by: Eduardo Oliveira
Have you ever been in a classroom, listening intently to a lecture, when suddenly the professor says something like, “This is the crux of the matter,” “In a nutshell,” or “Don’t beat around the bush,” and you find yourself completely lost? It can feel as if you have wandered into a dark cave, missing out on crucial information due to these unfamiliar phrases.
Many students who have learned English as a second/additional language have become proficient in speaking and listening, but may still struggle with the specialized language used in academic settings. But do not worry! This blog is here to help you bridge the gap and navigate the complex world of English academic language.
Given the oddities of these idioms and academic jargon, understanding them can often be challenging; they might either be easy to remember or tough to recall. Our hope is for you to become familiar with these commonly used phrases and expressions. A second step is to start incorporating these terms into your conversations as this will significantly enhance your academic communication skills. Lastly, the examples shown below can always be used as reference sheets to help you along the way.
After surveying a diverse group of instructors and students about the most significant sayings, we’ve narrowed it down to the essential ones for thriving in the classroom.
“To piggyback on/off what you said…”
Julie, the Director of The English Language Institute shares that in her experience, “to piggyback on” is a commonly used phrase in class, often serving as a point for introducing new arguments. The phrase evokes the image of following closely behind something. It refers to using an existing idea or work as a foundation for your own ideas, indicating that you is about to take advantage of someone else’s efforts to expand on them more deeply.
Example of use in a sentence: “This discussion on the history of Chicago has been very fruitful, and to piggyback off what Bob said, I believe all present social issues in the city can be traced back to some of the key moments we’ve covered”
“Let me get off my soapbox”
Shane, an ELI Language Pedagogy Specialist, shared one of his favorite sayings, which he frequently employs in his classrooms. The metaphor of “getting off a soapbox” sparks the image of someone stepping down from a box used for public speaking. Shane relates that professors, including himself, often go on long tangents or rants, using this metaphor to return to the key ideas the class is focusing on. This transitional phrase is often associated with carrying a comedic connotation.
Example of use in a sentence: “I’ve been advocating for more parking for years. I’ve written letters; I started a petition. Nothing works. Okay I’ll get off my soapbox now.”
“Keep me in the loop” or “Keep me posted”
To “keep you guys in the loop” means that as the speaker acquires more information, they will inform others regarding any changes. Madeleine, the Senior Programming Assistant for the ELI, highlighted the utility of this short phrase in the classroom context. She noted that she repeatedly heard it from professors and during group discussions. In her own classrooms, she frequently assured students that she would “keep them posted” on future information.
Example of use in a sentence: “New updates regarding the final are coming. Until the exam, I’ll keep you all in the loop if anything changes.”
“Pass the mic/ Now you have the floor”
Amanda, the Senior Operations Manager and Language Pedagogy Jr. Associate, pointed out a significant phrase often used in conferences, panel discussions, and workshops. “To pass the microphone” refers to giving someone else the opportunity to speak by either symbolically or literally handing them a microphone. Its counterpart, “now you have the floor” is often used as a signal by the speaker that the person who is next to speak or who has been seeking attention is now free to express their ideas.”
Example of use in a sentence: “Now we will pass the mic to our new speaker. Dr. Carmen, please take the floor.”
“Don’t beat around the bush”
Shams, an AEPP Instructor, shared an important idiom that he frequently hears as well as teaches in his classroom. In its metaphorical sense, it suggests that someone is circling around an issue without addressing it head-on, much like walking around a box instead of going straight to look to see what’s inside.
Example of use in a sentence: “Instead of beating around the bush, explain how to solve this public policy issue.”
This short list of examples, gathered from ELI and AEPP Staff members, highlights some of the most commonly used phrases essential for learning in academic settings. One of the best ways to succeed at the University of Chicago and make the most of your studies is to listen for and practice these phrases as much as possible. Many instructors recommend using flashcards as memory aids and consistently incorporating these phrases into regular conversations. Mastering English can be difficult, but it is possible. The goal is to become a lifelong learner who is constantly improving their abilities day by day. Best of luck as you develop the English skills needed to navigate your classrooms effectively.
Down below we have provided a reference sheet with a compilation of 20 more significant phrases.
Feel free to comment down below with the phrases you have found to be most helpful!
| Phrase | Definition | Example |
| In light of | After taking something into account now there’s a new conclusion | “In light of newer groundbreaking research” |
| Double-edged sword | Situation that has both positive and negative consequences | “These new finds may prove to be a Double-edged sword” |
| Blanking on | To forget | “I’m blanking on the title of the Book” |
| Take with a grain of salt | To be skeptical | “Take with a grain of salt of how he proposed to solve the issue” |
| Jump on the bandwagon | To support popular ideas or trends that are gaining momentum | “Are you going to jump on the Tik-Tok bandwagon? |
| Flesh it out | To expand on something | “I feel I have a good start to my paper, but I need to flesh it out.” |
| Don’t throw the baby out with the bath water | To get rid of the good of something along with the bad. | “I have to modify a significant portion of my final paper but I’ll keep some key elements so I don’t have to throw the baby out with the bathwater.” |
| You call the shots | You have the say in the matter | “I can’t decide this, so you’ll have to call the shots.” |
| Hit the nail on the head | To be exact or accurate | “You hit the nail on the head with that observation” |
| Bite the bullet | Endure negative consequences | “You will have to bite the bullet and move on” |
| Ground breaking/ Cutting-edge | Revolutionary/ At the forefront of new discovery | “This paper is ground breaking, it is cutting edge scholarship!” |
| Go down the drain | Ideas that have not worked | “My dream has gone down the drain |
| Bring to the table | Addition or advantage which is brought | “What kind of skills will you bring to the table” |
| Ice-breaker | Exercise designed to ease initial tension and encourage interaction | “Let’s start with an ice-breaker, what is your dog’s name?” |
| You can’t have your cake and eat it too | You cannot enjoy two desirable outcomes that are mutually exclusive. | “You can’t have your cake and eat it too. If you want to save money, you’ll have to cut back on your spending” |
| In conjunction with | Synonymous: “In combination with” | “The event will be held in conjunction with the festival.” |
| Get the ball rolling | Start a process or to begin an activity | “Let’s get the ball moving with this essay” |
| Raise the bar | To lift the standard levels | “We need to raise the bar of the quality of these ice creams” |
| “Bite off more than you can chew” | To take more responsibility than you can manage | “Make sure not to bite off more than you can chew with taking too many classes” |