

Nuance: Pour your heart out is an act of emotional release — you empty everything you have been holding. For English learners, being able to do this in English represents an advanced level of emotional and linguistic fluency.

She poured her heart out in her journal every night, always in English, to practise expressing her real thoughts.

Sometimes you need to pour your heart out to someone who will just listen — no advice, just presence.

Expression 9

to mean the world to someone

to be extremely important or precious to someone — to matter deeply

Nuance: This phrase expresses the highest level of personal importance. It is warm, sincere, and commonly used in English to describe relationships, moments, or achievements that truly matter to you.

It means the world to me that you took the time to listen — thank you.

Passing her English exam meant the world to her because she had worked so hard for two years.

Expression 10

to hold back tears

to try not to cry, making a conscious effort to keep your emotions under control in front of others

Nuance: Holding back tears is a very human experience — and knowing how to describe it in English adds depth to your emotional vocabulary. It captures the tension between feeling deeply and choosing not to show it.

She held back tears when she heard her favourite song playing in English for the first time in years.

He held back tears during the speech, but his voice gave away exactly how he was feeling.

Expression 11

to open up

To begin speaking honestly about private feelings or experiences.

Nuance: Often followed by to someone or about something.

Peter finally opened up about how lonely he had felt.

It can take time to open up to a new friend.

Expression 12

to get something off your chest

To tell someone about something that has been worrying you.

Nuance: An informal idiom suggesting that an unspoken concern feels like a physical weight.

I need to get this fear off my chest.

She felt relieved after getting the complaint off her chest.

Print or study offline

Choose a PDF version

Each button names the available language, format and file size. No email or account is required.

If a PDF does not open, use the complete web reader above and try the download again later. The episode audio remains available on its own page.

Put it back into context

Now listen for what you studied

The resource is support; the listening is the lesson. Return to the same episode and continue from your saved position.

Open episode 25 →