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Explanations + Extra Practice Activities
🎓 C2-Level English Phrases Native Speakers Use in Educated, High-Level Conversations
These expressions are very common in educated English. You’ll hear them in business meetings, interviews, university lectures, podcasts, TV shows, news programs, and everyday conversations.
Learning these phrases will help you understand native speakers more easily and sound more natural and fluent when you speak English.
💬 1. Be that as it may…
✅ Meaning
Even if what you said is true, it doesn’t change my opinion or decision.
This expression shows that you understand the other person’s point, but you still disagree or your decision stays the same.
🗣 Example
A: The restaurant is expensive.
B: Be that as it may, it’s still the best place for our anniversary.
🎯 2. That’s beside the point.
✅ Meaning
That’s not the main issue.
Use this expression when someone talks about something that isn’t important to the discussion.
🗣 Example
A: I was only five minutes late.
B: That’s beside the point. The meeting had already started.
💡 3. For what it’s worth…
✅ Meaning
My opinion may not be important, but here’s what I think.
This expression makes your opinion sound more polite and humble.
🗣 Example
A: I can’t decide whether to accept the job.
B: For what it’s worth, I think you should take it.
✂️ 4. Suffice it to say…
✅ Meaning
I’ll keep it short because this says enough.
You use this expression when you don’t want to explain all the details because one sentence is enough.
🗣 Example
A: How did your vacation go?
B: Suffice it to say, we won’t be staying at that hotel again.
🍀 5. As luck would have it…
✅ Meaning
By chance, something happened.
The result may be good or bad, but it happened because of luck or coincidence.
🗣 Example
A: Did you catch your train?
B: As luck would have it, it was delayed by twenty minutes.
⚖️ 6. That being said… (Having said that…)
✅ Meaning
However…
Use this expression after making one point when you want to add another point that balances or qualifies what you just said.
🗣 Example
A: Is the apartment nice?
B: It’s a little small. That being said, the location is perfect.
😲 7. To say the least…
✅ Meaning
That’s an understatement.
The situation is actually more extreme than the words you used.
🗣 Example
A: Were you nervous before the interview?
B: I was anxious, to say the least.
(I was much more than just anxious.)
👍 8. It goes without saying.
✅ Meaning
It’s obvious. Everyone already knows this.
Use this expression for something that doesn’t need to be explained because everyone agrees with it.
🗣 Example
It goes without saying that you should wear a seat belt.
⭐ Quick Summary
| Expression | Easy Meaning |
|---|---|
| 💬 Be that as it may… | Even if that’s true… |
| 🎯 That’s beside the point. | That’s not the main issue. |
| 💡 For what it’s worth… | My opinion may not matter, but… |
| ✂️ Suffice it to say… | I’ll keep it short because this says enough. |
| 🍀 As luck would have it… | By chance… |
| ⚖️ That being said… | However… |
| 😲 To say the least… | That’s an understatement. |
| 👍 It goes without saying. | It’s obvious. |
🚀 Why Learn These Expressions?
These are C2-level English phrases that educated native speakers use every day. They help you:
- ✅ Understand real-life English conversations
- ✅ Follow podcasts, interviews, and TV shows more easily
- ✅ Sound more fluent and natural
- ✅ Speak more confidently in professional and academic situations
- ✅ Improve your advanced English vocabulary and conversation skills
The more you hear and use these expressions, the more your English will sound like that of a well-educated native speaker.
Extra Practice Activities
🎓 Quiz 1: C2-Level English Phrases Native Speakers Use
Choose the best phrase to complete each sentence.
Phrases
A. Be that as it may…
B. That’s beside the point.
C. For what it’s worth…
D. Suffice it to say…
E. As luck would have it…
F. That being said…
G. To say the least…
H. It goes without saying.
Question 1
The presentation was a little too long. __________, it was very informative.
Answer: F. That being said…
Question 2
People keep asking me about the concert. __________, I left before it was over.
Answer: D. Suffice it to say…
Question 3
__________ that you should back up your important files regularly.
Answer: H. It goes without saying.
Question 4
A: She didn’t mean to offend anyone.
B: __________, she should still apologize.
Answer: A. Be that as it may…
Question 5
The weather was cold, __________.
