go out
salirLeave home for a social activity, meal, event, or plan. We are going out tonight.
Click to listenBasic English Course 2
Basic Idioms and Phrasal Verbs
This bank collects the phrasal verbs, idioms, and useful expressions taught in Units 1 to 5. Each card includes an approximate Spanish meaning, a short usage explanation, a natural example, and a listening model.
Expression bank
Course 2Built from Course Overview
Use one expression at a time.
Open a unit, choose a group, then listen to any card. The translation is an approximation: the example is the guide for real English use.
PV Phrasal verb
ID Idiom
EX Useful expression
Unit 1
Going Out
Weather, sports, current activities, and simple social plans.
Open bank
Going Out
Weather, sports, current activities, and simple social plans.
How to read these cards: The Spanish meaning is approximate. The explanation tells students when the expression is natural in English.
PV Phrasal verbs
hang out
pasar el ratoSpend relaxed time with friends without a formal plan. I am hanging out with my friends at the park.
Click to listenmeet up
encontrarse / reunirseMeet someone at an agreed place or time. We are meeting up at the mall.
Click to listencome over
venir a la casa de alguienGo to someone's home or current place. Do you want to come over tonight?
Click to listenstay in
quedarse en casaNot go out; remain at home. It is raining, so we are staying in.
Click to listenwarm up
calentar / hacer calentamientoPrepare the body before sports or exercise. The players are warming up before the game.
Click to listenwork out
hacer ejercicio / entrenarExercise physically, usually for health or fitness. She works out three times a week.
Click to listenjoin in
unirse / participarStart participating in an activity that other people are already doing. Can I join in the soccer game?
Click to listenturn up
aparecer / llegarArrive at a place, sometimes unexpectedly or late. He turned up late for the match.
Click to listencall off
cancelarCancel a plan, event, match, or activity. They called off the game because of the rain.
Click to listenID Idioms and common expressions
It's pouring.
está lloviendo muy fuerteUse it for heavy rain. We cannot go out. It's pouring.
Click to listenIt's freezing.
hace muchísimo fríoUse it for extreme cold. Wear a jacket. It's freezing outside.
Click to listenIt's boiling.
hace muchísimo calorUse it for extreme heat. Let's stay inside. It's boiling today.
Click to listenIt's raining cats and dogs.
está lloviendo a cántarosInformal and playful. Use it for very heavy rain, not for formal weather reports. We cannot play outside; it's raining cats and dogs.
Click to listentake a rain check
dejarlo para otra ocasiónUse it to politely postpone a plan. It does not need to be raining. Can we take a rain check and meet tomorrow?
Click to listencome rain or shine
pase lo que paseUse it when a plan will happen no matter the situation. We are going to practice soccer, come rain or shine.
Click to listenunder the weather
sentirse mal / estar indispuestoThis means a person does not feel well. It is not literal. I am not going out because I feel under the weather.
Click to listenevery cloud has a silver lining
no hay mal que por bien no vengaUse it when something good can come from a bad situation. The game was canceled, but every cloud has a silver lining.
Click to listenwhen it rains, it pours
las desgracias no vienen solasUse it when several problems happen at the same time. First it started raining, then my phone died. When it rains, it pours.
Click to listenrain or shine
sin importar el climaUse it when something happens no matter the weather. We play soccer every Saturday, rain or shine.
Click to listena fair-weather friend
amigo solo en los buenos momentosA person who is present only when things are easy. This is less basic, so it can be treated as extra vocabulary. He is a fair-weather friend.
Click to listenget some fresh air
salir a tomar aireGo outside for a short time to feel better or relax. Let's go for a walk and get some fresh air.
Click to listenhit the road
salir / ponerse en caminoStart leaving or begin a trip. It is late. Let's hit the road.
Click to listenhave a blast
divertirse muchoHave a very good time. We had a blast at the game.
Click to listenbe on the same team
estar del mismo lado / trabajar juntosShare the same goal or cooperate. We need to help each other. We are on the same team.
Click to listen
Unit 2
Shopping and Clothes
Clothes, accessories, prices, sizes, fit, and natural store language.
Open bank
Shopping and Clothes
Clothes, accessories, prices, sizes, fit, and natural store language.
How to read these cards: Phrasal verbs often change meaning when the particle changes. The Spanish meaning is approximate, and the example shows the natural shopping context.
PV Phrasal verbs
try on
probarse ropaPut clothes on before buying them to check size, color, or comfort. Can I try on this jacket?
Click to listenput on
ponerse una prendaPlace clothing on your body. Put on your sweater. It is cold outside.
Click to listentake off
quitarse una prendaRemove clothing from your body. Please take off your hat inside.
Click to listenpick out
escoger / elegirChoose one item from several options. I need to pick out a dress for the concert.
Click to listenlook for
buscarTry to find a specific product, size, or color. I am looking for a black jacket.
Click to listenpay for
pagar por algoGive money for a product or service. I am going to pay for these shoes.
Click to listencheck out
mirar / revisar / pagar en cajaLook at something interesting, or pay at the cashier depending on context. Let's check out the new jackets.
Click to listensell out
agotarseBecome unavailable because all items were sold. The blue sweater sold out.
