🇺🇸 English · C1
Everyday Phrases & Politeness in English · C1
60 English words and phrases for everyday phrases & politeness, at C1 level. Each entry shows the word, how to read it, what it means, and a full example sentence with translation.
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courteouscourteous
The staff were courteous and efficient.
The staff were courteous and efficient.
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tactfultactful
She gave a tactful answer to a hard question.
She gave a tactful answer to a hard question.
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conveyconvey
Words can't convey how grateful I am.
Words can't convey how grateful I am.
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obligeoblige
She was happy to oblige with a photo.
She was happy to oblige with a photo.
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hesitatehesitate
Don't hesitate to contact me anytime.
Don't hesitate to contact me anytime.
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reiteratereiterate
Let me reiterate our main point.
Let me reiterate our main point.
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concedeconcede
I concede that you have a point.
I concede that you have a point.
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courtesy callcourtesy call
The mayor paid a courtesy call to the embassy.
The mayor paid a courtesy call to the embassy.
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discretiondiscretion
Use your own discretion in urgent cases.
Use your own discretion in urgent cases.
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euphemismeuphemism
"Letting you go" is a euphemism for firing someone.
"Letting you go" is a euphemism for firing someone.
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platitudeplatitude
He offered a platitude instead of real advice.
He offered a platitude instead of real advice.
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nicetiesniceties
They exchanged a few niceties before the meeting began.
They exchanged a few niceties before the meeting began.
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decorumdecorum
She handled the awkward situation with great decorum.
She handled the awkward situation with great decorum.
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faux pasfaux pas
Forgetting her name was quite a faux pas.
Forgetting her name was quite a faux pas.
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insincereinsincere
His apology felt insincere.
His apology felt insincere.
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unassumingunassuming
Despite his success, he remained wonderfully unassuming.
Despite his success, he remained wonderfully unassuming.
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self-effacingself-effacing
He made a self-effacing joke about his own mistake.
He made a self-effacing joke about his own mistake.
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magnanimousmagnanimous
She was magnanimous even after winning the argument.
She was magnanimous even after winning the argument.
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conciliatoryconciliatory
He struck a conciliatory tone to end the dispute.
He struck a conciliatory tone to end the dispute.
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placateplacate
He offered a discount to placate the angry customer.
He offered a discount to placate the angry customer.
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benevolentbenevolent
Our benevolent host insisted on paying for everything.
Our benevolent host insisted on paying for everything.
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deferentialdeferential
The new intern was deferential to the senior staff.
The new intern was deferential to the senior staff.
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gaffegaffe
Calling her by the wrong name was an embarrassing gaffe.
Calling her by the wrong name was an embarrassing gaffe.
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blunderblunder
Forgetting his birthday was a real blunder.
Forgetting his birthday was a real blunder.
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turn of phraseturn of phrase
She has a clever turn of phrase.
She has a clever turn of phrase.
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loaded questionloaded question
"Are you still lying to me?" is a loaded question.
"Are you still lying to me?" is a loaded question.
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rhetorical questionrhetorical question
That was a rhetorical question; I don't expect an answer.
That was a rhetorical question; I don't expect an answer.
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backhanded complimentbackhanded compliment
"You look great for your age" is a backhanded compliment.
"You look great for your age" is a backhanded compliment.
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disingenuousdisingenuous
It felt disingenuous when he pretended not to know.
It felt disingenuous when he pretended not to know.
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candorcandor
I appreciate your candor about the situation.
I appreciate your candor about the situation.
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I hope I'm not imposing on you.I hope I'm not imposing on you.
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Thank you for going out of your way to help.Thank you for going out of your way to help.
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I beg your pardon, I didn't catch that.I beg your pardon, I didn't catch that.
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I'll take a rain check on that.I'll take a rain check on that.
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Far be it from me to complain, but…Far be it from me to complain, but…
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Much obliged for your assistance.Much obliged for your assistance.
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If it's not too much trouble, could you check again?If it's not too much trouble, could you check again?
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Let's not mince words.Let's not mince words.
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He has a silver tongue.He has a silver tongue.
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She's quite the smooth talker.She's quite the smooth talker.
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A promise means nothing without follow-through.A promise means nothing without follow-through.
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Let's not stand on ceremony.Let's not stand on ceremony.
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He's a man of few words.He's a man of few words.
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I'll leave it at that.I'll leave it at that.
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I'll choose to take that in a good way.I'll choose to take that in a good way.
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It's the thought that counts.It's the thought that counts.
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I don't want to overstay my welcome.I don't want to overstay my welcome.
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Let bygones be bygones.Let bygones be bygones.
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He always knows just the right thing to say.He always knows just the right thing to say.
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That's putting it mildly.That's putting it mildly.
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She has a gift for saying the right thing at the right time.She has a gift for saying the right thing at the right time.
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He's always diplomatic, even when he disagrees.He's always diplomatic, even when he disagrees.
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Let's cut the small talk and get down to business.Let's cut the small talk and get down to business.
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I didn't mean to put my foot in my mouth.I didn't mean to put my foot in my mouth.
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I choose my words carefully around him.I choose my words carefully around him.
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Let's call a spade a spade.Let's call a spade a spade.
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I'll give credit where credit is due.I'll give credit where credit is due.
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He has a knack for smoothing things over.He has a knack for smoothing things over.
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Let's keep things civil.Let's keep things civil.
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I gave that comment as a genuine compliment, nothing more.I gave that comment as a genuine compliment, nothing more.
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