The English Breakfast ☕
Hi there,
Welcome back to The English Breakfast — the newsletter for Italian professionals who want to feel more confident in English at work.
Full disclosure: the last two newsletters were pre-scheduled in early August and over the last two weeks I was enjoying some R&R (rest and relaxation) in Greece’s Dodecanese islands (Lipsi, Patmos, and Leros are fantastic if you’ve never been!).
So returning to write this really does feel like my official back-to-the-office moment.
Obligatory holiday snap…
I hope you’re feeling relaxed and recharged, too, because we’re kicking off today with a quick quiz on essential post-holiday phrasal verbs.
Can you get 6 out of 6? Let’s find out!
📖 Got the post-holiday blues?
Still reminiscing about sunny beaches and those carefree holiday vibes?
Here are 8 reasons why getting back to work is actually a positive thing!
Before you read the whole BBC article, here are 5 useful vocabulary items to look out for:
In the throes of (something) (idiom / B2-C1)
Meaning: Deeply involved in or struggling through a chaotic, busy, or intense situation.
Context: "when you’re in the throes of deadlines, rushing from one meeting to the next..."
To put (something) off (phrasal verb / B2)
Meaning: To delay doing something until a later time; to procrastinate.
Context: "the best time to tackle all those tasks you’ve been putting off..."
To drain the coffers (idiom / B2-C1)
Meaning: To empty financial resources or deplete funds/savings.
Context: "you can really see how a holiday drains the coffers."
To do wonders for (something) (idiom / B2)
Meaning: To have a very beneficial, positive, or transformative effect on something.
Context: "you might be sad... but it will do wonders for your bank balance."
The daily grind (idiom / B2)
Meaning: The routine, hard, and repetitive work of everyday life.
Context: "remind yourself that the daily grind isn't so bad for you after all."
Read the article: Eight benefits to going back to work after a holiday - BBC Radio 4
🏆 Your task - Which of the 8 reasons do you find the most convincing? 😅 Hit reply and let me know.
🔧 Quick Fix
In this week’s Quick Fix, we’re looking at the pronunciation of will contractions (I’ll, you’ll, it’ll etc.)
Plus, did you know there’s also a subtle difference in meaning between I will and I’ll?
Learn the difference and perfect your pronunciation in under 90 seconds. Just click on my face…
Speaking of easing back into things, that’s it for this week’s edition.
Let me know if you enjoyed it and I’ll see you next time.
Have a great week. 😎
All the best,
Dan
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