What are your favourite ways to spend time with friends? Rank your top few.

A natural way to answer

My favourite would be sharing a meal together, because the conversation flows so naturally. Next, I enjoy going for a walk or a hike, since it's relaxed and you can talk freely. Third would be playing games at home, which always brings out everyone's competitive side.

Key phrases to use

• chew the fat — to have a long, relaxed, friendly chat“We sat up half the night just chewing the fat.”
• heart-to-heart — an honest, intimate conversation about personal feelings“We had a long heart-to-heart over a bottle of wine.”
• put the world to rights — to have a long discussion about how things should be, often over drinks or a meal“We stayed up late putting the world to rights.”
• cooped up — stuck together in a small or enclosed space“We were cooped up in the cabin all weekend.”