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David

EN

ES

2020.02.23 07:36

🇬🇧🇬🇧 English Expression Time!! 🇬🇧🇬🇧

Force of habit

"I got

on the wrong train this evening out of force of habit... I was just thinking I was off to work, not the party!"

To do something "out of force of habit" is an expression used when you have done something without thinking because it's something you always do. you can also just say the words "force of habit" when you, or someone else, catches up doing something without thinking. the dictionary definition is "behavior occurring without thought and by virtue of constant repetition; habit."

There are many times this phrase can be said, for example- you are in the kitchen and decide to leave. You turn the lights off, however your dad is still in there cooking dinner. you can turn to him and say "oh sorry, force of habit!"

"I ended up putting my work shoes on out of force of habit rather than my heels before I realised what I was doing"

"Despite knowing my boyfriend would be home late I ended up locking the door out of force of habit

Now it's your turn using "out of force of habit" and I'll correct all your mistakes! :)

This is quite a difficult phrase so don't worry if you get it wrong! 😁😁😁
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Comments

  • Mauricio 2020.02.23 07:48

    ES
    EN

    I want to practice, how I can start a conversation with you?
  • Kirill 2020.02.23 07:54

    RU
    EN

    @SherabZ Nothing is clear😄
  • SherabZ 2020.02.23 07:54

    CN
    EN

    @Kirill sorry😅🙁😰
  • Kirill 2020.02.23 08:00

    RU
    EN

    While I had been washing the dishes and was thinking about something so I didn't notice as I had ended up washing all dishes! Oh, it was out of force of habit.
  • Aleksey Korneev 2020.02.23 08:00

    RU
    EN

    I always call my former girl out of force of habit))
  • Kirill 2020.02.23 08:01

    RU
    EN

    @SherabZ honestly, I can't understand. Can you write what you have said?
  • SherabZ 2020.02.23 08:03

    CN
    EN

    though me and my gf are not in the same place I will hug the Teddy out of force of habit
  • Kirill 2020.02.23 08:07

    RU
    EN

    @SherabZ )) now i can at least understand something thank you. Maybe my listening skills are bad (
  • SherabZ 2020.02.23 08:08

    CN
    EN

    @Kirill nah bro ur good 👏
  • Doris 2020.02.23 08:12

    CN
    EN

    I awoke at 7 o'clock this morning out of force of habit and then I realized it was on Sunday.
  • Audrey Peng 2020.02.23 08:27

    CN
    EN

    Thank you for sharing!!
  • David 2020.02.23 11:31

    EN
    ES

    @SherabZ Jay you spoke fine! I could understand you :) good job!
  • David 2020.02.23 11:37

    EN
    ES

    @Kirill Hey this makes no sense unfortunately! Try again, usually this would be called " being on autopilot" rather than doing something out of force of habit! :)
  • David 2020.02.23 11:39

    EN
    ES

    @Aleksey Korneev good job 😁😁
  • David 2020.02.23 11:39

    EN
    ES

    @Doris perfect example well done!
  • SherabZ 2020.02.23 11:56

    CN
    EN

    @David thank u anyway
  • Константин 2020.02.23 13:19

    RU
    EN

    I called you Lena . Sorry, force of habit. 😜🤷‍♂️
  • Marina 2020.02.23 19:55

    RU
    HE

    @Константин 👍👍👍
  • natalia 2020.02.25 22:02

    ES
    EN

    I’ve found on the dictionary ‘by force of habit’ starting a sentence. Would you say ‘out of force of habit I got on the wrong train’ or ‘by a force of habit I got on the wrong train’?
  • David 2020.02.27 12:53

    EN
    ES

    @natalia I'm so sorry this notification only just came through for some reason! "I found in the dictionary..." "By force of habit I got the wrong train" and "out of force of habit I got the wrong train" are both perfectly acceptable and sound fine 🙂
  • natalia 2020.02.27 13:39

    ES
    EN

    @David thanks a lot for clearing up 😊 I must work on (?) prepositions 😂
  • David 2020.02.27 14:06

    EN
    ES

    @natalia "thanks a lot for clearing THAT up for me" :) Everyone struggles with prepositions so don't worry too much about it :)

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