About to + verb

If you are about to do something, you are ready to do it/ close to doing it… you are on the verge of doing it… you will do it in the next instant.
(Estar prestes a fazer/ estar para fazer/ perto de realizar)

1.  Sometimes when you are just about to call someone, they call you first. We can say that they “beat you to it” (They were quicker).

2. When someone mentions something that you have already been wanting to say, it’s common to respond, “I was about to say the same thing!” It is commonplace in conversation.

3. My passport is about to expire, which means I will have to take a trip soon to Brasilia, to the South African Embassy soon. Do you have any contract, membership, document etc. that is about to expire?

Search the dialogue of entire TV series!

Have you ever wanted to search for a phrase that you had in mind for a specific TV series? ...Well, I have set up a blog that helps you to do just that! I have created a database from the subtitles of some of the most popular TV series. 

Make up for

If you try to make up for something, you are trying to compensate for missed opportunities or mistakes that you have made, especially neglecting someone or forgetting what is important to the other person.

1.  If you’re late for work, do you try to make up for it and act extra friendly to your boss and coworkers... or maybe work a little harder or faster?

2. Do you think there’s any way for a person to make up for killing someone or something equally as extreme?

3. It is the same story the world over: Parents who are not present while their children are growing up (because they are too busy focusing on their career or social life) try to make up for it by giving their children expensive things. There is no substitute for a parent’s time. Steve Jobs gave his family everything except his time. Does all that money make up for him not being there?

4. If you’ve forgotten your wife’s/ husband’s/ partner’s birthday or your wedding anniversary, etc., how could you make up for it without having to suffer the consequences?

Feel like + verb (-ing)

If you feel like doing something, it’s something you would really like to do at this very moment. You have an inclination or a desire to do it. 
(Ter vontade de…)

1.  What motivates you to get out of bed when you don’t feel like getting up? It’s not easy when you have the “Monday morning blues”!

2. When you hear music that you like in public, do you feel like dancing or do you just dance spontaneously?

3. Do you often feel like telling people exactly what you think, but end up “biting your tongue”… or do you “call a spade a spade” and say exactly what is on your mind?

4. What do you usually feel like doing on a public holiday – relaxing, going out or something else?

Freak out

"Freak out" is exactly the same as saying "to panic", to lose your composure, to come unglued or to get really scared.

1.  Do you freak out when you see just a drop of blood?

2. Do you freak out when you see a flying cockroach at home or a bee in the car? What advice would you give to someone who usually freaks out about spiders and insects in general?

3. On the road… When you almost have an accident, do you freak out or do you keep your calm?

4. In an assault situation, how do you or would you react? Do you visibly freak out or are you maybe paralyzed with fear? 

Suck up to (someone)

Thoughtful = considerate         

If you “suck up” to someone, it is an informal way of saying that you are trying to gain someone’s favor or approval by being nice or doing something nice for them. You can suck up to someone by flattering them (giving insincere praise).


1.  Someone who is a teacher’s favorite student is called the “teacher’s pet”. It could be that the student always sucks up to the teacher, or because he/ she is the best student. Were you ever a teacher’s pet? If not, did you resent the student who was the teacher’s pet? What is the best way to suck up to a teacher?

2. In an article on forbes.com, “The Fine Art Of Sucking Up To Your Boss”, it says, “There's an art to sucking up, and if the boss (or your co-workers) can figure out what you're up to, you're not doing it right. More importantly, it will backfire. Your goal is to develop trust between you and your manager, since the projects you work on and whether you get promoted is directly tied to your relationship with him or her.”