CLIMATE

crisis: Climate change is a crisis that cannot be ignored by governments.

record levels/amount: Despite the claims of some scientists, we are now producing record
levels of CO2 and there is no dispute about the connection between this and global warming.
disaster/disastrous: It is not an exaggeration to say that the effects of global warming
are disastrous.
global: Although some areas are relatively unaffected now, climate change is a global problem.
irreversible: The major concern is that the effects of our actions on the climate will be irreversible.
long-term: The effects of our use of fossil fuels today may last for generations and it is almost
certain to have long-term consequences for humanity.
Negative Effects
This group of climate change vocabulary gives you language to explain what the effects are. As you
read through the examples note the different language I use for effects and probability.

ill-health: It sometimes goes unnoticed that there is a clear connection between climate change
and ill-health.
floods/rainstorms: One result of the rising temperatures is that floods and rainstorms are now a
frequent occurrence.
the Polar ice cap: One major concern is that rising temperatures in the Arctic are causing the Polar
ice cap to melt, which in turn is leading to rising sea levels.
heatwaves and droughts: Most experts agree that there is an increased risk of heatwaves and
other extreme weather conditions.
the natural world: Climate change will not only have a severe impact on people, but also devastate
the natural world and lead to the extinction of important species.
food shortages: We are already seeing in many parts of the world that climate change is leading
to food shortages as a direct consequence of extreme weather conditions.
housing/homelessness: One side-effect of rising sea levels is that more and more people who live
by the coast will become homeless.
conflicts/wars: If no action is taken on climate change, then it is likely that there will be
more conflicts between nations, especially over water supplies.
cost: It has been shown that any delay in making emission cuts will increase the cost of reducing
carbon dioxide by almost 50%.
Causes
You may also need to discuss the causes of climate change too. You don’t need any very technical
knowledge and this vocabulary should be enough. Again, note the cause language.

human activity: It is no longer possible to say that human activity does not affect weather
conditions.
greenhouse gas emissions: If we are to halt climate change, we need to make substantial
reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
power stations: One of the leading causes of climate change is the number of dirty power
stations using fossil fuels.
carbon emissions: Carbon emissions are still rising year by year and are at record levels.
illegal logging and deforestation: It should not be forgotten that illegal logging in the Amazon
Basin is still a major factor inclimate change.
burning fossil fuels: Individuals can make a small contribution by not burning wood and other
fossil fuels.
CO2: The root cause of much global warming is the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere.
Possible solutions
These words and phrases show different kinds of solutions. Some show what should be done (use
more renewable energy and invest money), others show how it should be done (quickly and
together).

wind and solar power: An obvious solution is to deploy much more wind and solar power.
renewable energy: Wind farms and other sources of renewable energy will help to reduce Co2
emissions to an acceptable level.
international action/cooperation: International action on climate change could have a significant
impact.
quick/immediate action: Any action should be immediate because this is not a problem that can
be delayed.
investment: There should be greater incentives to invest in renewables and to reduce the current
reliance on fossil fuels.
decommission power stations: It goes without saying that coal-fuelled power stations should
be decommissioned.
protest/campaign: Individuals can help force governments to act by taking part in legal protests
against the continuing use of fossil fuels.
energy efficiency and waste: A greater emphasis on energy efficiency and reducing
waste would undoubtedly mean that less fuel was consumed.
Ways of taking action
Climate change is a problem – that almost everyone can agree on. When you have a problem, you
need to take action. These words and phrases give you a variety of ways of saying that. Note the
different structures used with these verbs.

