There are lots of ways to describe boredom in English, and simply saying ‘I’m bored’ doesn’t always tell us exactly how we feel. Here are some useful words and expressions for talking about different kinds of boredom. If you are bored to death, you are extremely bored: ‘The lecture was so boring I was bored to death.’ You can say you are bored with something when you have stopped finding it interesting: ‘I’m bored with watching the same TV shows.’ If something is dull or uninteresting, it isn’t interesting or exciting: ‘The book started well, but the middle was really dull.’ Sometimes something is boring because it is repetitive – it involves doing the same thing again and again: ‘My job can be quite repetitive.’ When you have had enough of something, you no longer want to continue doing or experiencing it: ‘I’ve had enough of this meeting. Let’s go.’ Similarly, if you are fed up with or are tired of something, you are annoyed because it has continued for too long: ‘I’m fed up with doing the same paperwork every day.’ Boredom can also affect your attention. If your mind wanders, you start thinking about other things instead of what you should be concentrating on: ‘I tried to listen, but my mind kept wandering.’ You might zone out or lose concentration, especially during a long or uninteresting activity. And if you yawn, it can be a clear sign that you’re tired or bored. Some people can’t sit still when they’re bored. They feel restless and need to move or do something. Finally, if you feel desperate to escape, you are so bored or uncomfortable that you really want to leave: ‘After three hours of small talk, I felt desperate to escape.’ What tends to make you bored most quickly?

There are lots of ways to say that you like or dislike something in English, and ‘I like it’ and ‘I don’t like it’ don’t always tell us exactly how we feel. Let’s look at some useful expressions that can help you describe your preferences more precisely – from mild preference to very strong feelings. If you are fond of something, you like it, often because you have enjoyed it for a long time or have a warm feeling towards it: ‘I’ve always been fond of old houses.’ If you have a soft spot for something, you have a particular affection for it, even if there isn’t an obvious reason: ‘I’ve always had a soft spot for romantic comedies.’ If you are into something, you like it and are interested in it. This informal expression is often used for hobbies, music, fashion, and other interests: ‘I’m really into photography at the moment.’ You can also say you are crazy about something when you like it very much: ‘She’s absolutely crazy about jazz.’ At the other end of the scale, if you loathe something, you dislike it very strongly: ‘I absolutely loathe getting up early.’ Similarly, detest means to dislike someone or something intensely: ‘She detests people who are rude to waiters.’ Sometimes, however, we simply want to say that something isn’t for us. If something isn’t your cup of tea, it isn’t the kind of thing you like or are interested in. This informal expression is particularly common in British English: ‘Horror films aren’t really my cup of tea.’ Finally, if something puts you off a food, activity, or experience, it makes you less interested in it or less willing to try it: ‘The bad weather put me off going for a walk.’ Which of these expressions do you use already? And what’s something you’re crazy about that other people might not be?

The word mind appears in lots of useful English expressions, many of which have nothing to do with the brain itself. We use them to talk about decisions, opinions, worries, understanding, and things we suddenly think of. Today let's take a look at some common phrases with mind that you’re likely to hear in everyday English. If you make up your mind (about something), you make a decision about it. We often use this expression when someone has been thinking about something for a while and finally decides what to do: "Have you made up your mind about where you want to go on holiday?" If you are in two minds (about something), you are unable to decide because you have good reasons for and against something. This expression is particularly common in British English: "I'm in two minds about moving to another city. I'd love the change, but I'd miss my friends." Sometimes, however, it's not a decision that is difficult - it's understanding something. If you can't wrap your mind around something, you can't understand or accept it because it is difficult or confusing. You can also say wrap your head around something: "I just can't wrap my mind around how they managed to finish the project so quickly." Something can also cross your mind. If an idea, thought, or possibility crosses your mind, you think of it, often only briefly: "It crossed my mind that she might have forgotten about the meeting." Finally, remember that mind doesn't always have to refer to a person's thoughts. We can also say that something has a mind of its own when it seems to behave or move independently, as though it can make its own decisions. We often use this humorously about objects or machines that aren't behaving as we expect: "My computer seems to have a mind of its own today." Which of these expressions do you use already? And is there another expression with 'mind' that you often hear in English?

We have plenty of colourful ways of describing people and their personalities in English. Some of these expressions are positive, while others are used to criticise someone’s behaviour. Today let's take at six informal idioms for describing very different kinds of people. 1. If someone is a wet blanket, they are a person who spoils other people’s enjoyment by being boring, complaining, or refusing to join in with an activity. This expression is usually disapproving: "Don’t be such a wet blanket! Come and dance with us!" 2. Someone who is a loose cannon is likely to behave in an unpredictable way and may cause problems because they act or speak without thinking about the consequences. We often use this expression when someone’s behaviour could have a negative effect on other people: "You never know what Sarah is going to say in a meeting. She can be a bit of a loose cannon." 3. If you describe someone as a rotten apple, you mean that they are a bad or dishonest person who has a negative influence on the people around them. The expression comes from the idea that one rotten apple can cause others in the same container to rot too: "Don’t let one rotten apple ruin the atmosphere in the whole group." 4. In contrast, a tough cookie is someone who is strong and determined and who is not easily upset, frightened, or defeated. We often use this expression approvingly: "She’s a tough cookie – I’m sure she’ll get through this." 5. Finally, a couch potato is someone who spends a lot of time sitting or lying down, usually watching television or doing very little physical activity. This expression is usually humorous rather than seriously critical: "I spent the whole weekend being a couch potato and watching old films." Which of these expressions would you be most likely to use to describe someone you know? And do you know any other colourful English idioms for describing people?