When we meet new people—whether at a networking event or a dinner party—the conversation eventually turns to: «So, what do you do in your free time?» If your answer is always «I like reading and cinema,» you are missing a huge opportunity to show your personality! This week, at The London Eye – English Consultant, we’ll upgrade your «hobby vocabulary» so you can share what truly makes you tick.
1. Upgrade Your Verbs: The «Go, Play, Do» Rule
As we’ve discussed on a previous post, verbs depend on the activity. But as adults, our hobbies often get more specific.
- DO: For individual activities or classes.
- «I do yoga,» «I do pottery,» «I do crossfit.»
- PLAY: For competitive sports and instruments.
- «I play padel,» «I play the guitar,» «I play chess.»
- GO: For activities ending in -ing that involve movement.
- «I go hiking,» «I go bouldering,» «I go birdwatching.»
2. Expressing Enthusiasm (Levels of Interest)
Instead of just saying «I like…», try these phrases to show how much you enjoy something:
- The Casual Interest: «I’m quite into photography lately.»
- The Routine: «I try to get out into the mountains at least once a month.»
- The Passion: «I’m a huge fan of historical fiction.»
- The Obsession: «I’m totally obsessed with learning Japanese right now!»
3. Essential Phrasal Verbs for Hobbies
To sound like a native speaker, use these «action» verbs:
- To take up: To start a new hobby.
- «I recently took up gardening to help me relax.»
- To get into: To become interested in something.
- «How did you get into sailing?»
- To wind down / To unwind: To relax after work.
- «Cooking is how I unwind after a long day at the office.»
- To keep up with: To continue doing something regularly.
- «It’s hard to keep up with my piano practice when I’m traveling.»
4. How to Ask Others (The Better Way)
«What are your hobbies?» can feel a bit like a school interview. In a natural conversation, try these instead:
- «What do you like to do to unplug from work?»
- «Have you been working on any personal projects lately?»
- «How do you usually spend your weekends?»
- «If you had a completely free Saturday, what would you do?»
5. Why Hobbies Matter in Business
In English-speaking cultures, «hobbies» are a sign of a well-rounded person.
The «Icebreaker» Effect: Mentioning a unique hobby (like beekeeping or marathon running) makes you memorable. It gives people a «hook» to remember you by. It’s not just «the accountant»; it’s «the accountant who runs ultra-marathons.»
Your Action Step for this week: What is one hobby you have taken up recently, or one that you’ve always wanted to try? Use the phrase «I’m into…» or «I’d love to take up…» in the comments!
Example: «I’m really into padel lately, though I still need to work on my serve!»
The London Eye - English Consultant 