cope: It is clear that national governments are no longer able to cope by themselves with the
problem.
tackle: A global solution is necessary as only international bodies will be able to tackle climate
change.
avert: Investment in renewable energy will help avert the impact of the CO2 emissions.
prevent: The only way to prevent a disaster is to reduce these emissions to zero.
act/take action: Governments should take decisive action to halt global warming.
fight/combat: A way needs to be found to make combatting global warming that is affordable.
sustainable and affordable: The key is to ensure that all countries around the world have the
chance to adopt energy
How individuals can help
You may be asked what we as individuals can do about climate change. Here are some ideas –
there are plenty of them:

lobby MPs: If enough of us lobbied our MPs and other elected representatives then they would
have to bring in legislation.
participate in peaceful protests: Another possibility is to take part in marches and other
peaceful protests to apply pressure on governments and raise awareness of the issue..
community projects: In some areas there are small-scale community projects to encourage
local residents to install solar panels and, in some places, help pay for them.
share transport: We also have the responsibility to consider how we contribute to global warming
by making unnecessary car journeys. We can always cycle to work, have a joint school run with
other parents and even share a car on the daily commute to work.
diet and our carbon footprint: Reducing food wastage is perhaps the way individuals
can minimise their carbon footprintand so help global warming.
energy-efficient lightbulbs: Another small way in which we can use less energy is to switch to
energy efficient lightbulbs.
solar panels: There are an increasing number of solar panels on the market and these can not
only reduce energy bills but also mean that less carbon fuel is consumed.
heat insulation: Likewise, it is important that people insulate their houses well so that less gas
and electricity is consumed.
 Our
effect on the natural world
[audio:http://www.dcielts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/environ4.mp3|titles=natural world idea]

When we’re the discussing the environment, it’s important not to forget that our actions have an
impact not only on us but on the natural world and other species. So, for example, certain species
are now endangered because of our actions. it’s not just because of hunting, but because we have
destroyed their natural habitats: they do not enough food or anywhere to live. If we carry on in this
way, the biodiversity of the planet is under threat.
Pollution
[audio:http://www.dcielts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/environ2.mp3|titles=pollution ideas]

I would have said that one of the most serious environmental problems today is of
course pollution. It’s a very pressing green issue and if you travel to any of the large cities in
China, for example, you’ll find that there is very bad air pollution and there is a layer
of smog hanging over the cities. It’s just air pollution, there is also water pollution. in many parts of
the world, the quality of the water is not good because rivers have been contaminated by all sorts
of industrial waste, by chemicals and fertilisers. And what we need to do is to recycle our
waste and take care of the planet and try use renewable resources where we possibly can.
Energy
[audio:http://www.dcielts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/energy.mp3|titles=energy ideas]

Another extremely important green issue is of course energy. There are two points to be made here.
The first point is that the way we use energy is causing harm to the environment. Most of us get
energy in the form of electricity. This electricity is produced by power stations. These power
stations emit all sorts of dangerous gases such as carbon monoxide up into the atmosphere. And
these gases cause acid rain which does harm to our ecosystem and environment. the second
point to make about energy is we need to make sure that we are using energy in a sustainable
way. There is a limit to the Earth’s natural resources and there is a danger that we use so much
energy the Earth is no longer going to be able to provide us with sufficient coal and fossil fuels.
What we need to do is look for more renewable sources of energy such as wind or perhaps solar
energy from the sun.
Global warming
[audio:http://www.dcielts.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/environ1.mp3|titles=Global warming
ideas]

What’s the greatest threat to the Earth today? I’d have to say it’s probably a combination of global
warming and the greenhouse effect. I don’t understand all the science behind it, but I understand
it’s to do with the build up of gases such as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which means that
the planet is slowly but steadily getting warmer. and one of the results of this is that the polar
icecap is melting and the levels of the oceans are rising. And it’s caused I understand
by deforestation, particularly ofrainforests and particularly in the Amazonian Basin. And what this
means is that we may be doing irreparable harm to the planet and the future of the planet for our
children and our children’s children looks really rather bleak.
 To
discuss this topic well, it helps to distinguish between different types of immigration.

