Welcome to our Daily English Listening Practice with this week’s series:

10 Common English Expressions
on Happiness

Today we talk about Common English Expressions on Happiness. We include 10 common words and phrases that you’ll actually hear in casual conversation, and we’ll show you which common textbook phrases are boring and overused.

Listen to the audio clips to hear the pronunciation and usage of each phrase.

Couldn’t be Happier

[wonderplugin_audio id=”191″]
Notes: use it when you’re really happy; also, things couldn’t be better

-Happy

[wonderplugin_audio id=”192″]
Notes: like-happy, gym-happy, trigger happy, car-happy

Happy-go-Lucky

[wonderplugin_audio id=”193″]
Notes: carefree, sometimes naive

Happily Married

[wonderplugin_audio id=”194″]
Notes: happily married, sometimes used when someone doesn’t realize a) you’re married or b) you’re happy in your marriage

I’d be happy to…

[wonderplugin_audio id=”195″]
Notes: good replacement for “my pleasure” very easy to use

Happy hunting

[wonderplugin_audio id=”196″]
Notes: usually sarcastic, “happy hunting on that one” when someone is looking for something they probably won’t find or they need to put in a lot of work to find.

Happy medium

[wonderplugin_audio id=”197″]
Notes: similar to a compromise, you can find a happy medium, you can work on a happy medium

Happy camper

[wonderplugin_audio id=”198″]
Notes: a happy camper happily goes along with what other people are doing, if you not a happy camper, you are a bit mad that something didn’t go your way

Glowing/Beaming

[wonderplugin_audio id=”199″]
Notes: glowing: someone who is happy, pregnant, or healthy beaming: someone who is very happy

Chuffed to Bits

[wonderplugin_audio id=”200″]
Notes: UK only, very pleased

Cliches

Tired of old, overused cliches in English?

Sometimes you read phrases in textbooks that are really overused in the English language.
We found these 6 ESL textbook phrases that we are so tired of hearing!

[wonderplugin_audio id=”201″]

Happy as a clam: what to say instead: “Happy as Can Be” “Couldn’t be happier”
Over the Moon
In 7th Heaven – old American TV Show
Having a Whale of a Time
Tickled Pink
On Top of the World: what to use instead: I’m feeling unstoppable


Not sure if a phrase is cliche or not? Ask away in the comments below!

Thanks,

Kat and Mark

Wanna improve your English Speaking skills?
Get a free 30-minute trial from HLLOnline English Teacher: Improve your Speaking Skills

Add comment