Rank the everyday gadgets in your home from most to least useful, and defend your top choice.

A natural way to answer

I would put the fridge first, because it is essential every single day. Second is the washing machine, which saves me hours. The kettle comes third. At the bottom would be a bread maker I rarely use, though it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Key phrases to use

• pulls its weight — does its fair share of work; proves useful enough to justify itself“Everyone on the team pulls their weight.”
• gathering dust — being left unused for a long time“The exercise bike's just gathering dust now.”
• earns its keep — is useful enough to justify the cost or space it takes“A good kettle really earns its keep.”
• saves my bacon — rescues you from a difficult or embarrassing situation“The leftovers saved my bacon when guests arrived.”