illegal immigrants: – people who enter a country illegally

economic migrants: – people who move country to earn more money
migrant workers: – note that migrant can also work as an adjective
immigrant community/population: – this can be used for people who have settled in country for
some time
influx of immigrants: – this is usually used in a negative sense meaning that there are too many
immigrants
first generation immigrant: – this is either an immigrant or a child on an immigrant [sometimes it is
hyphenated as “first-generation”]
Arguments in favour of immigration
There are various arguments in favour of immigration – these mostly relate to the economic
benefits immigrants bring to a country. Note that I have added examples to some of these reasons
to explain them further.
dynamism: Immigrants provide dynamism which is beneficial to the economy and helps growth
and competitiveness. For example, many immigrants set up their own businesses.
unskilled labour: In many countries there is a shortage of unskilled labour and the
immigrant population is typically willing to do work that the native population is not. This
is particularly the case in agricultural communities where immigrants provide seasonal labour in the
harvest season.
skilled labour: A large proportion of young immigrants are highly-qualified university
graduates and they work in fields where there is a shortage of skilled labour.
childcare: Another benefit that immigrants bring is that they often work in childcare or as home
helps and this enables more mothers to return to work.
boost the economy: Most research shows that encouraging immigration actually provides a boost
to the economyas immigrants are net contributors to the GDP. There is also evidence that they
actually claim fewer benefits and pay more tax than the native population.
principle of freedom of movement: There is also the consideration that the principle of freedom
of movement is a human right and that people should be allowed to choose where they live.
short-term only: It should also be considered that many younger migrants return home once they
have earned enough money and will never claim pensions in their host country.
Arguments against immigration
These arguments are normally based on social consequences of immigration and the impact it has
on the native population. There are also arguments (factual or otherwise) that immigrants are bad for
the economy.

Also note the range of language to discuss problems (highlighted in red)

integration: The major argument against immigration is that so many migrants fail to integrate
with the local community and culture and this leads to social tension and even unrest.
local services and jobs: One common difficulty is that they increase the pressure on local services
and create competition for local jobs and this creates ill-will.
claim benefits/social housing: One reason why people want less immigration is that immigrants do
not pay tax and still claim benefits and require social housing that is paid for by taxpayers.
schools: Another serious issue is that in some areas schools do not have sufficient places for the
children and so class sizes become unmanageable.
language: Related to this is the problem that many immigrants only have a basic command of the
language and this can lead to difficulties in the classroom and elsewhere.
loss of trained workers: The impact on poorer countries who lose much of their trained workforce
through emigration should also not be forgotten.
overcrowding/population: Many countries need to limit immigration because they are
already suffering from over-population.
Measures and solutions
You may also need to consider how immigration should be controlled.

