We have a great variety of ways to thank people and showing appreciation for a gift or an act of kindness. Here are ten of the most common phrases.

Saying “Thank You” in English – Top 10 Expressions

Thanks.

Cheers.

These phrases are fairly informal. People often say them without really thinking about it. We use them when somebody does something small to help you.

Thank you very much.

I really appreciate it.

You've made my day.

These ones are more formal. We use these when somebody has done something quite large or important to help you.

How thoughtful.

We use this phrase when somebody gives you a present. We are saying thank you to the other person for thinking about you and deciding to give a present.

You shouldn't have.

This is also for receiving a present. You are saying that the other person is too generous. It does NOT mean that the person speaking is angry or annoyed.

That's so kind of you.

I am most grateful.

We would like to express our gratitude.

These phrases are more formal. The last one is especially formal and is only used in business letters and formal speeches.

http://www.englishpassio.com/2015/06/top-10-most-common-phrases-to-say-thank.html?m=1

When we give our opinion, we say what we think, feel or believe about something or somebody.

Below are some phrases that you can use to help express opinions. Some of these phrases are more appropriate for written English such as giving your opinion in an essay whereas some can also be used in spoken English.

How to give your opinion in English?

Personal Point of View

We use these words and phrases to express a personal point of view:

“In my experience…”

“As far as I'm concerned…”

“I’m absolutely convinced…”

“Speaking for myself…”

“In my opinion…”

“Personally, I think…”

“I'd say that…”

“I'd suggest that…”

“I'd like to point out that…”

“I believe that…”

“What I mean is…”

“It’s obvious to me…”

There are at least 3 ways to give a personal opinion.

1. We can express a strong opinion

Some people are very opinionated, which means they are certain about what they think and believe and express their ideas and opinions strongly and frequently. They love and can’t stop themselves expressing their opinions, even when they know nothing about the topic. I’m sure you know this type of person.

We use these words and phrases to express a strong opinion.

"I'm absolutely convinced that…"

"I'm sure that…"

"I strongly believe that…"

"I have no doubt that…"

"There's no doubt in my mind that…"

For Example:

“I’m absolutely convinced that the best way to improve your English is to live in an English-speaking country such as the US.”

“It’s obvious to me that the best way to improve your English is by using English, not studying English.”

2. We can express our opinion neutrally

Many people are more cautious and careful when asked to give their opinions. They prefer not to be so certain about their own ideas and opinions and try to keep an open mind.

So, we can express a cautious or reluctant opinion when we show that we are not certain about what we think or we are reluctant to express what we believe.

"I think…"

"I feel that…"

"In my opinion…"

"As far as I'm concerned…"

"In my view…"

"I tend to think that…"

“I suppose that…”

“It seems to me that…”

“I must admit that I’m not sure…”

For Example:

"As far as I understand it, you need to practice on a regular basis if you want to improve your English."

"It seems to me that there is no best way to learn English. Each person has to find a strategy or method that works for them."

3. We can express a subjective opinion

 We can express our opinion based ONLY on our own personal experience.

“In my experience…”

“I don’t know about other people, but I can say…”

“What I’ve found is…”

“As I see it…”

For Example

“I don’t know about other people, but I can say that taking English classes helped me to improve my English.”

“In my experience, watching and listening to films and TV in English can really help.”

General Point of View

We can express an objective opinion, based on research or what we have heard or read. In this way, we distance ourselves from the opinion to show that maybe it’s not what we personally believe.

We use these words and phrases to express a point of view that is generally thought by people:

“It is thought that...”

“Some people say that...”

“It is considered...”

“It is generally accepted that...”

“The research seems to suggest…”

“Apparently…”

I’ve heard that…”

For Example:

“Some people say that watching and listening to films and TV in English can really help”

“It is generally accepted that going to an English-speaking country is the best way to improve your English”

How to ask for someone’s opinion in English?

We use these words and phrases to ask for someone’s opinion.

"What do you think?"

"What's your view?"

"How do you see the situation?"

"What's your opinion?"

Agreeing with an opinion

We use these words and phrases to agree with someone else's point of view:

Of course.

You're absolutely right.

Yes, I agree.

I think so too.

That's a good point.

Exactly.

I don't think so either.

So do I.

I'd go along with that.

That's true.

Neither do I.

I agree with you entirely.

That's just what I was thinking.

I couldn't agree more.

Disagreeing with an opinion

We use these words and phrases to disagree with someone else's point of view:

That's different.

I don't agree with you.

However…

That's not entirely true.

On the contrary…

I'm sorry to disagree with you, but…

Yes, but don't you think…

That's not the same thing at all.

I'm afraid I have to disagree.

I'm not so sure about that.

I must take issue with you on that.

