ENGLISHWAYRD PODCAST

Ep 261: English Idioms and Expressions - Speak Like a Native

August 14, 2024 • Thomas Martinez • Season 5 • Episode 261

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In this episode of Englishway RD, discover 12 English idioms and expressions that will transform the way you speak. From expressing happiness with "over the moon" to facing challenges with "bite the bullet," you'll learn how to use these common phrases like a true native. This episode is perfect for those looking to enrich their vocabulary, improve their fluency, and sound more natural in their English conversations. Don't miss out—start mastering English today!

Transcription: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w7frlxxUltWoQ3v43RfmrcDjPoLlrBGt/view?usp=sharing












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00:00:24

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to English way ere I'm your host Thomas. And today we have a fantastic episode lineup for you. We are diving into the world of English items and expressions. I know we have had a couple of episodes on this, but there is never enough.

00:00:43

These colorful phrases can add a touch of flour to your speech and help you sound more natural, like native.

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Pretty much whether you're a beginner or an advanced learner, incorporating items into your vocabulary can make a huge difference, so let's dive in and explore some commonly used items and how to use them correctly.

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Let's start with items for everyday conversations. First one is cutting to the chase.

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I use that a lot.

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Cutting to the chase.

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This item is often used when you want to get straight to the point and avoid unnecessary details. For example, you might say let's go to the chase and talk about the main issue.

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It's a great way to keep conversation focused and efficient.

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Next up is nail.

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Nail it. This means to do something perfectly or successfully.

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For example, if someone performs exceptionally well in the presentation, you could say you nailed it. It's a compliment that acknowledged their excellence and precision.

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Another fun one is let the cat out of the bag. Let the cat out of the bag, which means to reveal a secret or disclose information accidentally and we are all guilty of that, including.

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I have let the cat out of the bag.

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Couple of times.

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But let's continue with the podcast that that that's not part of the conversation. For instance, if you accidentally sure the details of a surprise, you might say, oops, I let the cat out of the bag. It's a playful way to acknowledge that you have revealed something unintentionally.

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Now let's move on to items for expressing emotions. Let's start with over the.

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Moon.

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Over the Moon is a wonderful item to describe extreme happiness. Imagine you just got a promotion at work. You could say I'm over the moon after the promotion.

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It conveys a sense of euphoria and joy.

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Conversely, in deep water means to be in travel or facing a difficult situation.

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In deep water.

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For example, if someone missed an important deadline, you might say he's in deep water for means in the deadline. It's a vivid way to describe being in a predicament.

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Right.

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I'm finally having jitters.

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Having jitters.

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Is used to describe feeling, narrow views or anxious.

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Picture yourself about to give a big presentation. You might say jitters. It's a metaphor that perfectly captures the shaky feeling of nervousness.

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Now let's talk about idioms for describing situations.

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Sometimes things can seem bad at first and can turn out to be good later. This is where the item a silver lining comes in handy. For instance, every cloud has a silver lining means that although something negative happened, there is a positive.

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Aspect to it.

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Next, the ball is on your court.

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The ball is in your court. The ball is in your court, is used to indicate that it is now someone else's turn to take action or make a decision, for example.

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I've done all I can now the ball is in your court.

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It signifies a shift in responsibility.

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Burning the midnight oil, burning the midnight oil.

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Refers to working late into the night. If you're staying up late to finish a project, you might say.

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I've been born in the midnight oil to get this done.

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It's a it's an evocative way to express working hard, especially during late hours.

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Now let's talk about items for work and business.

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In a professional setting, you might hear back to square one back to square one, which means to start over after a failed attempt.

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If a business plan doesn't workout, you could say we need to go back to square one. It's about reassessing and planning again.

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Next one is blue sky thinking blue sky thinking.

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Is all about creativity and innovation without any limitations, someone comes up with an unconventional solution. You might say she's known for her blue sky thinking.

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It highlights the ability to come up with unique and effective ideas.

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Next one is to corner the market.

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To corner the market means to dominate a particular market or industry. For example, they've cornered the market on organic skin care products, implies that they have a significant share and influence in that market.

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It's about having a competitive edge.

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Then let's move on with items for life lessons.

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First one, it's one that I love.

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When it comes to life lessons.

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Practice what you preach.

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Practice what you preach is a powerful item. It means that you should follow the same rules or advice that you give to others. For example, you should practice what you preach if you want people to trust you.

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It emphasizes the importance of consistency between words and actions.

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Next one is don't pour all the eggs in one basket.

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Don't put all the eggs in one basket. It's a caution against relying too much.

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On one particular plan or course of action, if someone is investing all their resources in a in one project, you might say don't put all the eggs in one basket. It's a reminder to diversify it and avoid excessive risk.

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And last but not least is bite the bullet.

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Encourages facing a difficult or unpleasant situation with courage. For example, I had to buy the bullet and finish the project. Despite the challenges. It's about taking a decisive action in face of an adversity.

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That's all for today's episode on English items and expression.

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I hope you found these items both interesting and useful by practicing and incorporating them into your conversations, you will start sounding more like a native speaker in no time. If you enjoy this episode, please leave a review and share it with your friends. And don't forget to tune in for more exciting content.