English dictation exercises

The ball is in your court

You have sent the proposal and answered every question. Nothing else can happen until the client responds. Whose responsibility is the next move?

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

The bottom line

A long meeting produces dozens of details, but everyone needs one clear conclusion. Which phrase brings the discussion back to what matters most?

5-second sample
American, British, Australian

The elephant in the room

Everyone at dinner speaks politely, although two guests have stopped talking to each other. The problem is obvious, but nobody mentions it.

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

The final straw

The train is repeatedly late, crowded, and unreliable. One more cancellation finally makes a commuter decide to drive instead.

5-second sample
American, British, Australian

The upper hand

Two companies negotiate, but only one owns the technology both sides need. That advantage gives one side much greater control over the agreement.

5-second sample
American, British, Australian

To bend over backwards

A colleague changes her schedule, calls three suppliers, and stays late to solve your problem. Saying she tried hard does not capture the extraordinary effort.

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

To cut it fine

Your train leaves in twenty minutes, but the journey to the station normally takes eighteen. You might arrive, although almost nothing can go wrong.

3-second sample
American, British, Australian

To get a word in edgeways

One person has talked for ten uninterrupted minutes. You have something useful to add, but every pause disappears before you can begin.

3-second sample
American, British, Australian

To jump ship

A company loses its biggest clients, and several senior employees immediately accept jobs elsewhere. Their timing suggests more than an ordinary career change.

5-second sample
American, British, Australian

To not lift a finger

Three people cook, carry boxes, and clean the room while a fourth person watches from the sofa. How do you emphasise that the watcher contributed nothing?

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

To pull the plug

A promising project keeps losing money. Its sponsor finally ends the funding, and the whole operation must stop immediately.

5-second sample
American, British, Australian

To put someone on the spot

During a public meeting, someone unexpectedly asks you to choose which colleague should lose their budget. Everyone waits for your immediate answer.

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

Top-drawer: Praise High Quality

6-second sample
American, British, Australian

Torn between

One job offers meaningful work near your family. Another offers better pay in a city you love. Both choices matter, and neither feels easy.

6-second sample
American, British, Australian

Touch a nerve

A casual remark about school closures suddenly changes your friend's expression. You did not intend harm, but the subject connects with a painful experience.

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

Trauma meaning: physical injury and shock

6-second sample
American, British, Australian

Ubiquitous: How to Use It

6-second sample
American, British, Australian

Up in the air

You may travel next month, but the dates, budget, and permission are undecided. The trip has not been cancelled, yet nothing is settled.

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

Up to scratch

A report contains good ideas, but several figures are wrong and key evidence is missing. It is not terrible, although it cannot be accepted yet.

3-second sample
American, British, Australian

Up to speed

You return after two weeks away. The project has changed, and you need the latest decisions before you can contribute confidently again.

5-second sample
American, British, Australian

Vague Meaning: Choose Clearer Words

6-second sample
American, British, Australian

Vain meaning: pride and failed efforts

4-second sample
American, British, Australian

Verb patterns: choose the right form

5-second sample
American, British, Australian

Vulnerable: Meaning and Everyday Use

4-second sample
American, British, Australian