Vocabulary practice · Episode 42

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.

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  1. Choose one expression. Read its definition, nuance and examples.
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Vocabulary from the episode

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Expression 1

to sit with something

to stay with a difficult feeling, idea, or situation without immediately trying to fix or change it; to allow yourself to experience it fully

Nuance: Sitting with something is a mindfulness concept — instead of reacting, you stay present with discomfort. In language learning, sitting with not-understanding is more productive than panicking.

When a word confuses you, sit with it — read around it and let the meaning emerge.

Learning to sit with the discomfort of not knowing is a superpower in language learning.

Expression 2

to make peace with

to accept something difficult or uncomfortable and stop fighting against it; to reach a state of inner calm about something you cannot control

Nuance: Making peace with is the gentle resolution — not giving up, but releasing the war inside yourself. Language learners who make peace with their accent, their mistakes, and their pace progress fastest.

Make peace with your accent — it is part of who you are, not a mistake to fix.

Once she made peace with not understanding everything, listening became enjoyable.

Expression 3

to accept something

to acknowledge and come to terms with something as it is — not necessarily liking it, but stopping the fight against it

Nuance: Accept is different from 'like' or 'agree with'. You can accept that learning is hard without liking it. Acceptance is the beginning of calm — the moment you stop wasting energy fighting a fact, you free that energy for action. Very important in mindset vocabulary.

Accept that mistakes are part of the process — fighting that truth only slows you down.

She accepted that she was not fluent yet and, paradoxically, this acceptance made her more relaxed and more effective.

Expression 4

to let feelings pass

to allow an emotion to exist without acting on it, trusting that it will fade naturally

Nuance: Let feelings pass is a mindfulness concept — emotions are not emergencies. When you feel embarrassed after making an error in English, that feeling will pass if you let it. Acting on it (stopping, apologising excessively) prolongs it. Simply letting it pass is the healthier response.

When embarrassment comes up in English, let the feeling pass — it is information, not a stop sign.

She learned to let her feelings of frustration pass without quitting, and the frustration always did.

Expression 5

to give yourself permission

to consciously decide that something is acceptable — that you are allowed to rest, to make mistakes, to not be perfect

Nuance: Give yourself permission is the act of removing self-imposed restrictions. Many language learners wait for someone else to tell them they are good enough. But fluency starts with permission — to speak imperfectly, to try and fail, to begin before you are ready.

Give yourself permission to speak imperfect English — nobody is judging you as harshly as you judge yourself.

She gave herself permission to pause before answering in English, and it made her seem more thoughtful, not less confident.

Expression 6

to come to terms with something

to gradually accept and adjust to a difficult situation or truth that cannot be changed

Nuance: Come to terms with something is the process word for acceptance — it is not instant, it takes time. You come to terms with your level, your progress speed, your current limitations. It implies a journey of understanding, not a sudden decision.

She had to come to terms with the fact that fluency takes years, not months — and when she did, the pressure lifted.

Coming to terms with your current English level is the starting point for real, sustainable improvement.

Expression 7

to hold space for something

to allow time, attention, and emotional room for a feeling, experience, or person without trying to fix it

Nuance: Hold space is modern and mindful — it means being present without trying to solve, judge, or rush. In English learning, you hold space for confusion (instead of panicking), for slowness (instead of forcing), and for feelings of embarrassment (instead of stopping). A beautiful concept worth knowing.

Hold space for the uncertainty — not knowing a word is just a gap waiting to be filled.

Her teacher held space for the students' confusion without rushing to explain — and the understanding came naturally.

Expression 8

to find closure

to reach a sense of resolution or acceptance about something that was difficult, unresolved, or painful

Nuance: Closure is not about forgetting — it is about reaching a point where you can move forward. In English learning, closure means accepting an old approach that did not work and consciously choosing to move on. Widely used in British and American English for emotional resolution.

She found closure by writing about the years she spent afraid to speak English — and then she moved on.

Finding closure on a bad learning period means naming what went wrong and deciding not to carry it forward.

Expression 9

to be at ease

to feel comfortable, relaxed, and free from anxiety in a situation

Nuance: At ease is the state you are working towards in English — not fluency in the abstract, but actual physical and psychological comfort when using the language. When you are at ease in English, the grammar comes naturally, the words flow, and the connection is real.

The goal of language learning is not perfection — it is being at ease in the language.

She finally felt at ease in English after years of study, and the difference in how she carried herself was visible to everyone.

Expression 10

to sit with discomfort

to tolerate and remain present with an uncomfortable feeling rather than escaping or suppressing it

Nuance: Sit with discomfort is the advanced version of emotional acceptance — not just letting feelings pass, but actively remaining in them. In English speaking, this means not switching to your native language, not going silent, not stopping — but staying in the discomfort and working through it.

Learn to sit with the discomfort of not knowing a word — that discomfort is what drives vocabulary growth.

She sat with the discomfort of speaking slowly and discovered that her listeners were more patient than she expected.

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