Practise speaking about friendship, everyday technology, and travel through vocabulary explanations, sample conversations, and guided speaking turns.
Read the full lesson summary
Vanessa structures this long speaking lesson around three conversation topics: friendship, technology, and travel. Each section introduces useful expressions, models them in a sample conversation with her husband Dan, and then pauses so learners can answer aloud. It is designed as active speaking practice: learners hear a phrase, notice what it means in context, and then try using it to describe their own experience. The travel examples draw on Vanessa’s account of a trip to Portugal; they are personal stories, not rules about how everyone travels.
The friendship section distinguishes close friends from acquaintances. For close relationships, Vanessa explains expressions such as “go way back,” “bond over,” and “hit it off,” then describes the care friends show when they “look out for” one another, “go out of their way,” or offer “a listening ear.” “Attached at the hip” playfully describes people who spend nearly all their time together. For less-close relationships, she contrasts “work buddy” and “gym buddy” with close friendship, and explains how people may “lose touch” or “drift apart.” The sample dialogue reuses several of these phrases in a casual exchange about meeting an old friend.
The technology section presents both convenience and limits. Vanessa talks about “picking up the phone,” using social media “in moderation,” and having useful information “at your fingertips.” She calls video calling a “game changer” and says virtual learning “opened up a whole new world.” The section then shifts to concerns: becoming “addicted” to a phone, “information overload,” and catching yourself checking a device too often. Some expressions—especially “kids these days”—can sound judgmental, so the surrounding tone matters.
The travel section gives language for enjoyable and disappointing trips. Vanessa describes sightseeing, “soaking in the atmosphere,” “getting off the beaten path,” and deciding whether an experience “was worth it.” She contrasts planning and packing light with taking it easy and going with the flow. For setbacks, she models softer descriptions such as “it didn’t go as planned” and “a bit of a letdown,” as well as stronger phrases like “a nightmare” and “get ripped off.” Learners can practise by telling a short story in three parts: what they expected, what happened, and how they felt about the result.
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Transcript
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Select an expression for its meaning · 0:00
Lesson overview and speaking setup
Do you want to improve your English speaking skills, but you have no one to practice speaking with? Well, today's lesson is for you. You're going to have the chance to practice speaking with me out loud. So, make sure that you get your speaking muscles ready and let's go. If you're new here, hi. I'm Vanessa from speakenglishwithvanessa.com and I've been teaching real life English here on my YouTube channel for over the past 10 years to now more than 7 million of you. Thank you so much for learning English with me. In today's lesson, I have created a free PDF worksheet. This
Try it: Choose one topic from the lesson and speak for 30 seconds. Reuse two expressions, then explain what happened in your own words.
Phrase cheat sheet
All phrases at a glance
Review each expression, hear it, save it, or jump to where it appears in the video.
54 phrases
Showing 54 of 54 phrases
go-to person
Friendship: close friends and acquaintances · expression
The person you rely on first for help, advice, or a particular skill.
Tone and use: Warm and informal. Name someone you trust to help with a recurring need.
May not fit: In formal writing, use “main contact” or describe the person’s role.
Example“Mina is my go-to person when I need advice about job interviews.”
go way back
Friendship: close friends and acquaintances · idiom
Have known each other or been connected for a long time.
Tone and use: Informal and friendly. Describe a long-standing friendship or history with someone.
May not fit: For a formal introduction, say how long you have known each other.
Example“We go way back—we were classmates in elementary school.”
bonded over music
Friendship: close friends and acquaintances · expression
Built a connection with someone by sharing an interest in music.
Tone and use: Warm and conversational. Explain what helped two people become close.
May not fit: If the shared interest did not create a connection, say “we both like music.”
Example“They bonded over music at their first rehearsal.”
quirks
Friendship: close friends and acquaintances · expression
Small unusual habits or traits that make someone distinctive.
Tone and use: Usually affectionate or gently humorous. Talk about harmless individual habits among people who know each other well.
May not fit: It can sound critical if said without warmth or about a sensitive trait.
Example“My friends know all my quirks, like labeling every box in the kitchen.”
hit it off
Friendship: close friends and acquaintances · idiom
Feel an immediate, easy connection when you meet someone.
Tone and use: Positive and conversational. Describe getting along quickly with a new person.
Example“We hit it off at orientation and started having lunch together.”
look out for someone
Friendship: close friends and acquaintances · phrasal verb
Care for someone’s safety or well-being and offer help when needed.
Tone and use: Supportive and caring. Describe practical care, protection, or checking in on another person.