taxes and law: One possible measure is to ensure that migrants pay taxes and are subject to the
criminal justice system.
language requirements: Another measure that could be put in place is to insist on a minimum
language requirement so that all immigrants are able to integrate into the community.
deportation: Some people believe that all illegal immigrants should be deported immediately.
quota: The United States for example has a quota system whereby a fixed number of green cards
are issued every year.
Someone you admire
a role model – someone you want to be like
someone to look up to – someone you admire
be an inspiration (to) – be the sort of person other people want to be like
a natural leader – someone who other people will follow
lead by example – set a good example for others to follow
She’s always been my role model and someone I’ve looked up to. I think it’s her ability to inspire
people that I admire most as she’s a natural leader. Although in fact she’s fairly quiet and doesn’t
say much but just leads by example.
Someone who is funny
have a good/keen sense of humour – to know when something is funny
be witty – be clever and funny
be able to make people laugh/smile –
be able to laugh at yourself (and not just others)
be a great storyteller/raconteur
(like) to see the funny side – will laugh even when the situation is serious/bad
Amy has a really good sense of humour – she’s not just a great storyteller, she’s also able to laugh
at herself and make other people see the funny side of serious situations. Lots of times she
manages to break the tension by making people smile at what’s going on.
Someone who is clever
smart cookie (I) – an idiom for someone who is clever
sharp – another clever idiom – able to see the main point
a straight A student – someone who did well at school
always one step ahead – an idiom for someone who is clever in a more practical way
able to see the big picture – someone who understands the complete situation and doesn’t get
confused by details
My brother’s definitely a smart cookie – one of the most intelligent people I know. He wasn’t in fact a
straight A student at school but he’s really sharp and always seems to be one step ahead of
everyone else. Most people I know get confused and but he’s always able to see the big picture and
he invariably makes the right choices.
Someone who is caring/tolerant
open-minded/tolerant – willing to accept other people’s beliefs
always sees both sides of the argument – someone who will look at other points of view
laid back/easy-going – someone who doesn’t get easily upset and likes to get on with other people
– sometimes a less positive characteristic
be helpful – nothing is ever too much trouble – someone who will do things to help even if it is
not convenient
considerate – think about the needs of other people
generous to a fault – be extremely generous
One of Peter’s best qualities is that he’s so open-minded – he deals with everyone equally no matter
what their background and he’ll sit and listen to their problems. His door is always open and nothing
is ever too much trouble for him and he’s forever helping someone out with something.
Someone who is friendly/optimistic
sociable – outgoing
get on well with people – be good at relationships
life and soul of the party – the sort of person who is lively at parties
good company – someone who other people enjoy being around
has a wide circle of friends – has a lot of friends
likes to be the centre of attention – can be a more negative comment for someone who is self-
centred
always sees the bright side – an optimist
Andrea is quite different from me – perhaps that’s why we get on so well. While I’m quite quiet she’s
really outgoing and the life and the soul of the party. She’s great company and people just love to be
around her and she has a really wide circle of friends. Her best quality is that she’s so positive and
always looks on the bright side of things.
Someone who is quiet
a wall flower – an idiom for someone who doesn’t participate in parties much – generally a negative
phrase
keep yourself to yourself – to prefer to be alone
be a private person – not to go out much
not much of a social butterfly – a social butterfly is someone who enjoys parties and going out –
perhaps too much
have a small circle of friends – have fewer friends
I wouldn’t say that she’s a wallflower exactly but she does like to keep herself to herself and isn’t
much of a social butterfly. You rarely see her at parties and I think she’s just a fairly private person
who prefers to have a smallish circle of friends.
Someone who is ambitious
wants to get ahead in life/ wants to make something of themselves – someone who is ambitious
driven/motivated – someone who tires hard to achieve things
determined – someone who is prepared to work hard for what they want
single -minded – someone who is focused on their goals and doesn’t get distracted
a real go-getter – an idiom for someone who is proactive and works for what they want
career minded/ put your job first – the job is more important than family or friends
be married to your job –
I guess he’s the most ambitious person I know – he’s very driven and has always wanted to make
something of himself. Even at school he was career minded and you could see that he would end up
running a big business – and it’s not really a surprise now that he’s married to his job.
Someone who is realistic/sympathetic
self-possessed – someone who isn’t affected too much by others and remains calm and confident
have her head screwed on – an idiom for someone who is intelligent in a practical way
be a very grounded person/keep both feet on the ground – someone who doesn’t get carried
away by their emotions
keep things in perspective/proportion – be able to see how important things really are – often
when there is a problem
be sensible – be intelligent in a practical way
be a good listener – someone who will listen to other people and just let them talk about their
problems
know the right thing to say – give good advice to people with problems
Whenever I have a problem I go to Gina – she’s extremely sensible and you can rely on her for
some clear and realistic advice. She’s always seems to know the right thing to say and she’s a great
listener too. She just seems to know what’s important in life and is very grounded – I’ve never known
her to get carried away.
Someone who is stylish/individual
have a sense of style – have your own ideas about what is fashionable and not do/wear what is
trendy/popular
have a good eye for – an idiom for someone who can see what is stylish
have good taste – be able to judge what is stylish
be a fashionista/fashion victim – be someone who will buy all the latest clothes
a real individual – someone who has their own sense of style and doesn’t follow what other people
like
not follow the pack/crowd – do or think what most other people think because it is popular
a trendsetter – be the sort of person who is the first to do something
Patricia is the most stylish person I know – she just has excellent taste. I wouldn’t say that she is
trendy or particularly fashionable but she always seems to wear the right clothes for the occasion –
she has great taste.
Someone who is mature/reliable
responsible – someone who knows their duty
conscientious – takes time and trouble to do what they need to do
mature – not just a question of age but attitude
have an old head on young shoulders – be more mature even if they are young
trustworthy – someone who you can trust
someone you can bank on – someone you can rely on
always there for you – someone who you can rely on
be level-headed/not lose your head – not panic if there is a problem or get carried away their
emotions
able to keep calm in a crisis
Annabelle is the most responsible person I know and is really trustworthy – if you ask her to
do something you can be sure she’ll get it done. You can just bank on her. More than that she’s very
level-headed and never gets carried away but will stay calm in a crisis. She’s a great person to have
around when things go wrong.
Someone who is strongminded
have a strong character/be strong-willed – do what you want even when there is opposition
assertive – someone who is confident enough to say what they want
have/get your own way – make other people do what you want
be a force of nature – have a very strong character and be able to make other people do what you
want even against their will
never takes no for an answer – someone who is not put off by opposition
doesn’t let the grass grow under her feet – someone who takes immediate action
direct – someone who is honest and clear and does not worry too much about politeness – can be a
negative term
always get straight to the point – be direct in the way you speak
call a spade a spade – an idiom for someone who is direct
Alice is certainly an assertive character and she almost gets her own her way – there are very few
people who are able to stand up to her. I suppose you could almost say she’s like a force of nature
in this respect. And while I do admire her for strength of mind there are times when she won’t take
no for an answer and won’tt compromise at all and this can make her difficult to deal with.
Family people
a typical family man – someone who prefers to spend his time at home with his family
put your family first – the family is more important than career
very maternal – the quality of a mother – be caring and supportive
be a chip of the old block – be very similar to your mother/father
Good relationships
get on like a house on fire
Have an extremely good relationship/ be very close friends