It's unjustifiable to say that...

http://www.englishpassio.com/2015/06/how-to-give-your-opinion-in-english.html?m=1

1. It’s all Greek to me – we use this expression when we cannot understand something we read or hear

“I recently read this book on Metaphysics. Did you understand it, because it was all Greek to me”.

 To je pre mňa španielska dedina. 

2. Go Dutch – we go Dutch when we go to a restaurant and share the bill.

“Rachel does not like her male companion to offer her dinner. She always prefers to go Dutch”.

 Platiť každý sám za seba. 

3.  Chinese Whispers (UK) – this expression is often used as a metaphor for mistakes and inaccurate information which comes from rumours of gossip.

“All this talk about the Prime Minister resigning is just Chinese Whispers. There’s no truth in the rumour”

 Tichá pošta. 

4. Talk for England – when someone can talk for hours and hours

“I’m so sorry I’m late. I couldn’t get away from Linda. She can talk for England!”

Veľa rozprávať, byť utáraný. 

5. Dutch Courage – when you need a little alcohol to give you the courage or confidence to do something.

“I think I’ll have a quick drink for Dutch Courage before I ask that girl to dance with me”.

Opilecká guráž. 

6. Pardon My French (UK) – we use this expression before or after we have said something rude, for example, a swear word.

” If you’ll pardon my French, but I think you’re a %^&*!”

 S prepáčením.. 

7. A Mexican Standoff – this expression is often used in a business situation when two sides cannot agree.

” There appears to be a Mexican Standoff as neither party can agree on the terms of the merger”.

 Patová situácia, mŕtvy bod, obojstranné vyčkávanie 

8. Indian Summer (UK) – a period in late autumn when the weather is unusually warm

“Much as I love this Indian Summer,  I wish we had this warm weather in the summer rather than in October”. 

 Babie leto. 

9. Slow Boat to China – we use this expression to describe something that is very slow and takes a long time. 

“Waiting for the architects to produce their plans was like taking the slow boat to China”.

 Príliš pomaly a dlho.  

10. Too Many Chiefs and Not Enough Indians – this is often used to describe a company where there are too many managers and not enough people doing the actual work

“The trouble with that company is that there are too many chiefs and not enough Indians”.

Veľa náčelníkov a málo indiánov. 

http://englishwithatwist.com/2013/07/08/10-idioms-in-english-using-nationalities-and-countries/

Hiring and firing

take on = hire someone: "They're taking on more than 500 people at the canning factory."

get the boot = be fired: "She got the boot for being lazy."

give someone the sack = fire someone: "He was given the sack for stealing."

give someone their marching orders = fire someone: "After the argument, he was given his marching orders."

How do you work?

get your feet under the table = get settled in: "It only took him a week to get his feet under the table, then he started to make changes."

burn the candle at both ends = work day and night at something: "He's been burning the candle at both ends to finish this project."

knuckle under = stop wasting time and start working: "The sooner you knuckle under and start work, the better."

put pen to paper = start writing: "She finally put pen to paper and wrote the letter."

work all the hours that God sends = work as much as possible: "She works all the hours that God sends to support her family."

work your fingers to the bone = work very hard: "I work my fingers to the bone for you."

go the extra mile = do more than is expected of you: "She's a hard worker and always goes the extra mile."

pull your weight = do your fair share of the work: "He's a good team worker and always pulls his weight."

pull your socks up = make a better effort: "You'll have to pull your socks up and work harder if you want to impress the boss!"

put your feet up = relax: "At last that's over – now I can put my feet up for a while."

Office politics and relationships

get on the wrong side of someone = make someone dislike you: "Don't get on the wrong side of him. He's got friends in high places!"

butter someone up = be very nice to someone because you want something: "If you want a pay rise, you should butter up the boss."

the blue-eyed boy = a person who can do nothing wrong: "John is the blue-eyed boy at the moment – he's making the most of it!"

get off on the wrong foot = start off badly with someone: "You got off on the wrong foot with him – he hates discussing office politics."

be in someone's good (or bad) books = be in favour (or disfavour) with someone: "I'm not in her good books today – I messed up her report."

a mover and shaker = someone whose opinion is respected: "He's a mover and shaker in the publishing world."

pull a few strings = use your influence for something: "I had to pull a few strings to get this assignment."

take the rap for something = take the blame for something: "They made a mistake, but we had to take the rap for it."

call in a favour = ask someone to return a favour: "I need a holiday – I'm going to call in a few favours and ask the others to cover for me."

put your cards on the table = tell people what you want: "You have to put your cards on the table and tell her that you want a pay rise!"

beat around the bush = not say exactly what you want: "Tell me – don't beat around the bush!"

