{"id":148303,"date":"2023-11-19T11:16:40","date_gmt":"2023-11-19T16:16:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/casual-english\/"},"modified":"2025-04-02T07:16:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-02T11:16:51","slug":"casual-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/english\/casual-english\/","title":{"rendered":"20+ Casual English Expressions for Improving Your Conversations"},"content":{"rendered":"

Textbooks rarely give insight into real conversations. Learning casual English is vital if you want to understand and be confident when communicating with native speakers.<\/p>\n

Find out what it means to get a kick out of<\/em> something or when it makes more sense to use “I’m” instead of “I am” all in this guide. I also cover the different types of casual English you should know about.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc]<\/p>\n

Casual English Phrases You Need to Know<\/h2>\n

1. What’s up?<\/h3>\n

\"two<\/p>\n

This is a very casual way of saying hello<\/a> while also sneakily<\/em> (indirectly) asking, “How are you?” or “What are you doing?” You can use this when you\u2019re greeting a friend.<\/p>\n

“<\/b>Hey, Jake! What’s up?<\/strong>“<\/em><\/p>\n

“Not much, just grabbing a coffee. How about you?”<\/em><\/p>\n

2. How’s it going?<\/h3>\n

Here\u2019s another greeting that\u2019s similar to \u201cWhat\u2019s up?\u201d What\u2019s nice about this is that the other person can respond however they want\u2014they can give you an update about their life, or simply start talking about any other topic.<\/p>\n

“Hey, long time no see! How’s it going?<\/strong>“<\/em><\/p>\n

“Oh, pretty good. I’m going to a party later.”<\/em><\/p>\n

3. I get it<\/h3>\n

This is a straightforward way of expressing that you understand what the other person is saying. It can be on a logical level, but it can also be in an emotional sense, meaning that you’ve also had a similar experience.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

On the other hand, if you’re confused, there’s also\u00a0the opposite expression: “I don’t get it.”\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I just can’t deal with the traffic anymore.”<\/em><\/p>\n

“I get it<\/strong>. I was so stressed yesterday because it almost made me late.”<\/em><\/p>\n

4. Let’s hang out<\/h3>\n

\"teenage<\/p>\n

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If you have English-speaking friends, I guarantee that you’ll end up using this expression a lot. When you invite someone to hang out, it means you want to spend time with them in a relaxed way. This can be as simple as having a conversation or doing activities like going to a concert together.<\/p>\n

Since you can also use this with a group of people, it\u2019s meant in a friendly way. If you\u2019re interested in someone romantically and you want to make that clear, you would instead say, \u201cLet\u2019s go on a date.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I got this new board game. Ever played Settlers of Catan?”<\/em><\/p>\n

“No, but I’ve heard good things. Let’s hang out<\/strong> and try it!”<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

5. That’s awesome<\/h3>\n

\u201cAwesome\u201d is a casual adjective that\u2019s similar to \u201cgreat.\u201d This expression is for when you admire or really approve of something and you feel happy about it.<\/p>\n

You can think of it as ending with an exclamation mark\u2014it\u2019s always said with enthusiasm.<\/p>\n

“I finally finished writing my blog post!”<\/em><\/p>\n

“That’s awesome<\/strong>! Can’t wait to read it.”<\/em><\/p>\n

6. No big deal<\/h3>\n

Have you ever gotten praised too much or you want a friend to stop apologizing to you about something minor? \u201cNo big deal\u201d is a typical response to these.<\/p>\n

It implies that things aren\u2019t as important or as challenging as they seem. This is often meant in a positive way: to either give reassurance to someone so they won\u2019t worry as much or to make your own achievements seem more normal. \u00a0<\/p>\n

“You managed to fix the car by yourself?”<\/em><\/p>\n

“Yeah, it was no big deal<\/strong>, just a loose wire.”<\/em><\/p>\n

7. Legit<\/h3>\n

\u201cLegit\u201d is short for \u201clegitimate,\u201d which means something is genuinely good, impressive or authentic. This is considered slang\u2014it’s similar to \u201cfor real\u201d or \u201chonestly.\u201d You can use it to emphasize or double down on what you’re saying.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I didn’t think the movie would be good, but it’s legit<\/strong> one of the best I’ve seen this year.”<\/em><\/p>\n

“Right? I told you!”<\/em><\/p>\n

8. Chill<\/h3>\n

You won\u2019t see this in formal textbooks, but \u201cchill\u201d is such a common word that it\u2019s a must-know for English learners. \u201cChill\u201d is essentially being relaxed\u2014you\u2019re not stressing about a situation.<\/p>\n

It can also work as a verb. \u201cTo chill\u201d means relaxing and having some downtime, usually with friends.<\/p>\n

“Why are you so stressed about the party details?”<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0“You’re right. I need to chill<\/strong>.”<\/em><\/p>\n

9. Totally<\/h3>\n

“Totally” is another word for agreeing with someone. In fact, it goes beyond a simple “yes.” It implies that you\u2019re 100% agreeing with what the other person is saying, similar to “absolutely” or “definitely.”<\/p>\n

“The last episode of that show was so emotional.”<\/em><\/p>\n

“Totally<\/strong>! I cried throughout.”<\/em><\/p>\n

10. I can’t even<\/h3>\n

This phrase actually came up first online and became so frequent that people now also say it out loud. It\u2019s quite a flexible phrase\u2014you\u2019re so overwhelmed with emotion that words can\u2019t fully describe it, and that emotion can be disbelief, surprise, disgust or even admiration.<\/p>\n

The most typical way to use it is when something happens that\u2019s really ridiculous or hard to understand.<\/p>\n

“He tried to argue with his ex again at the convention, in front of everyone.”<\/em><\/p>\n