Example“My neighbors looked out for us while I was recovering from surgery.”
a listening ear
Friendship: close friends and acquaintances · expression
A person who listens patiently when someone needs to talk.
Tone and use: Gentle and supportive. Say that someone is available to listen without immediately judging or fixing the problem.
May not fit: Use “someone to listen” if the listener is not actually offering support.
Example“When I have a difficult day, my sister is always a listening ear.”
go out of your way
Friendship: close friends and acquaintances · idiom
Make extra effort beyond what is expected or convenient.
Tone and use: Appreciative; can imply inconvenience or special effort. Describe doing something extra to help another person.
Example“She went out of her way to bring dinner when I was sick.”
attached at the hip
Friendship: close friends and acquaintances · idiom
Almost always together or doing things as a pair.
Tone and use: Playful and informal. Lightly describe close friends, siblings, or partners who spend lots of time together.
May not fit: It may sound teasing if the people do not enjoy being described as inseparable.
Example“Those two cousins are attached at the hip on family holidays.”
see each other around
Friendship: close friends and acquaintances · expression
Meet or notice one another occasionally in a shared place, without necessarily socializing.
Tone and use: Neutral and casual. Describe a familiar person from work, school, or the neighborhood who is not a close friend.
Example“We see each other around the office, but we rarely talk outside work.”
lose touch
Friendship: close friends and acquaintances · expression
Stop communicating or staying connected over time.
Tone and use: Neutral, sometimes regretful. Explain that contact faded, often after moving or changing routines.
Example“We lost touch after college, but we recently reconnected.”
drift apart
Friendship: close friends and acquaintances · phrasal verb
Become less close gradually, without one clear event causing it.
Tone and use: Reflective and usually gentle. Describe a relationship that slowly became less close.
Example“We were close as children, but we drifted apart as adults.”
work buddy
Friendship: close friends and acquaintances · expression
A casual friend you spend time with mainly at work.
Tone and use: Informal and friendly. Describe a coworker you enjoy chatting or taking breaks with.
May not fit: For a formal setting, say “colleague” or “coworker.”
Example“My work buddy and I usually grab coffee during our break.”
gym buddy
Friendship: close friends and acquaintances · expression
Someone you regularly see or exercise with at the gym.
Tone and use: Casual. Describe a familiar exercise partner who may not be a close friend outside the gym.
Example“I meet my gym buddy every Saturday morning for a workout.”
acquaintances
Friendship: close friends and acquaintances · expression
People you know somewhat but are not close enough to rely on as friends.
Tone and use: Neutral. Distinguish familiar people from close friends.
Example“I know many people from the neighborhood, but most are acquaintances.”
ran into an old friend
Friendship: close friends and acquaintances · expression
Met a friend unexpectedly, without arranging to meet.
Tone and use: Casual and often pleasantly surprised. Tell someone about an accidental meeting in a public place.
Example“I ran into an old friend at the farmers’ market.”
no time had passed
Friendship: close friends and acquaintances · expression
It felt as if the time apart had not changed the relationship.
Tone and use: Warm and nostalgic. Describe reconnecting easily after a long gap.
Example“We started talking and it felt like no time had passed.”
pick up the phone
Technology: benefits, habits, and opinions · phrasal verb
Take or use a phone, often to make a call.
Tone and use: Everyday and neutral. Talk about starting a call or using a phone in a familiar, direct way.
Example“I can pick up the phone and call my sister even though she lives far away.”
in moderation
Technology: benefits, habits, and opinions · expression
In a limited amount that avoids excess.
Tone and use: Measured and practical. Say that something is acceptable when it is not overused.
Example“I enjoy dessert, but I try to eat sweets in moderation.”
can't imagine life without
Technology: benefits, habits, and opinions · expression
Feel that something is so useful or important that life without it is hard to picture.
Tone and use: Emphatic and conversational. Express strong appreciation for a person, tool, or routine.
Example“I can't imagine life without a map app when I travel.”
game changer
Technology: benefits, habits, and opinions · expression
Something that makes a major positive difference to how a situation works.
Tone and use: Enthusiastic and informal. Describe a tool or change that substantially improves an experience.
May not fit: It is often overused; choose a specific description in formal analysis.
Example“Video calls were a game changer when my family lived in different countries.”
at my fingertips
Technology: benefits, habits, and opinions · idiom
Easily and immediately available, especially information or resources.
Tone and use: Positive and descriptive. Explain that a phone, computer, or service makes something readily accessible.
Example“With the library app, thousands of books are at my fingertips.”
take a look
Technology: benefits, habits, and opinions · expression
Look at or examine something, often briefly.
Tone and use: Friendly and common. Invite someone to examine an example, screen, or object.