Answer: G. To say the least…
Question 6
I’m not an expert, but __________, I think your first idea was better.
Answer: C. For what it’s worth…
Question 7
We arrived at the station just before the train left. __________, it was running twenty minutes late.
Answer: E. As luck would have it…
Question 8
A: Everyone else finished early.
B: __________. You still didn’t finish your assignment.
Answer: B. That’s beside the point.
🎯 Challenge Quiz
Question 9
I forgot to charge my phone. __________, my friend brought a portable charger.
Answer: As luck would have it…
Question 10
The book is over 700 pages long. __________, it’s an easy read.
Answer: That being said…
Question 11
A: I only made one small mistake.
B: __________. You submitted the report after the deadline.
Answer: That’s beside the point.
Question 12
A: The software is difficult to learn.
B: __________, it becomes much easier after a few weeks.
Answer: Be that as it may…
Question 13
__________, I’d wait until the prices go down before buying one.
Answer: For what it’s worth…
Question 14
The final exam was stressful, __________.
Answer: To say the least…
Question 15
A: How did your first day at your new school go?
B: __________, I was completely exhausted by the time I got home.
Answer: Suffice it to say…
Question 16
__________ that you should turn off your phone during the movie.
Answer: It goes without saying.
🎓 Quiz 2: Match the Meaning
Instructions: Read the meaning and choose the correct expression.
Question 1
Meaning: By chance, something happened.
A. That being said…
B. As luck would have it…
C. It goes without saying.
Answer: B. As luck would have it…
Question 2
Meaning: I’ll keep it short because this is enough to explain the situation.
A. Be that as it may…
B. To say the least…
C. Suffice it to say…
Answer: C. Suffice it to say…
Question 3
Meaning: Everyone already knows this because it’s obvious.
A. For what it’s worth…
B. It goes without saying.
C. That’s beside the point.
Answer: B. It goes without saying.
Question 4
Meaning: Your comment is not relevant to what we’re discussing.
A. As luck would have it…
B. That’s beside the point.
C. That being said…
Answer: B. That’s beside the point.
Question 5
Meaning: What I said is actually an understatement.
A. To say the least…
B. Be that as it may…
C. For what it’s worth…
Answer: A. To say the least…
Question 6
Meaning: I don’t know if my opinion is helpful, but here it is.
A. For what it’s worth…
B. Suffice it to say…
C. It goes without saying.
Answer: A. For what it’s worth…
Question 7
Meaning: Even if that’s true, it doesn’t change my opinion or decision.
A. That being said…
B. Be that as it may…
C. As luck would have it…
Answer: B. Be that as it may…
Question 8
Meaning: However… I’d like to balance what I just said.
A. That’s beside the point.
B. To say the least…
C. That being said…
Answer: C. That being said…
🎯 Challenge Quiz
Question 9
Meaning: This doesn’t need to be explained because everyone already agrees.
A. Be that as it may…
B. It goes without saying.
C. For what it’s worth…
Answer: B. It goes without saying.
Question 10
Meaning: Fortunately (or unfortunately), something happened by chance.
A. Suffice it to say…
B. That being said…
C. As luck would have it…
Answer: C. As luck would have it…
Question 11
Meaning: I want to add another point that changes or balances what I just said.
A. To say the least…
B. That being said…
C. That’s beside the point.
Answer: B. That being said…
Question 12
Meaning: That’s not the main issue.
A. For what it’s worth…
B. That’s beside the point.
C. Be that as it may…
Answer: B. That’s beside the point.
Question 13
Meaning: My opinion may not matter, but I’d like to share it.
A. It goes without saying.
B. As luck would have it…
C. For what it’s worth…
Answer: C. For what it’s worth…
Question 14
Meaning: The reality is even stronger than my words.
A. Suffice it to say…
B. To say the least…
C. Be that as it may…
Answer: B. To say the least…
Question 15
Meaning: Even though I agree with part of what you said, my conclusion is still the same.
A. Be that as it may…
B. It goes without saying.
C. Suffice it to say…
Answer: A. Be that as it may…
Question 16
Meaning: I won’t explain everything because one sentence tells the whole story.
A. As luck would have it…
B. Suffice it to say…
C. That being said…
Answer: B. Suffice it to say…