As soon as we met each other we got on like a house on fire and just took an instant liking to each
other.
have a soft spot for
To like someone .We often use this when it’s slightly surprising that we like the person.

I always had a soft spot for Maria despite the fact that she often let me down. [to let someone down
is to disappoint them]
get along with
To have a good relationship with. This is a fairly neutral phrase. You can get along with someone
even though you may not like them that much.

I suppose I always got along quite well with my sister when we were growing up.
look up to
To admire or respect. We normally use this of someone who is older or more senior than us. Note
that its opposite is look down on.
When I was a child I always looked up to my father. He was a real role model for me.
speak the same language
If you speak the same language as someone, you have similar ideas and thoughts as them

I think one reason we get on so well is that we really speak the same language as each other.
There’s almost nothing we disagree about.
be on the same wavelength
This is another idiom meaning to have similar thoughts and ideas as someone else.

We’re almost exactly on the same wavelength as each other and agree about almost everything.
Check your knowledge
Bad relationships
fall out
To have a serious disagreement. Note that you fall out with someone over or about something. Note
too that there is a noun phrase have a falling out
We used to get on pretty well but then we fell out with each other when we went to university.
a rocky relationship
To have a relationship that is unsteady and perhaps sometimes fails completely. It is quite similar
to a love-hate relationship.
It was quite a rocky relationship as we used to argue with each other all the time and we sometimes
went days without speaking to each other.
can’t stand
If you can’t stand someone. you hate them.

I couldn’t stand my brother when we were younger. I guess it was an extreme case of sibling rivalry.

turn sour
When a relationship turns sour it becomes bad.

I think our relationship turned sour when she refused to help me.
get off on the wrong foot with
This is to start a relationship in the wrong way.

Although we are now good friends, our relationship got off on the wrong foot and initially we couldn’t
stand each other.
clear the air
You clear the air after an argument to settle differences with someone.

There are times when we have serious disagreements, but we always manage to clear the air
afterwards.
get on someone’s nerves
If someone gets on your nerves, they irritate you greatly.

Despite the fact that she is a nice person and has many good qualities, she still gets on my nerves
and I find it hard to like her.
let someone down
If someone lets you down, they disappoint you in some way. They are unreliable. Note that you need
to put the person before the preposition down.