sit on the fence = be unable to decide about something: "When there are arguments, she just sits on the fence and says nothing."

pass the buck = pass on responsibility to someone else: "The CEO doesn't pass the buck. In fact, he often says "the buck stops here!"

take someone under your wing = look after someone: "When he was taken on, Sarah took him under her wing."

show someone the ropes = show someone how things are done: "My predecessor showed me the ropes, so I felt quite confident."

be thrown in at the deep end = not get any advice or support: "He was thrown in at the deep end with his new job. No-one helped him at all."

a them and us situation = when you (us) are opposed to "them": "The atmosphere between the two departments is terrible. There's a real them and us situation."

http://www.english-at-home.com/idioms/work-idioms/

PUT ON (to place something on a surface or person)

Put your items on the counter please.
Why don’t you put on that new jacket you bought yesterday?

TRY ON (to test an item to see if it is suitable)

Can I try these dresses on somewhere please?

TRY OUT (to test something to see if you like it)

I’d like to try out this lipstick colour please, do you have a tester for it?

THROW ON (to wear something casually)

I’m looking for a simple, comfortable dress that I can just throw on.

DROP IN (to visit someone casually)

Drop in during your lunch break when you have more time, and I’ll help you find the right pair of shoes for you.

POUR IN (enter in high quantity)

The supermarket was so busy over the Christmas weekend. The customers started pouring in, as soon as the doors opened!

POP IN (to visit someone, informal)

I’ll book you an appointment, and you can pop in for a consultation with one of our opticians.

BROUGHT IN (to make something new for the first time)

We have brought in a brand new summer collection now, so the old winter range is on sale.

CAVE IN (to surrender or give up to persuasion)

The shop assistant was so convincing that this dress was the best one for me, that I caved inand bought it, even though it was so expensive!

THROW IN/CHUCK IN (to include in addition to something – ‘chuck’ is more informal than throw)

If you buy this laptop, I’ll chuck in a free laptop case for you.

END UP (to finally make a decision abut something, after lengthy consideration)

I couldn’t decide which one to buy, so I ended up buying both of them

COME UP (when something is approaching/arriving)

I need to buy a gift for my friend, his birthday is coming up.

TAKE UP (to choose to start doing something new)

I’m thinking of taking up the violin, could you buy one for my next birthday please?

BRING DOWN (reduce the amount of something)

We have brought down the prices, because we’re having a huge sale before the winter!

TURN DOWN (to refuse or reject something)

He bought a really expensive watch for me, but I turned it down. I couldn’t accept it!

POP OUT (to leave to go somewhere for a short time)

I’m just going to pop out to the cash machine, could you save these items for me please?
I’m just popping out to buy some bread and milk from the local store.

OPT OUT (to choose not to be a part of something)

They gave me the option of getting everything on credit, but I opted out because I prefer buying things upfront, than being in debt.

RULE OUT (to decide that something is not suitable / remove something from a list of options)

I’m not sure which laptop to buy. I think I’ll rule out this one, because it’s too expensive. Now I just have to decide between these two.

PHASE OUT (to gradually remove something from existence in one place)

Sorry, we don’t sell those anymore. We phased them out last year, because they weren’t very popular.

SELL OUT (to sell the whole supply of something)

I’m afraid all those watches have sold out now; they were very popular over Christmas!

HELP OUT (to assist someone)

Could you help me out please? I can’t do the zip up on this dress!

DO UP (to fasten something)

Could you do the zip up on this dress for me please?

STAND OUT (to be distinctive or more noticeable than others)

This sweater stands out from the rest. I love the vibrant colours!

WALK OUT ON (to abandon someone angrily)

I was so disappointed with their service, that I just walked out on them, and I didn’t pay!

PAY OFF (to pay back all you owe)

I have finally paid off all the money I owed on my credit card! It’s such a relief!

PULL OFF (to succeed in doing something difficult)

Wow, not many people can pull off that outfit, but you look stunning in it!

TOP OFF (to end or finish something in a special way)

I got an amazing deal on this computer, and to top it off, they gave me an extra three years free warranty!!

RIP OFF (to charge someone excessively)

They ripped you off! I bought that for half the price in a different store!

GIVE BACK (to return something)

I’ll have to give this ring back to Tom, because he broke off the engagement.

TAKE BACK (to decide on returning something in the near future)

I’m going to take this back to the store, and see if I can get a different colour.

PAY BACK (to pay what you owe)

If you get our loyalty card now, you won’t have to pay the whole amount today, instead you can pay us back in installments each month.

TALK OVER (to discuss something before making a decision)

I do love this sofa, but I’ll need to talk it over with my wife before committing to buying it.

http://www.myenglishteacher.eu/blog/shopping-vocabulary/