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 B2 English listening?
You can practise B2 English listening on MicroEnglish, which has more than 120 upper-intermediate lessons. Browse lessons by topic, accent, and length, with British English throughout. The short, listening-first lessons teach one idiom, phrasal verb, word, or grammar point at a time. Practise connected speech, phrasal verbs, and implied meaning, then finish each lesson with dictation practice. The library includes 64 idiom lessons, 60 micro-listening lessons, and one grammar lesson.
- All lessons are at B2 level.
- The lessons use British English.
- Practise 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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Albeit Meaning: Use Clear Formal Contrasts
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Although, though, even though: Connect contrasting ideas
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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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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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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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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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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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Cynical Meaning: How to Use It
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Despicable Meaning: Strong Moral Judgment
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Dichotomy Meaning: Two Opposing Sides
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Distributive Adjectives: Choose Each and Every
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Easier said than done
Someone tells you to stop worrying before an important interview. The advice is sensible, but following it feels much harder than giving it. How can you respond?
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Educational Goals Essay: Planning Your Main Steps
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Elicit or Illicit: How to Choose
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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.