I do like her, but there was one occasion when she let me down quite badly.
look down on
To think that you are more important than someone else. This is really the opposite of look up to.
One thing I don’t like about him is that he looks down on people who are less intelligent than him.
How to answer speaking questions about
shopping
In this lesson I show you ways to talk about shopping for IELTS in part 1 speaking. The questions
about shopping are divided into the types of question you are most likely to get in IELTS speaking.

You’ll also find lots of shopping vocabulary and idioms for shopping that you can borrow for
shopping marked in bold. Note that the best vocabulary to use

is precise: the best words are often quite simple but they are exact in meaning e.g. retail
park or loyalty card
contains common word combinations: one of the best ways to use words is to put them together
to make common phrases e.g. do the shopping or get a discount
that is varied: it’s okay to repeat language when we speak but you also want some variation too
might be idiomatic: idioms are great to use if you are confident about them. They aren’t necessary
but they can make your language sound more advanced e.g. go on a shopping spree or window
shop
Questions about shopping
The idea is you look at the questions, think about my possible answers and then make them true for
you by using the vocabulary at the bottom of the lesson.

Habit questions
These questions ask you about your everyday shopping habits. Typically you’ll use present simple or
past simple tenses to answer them and you may want to use other time phrases to say how often.
Note the use of if clauses int here examples to vary the grammar.

Where do you normally shop?

It depends slightly on what sort of shopping I’m doing. If I’m just doing the groceries, I’ll go to the
supermarket, but if I need a little retail therapy then I generally go to the retail park where there’s
every sort of shop available and I canwindow shop to my heart’s content.
When you do go shopping?
Typically I do the shopping at the weekend. There are times though when I’ll pop out to the local
corner shop or newsagents if I need a paper or a bottle of milk.
Experience and time questions
These questions ask you about different times when you have shopped. Be careful how you use
tenses. Past questions should normally be answered in the past. While it is normal to sue a present
perfect at the start of a present perfect question , you may go on to use other tenses too.

Have you ever bought anything online?

Yes I have and I shop online fairly regularly. I do my grocery shopping online nowadays
because it’s much more convenient to have it delivered to your door isn’t it? And you get a
discount if you use your loyalty card. But I still preferto shop for clothes on the high street.
I prefer to try things on before I buy them.
When was the last time you bought a present for someone?
I guess it was for my wife’s birthday – that was just last month. I got her flowers of course but then I
also got her a ring – it was an absolute bargain as it was in the sales.
Likes/dislikes questions
These are questions that ask you about what you like and dislike. Some of the language you need
here is the language of likes and dislikes.

Do you prefer to shop in big stores or small shops?

I mostly prefer to shop in department stores. You get a much better selection there and
the customer service is generally much better too. Sometimes I go to small boutiques for clothes
shopping – it can be more fun.
Is there any kind of shopping you don’t enjoy?
To be honest I dislike most shopping. When I need a pair of shoes I just buy the first ones I see.
When I was younger though I was a bit of a shopaholic and went on shopping sprees all the time
– mostly for music and gadgets.
Your country/home town questions and opinion
questions
These are question where you may need to use more “opinion vocabulary” and one way to extend
your answers is to give a reason for that opinion.

What kind of shops are most popular where you live?

That’s a really hard question to answer because there are so many different shops. But I guess the
new shopping mallsare where most people go and they are more popular nowadays than the old
markets. That’s probably because there are more facilities there and they’re just warmer and nicer
places to be – outside can be cold in winter!
What are the advantages of shopping online?
I suppose the biggest advantage is that you normally get much more choice than you do on the high
street. The you go online you can get something from almost any country in the world now – that’s
not exactly the same as in regular shops where you just find the same old produce.
Shopping idioms and vocabulary
shop and words for shop
Shop is an important word with different combinations to learn:

go shopping = a general phrase

do the shopping = when you buy things you need probably from the supermarkey
shop around = not buy the first thing you see but look for better value or the best product
get = shop!!
purchase/make a purchase = a less common way of saying shop
types of shop
One question you might get is to talk about different types of shop. Here are some for you to think
about. I have left out a lot of specialist shops:

