Informal English: Phrases and Idioms

• The clip provides informal English phrases and idioms.
• Covers their meanings, and how to use them in everyday conversations.
• Includes examples for context.

Goal Setting

• Nothing can prevent someone from achieving their goal, like graduating college, even through challenges.
• Overcoming the urge to quit will ensure success.

Showing Knowledge

• Someone who "really knows what they're talking about" is knowledgeable due to long study.
• It's an informal compliment, appropriate in casual settings when impressed by someone's expertise.
• Ophthalmologists really know eyes.
• Used to reassure others about someone's knowledge.

Acknowledging a Valid Point

• "You've got me there" admits that someone made a valid point or gave good advice.
• Use when someone convinces you to do something.
• Example: Agreeing to watch "Game of Thrones" after a friend praises it.

Complimenting Style

• "They have good taste" praises someone's style in dress, music, food, or home decor.
• Taste refers to preferences and style.
• Can be used humorously when encountering someone with a similar style or item.
• Good for complimenting someones tastes.

Sudden Change

• "In the blink of an eye" describes a rapid change from one state to another.
• Often indicates a sudden negative event, like an accident due to texting while driving.
• Can also describe a positive event, such as a quick promotion at work

Delivering Bad News

• "Drop a bomb" means delivering shocking or heavy news.
• Example: Telling travel companions you forgot your passport
• A "truth bomb" is revealing a devastating fact that everyone avoids.
• Example: Highlighting global warming’s impact and urging change.

Expressing a General Idea

• "Along the lines of" indicates a general idea or plan.
• Use it when you have a vague notion of what to do or have.
• Examples: Suggesting "something along the lines of meat and vegetables" for dinner or "going for a long walk and going to some park" for weekend plans.
• Speaking vaguely.
• Talking very generally without being sure.

Being Assertive

• Being assertive is important in sales.
• Pushy means being too assertive making someone do or buy something they don't want.
• Comes from "to push something on someone."
• Pushy people might force food or favors.
• Offering something without wanting to be pushy.

Peak of Existence

• "Living in the peak of human existence" suggests this is the best time to be alive.
• "Peaking" means reaching the highest point.
• Things won't get better.
• Likely to worse.
• Reaching "peak popularity" means it probably won't be as good in the future.
• Better to peak as an older adult.

Changing Opinions

• "Grow to like/dislike something" refers to changing opinions over time.
• Example: Initially thinking Bad Bunny's music was okay, but growing to like it after listening daily.

Offering a Reward to get results

• "Dangle something" means offering a reward to encourage action.
• Can be literal or metaphorical.
• Example: Dangling a reward to get a child clean their room
• Bosses might dangle a pay raise.

Reflecting on the Past

• "In retrospect" is used to reflect on past events, knowing what one knows now.
• Example: Regretting not investing in Apple 30 years ago.
• Example: Regretting not dressing warmer knowing the weather would be cold

Making a lot of money

• "Bring in the big bucks" means earning a lot of money.
• Ed Sheeran went from busking (asking for money on the street) to selling out stadiums.

Drawing Attention

• "Come into the spotlight" signifies increased attention on an issue or person.
• OceanGate submersible accident brought the dangers of the ocean into the spotlight.
• Media focuses on the event.

Hypocritical Behavior

• "The audacity" describes someone's bold, hypocritical behavior.
• The adjective audacious means someone is willing to take risks.
• Boss being late but commenting on someone else's lateness to comment.
• Parents commenting on financial matters.

Sadness

• "Look like a sad puppy" describes a helpless, and very sad appearance.
• Used when describing the losing team of a championship.

Mentioning

• "Bring something up" means mentioning or talking about something.
• Example: Suggesting a company job opening to someone seeking employment.
• Don't bring it up.
• Mention it very quickly without making it a large conversation.
• Not polite to bring up politics at the dinner table.
• Don't bring up someones age.

Solidifying Something

• Seal the deal is when something becomes solidified.
• Can seal the deal on your opinion.
• You didn't know how you felt, and now you know exactly how you felt.

Rude Attitude

• "Giving attitude" means behaving rudely or being difficult.
• Negative attitude.
• Being difficult to work with.

Indicating Importance

• "Here's the thing" introduces something important or a justification.
• Usually a problem needs to be solved or piece of info.
• Transportation problem for a party.