“Seriously? I can’t even<\/strong>.”<\/em><\/p>\n

11. Whatever<\/h3>\n

When used as slang, \u201cwhatever\u201d signifies that you don\u2019t care about what someone said or something that happened. It\u2019s a more direct way to say something doesn\u2019t matter.<\/p>\n

Depending on your tone, it can sound a bit rude, so be careful with this! It\u2019s definitely the most appropriate for friends. Sometimes people shrug too while saying it. \u00a0<\/p>\n

“I forgot to bring the snacks for the party.”<\/em><\/p>\n

“Whatever<\/strong>, we can just order pizza.”<\/em><\/p>\n

12. I’m broke<\/h3>\n

\"a<\/p>\n

\u201cBroke\u201d means not having money.<\/p>\n

It doesn\u2019t automatically mean, though, that you\u2019re in debt or your finances are really bad. People tend to say this casually when they turn down invitations or decide not to buy something because they don\u2019t want to spend.<\/p>\n

“Hey, wanna grab some sushi tonight?”<\/em><\/p>\n

“I’d love to, but I’m broke<\/strong>.”<\/em><\/p>\n

13. It’s a long shot<\/h3>\n

This expression was first used in sports\u2014shooting, to be specific\u2014and it had a much more literal meaning: hitting a distant target is a lot more difficult.<\/p>\n

In everyday conversation, though, it just expresses that something only has a small chance of succeeding or happening. Despite this, it has a tone of hopefulness. The chances may be slim, but you think trying is still worthwhile. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Do you think I could get that job with no experience?”<\/em><\/p>\n

“It’s a long shot<\/strong>, but you might as well apply!”<\/em><\/p>\n

14. Off the top of my head<\/h3>\n

When someone asks you a question, sometimes you don\u2019t have the time to think hard about it, so you just blurt out what\u2019s on your mind right now. You can then say, \u201cOff the top of my head\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

This lets the other person know you\u2019re giving a quick answer, not really one that\u2019s well thought out or thoroughly researched.<\/p>\n

“Who’s coming to the meeting tomorrow?” <\/em><\/p>\n

“Off the top of my head<\/strong>, Sarah, Mike and Layla, but I’d have to check the list for the full attendance.”<\/em><\/p>\n

15. Give me a break<\/h3>\n

This phrase has a frustrated tone. You think the other person is treating you in an unreasonable<\/em> (unfair) way, and you want them to stop what they\u2019re doing. During arguments, this phrase actually comes up a bit, in response to getting wrongly blamed or yelled at.<\/p>\n

“I heard you’re the one who ate all the cookies.”<\/em><\/p>\n

“Really? Give me a break<\/strong>!”<\/em><\/p>\n

16. Feeling under the weather<\/h3>\n

Maybe you have a cold, you keep coughing or you\u2019re just feeling very tired. In any case, you\u2019re feeling worse than usual, although you aren\u2019t seriously sick. There\u2019s a casual expression for that: \u201cfeeling under the weather.\u201d<\/p>\n

It’s not certain where this phrase came from originally, but it might be related to the sad feeling that cloudy, stormy days tend to cause!<\/p>\n

“Want to go out for a run?”<\/em><\/p>\n

“Not today. I’m feeling under the weather<\/strong>.”<\/em><\/p>\n

17. Get a kick out of<\/h3>\n

When someone says they \u201cget a kick out of\u201d something, it means they find it amusing or enjoyable. You can get a kick out of a hobby, a funny meme<\/a> or even a friend\u2019s strange habits.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s no direct connection to kicking in the physical sense. Instead, the \u201ckick\u201d here refers to a sudden burst of excitement and energy.<\/p>\n

“Did you see that viral video of the dancing dog?” <\/em><\/p>\n

“Oh, yes! I got a kick out of it<\/strong>!”<\/em><\/p>\n

18. For real?<\/h3>\n

\u201cFor real?\u201d expresses one emotion very strongly: disbelief, to the point that you\u2019re almost questioning if what you heard is real. This is often used when you hear surprising news.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0“I’m thinking about moving to New York next month.”<\/em><\/p>\n

“For real?<\/strong> I had no idea you were considering that!”<\/em><\/p>\n

19. Binge-watch<\/h3>\n

\"girls<\/p>\n

Ask people in English what their hobbies are, and chances are, a lot of them will include watching TV series<\/a>. To \u201cbinge-watch\u201d means watching several movies or TV series episodes one after the other.<\/p>\n

\u201cTo Binge\u201d describes consuming a lot of something all at once, like in the word \u201cbinge-eating,\u201d but now you can also apply it to shows.<\/p>\n

“I just started watching ‘Stranger Things’ last night.”<\/em><\/p>\n

“Oh, it’s so addicting! I binge-watched<\/strong> the whole first season in a day.”<\/em><\/p>\n

20. Fair enough<\/h3>\n

\u201cFair enough\u201d is the expression you use when someone makes a point, and while you don\u2019t fully agree, you understand the reasoning behind it.<\/p>\n

It also implies that you don\u2019t want to continue disagreeing about this, so it\u2019s a polite way to move on to other topics. \u00a0<\/p>\n

“I didn’t invite Sandra because the last time she came, she caused a scene.” <\/em><\/p>\n

“Fair enough<\/strong>, I understand why you’d want to avoid that.”<\/em><\/p>\n

These phrases are incredibly common, so start listening for them when you watch TV<\/a> or chat with your language exchange partner<\/a>! You might also hear them being used in YouTube videos<\/a>, podcasts<\/a>, movies<\/a>\u2014practically most types of English media. You could also use a language learning program like FluentU.<\/p>\n

FluentU<\/strong> takes authentic videos\u2014like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks\u2014and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.<\/p>\r\n

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You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app<\/a> or Android app.<\/a><\/p>\r\n

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