Levels & career tracks
Curso básico · A1–A2
Nivel A1.1 — IdentidadNivel A1.2 — Rutinas y entornoNivel A2.1 — Contando el mundoNivel A2.2 — Comparando y proyectandoIntermedio · B1–B2
Level B1.1 — Connecting experiencesLevel B1.2 — Narrating and describingLevel B2.1 — ArguingLevel B2.2 — NuanceProfesional / Avanzado · C1–C2
Level C1.1 — PrecisionLevel C1.2 — Register and discourseLevel C2.1 — StyleLevel C2.2 — Native mastery Current levelInglés técnico y especialización
Career Track BusinessCareer Track Economics and FinanceCareer Track Business AdministrationCareer Track Information Systems EngineeringCareer Track Educational SciencesCareer Track Medicine and Health SciencesCareer Track Tourism and HospitalityCareer Track Occupational Health and SafetyCareer Track Legal EnglishThis is the vocabulary that makes you sound like you grew up speaking English — everyday idioms and phrases native speakers use instinctively, often without even noticing they're figurative. Mastering these completes your journey from rules to true fluency.
Why this matters This lesson connects directly to your progress: it covers everyday native idioms; nuanced native expressions; idiomatic fluency markers. Mastering this content lets you move forward confidently, and reinforces patterns you'll use again later. Take time to review every example before moving to the assessment — repetition is what actually locks knowledge in long-term.
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The goals of this lesson.
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You already know a wide range of idioms from earlier lessons. This lesson pushes further into native-level idiomatic fluency — expressions that mark truly advanced English.
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Common figurative expressions you'll hear constantly in casual and professional conversation alike.
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More sophisticated idioms that convey subtle attitudes — skepticism, effort, resentment, or connection.
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Short fixed phrases native speakers use constantly to agree, summarize, or transition — instant signals of fluency.
💪 You now speak with genuine native color and rhythm. One final lesson awaits — the summit of this entire course!
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Usa las pistas para completar cada palabra en inglés. Sin calificar — repite las veces que quieras.
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The essentials of this lesson, summarized.
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Key terms to remember.
to do or say something that relieves initial social tension
Native speakers use this idiom before any real ice is involved — it refers purely to easing social awkwardness at the start of an interaction.
Informal / conversationalCollocations: break the ice, icebreaker (noun), break the ice with
Synonyms: ease the tension, warm up the conversation
the act of pursuing quickly; here, part of a fixed idiom
"Cut to the chase" means to skip unnecessary details and get to the main point — from early film chase scenes seen as the exciting part.
InformalCollocations: cut to the chase, let's cut to the chase
Synonyms: get to the point, skip the preamble
used here as part of a fixed idiom meaning very rarely
A "blue moon" (a rare second full moon in a month) is used metaphorically for something that almost never happens.
InformalCollocations: once in a blue moon, once in a while
Synonyms: rarely, hardly ever, seldom
a metal fastener; here, part of a fixed idiom meaning to be exactly right
Comes from carpentry — hitting a nail precisely on its head; used idiomatically for a perfectly accurate remark or diagnosis.
InformalCollocations: hit the nail on the head, right on the nail
Synonyms: get it exactly right, be spot on
a dog's vocalization; here, part of a fixed idiom meaning pursuing a mistaken idea
Originally referred to hunting dogs mistakenly barking at the wrong tree; used idiomatically for pursuing an incorrect assumption or approach.
InformalCollocations: barking up the wrong tree
Synonyms: on the wrong track, mistaken
a large animal; here, part of a fixed idiom for an obvious but unaddressed problem
Refers to an obvious problem or awkward topic everyone notices but avoids discussing directly — a hugely common idiom in professional and social settings.
Informal / neutralCollocations: the elephant in the room, address the elephant in the room
Synonyms: the obvious unspoken issue
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Tap the words in the correct order to form the sentence. Ungraded — repeat as many times as you like.
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Tap the correct verb form to complete each sentence. The other options are conjugations from other tenses — on purpose, so you learn to tell them apart.
To a long story short
Break ice
Be the same wavelength
That's said than done
Hit nail on the head
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Listen to the full dialogue with the speaker buttons first, then fill in the missing words from this lesson's real conversation. Ungraded — repeat as many times as you like.
Are you about the
A little, but I think it in the bag.
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You need at least 80% to unlock the next lesson. You can retake it as many times as you want — your best score is saved.
1. Which option matches: "You can say that again"?
2. Choose the equivalent of: "The elephant in the room"
3. What does this mean: "Go the whole nine yards"?
4. Which option matches: "It's not rocket science"?
5. What does this mean: "Burn the candle at both ends"?
6. "Be on the same wavelength" — which one is correct?
7. Which option matches: "Take something with a grain of salt"?
8. Choose the equivalent of: "Have a chip on your shoulder"
9. Choose the equivalent of: "Cut to the chase"
10. What does this mean: "I couldn't agree more"?
Review — Lesson 59 What matches: "In contrast, the European market showed steady growth."?
Review — Lesson 59 What matches: "Thus, the hypothesis was ultimately rejected."?
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You now speak with native-level idioms. Final lesson: register shifts and pragmatics — the last piece of true fluency.
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Practice this lesson's vocabulary with a word search and flashcards. Ungraded — play as many times as you like.
Tap the first and last letter of a hidden word to find it. Los términos de varias palabras van sin espacios en el tablero (ej. "give up" aparece como GIVEUP).
Elige la respuesta correcta. Si aciertas, la tarjeta queda lista por hoy; si fallas, vuelve a aparecer pronto para reforzarla. Tu progreso se guarda en este dispositivo.