English Vocabulary You Should Use (but probably don't)

Seeming very tempting or attractive to someone.

Tone and use: Informal and playful. Use it for food, a purchase, or an activity that strongly tempts you.

May not fit: The object is not literally speaking; the phrase describes your feeling.

I could not resist doing something, even though I might have intended not to.

Tone and use: Informal and conversational. Use it to explain giving in to a temptation or impulse.

May not fit: It can sound like an excuse; use it lightly rather than to avoid responsibility for harm.

Go with someone to their departure and say goodbye as they leave.

Tone and use: Neutral and conversational. Use it when accompanying someone to an airport, station, or other departure point.

May not fit: It does not mean watch someone walk away from a cliff or physically push them off.

Be extremely surprised or amazed by something.

Tone and use: Informal and expressive. Use it for surprising news or an unexpected result.

May not fit: It is figurative here, not a literal fall onto the floor.

I noticed that I was doing something, often without having planned to do it.

Tone and use: Neutral and reflective. Follow it with an -ing verb to describe an unplanned action or reaction.

May not fit: It does not always mean the action was completely unconscious; it can simply be unexpected.

Succeed at something difficult or uncertain.

Tone and use: Informal and positive. Use it after completing a challenge you were not sure you could manage.

May not fit: It means succeed, not physically remove clothing or an object in this context.

Be unable to remember or think of an answer at that moment.

Tone and use: Informal and common. Use it when a name, fact, or idea will not come to mind.

May not fit: It describes a temporary failure to recall, not a permanent loss of memory.

Make an attempt at something, especially when success is uncertain.

Tone and use: Informal and encouraging. Use it when you decide to try a challenging task or answer.

May not fit: It is figurative, not a reference to violence.

It seems perfectly suited to you or clearly intended for you.

Tone and use: Conversational and often warm or playful. Use it for a gift, opportunity, or choice that fits someone especially well.

May not fit: The name is figurative; it does not have to appear in writing.

An emphatic way to say that the example strongly demonstrates wealth.

Tone and use: Conversational and expressive; “talk about + adjective” adds emphasis. Use it after an example to underline how strongly a quality applies.

May not fit: It is an informal sentence fragment; use a complete sentence in formal writing.

Do something without preparing in advance, improvising as you go.

Tone and use: Informal and common. Use it when someone proceeds without a detailed plan or preparation.

May not fit: It does not mean literally use a wing; for important events, preparation may be wiser.