Vocabulary practice · Episode 37

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 16 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

to take something for granted

to fail to appreciate something because you assume it will always be there; to treat something valuable as if it were ordinary or guaranteed

Nuance: Taking for granted is a subtle form of blindness — you stop seeing the value of what you have because it has become familiar. One of the most important relationship concepts, and one of the richest English phrases.

Don't take your English progress for granted — it took real work to get here.

She realised she had been taking their friendship for granted only after they stopped talking.

Expression 2

to show appreciation

to express gratitude and recognition for something or someone in an active, visible way

Nuance: Appreciation goes beyond feeling grateful — it is the act of making your gratitude visible to others. In English, showing appreciation is a key social skill: thank-you notes, compliments, and acknowledgment all count.

He made a point of showing appreciation to everyone who had helped him learn English.

The simplest way to show appreciation is to say 'thank you' and mean it.

Expression 3

to cherish

to protect and care for something or someone you love dearly; to hold onto a memory or relationship with great tenderness

Nuance: Cherish is warmer and more tender than love — it implies careful, conscious appreciation. You cherish a memory, a person, a gift. It is the active, attentive form of love.

Cherish the relationships that push you to grow — including your relationship with English.

She cherished every conversation she had in English with her grandmother in the final years.

Expression 4

to count your blessings

to think about and feel grateful for the good things in your life, rather than focusing on problems

Nuance: Count your blessings is a classic piece of English wisdom — the idea that gratitude is a choice and a practice. In language learning, counting your blessings means appreciating how far you have come rather than dwelling on how far you still have to go.

When learning English feels hard, count your blessings — you already speak two languages, and that is extraordinary.

She counted her blessings every evening and wrote three things in English that she was grateful for that day.

Expression 5

gratitude

the quality of feeling and expressing thankfulness for what you have received or experienced

Nuance: Gratitude is both a feeling and a practice. Research shows it improves wellbeing. For English learners, practising gratitude in English — journalling, speaking, reflecting — is a productive and emotionally meaningful way to use the language.

Gratitude is not just a feeling — it is something you can practise, in English, every single day.

She started a gratitude journal in English and found that it improved both her writing and her mindset.

Expression 6

to be thankful

to feel and express genuine appreciation for something or someone — simpler and more everyday than gratitude

Nuance: Thankful is the daily, conversational version of gratitude. You are thankful for a meal, a kind word, an opportunity. In English small talk, expressing what you are thankful for is a natural way to connect warmly with others.

I am so thankful for everyone who has supported my English learning journey — it has made all the difference.

She started every English class by saying one thing she was thankful for, and it set the mood for the whole lesson.

Expression 7

to make the most of something

to use an opportunity, situation, or time as fully and effectively as possible

Nuance: Make the most of is an optimistic, active phrase — it means not wasting what you have been given. For English learners, it applies to every class, every trip abroad, every native speaker encounter. Squeeze every drop of value from the opportunity.

If you have even ten free minutes, make the most of them — listen to something in English.

She made the most of her time in London by speaking to at least one new person in English every day.

Expression 8

to value something

to recognise and appreciate the importance or worth of something in your life

Nuance: Value is both a noun and a verb in English. As a verb, it means to hold something as important. When you value your English learning, you protect time for it. When you value relationships, you show up for them. Learning to express what you value is essential for meaningful conversation.

Value the small wins — every word you learn, every conversation you have is progress worth recognising.

She truly valued the podcast because it was the first English content that had ever felt personal to her.

Expression 9

to overlook

to fail to notice something, or to deliberately ignore it — often used when describing what we take for granted

Nuance: Overlook is the verb that explains how we take things for granted — we overlook the fact that we can speak, that we have access to learning, that we have made progress. Noticing what you overlook is the beginning of appreciation.

It is easy to overlook how much your English has improved when you are inside the learning process.

She overlooked her own progress for months until a friend pointed out how naturally she was speaking.

Expression 10

to pay tribute to

to show respect and admiration for someone or something, especially by publicly acknowledging their importance

Nuance: Pay tribute to is used for meaningful recognition — of people, places, experiences, and relationships. It is the language of appreciation at its most formal and heartfelt. Very useful for English writing, speeches, and meaningful conversation.

Today's episode pays tribute to everyone who has listened from the very first episode — thank you.

She paid tribute to her first English teacher in her graduation speech, saying he had changed her life.

Expression 11

active listening

Listening in a way that shows attention, understanding and interest.

Nuance: It normally includes eye contact, follow-up questions and brief verbal responses.

Active listening makes people feel valued.

Managers need active listening during difficult conversations.

Expression 12

to turn towards an emotional bid

To respond positively when someone seeks attention, affection or connection.

Nuance: A relationship-psychology expression; turn towards contrasts with turn away.

A smile can be enough to turn towards an emotional bid.

She put down her phone and turned towards his bid for connection.

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