Sometimes you come across situations where you have no idea how to express yourself in English. In such situations, it is important that you use appropriate words and phrases to be able to express yourself well.
Here’s a list of English words and phrases you can use to express yourself in a better way👇🏾
Expression | Meaning | Example |
---|---|---|
afraid of your own shadow | to be very frightful, easily afraid | Someone with a traumatic past is often afraid of his/her own shadow. |
ambivalent | having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone | I felt very ambivalent about joining the army. |
angry | feeling or showing strong annoyance, displeasure, or hostility | They were angry about the tournament. |
annoyed | slightly angry, irritated | She was annoyed with my absence. |
anxious | feeling or showing worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome | People are often anxious about the future. |
baffled | totally bewilder or perplex | The complex puzzle baffled me for several hours. |
be as hard as nails | a person who is insensitive and has no compassion or empathy for others | Lotti will be good in this business because she is as hard as nails. |
bored | feeling weary and impatient | I was so bored that I slept through the second half of the film. |
content | in a state of peaceful happiness | He seemed content with his new job. |
cross | annoyed | He was cross with me because I did not give him a bonus. |
curious | eager to know or learn something | We’re curious about why you never called us back. |
delighted | feeling or showing great pleasure | I know Mary will be delighted to see you. |
depressed | in a state of unhappiness or despondency | She was depressed by the loss of her puppy. |
disgusted | feeling or expressing revulsion or strong disapproval | He disgusted everyone by spitting. |
downhearted | discouraged, in low spirits | When no replies came, I began to feel downhearted. |
drive up the wall | when you annoy someone | My singing drives my mother up the wall. |
elated | ecstatically happy | I was so elated on my wedding day. |
euphoric | characterized by or feeling intense excitement and happiness | He was euphoric when he received the Oscar. |
excited | very enthusiastic and eager | People have the habit of speaking loudly when they’re excited about something. |
feel blue | feel sad | She’s feeling blue after losing the match. |
feel high | to be very happy | He is flying high after a successful day at work. |
feel low | feel dispirited or be sad and gloomy | I am feeling low because my exams are starting tomorrow. |
fool’s paradise | to be happy only because you ignore the real issue | Dan is in fool’s paradise, since he thinks he will get a promotion. |
furious | very angry | He was furious about the accident. |
glad | feeling pleasure or happiness | I am very glad to see you. |
gleeful | exuberantly or triumphantly joyful | Children are gleeful creatures who do not care about their future. |
go to pieces | to have a mental or emotional breakdown | James went to pieces after hearing about the death of his mother. |
grief-stricken | extremely sad | After his wife died in a car accident, he was left grief-stricken. |
guilty | culpable of or responsible for a specified wrongdoing | The old man is guilty of stealing money. |
happy | marked by pleasure, satisfaction, or joy | I am happy for her. |
hopeful | feeling or inspiring optimism about a future event | He is hopeful that things will get better soon. |
indifferent | having no particular interest or sympathy; unconcerned | Lots of people are indifferent to politics. |
irritated | showing or feeling slight anger; annoyed | Lily was getting irritated by all her questions. |
joyful | feeling, expressing, or causing great pleasure and happiness | It was a joyful celebration. |
jubilant | feeling or expressing great happiness and triumph | The fans were jubilant about England’s victory. |
lonely | sad because one has no friends or company | Old age homes are for lonely old people who have no families. |
loved | feel deep affection for someone | She was loved and respected by the whole community. |
mirthful | full of mirth; merry or amusing | The man felt mirthful while holding his first son. |
nostalgic | feeling, evoking, or characterized by nostalgia (a sentimental longing for a period in the past) | When the old song came on the radio, Raine suddenly felt nostalgic for her high school years. |
on top of the world | to be jubilant and feel amazing | After I got that role in the film, I felt on top of the world. |
pensive | engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought | After losing her job, she became withdrawn and pensive, hardly speaking to anyone. |
petrified of | extremely frightened, especially so that you cannot move or decide what to do | The thought of living with blindness petrified me. |
proud | feeling deep pleasure or satisfaction as a result of achievements, qualities, or possessions | They are the proud parents of a hero. |
puzzle over | to think carefully about someone or something for a long time and try to understand them | They puzzled over the question for quite a while. |
sad | feeling or showing sorrow; unhappy | She clearly felt sad to see the day end. |
scared | frightened | He’s scared to walk alone at night. |
seething | be filled with intense but unexpressed anger | We found ourselves in the middle of a seething crowd. |
to be in a stew | to be extremely concerned or upset about something | I am in a stew! My husband is not back home yet! |
tranquil | to feel calm and peaceful | Since we were the only ones on the beach, we enjoyed a tranquil day. |
vexed | annoyed, frustrated, or worried | She concluded from his tone that he was vexed with her. |
wistful | having or showing a feeling of vague or regretful longing | I became wistful when I saw my ex-husband with his new wife. |

Do you know any others words or phrases that depict your emotions well? Let us know in the comments below👇🏾
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