Are you taking your English vocabulary for granted?
Listen in to learn terms you can use to say that you are not giving something or someone enough attention.
You will learn the phrase “take for granted” and similar expressions for daily and workplace conversations.
Are you taking something for granted?
Aubrey asks Lindsay if there is anyone in her life that she takes for granted.
Lindsay shares that she took her parents for granted in her younger years.
Today’s episode is inspired by a listener’s question posted in a Youtube comment.
Today’s question
Hi Lindsay and Michelle, I’m from Myanmar .I’ve been a fan of your podcast for over a year now and I really enjoy the content you create. I always make sure to catch every new episode! I have a question I’d love your insight on. What’s the difference between take for granted and overlook? If there’s a subtle difference, could you explain it?Thanks so much for reading my question, and have a great day!
Today’s nuanced vocabulary is not taught in textbooks.
The term “take for granted” has two meanings.
Meaning #1: Fail to appreciate
The first meaning is to fail to appreciate something because you’re so used to having it.
You assume it will always be there.
Examples:
- They took their top salesperson for granted until she left the company.
- We often take good health for granted.
Meaning #2: Take for granted
This is about making assumptions.
Examples:
- The team took it for granted that the budget would be approved.
- We took it for granted that customers would understand how the feature works, but soon realized it was not clear enough.
Other similar terms
“Overlook” has a similar meaning.
This word has four definitions, two of which are discussed in today’s episode.
#1: Fail to notice
This means to fail to notice something, usually by accident.
It’s often about forgetting or not seeing something important.
This is similar to saying you “missed” something.
Examples:
- We overlooked a mistake in the contract.
- I apologize. I completely overlooked your email in my inbox.
#2: Intentionally not pay attention
This other meaning is to choose to ignore something, usually a small mistake or issue.
This can be replaced with “let it go.”
Examples:
- The manager decided to overlook the minor delay.
- I’ll overlook it this time, but please be more careful.
Roleplay
Here is a quick roleplay from Lindsay and Aubrey using the vocabulary shared in today’s episode.
This will help you better understand the ways you can use these words.
In this scenario, Sarah and Kristine are coworkers discussing a client meeting.
Lindsay: Hey Sarah, do you have a minute to talk about yesterday’s client meeting? I think there were a couple of points we might have overlooked. For example, we failed to address some of their concerns about the new timeline.
Aubrey: You’re right. I completely missed the part where they mentioned needing an extra security review. In hindsight, I was too focused on the budget discussion.
Lindsay: Same here. Part of the problem may be that we’ve been taking the client for granted a bit and assuming they’ll accept whatever schedule we propose. They seemed really flexible at first but that seems to be changing.
Aubrey: That’s true. Regarding the logo edits I had proposed, I think we can overlook those, since we won’t have time.
Lindsay: Agreed. Let’s address the major concerns, update the plan, and show them we’re not taking their cooperation for granted anymore.
Aubrey: Perfect. I’ll revise the timeline, and we can send an update this afternoon.
Takeaway
Understanding expressions like “take for granted” and “overlook” helps you communicate more clearly, especially at work.
These phrases let you talk about appreciation, assumptions, and attention in a way that sounds natural and emotionally accurate.
As you keep learning English, slow down and notice the intent behind words.
This awareness helps you express responsibility, empathy, and professionalism more clearly in both personal and workplace conversations.
Check out episode BE 516: What’s on the Horizon? How to Talk About the Future at Work to learn more on how you can have meaningful conversations.
What are other terms that have subtle differences that you want to learn more about?
Share one in the comments below.