May not fit: For a careful evaluation, say “review” or “inspect.”
Example“Take a look at the map before we leave.”
stay on top of things
Technology: benefits, habits, and opinions · idiom
Keep tasks and responsibilities organized and under control.
Tone and use: Practical and conversational. Talk about managing a busy schedule or keeping up with responsibilities.
Example“I use calendar reminders to stay on top of things at work.”
opened up a whole new world
Technology: benefits, habits, and opinions · expression
Made many new possibilities or experiences available.
Tone and use: Positive and enthusiastic. Describe how access to a tool or experience expanded someone’s options.
Example“Online classes opened up a whole new world of study for me.”
Google it
Technology: benefits, habits, and opinions · expression
Search for information online using Google; the brand name is used as a verb.
Tone and use: Informal. Suggest a quick web search in casual conversation.
May not fit: In formal directions, say “search online” if the search engine does not matter.
Example“I wasn't sure what the word meant, so I Googled it.”
back in the day
Technology: benefits, habits, and opinions · idiom
At a time in the past, often remembered as different from today.
Tone and use: Informal and nostalgic. Introduce a general contrast with how things are now.
Example“Back in the day, we had to print directions before a road trip.”
when I was your age
Technology: benefits, habits, and opinions · expression
A way to compare a younger person's life with your own experience at the same age.
Tone and use: Can be nostalgic, but may sound patronizing depending on delivery. Share a relevant personal comparison with someone younger.
May not fit: Avoid it when it would dismiss a younger person's different circumstances.
Example“When I was your age, most of our schoolwork was on paper.”
kids these days
Technology: benefits, habits, and opinions · expression
A broad comment about young people today, often used to criticize a perceived habit.
Tone and use: Often teasing or judgmental. Use only when the generalizing, joking tone is appropriate and understood.
May not fit: Avoid it in serious discussion or when speaking about a specific young person; it can sound dismissive.
Example“He joked, “Kids these days can find any song in seconds.””
addicted to
Technology: benefits, habits, and opinions · expression
Unable to stop using or doing something; in casual speech it is also used hyperbolically for a strong habit.
Tone and use: Strong; can be serious or exaggerated. Describe a genuine dependency, or use casually only when the exaggeration is clear.
May not fit: For an ordinary frequent habit, “use it a lot” is less loaded.
Example“I feel like I'm addicted to checking my phone.”
sooner or later
Technology: benefits, habits, and opinions · idiom
At some point in the future, even if the exact time is unknown.
Tone and use: Matter-of-fact; it can suggest expectation or reluctance. Say that something is likely to happen eventually.
Example“Sooner or later, we'll need to update the app.”
there's a time and place
Technology: benefits, habits, and opinions · expression
Something may be appropriate, but only in a suitable situation or moment.
Tone and use: Advising or mildly corrective. Acknowledge an activity while setting a boundary about when or where it fits.
Example“There's a time and place for checking messages, but dinner isn't it.”
wouldn't be surprised if
Technology: benefits, habits, and opinions · expression
Think that something is quite possible or unsurprising if it happens.
Tone and use: Tentative and conversational. Make a prediction without presenting it as certain.
Example“I wouldn't be surprised if more meetings moved online.”
information overload
Technology: benefits, habits, and opinions · collocation
A situation where so much information arrives that it becomes difficult to process.
Tone and use: Neutral, often describing a problem. Talk about feeling overwhelmed by a constant stream of news or details.
Example“I take a break from social media when I start to feel information overload.”
catch myself
Technology: benefits, habits, and opinions · expression
Notice that you are doing something, often a habit you did not intend to do.
Tone and use: Reflective and self-aware. Admit that you notice your own repeated behavior.
Example“I catch myself checking email during family time.”
had a terrible time
Travel: memorable moments and setbacks · expression
Had a very unpleasant or difficult experience.
Tone and use: Direct and emphatic. Describe a trip or event that went badly.
May not fit: If the experience was only mildly inconvenient, say “had a difficult time.”
Example“We had a terrible time finding the hotel in the rain.”
breathtaking view
Travel: memorable moments and setbacks · collocation
A view so beautiful or impressive that it feels striking.
Tone and use: Strongly appreciative. Describe scenery that genuinely makes a strong impression.
Example“We stopped to admire the breathtaking view over the bay.”
get off the beaten path
Travel: memorable moments and setbacks · idiom
Go somewhere less familiar or less visited than the usual tourist route.
Tone and use: Conversational and often positive. Describe exploring a less common route or destination.
May not fit: It does not mean simply getting lost; mention that separately if that happened.
