Review

English Vocabulary in Use - Pre-intermediate & Intermediate /

076. Fixed Phrases In Conversation

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no idea

to depend

why not

what for

no way

to not believe one's eyes

to have a word with somebody

you know

to pay attention to somebody or something

10-

in this case

11-

to feel

12-

to help

13-

to wait

14-

to see

15-

to change one's mind

no idea

interjection

/nˈoʊ aɪdˈiə/

used to express complete lack of knowledge or understanding about a particular topic, question, or situation

to depend

Verb

to be based on or related with different things that are possible

Grammatical Information:

transitive

why not

phrase

/wˌaɪ nˈɑːt/

used to present a suggestion or an alternative

what for

noun

/wˈʌt fɔːɹ/

a strong reprimand

no way

interjection

/nˈoʊ wˈeɪ/

used to express a strong reaction to something surprising or unexpected

to not believe one's eyes

phrase

/nˌɑːt bɪlˈiːv wˈʌnz ˈaɪz ˈɪɹz/

Idiom

Informal

to find it difficult to believe what one has seen or heard

What is the origin of the idiom "not believe one's eyes" and when to use it?

The idiom "not believe one's eyes" is used when someone is astonished, shocked, or surprised by something they have seen or heard because it seems almost too extraordinary or unbelievable to be true. It's a way to convey one's amazement or incredulity at a surprising situation. The origin of this phrase is not precisely documented, but it likely originated from the idea that seeing or hearing something incredible might make one question the reliability of their own senses.

to have a word with somebody

phrase

/hæv ɐ wˈɜːd wɪð ˌɛsbˈiː/

Collocation

to engage in a brief conversation or discussion with someone, often to convey a message, ask a question, or discuss a particular matter

you know

interjection

/juː noʊ/

used as a filler phrase to pause or fill gaps in speech

to pay attention to somebody or something

phrase

/pˈeɪ ɐtˈɛnʃən tʊ ˌɛsbˈiː slˈæʃ ˌɛstˌiːˈeɪtʃ/

Collocation

to carefully watch, consider, or listen to someone or something

in this case

Adverb

/ɪn ðɪs ɔːɹ ðæt kˈeɪs/

Collocation

used to refer to a specific situation or scenario being discussed

to feel

Verb

to experience a particular emotion

Grammatical Information:

linking verb

to help

Verb

to be unable to control or stop something, particularly one's actions

Grammatical Information:

transitive

to wait

Verb

eɪ

to be dealt with later in the future

Grammatical Information:

intransitive

to see

Verb

to find out or become certain about something by asking, discovering, or considering

to change one's mind

phrase

/tʃˈeɪndʒ wˈʌnz mˈaɪnd/

Idiom

Informal

to change one's opinion or decision regarding something

What is the origin of the idiom "change one's mind" and when to use it?

The origin of the idiom "change one's mind" can be attributed to Old English and Middle English usage, specifically the word "mynd" in Old English and "mind" in Middle English. The term "mind" in this context referred to one's thoughts, intellect, or mental processes. The concept of changing one's mind has been a part of human language and communication for centuries, reflecting the inherent flexibility and adaptability of human cognition. This phrase is used in various contexts and occasions to describe situations where individuals alter their opinions, decisions, or beliefs. It can be employed in personal, social, or professional settings.

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