Check out this dialogue with plenty of advanced words and phrases to immerse yourself in English.
Jake: Blimey, Sam! It’s been ages. You’ve dropped off the face of the earth!
Sam: I know, mate — life’s been a bit mad lately. But go on, spill the beans — what’s new with you?
Jake: Well… where do I start? Got hitched in October!
Sam: No way! You tied the knot? Congrats! How’s married life treating you?
Jake: Honestly? It’s lush. We’ve even got a little one on the way.
Sam: Shut the front door! You’re gonna be a dad? That’s brilliant news!
Jake: Cheers, mate. Scary, though. Feels like we’re properly adulting now.
Sam: Ha! Tell me about it. I’ve just started a new job myself — chucked in the old one, finally.
Jake: Good on ya! Where you working now?
Sam: Doing freelance stuff — bit of writing, bit of teaching. Keeps me on my toes, y’know?
Jake: Sounds like you’re smashing it. What about your folks, they all good?
Sam: Yeah, Dad’s just retired, so he’s living his best life — pottering about in the garden, going on long walks… Mum’s still working, but winding down.
Jake: Nice one. You still doing five-a-side?
Sam: Not as much — knackered most evenings these days. But I’ve taken up painting! Never thought I’d say that.
Jake: You? With a paintbrush? Shut up!
Sam: I know, right? Started during lockdown, and it sort of stuck. Helps me unwind.
Jake: Fair play. We should catch up more often. Let’s not leave it another six months.
Sam: Definitely. Let’s not drop off the face of the earth again!
📝 Target Vocabulary & Expressions
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Blimey! – An exclamation of surprise.
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Dropped off the face of the earth – Disappeared completely or lost contact.
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Spill the beans – To reveal the news or gossip.
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Got hitched – Got married (informal).
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Tied the knot – Another informal way to say “got married.”
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Shut the front door! – A polite and funny way to express disbelief.
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Adulting – Doing grown-up or responsible things like paying bills.
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Chucked in – Quit or gave something up, usually a job.
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Keeps me on my toes – Keeps me alert, busy, or challenged.
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Smashing it – Doing very well at something.
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Pottering about – Doing small, relaxed, unimportant tasks around the house.
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Winding down – Gradually doing less work or preparing to stop.
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Time flies – Time passes very quickly.
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Pulling all-nighters – Staying up all night to study or work.
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Talking pensions and prams – Chatting about grown-up topics like retirement and babies.
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Knackered – Extremely tired or exhausted.
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Taken up – Started doing a new activity or hobby.
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Helps me unwind – Helps me relax or de-stress.
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Fair play – Expression of respect, admiration, or approval.
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Five-a-side – A small-sided football (soccer) game with 5 players per team.
✍️ Gap-Fill Activity
Fill in the blanks with the correct expressions from the box below.
Vocabulary to use:
smashing it – tied the knot – taken up – adulting – drop off the face of the earth – chuck in – knackered – fair play – unwind – spill the beans
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I’m absolutely __________ after working a 12-hour shift.
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We need to catch up soon — don’t __________ again!
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She finally __________ her job to travel the world.
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I’ve __________ yoga and it really helps me relax.
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You’re really __________ at your new role — your boss keeps praising you!
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Come on, __________! What happened on that crazy weekend?
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He __________ last summer — small ceremony, just family.
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I’m slowly getting the hang of __________ — bills, cleaning, the lot.
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I usually go for a walk in the park to __________ after work.
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__________, mate — that was a cracking performance.
How was that? Tricky? Easy-peasy or near-impossible? Well, don't worry, here are the completed sentences, hope you didn't cheat ;)
Here are the answers to the gap-fill activity:
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I’m absolutely knackered after working a 12-hour shift.
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We need to catch up soon — don’t drop off the face of the earth again!
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She finally chucked in her job to travel the world.
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I’ve taken up yoga and it really helps me relax.
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You’re really smashing it at your new role — your boss keeps praising you!
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Come on, spill the beans! What happened on that crazy weekend?
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He tied the knot last summer — small ceremony, just family.
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I’m slowly getting the hang of adulting — bills, cleaning, the lot.
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I usually go for a walk in the park to unwind after work.
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Fair play, mate — that was a cracking performance.
Hope you enjoyed this new newsletter, more coming every Monday to provide you with loads of free content to improve your English!
Have a great week :)
Lewis
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