Example“We got off the beaten path and found a quiet neighborhood café.”
travel light
Travel: memorable moments and setbacks · expression
Travel with only a small amount of luggage.
Tone and use: Practical and neutral. Talk about packing fewer belongings to make a trip easier.
Example“I travel light and bring just a carry-on for a weekend away.”
it was worth it
Travel: memorable moments and setbacks · expression
The benefit or enjoyment justified the effort, cost, or difficulty.
Tone and use: Conversational and positive. Reflect on a challenging experience that had a good result.
May not fit: If the result did not justify the effort, say “it wasn’t worth it.”
Example“The climb was tiring, but the view made it worth it.”
not worth it
Travel: memorable moments and setbacks · expression
The result does not justify the cost, effort, or wait.
Tone and use: Evaluative and direct. Explain why you decided against an activity or purchase.
Example“The line was two hours long, so we decided the wait wasn't worth it.”
take it easy
Travel: memorable moments and setbacks · idiom
Rest or do something at a relaxed pace instead of pushing hard.
Tone and use: Relaxed and friendly. Talk about resting during a busy period or choosing a slower day.
Example“We had a quiet afternoon and took it easy at the beach.”
go with the flow
Travel: memorable moments and setbacks · idiom
Stay flexible and accept events without a fixed plan.
Tone and use: Easygoing and positive. Describe adapting to what happens rather than scheduling every detail.
Example“We had no reservations, so we went with the flow and explored downtown.”
lived up to the hype
Travel: memorable moments and setbacks · expression
Was as good or impressive as people had said it would be.
Tone and use: Evaluative and conversational. Give an opinion after trying something that had been widely praised.
Example“The little restaurant lived up to the hype—the food was excellent.”
blown away
Travel: memorable moments and setbacks · idiom
Extremely impressed or surprised by something.
Tone and use: Enthusiastic and informal. React to an experience that made a strong positive impression.
Example“I was blown away by the colorful tiles across the city.”
unforgettable memories
Travel: memorable moments and setbacks · collocation
Experiences that are so meaningful they are likely to be remembered for a long time.
Tone and use: Warm and positive. Reflect on a special trip, event, or time spent with people.
Example“The trip gave us unforgettable memories with our old friends.”
didn't go as planned
Travel: memorable moments and setbacks · expression
Something happened differently from what was expected or arranged.
Tone and use: Polite and restrained. Describe a setback without making it sound worse than it was.
Example“Our first evening didn't go as planned, so we rescheduled dinner.”
a nightmare
Travel: memorable moments and setbacks · expression
An extremely unpleasant or stressful experience.
Tone and use: Strong and emphatic. Describe a genuinely difficult situation in informal conversation.
May not fit: Use a milder phrase for a small inconvenience.
Example“Missing the last train in a storm was a nightmare.”
run into problems
Travel: memorable moments and setbacks · expression
Encounter difficulties unexpectedly while doing something.
Tone and use: Neutral and practical. Mention obstacles during a trip, task, or process.
Example“We ran into problems at the airport when our connecting flight was canceled.”
a bit of a letdown
Travel: memorable moments and setbacks · expression
Somewhat disappointing compared with what you expected.
Tone and use: Mild and tactful. Express measured disappointment while acknowledging that the experience was not entirely bad.
Example“The café was nice, but the food was a bit of a letdown.”
got ripped off
Travel: memorable moments and setbacks · idiom
Paid unfairly too much or were cheated in a purchase or transaction.
Tone and use: Informal and strongly negative. Describe a purchase where you believe the price or deal was unfair.
May not fit: Use “was overcharged” or “was treated unfairly” in a formal complaint.
Example“I think I got ripped off when I paid that much for a taxi ride.”
get ripped off
Travel: memorable moments and setbacks · idiom
Pay unfairly too much or be cheated in a purchase or transaction.
Tone and use: Informal and strongly negative. Describe a purchase where you believe the price or deal was unfair.
May not fit: Use “overcharged” or “treated unfairly” in a formal complaint.
Example“I think I got ripped off when I paid that much for a taxi ride.”
a ripoff
Travel: memorable moments and setbacks · expression
Something that is unfairly overpriced or a bad deal.
Tone and use: Informal and critical. Give a strong opinion about a poor-value purchase.
Example“That souvenir shop was a ripoff, so we bought gifts at the market instead.”
soak in the atmosphere
Travel: memorable moments and setbacks · expression
Relax and take in the feeling or character of a place.
Tone and use: Leisurely and appreciative. Describe enjoying a place without rushing through a checklist of activities.
Example“We sat at a café to soak in the atmosphere of the old town.”