Keep the contrast
Listen for words such as but and although. Check how the words that follow change the message.
Focused listening library
B2 listening lesson library
Browse upper-intermediate lessons by topic, accent, and length. Practise connected speech, phrasal verbs, and implied meaning.
Where can I practise upper-intermediate English listening?
You can practise upper-intermediate English listening on MicroEnglish, which has more than 100 lessons. This B2 library contains short, listening-first lessons covering grammar, idioms, phrasal verbs and individual words. Browse lessons by topic, accent and length, including practice with connected speech and implied meaning. Every lesson teaches one idiom, phrasal verb, word or grammar point and ends with dictation practice. All lessons use British English.
- Practise short, listening-first English lessons.
- Explore grammar, idioms, phrasal verbs and words.
- Lessons cover connected speech and implied meaning.
A ballpark guess
A ballpark guess is a rough numerical estimate based on general knowledge to help people make early plans.
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Above board
Above board describes actions or deals that are honest and legal, with nothing hidden.
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Ad Hoc: Meaning and Daily Use
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Adjective clauses: choose the right word
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Aesthetic or Ascetic: Style or Strict Discipline
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Albeit Meaning: Use Clear Formal Contrasts
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Allusion or Illusion: How to Choose
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Although, though, even though: Connect contrasting ideas
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Arbitrary: Meaning and Everyday Use
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At first glance
At first glance introduces how something appears when first seen before a closer look reveals new facts.
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Attitude Adverbs: A Practical Guide
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Backlog
You answer five old emails, but twelve more are still waiting. What do you call the work that has built up behind you?
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Bend the rules
Bend the rules means to relax or ignore a standard regulation slightly for someone in a harmless situation.
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Born or Borne: Choosing the Right Form
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Breathing down my neck
Breathe down someone's neck means to watch someone closely in a stressful way, or to approach quickly as an urgent deadline.
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By the book
Following set rules, laws, or standard steps strictly without taking shortcuts.
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Capricious Meaning: Unpredictable Changes
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Caveat Meaning: One Condition to Remember
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Come out of your shell
Come out of your shell means to become less shy and more willing to talk with other people.
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Compound Conjunctions: How to Link Ideas
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Corner the market
One company sells nearly every reusable bottle in a city, and competing shops struggle to attract buyers. How can you describe the company's position?
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Correlative conjunctions: rules and examples
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Crossed wires
You arrive for a meeting on Tuesday, but your colleague expects you on Thursday. Neither person meant to cause a problem. How can you describe what happened?
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Cut to the chase
Cut to the chase means to stop wasting time on minor details and talk directly about the most important subject.
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How this practice helps
Follow the main message and the details that change it: a contrast, a reason, or an expression that is not literal.
Use the examples to check meaning, then listen again for the exact wording.
Your level route
Practise with support, try a test, then review the words you missed.
Review exact wording
A missed word may change the grammar or only the detail. Compare your answer with the transcript to see which happened.
Compare available accents
Once the wording is familiar, choose another voice offered for that clip. Listen for what becomes harder or easier.
