원어민들이 많이 쓰는 필수 영어표현

1. 성대모사하다. 모방하다 따라하다 : mimic, copy, imitate.

성대모사하다 : Do an impression of someone ex) Can you do any impressions of famous people?

특기, 십팔번 : speciality, forte

 

2. 득템했다. ex) I only paid a dollar for it. / It was a steal! (거저나 마찬가지였어요) I got a good deal. / I got a bargain on it. (아주 싸게 샀어요)

 

3. 기대하다. Look forward to, not look forward to ex) I'm looking forward to meeting him. (그와의 만남이 기대돼요) I'm expecting to meet him. (그를 만날 것 같아요, 만나기로 되어 있어요) I'm really not looking forward to it. (하기 싫어요, 그거 해야하는 날이 안왔으면 좋겠어요) 회식 : staff party, company get-together / MT : staff retreat, workshop, training.

 

4. 편애하다. Play favorites. ex) The boss always plays favorites. (우리 사장님이 항상 편애하세요) I'm playing hard to get. (튕기고 있어요) She's the teacher's pet. (선생님이 편애하시는 애예요, 약간 놀리는) He's a real goody-goody. (걔는 정말 범생이에요)

 

5. 타고난 ~ He;s a born leader. He was born to dance. ( 타고난 무용수예요)

 

6. 난 항상 네편이야 I'm always on your side. I don't want to take sides. (누구 편도 들고 싶지 않아요) I don't want to get wrapped up in this. / I'm staying out of this. (이 싸움에 별로 끼고 싶지 않아요) Whose side are you on, anyway? (너 그래서 누구편이야?)

 

7. 늦잠자다 sleep in (일부러 늦게까지 자다) / oversleep (실수로 늦게까지 자다) I'm going to sleep in tomorrow. (내일 늦게까지 잘 거예요) I''m so sorry I was late. I overslept. (늦어서 죄송한데.. 오늘 [알람소리 못듣고] 늦잠 잤어요) I needed to get caught up on my sleep, so I slept in today.

 

8. 눈치있다 눈치없다 He's oblivious. You couldn't tell she was into you? You're so oblivious. No tact! 눈치 있는/빠른 : perceptive, tactful, observant, considerate, sensitive to the needs of others. *Let's pretend that's the case. (그렇다고 칩시다)

 

9. 일부러 / 실수로 I did it by accident. / I did it on purpose. I called you by accident. (잘못 눌러서 [실수로] 전화했어요) I knocked the phone off the table by accident. (실수로 전화기를 테이블에서 떨어트렸어요) 우연히: coincidentally, by chance, as fate would have it What a coincidence! (우연의 일치군요!) 

 

10. (어떤 음식이) 땡겨요 I could really go for a burger! (버거 정말 땡기네요!) I'm really craving chocolate. I have a craving for chocolate. I've had a hankering for a burger all day long. / I've been hankering for a burger.

 

11. 감동적이다 It was touching, It was moving. Your handwritten letter was so touching! (손편지 받고 정말 감동했어요) (x) Dear my friend. (o) My dear friend. *Bear that in mind (그거 명심하세요) 

 

12. 그때 그때 달라요 It depends... It depends on the weather. 

 

13. 뒤끝 있다. He holds a grudge. / He doesn't hold a grudge.

 

14. 나 만만한 사람 아니야 I'm not a pushover! Did you take me for a pushover?

 

15. 연상, 연하 He's five years my senior. (나보다 5살 많아요) He married a woman (who is) 12 years his senior Senior executives (회사의) 최고간부 Who has seniority? (누가 선배에요?)

 

16. 응원하다 Pull for someone / root for someone Who are you pulling for? A: I'm watching the Olympics. B:Oh really? Who are you rooting for? Who are you cheering for? He was a Clinton supporter. He was a supporter of Hillary Clinton.

 

17. 화풀이 하다. take something out on someone Don't take it out on me! I need to vent for a minute. (잠깐 화풀이할게요, 잠깐 넋두리 할게요)

 

18. 엿듣다, 엿보다 Eavesdrop on someone The eaves of a roof (지붕의 처마) My mom was eavesdropping on my telephone calls. He was spying on his neighbors. He kept trying to eavesdrop on their conversation. He overheard their conversation. I couldn't help but overhear/ (일부러 들으려고 했던 건 아니지만 아까 한 말이 들렸는데..)

 

19. Blue-collar, White-collar It's a blue-collar job. (육체 노동 일자리예요) It's a white-collar job. (사부직이예요) Redneck: 시골에 사는 보수적인 백인 노동자를 낮춰서 부르는 말

 

20. 아예 갔어요 Are you leaving for good? (아예 가는거예요?) 영원히 : forever, eternally 아예 : for good

 

21. 핑계 대지마. Stop making excuses! I've had enough of your excuses. (네 핑계 듣는거 지겨워) I've had enough of your BS!(bullshit) (네 말도 안되는 소리 더 이상 듣고 싶지 않아)

 

22. 이상형 Ideal girlfriend / ideal boyfriend > ideal type Describe your dream girlfriend Describe your ideal date (꿈의 데이트 코스 얘기해 보세요)

 

23. 들르다. drop by, drop in, stop by We dropped by the store on the way home. (집 가는 길에 가게에 들렀어요) *We got sidetracked again. (우리 또 삼천포로 빠졌어요)

 

24. 빵 터지다. I kept cracking up. (계속 빵 터졌어요) I was trying to keep a straight face, but I kept cracking up. Burst out laughing The audience burst into laughter.

 

25. 시간 가는 줄 몰랐어요 lost track of the time. We had so much fun that we completely lost track of the time. I'm so sorry. I lost track of the time.