Rhetorical Question

• "Imagine having to" starts a sentence asking someone to consider a tough situation.
• Not literally asking them to imagine just asking them how it would be.
• Imagine having a lot of kids and feeding them.
• Imagine replacing all your things after you lose your house in a fire.

Ignoring Consequences

• "Live in denial" means ignoring the consequences of one's actions.
• Eating unhealthy food and ignoring the effects.

Safe Choice

• "You can't go wrong" indicates that any option will be a good choice.
• Example: All ice cream options are good, therefore, you can't go wrong.

Leaving

• "We're off" means we're leaving. Also "we are off"
• Very casual.
• Finishing an Email before leaving to lunch.

Forced Decision

• "Gun to your head" means having to make a decision quickly without much thought.
• Weird Phrase.
• Deciding whether to freeze to death or burn to death, you have to pick.

Extent of Something

• "To the extent of" refers to the scope or limit of something.
• Extent of Damage to property on what needs to be completed for a job.
• The limit of something.

Defending

• "If you stand for everything you stand for nothing" means support things.
• "Stand up for someone" means defending them against bullying or harassment.
• Important to stand up for disabled people to help them out.

Dramatic Talk

• "Talk a big game" means exaggerating one's abilities or intentions.
• Dramatically talking about what you're going to do.
• Talk about their abilities.
• Actions have to match your words.

Difficult Challenge

• "Uphill battle" describes a very difficult or ongoing challenge.
• Cleaning the house with children there is an uphill battle.
• Learning English is an uphill battle.

Worthless opinion

• "Take it with a grain of salt" means not valuing someone's opinion too much, especially if they're not an expert
• It's important to take the future with a grain of salt.
• Putting little inportance on someones opinion.

Leading by example

• "Practice what you preach" means actions should align with words or advice.
• To lead by example.
• Boss talking about being on time but they are late.

Conflicting Desires

• "You can't have your cake and eat it too" means you can't satisfy conflicting desires.
• Wanting a promotion, but also wanting to take lots of vacations.

Disappointing News

• "Rain on their parade" means sharing disappointing news with someone who is excited.
• Hating to rain on someone's parade.
• Cancelling a concert.

Acting Emotionally

• "Act in the heat of the moment" means acting impulsively or emotionally during a charged time.
• Saying mean things.
• Acting very passionatley.

Reacting Quickly

• "Think on your feet" means reacting and planning quickly without much thought.
• Thinking quickly and improvising.
• Wedding being outside, and having to change locations.

Tough Decisions

• "When the going gets tough, the tough get going" means staying dedicated despite difficulties.
• Need to work through problems in a marriage.

Risky Situation

• "On thin ice" describes a risky situation or being close to trouble.
• Need to improve your performance.
• Describing a risky situation.

Exercise Caution

• "Easy does it" means being careful or gentle.
• Easy Does It.
• Don't fall.
• Be careful.

Doing Your Own Thing

• "Do your thing" means handling something in your own way without interference.
• Just do it the way you want.
• To proceed.

Competing

• "Go head to head" means competing directly against someone.
• Let's have a competition.
• Let's compete against each other.

Getting Together

• "Link up" means getting together or hanging out informally.
• Very Informal.
• To get together at a certain time.

Arriving

• "Show up" means arriving at a place or appearing.
• What time did you arrive at the party.
• Has not arrived.

Personal Preference

• "To each their own" means everyone is entitled to their opinions and preferences.
• It is my personal preference on something.
• It does not matter to me.

Getting Involved

• "Jump in" means getting involved quickly to help or contribute.
• Quick involvement of helping.
• Jump in to help someone lift a box you weren't planning on helping with.
• Being able to jump in to make an idea without raising you hand.

Taking Control

• "Take over" means assuming control or responsibility.
• You assume the person knows what you mean when you say "I'll take over with that."
• Someone needs to take over the meeting.
• Take over all responsibilities.

Enforcing Rules

• "Lay down the law" means becoming strict and firm about rules.
• Boss didn't used to care, being very strict about being on time.
• Need to be strict.

Completing a Challenge

• “Pull it off” means successfully completing something difficult or unexpected.
• The test was pulled off, and you did not expect you studied.
• Movie reference.

Shared Difficulty

• "I don't have to tell you” means understanding the complaint or difficulty being discussed.
• Have the same complaint.
• Share the same difficulty or struggle they are having.

Learn common English phrases and idioms to enhance your daily conversations. Understand their meanings and usage with practical examples. Improve your communication skills with these expressions.