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Welcome to our Daily English Listening Practice with this week’s series:
Free Time Vocabulary: Talking about your Likes and Dislikes in English
So, what do you like to do for fun? What are you into? This week’s series is aimed at English Free Time Vocabulary, and today we’ll show you how to sound more casual in talking about your interests. These advanced vocabulary clips are great for casual conversation, especially in an English speaking country. Listen to our audio clips above and train your ear to listen to naturally spoken English!
Please listen to the audio files for explanations.
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Notes from the Audio Files
What Are You Into?
Avoid: What do you do in your free time? What are your hobbies?
What are you interested in? What do you do on the weekends? – a little too formal
- Awkward: An uncomfortable situation or interaction
- What kind of books are you into?
- What are you into, sports-wise?
- Books-wise: on the topic of books
- Movie-wise: *not movies-wise on the topic of movies
- What do you like to do for fun?
- Have in common: Have similar interests or traits
- Less cliche: Less overused and old
How to use it:
“So what kind of music are you into?” “All kinds of things, I love David Bowie.” “Yes! Me too!”
“I’ve been reading this new historical fiction novel that’s out, what have you been into lately?”
How often
- Get the chance: have the opportunity
- Whenever I get the chance
- Get back into: start again on a hobby or interest
- Every now and again: sometimes
- Every once in awhile: sometimes
- When it’s convenient: when I’m not doing other things
- I have a little extra time on my hands: I have free time in my schedule
- Cancelling last minute: Cancel very close to the scheduled time
- Work backs up: My work builds up because I’ve been doing other things
How to use it:
“I’m really busy at work, so I try and catch up with my friends whenever I get the chance.”
“I mean, I get to the gym every now and again, but only when it’s convenient.”
Getting Back into it
- It’s just a case of time: the problem is time
- The main thing I’m trying to get back into: what I want to start again is
- Stay on the wagon: stick to a routine
- Thrown off track: getting distracted from what you want to do
- Sidetracked: getting distracted from what you want to do
- Crazy workload: lots going on at work
- Rusty: not smooth or easy going, especially when starting something up again
- Tongue tied: Confused or having difficulty speaking
How to use it:
“I haven’t been to the gym in about a year, I’m trying to get back into it.”
“I’ve just gotten back into acting, I can’t believe I stopped doing it for so long!”
Love It
- Hype up their language: exaggerate or make something better than it really is
- Dramatic: exciting, entertaining, surprising
- Obsessed with something
- Addicted to something
- Huge fans of something
- Really big on something
- Really keen on something – UK
- Raving: talking passionately about something
- I’m really into something:
How to use it:
“I’m really keen on cycling actually. I’ve got a lightweight racing bike, and I ride for a cycling team during the summer.”
“Everyone’s been raving about that new TV show, but I’ve been so addicted to this other show that I have to finish this first.”
Dislikes – Softening the Blow
- Too harsh, too direct: we avoid “I don’t like that” unless you want to finalize or end the conversation.
- Soften that blow: make the negative situation better
- I’m not big on that
- I’m not really that into it
- Middle ground: not negative not positive
- It was okay, I guess
- It’s not really my thing, so I don’t really like it
- “Meh”: a noise of indifference
- Noncommittal: not choosing a side
- Shrug: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
- I dunno, I guess it was okay
- Close the door on something: Reject an idea
- Dismissing: Choosing not to listen to something/someone
How to use it:
“I can see why people like doing yoga, but it’s not really my thing.”
“Meh, I dunno, I don’t really wanna go.”
Looks like you are really into learning English! So are we! Talking about your likes and dislikes can be really casual and easy to use in small talk, so we hope you enjoy it! If there’s anything you’re still having trouble with, ask us a question in the comments below!
Thanks,
Kat and Mark
