to be honest

Meaning: Used when telling the truth or giving your real opinion.

Examples:

1. To be honest, I don’t like this movie.
2. To be honest, I was surprised by the news.

tend to be

Meaning: Usually are; often happen in a certain way.

Examples:

1. Winters here tend to be very cold.
2. Children tend to be curious about new things.

the reception

Meaning: A party or meal after a wedding ceremony.

Examples:

1. We had the reception at a hotel.
2. The reception lasted until midnight.

and so on

Meaning: And other similar things.

Examples:

1. The shop sells fruits, vegetables, and so on.
2. We talked about school, friends, and so on.

personally

Meaning: In my own opinion; for me.

Examples:

1. Personally, I prefer tea over coffee.
2. Personally, I think the movie was too long.

tens of thousands of pounds

Meaning: An amount of money between 20,000 and 90,000 pounds.

Examples:

1. They spent tens of thousands of pounds on their house.
2. The damage cost tens of thousands of pounds to fix.

waste of money

Meaning: Spending money on something not worth it.

Examples:

1. Buying that car was a waste of money.
2. Expensive gifts can be a waste of money.

go overboard

Meaning: Do too much of something; go too far.

Examples:

1. They went overboard with the decorations.
2. Don’t go overboard when adding sugar.

personal taste

Meaning: Someone’s own likes or preferences.

Examples:

1. Her personal taste in music is very different from mine.
2. It’s just a matter of personal taste.

once-in-a-lifetime thing

Meaning: Something that happens only once and is very special.

Examples:

1. Visiting the pyramids was a once-in-a-lifetime thing.
2. Winning the championship was a once-in-a-lifetime thing.