Click to listengo with
combinar conMatch or look good with another item. These shoes go with your jeans.
Click to listendress up
vestirse eleganteWear nicer or more formal clothes for an event. We need to dress up for the concert.
Click to listenEX Common shopping expressions
window shopping
mirar vitrinas sin comprarLooking at products without planning to buy them. We are just window shopping today.
Click to listenon sale
en ofertaUse it when the price is lower than usual. This jacket is on sale.
Click to listena good deal
una buena ofertaA good price for the value. These shoes are a good deal.
Click to listenin style
de modaUse it for clothes or accessories that are fashionable now. White sneakers are in style.
Click to listenout of style
pasado de modaUse it when something is not fashionable now. That old hat is out of style.
Click to listenIt fits well.
queda bienUse it when the size and shape are comfortable. This shirt fits well.
Click to listenI'll take it.
me lo llevoUse it when you decide to buy one item. It looks great. I'll take it.
Click to listenID Idioms and common expressions
shop till you drop
comprar hasta cansarseInformal and playful. Use it when someone shops a lot. On Saturday, we are going to shop till we drop.
Click to listencost an arm and a leg
costar un ojo de la caraInformal. Use it for something very expensive. That perfume costs an arm and a leg.
Click to listenbreak the bank
salirse del presupuesto / gastar demasiadoUse it when something costs more than you can comfortably pay. This jacket is nice, but it will break the bank.
Click to listenfit like a glove
quedar perfectamenteUse it when clothing fits extremely well. This dress fits like a glove.
Click to listendress to impress
vestirse para causar buena impresiónUse it when someone wears nice clothes to look attractive or professional. For the concert, we want to dress to impress.
Click to listenworth every penny
vale cada centavoUse it when something is expensive but the quality is good. These boots are worth every penny.
Click to listenfor a steal
muy barato / a precio regaladoInformal. Use it when the price is surprisingly low. I got this scarf for a steal.
Click to listen
Unit 3Around the World
Travel, places, movement, and natural travel language.
Open bank
Around the World
Travel, places, movement, and natural travel language.
Unit focus: These expressions belong to the travel and places section of Unit 3. Listen first, then notice the example sentence.
PV Travel phrasal verbs
travel around
viajar por diferentes lugaresVisit several places on one trip. I want to travel around Europe.
Click to listengo abroad
ir al extranjeroTravel to another country. She wants to go abroad next year.
Click to listenget around
moverse por un lugarMove from place to place in a city or country. It is easy to get around by train.
Click to listencheck in
registrarseRegister at a hotel or airport. We need to check in at the hotel.
Click to listencheck out
salir del hotel / mirar algoLeave a hotel, or look at something interesting. Let’s check out the museum.
Click to listentake off
despegarUse it when a plane leaves the ground. The plane takes off at 8 a.m.
Click to listencome back
regresarReturn to a place. I want to come back to Mexico.
Click to listenID Travel idioms
travel light
viajar con poco equipajeTravel with few things. I travel light when I visit hot countries.
Click to listenhit the road
ponerse en caminoStart a trip or leave. It’s early. Let’s hit the road.
Click to listena change of scenery
cambiar de ambienteGo somewhere different to feel refreshed. I need a change of scenery.
Click to listen
Unit 4Busy Lives
Completed actions, busy routines, and past-time expressions.
Open bank
Busy Lives
Completed actions, busy routines, and past-time expressions.
Unit focus: These expressions support Unit 4’s simple-past stories. The past form in the example is intentional.
PV Phrasal verbs for past events
wake up → woke up
despertarseStop sleeping and become awake. I woke up early yesterday.
Click to listenhang out → hung out
pasar el rato / salirSpend relaxed time with other people. We hung out after class.
Click to listencome over → came over
venir a casa de alguienGo to someone’s home or current place. My cousin came over last night.
Click to listenpick up → picked up
recoger / pasar por alguienGo somewhere to collect a person. I picked up my friend after work.
Click to listenID Busy-life idioms
be on the go
estar muy ocupado, de un lado a otroBe active and busy, moving between tasks or places. I was on the go all day.
Click to listencall it a night
dar por terminado el día o la nocheDecide to stop an evening activity and go home or rest. We called it a night at ten.
Click to listen
Unit 5Looking Back
Memories, vacation stories, feelings, and past experiences.
Open bank
Looking Back
Memories, vacation stories, feelings, and past experiences.
Unit focus: These expressions support past memories. Listen to each one separately, then use the example as your guide.
PV Phrasal verbs for memories
go back → went back
volverReturn to a place. We went back to the beach the next day.
Click to listenget over → got over
superarRecover from a fear, problem, or difficult feeling. I got over my fear of flying.
Click to listenget lost → got lost
perderseBe unable to find the correct place or direction. We got lost near the museum.
Click to listenID Idioms for memories
a blast from the past
algo que trae recuerdos del pasadoUse it when something suddenly reminds you of an earlier time. This photo is a blast from the past.
Click to listena trip down memory lane
recordar momentos del pasado con nostalgiaUse it when remembering earlier experiences. Looking at these photos is a trip down memory lane.
Click to listenthe time of my life
pasar un momento inolvidableUse it for an exceptionally enjoyable experience. I had the time of my life on that vacation.
Click to listen