a corner shop = a small, local shop that sells a little of everything – it needn’t be on a corner
a newsagents = a shop that sells newspapers
a chemist’s/pharmacy = a chemist’s is the British way of talking about a pharmacy or a shop that
sells medicines
a department store = a large store that sells a range of items in different departments such as food
and clothing etc
a supermarket = a large shop that sells many different kinds of goods and food
a hypermarket = a larger supermarket
a market = an open area where there are different stalls selling goods/food
a farmers market = a market that specialises in food sold directly by farmers
a flea market = a market where antiques and second hand goods are sold
a second hand shop = a shop where used goods are sold
a discount store/pound shop = a shop where all the goods are sold at a discount
a boutique = a smaller shop normally specialising in clothes
an online retailer = a shop that is on the internet
a shopping channel = a television channel that is dedicated to promoting sales
places
the high street = a British term for the main street in a town/city where the largest shops are
a mall = a building where there are several different shops
a shopping centre = another term for a mall
a retail park = an area normally on the outskirts of a town/city with several large retail outlets
ways of shopping/types of shopper
to browse = to look for goods in shop before you buy
to window shop = to go shopping without meaning to buy anything
be a shopaholic = a fun term meaning that you are addicted to shopping
go on a shopping spree = to go shopping and buys lots of items that you may not be able to afford
to indulge in some retail therapy = a fun term meaning that you go shopping to make yourself feel
better
to bargain = to try and reduce the price you pay for something
to look for bargains = to look for goods that are good value
be a fashion victim = be the type of person who must have the latest fashion
to try something on = to put on clothes to see if they are your size
to shop online = to shop on the internet
to do the grocery shopping = technically to buy fruit and vegetables, but normally used to mean to
buy food and drinks for the household
price and money
be on sale = be at a cheaper price than normal
the sales = a time when most/some goods are on sale
be pricey = be quite expensive
be affordable = you have enough money to buy it
be value for money = not the same as cheap, rather it means that it is worth the money you spent
on it
ask for a discount = ask to pay less
get a refund = ask to get your money back if the goods are faulty in some way
to cost an arm and a leg = an idiom meaning very expensive
make an impulse purchase/buy = buy something when you didn’t mean to
be careful with money = not spend more money than you need to
be on a budget = not have much to spend or only spend the money you have
other ideas
have a loyalty card = have a card from a shop that offers you a discount or some special offer
be a loyal customer = use the same shop for a long period of time
offer good customer service = help the customer
opening hours = when the shop is open
Useful time phrases to help you say more
When you are asked about your habits you should think about how consistent that habit is. This
normally gives you more to say. If you say you do something sometimes, then you can say what you
do other times. If you say you do something always, then you can explain why.

absolutely always
mostly
quite often or fairly often
from time to time
occasionally
generally
consistently
regularly
on a regular basis
typically
every week/Monday
daily
most days a week
rarely
seldom/rarely
once in blue moon (idiom meaning very rarely)
Other phrases for habits
If you want to avoid the more normal time phrases you could try some of these:

My routine is
I don’t have fixed routine
On a typical day I
My habits vary
I like to keep things varied
Ideas for extending your answers when talking
about habits
Frequency
Think about how often you do something and explain what you do the rest of the time or explain why
you do it so often
I don’t have a fixed routine really. Sometimes I go for a walk before I go to bed. It’s also quite usual
for me just to sit and read a book for an hour or so.
Exceptions and examples
This is a similar idea. Even if you do have a regular habit then there may be times when you break
that habit – this is an exception. You can also go on to give an example of that exception

I almost always go for a walk before I go to bed but there are exceptions I suppose.Lat week for
instance I was feeling really sick and didn’t feel like going out so I just stayed in to watch tv.
Reasons
Think why you have that habit

I generally play football in the afternoon because that is when I have more free time and it makes a
nice break after studying in the morning.
Results
Think about what happens as a result of that habit

I very seldom ride a bicycle nowadays so I’m not nearly as fit as I used to be when I did ride every
day.
Comparisons
Compare your habits now with the past

I fairly often watch the news on tv – it’s about every other evening I guess. But this is quite a new
development I would never watch the news on tv when I was younger.