Vocabulary practice · Episode 26

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 12 min + dynamic ads5 PDF versions available
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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

the inner critic

the internal voice that judges, criticises, and undermines your confidence from within

Nuance: The inner critic is a psychological concept that language learners know intimately — the voice that says 'your accent is embarrassing' or 'you'll never be fluent'. Naming it helps you separate yourself from it.

Every language learner has an inner critic — the voice that tells you your English isn't good enough.

The first step to speaking with confidence is learning to quieten your inner critic.

Expression 2

to second-guess yourself

to doubt your own decisions, judgements, or abilities after the fact; to constantly question whether you are doing the right thing

Nuance: Second-guessing is the enemy of language learning fluency — every time you stop to ask yourself 'was that right?', you interrupt the flow of speech. The goal is action first, review later.

She second-guessed every sentence she said in English, which made her sound hesitant even when she was right.

Stop second-guessing yourself — say the sentence first and correct it later.

Expression 3

to cut yourself some slack

to be less critical and demanding of yourself; to give yourself some room to make mistakes without harsh self-judgment

Nuance: Cutting slack comes from sailing — slackening a rope gives it room to move. Applied to yourself, it means loosening the tight grip of self-criticism. Essential advice for perfectionist language learners.

Cut yourself some slack — you are trying to speak a language that is not your own. That is hard.

The most fluent learners cut themselves slack when they stumble and keep going.

Expression 4

to talk yourself out of something

to convince yourself not to do something that you originally intended or wanted to do, usually through doubt or fear

Nuance: Talking yourself out of something is the inner critic in action — the slow internal negotiation that ends with you not doing the brave thing. Language learners talk themselves out of speaking opportunities constantly.

He had planned to speak English at the meeting but talked himself out of it at the last second.

Every time you talk yourself out of speaking, you miss a chance to grow.

Expression 5

self-doubt

the feeling of lacking confidence in your own abilities, decisions, or worth

Nuance: Self-doubt is the voice that says 'you cannot do this'. It is different from the inner critic, which judges your actions — self-doubt questions your fundamental ability. Every English learner experiences it, and naming it is the first step to managing it.

Self-doubt is normal, but you cannot let it stop you from speaking — every mistake is proof you are trying.

The moment she started the podcast, her self-doubt disappeared — she was too busy speaking to worry.

Expression 6

to dwell on something

to spend too much time thinking or worrying about something, especially something negative in the past

Nuance: Dwelling is unproductive — it keeps your mind locked on what went wrong instead of moving forward. After a difficult English conversation, dwelling on your mistakes for hours is the opposite of what you should do.

Don't dwell on the words you got wrong — focus on the conversation you managed to have.

She used to dwell on every mistake, but she has learned to note them and move on quickly.

Expression 7

to beat yourself up

to feel excessive guilt or blame yourself harshly for something that went wrong

Nuance: Beating yourself up is a very common but destructive habit — it goes beyond learning from a mistake and into punishing yourself for it. In language learning, it is the enemy of progress: forgive, note, and move on.

Stop beating yourself up about your accent — an accent shows where you come from, and that is something to be proud of.

He beat himself up for weeks after the job interview, but the experience actually taught him a lot.

Expression 8

to quiet the noise

to reduce or silence the mental chatter, negative thoughts, or doubts that distract you from acting

Nuance: Quieting the noise is the internal work before speaking — turning down the volume of the inner critic so you can focus on what you want to say. It is a mindset skill, not a language skill, but it determines everything.

Before you speak, quiet the noise — take one breath and focus only on the next sentence.

The more she practised, the easier it became to quiet the noise and just speak without overthinking.

Expression 9

to move forward

to stop dwelling on the past and make progress, especially after a difficulty or setback

Nuance: Move forward is both practical and motivational. After a difficult English conversation, the healthy response is to note what happened and move forward. It is about momentum — keeping going despite what went wrong.

You cannot change what you said — but you can move forward and use what you learned today.

After failing the exam, she took one day to feel disappointed, and then moved forward with a new plan.

Expression 10

to be your own worst enemy

to behave in a way that prevents your own success, usually through excessive self-criticism or fear

Nuance: This phrase captures the paradox of self-sabotage — you want to succeed but your own thoughts or habits stop you. For English learners, being your own worst enemy means letting fear of mistakes prevent you from speaking.

When you refuse to speak because you fear mistakes, you are being your own worst enemy.

She realised she had been her own worst enemy all along — her English was good enough, but her confidence was not.

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