American English grammar review with Billgreen54. Idioms! Hey, I've got some more idioms for you today. Let's start out with the idiom, chicken out. chicken out means to become too frightened to do something or to lose one's nerve. I have an example for you. Hey, the girls wanted to ask the movie star for his autograph, but they got scared and chickened out. Another example. You said you wanted to try parachuting. So we came up in this airplane, the door is open and it's time to jump. Don't chicken out now. a synonym to chicken out could be cold feet. He had cold feet and didn't want to jump out of the plane. I wouldn't want to jump out either. Another idiom chip off the old blog. He's a chip off the old blog very much like one's parents like mom, like dad. First example. The young man likes to do the same things his father does. He's a chip off the old block. Another example. Hey, now that Ralph has grown up, he and his father are as different as night nd but when Rob was younger, he was a chip off the old block. In other words, he did a lot of things just like his dad, a synonym to chip off the old block is spitting image. Now Spitting Image means that someone looks like somebody any expression chip off the old blog probably originates from the idea that a chip off a block of wood or stone, though it's smaller, has the same characteristics as the block itself. A chip off the old block usually refers to a likeness in character, or personality. Next up is chip on one's shoulder. He this refers to a feeling of bitterness caused by a sense that one has been treated unfairly. Here's an example. Hey, I said good morning to Ed and he snapped back at me. He sure has a chip on his shoulder today, something about Ed doesn't like me. Another example. Carl has a chip on his shoulder because he was passed over for promotion in favor of Maria. Although he feels he was better qualified. The sense of personal injustice is usually imagine the expression originates from the custom of placing a chip on one shoulder and narrowing another person to knock it off as a way of challenging someone probably not a good idea to fight with people. Next up the idiom, clam up. It refers to someone who isn't saying anything. Here's an example. The witness was ready to testify at the trial. But at the last minute she clammed up and wouldn't say a thing. A second example here. The boy's parents were sure he knew something about the theft at school, but when they asked him about it, he clammed up. In other words, he wouldn't say any thing. The expression suggests that one keeps one's mouth as tightly closed as a clam shell. Next up is the idiom clean slate or to wipe the slate clean. It refers to a new beginning, usually achieved by removing any record of previous bad deeds or debts, money that you owe, let's say an example is Hey, the man had done some terrible things in the past, but he moved to a new town and changed his name. He was trying to make a new life with a clean slate. Another example Hey, if you pay me what you owe me, you'll have wiped the slate clean. The expression originates from the idea of a slate, the forerunner to a blackboard, which can be wiped clean to allow for new writing. Next idiom clean someone out to take or steal everything someone has. First example is Hey, the robbers broke into the bank at night and clean the place out. In other words, they stole all the money. Second example is hey, we needed to go to the grocery store after the party. Our guests really cleaned us out after the party, they realize that all of the food was gone. This expression is sometimes used to describe stealing but can also be used to describe a legal situation where everything is taken. Next up is climb the walls to be uneasy or restless. Peter had been studying for more than 10 hours and he was beginning to have trouble concentrating on his books. He was starting to climb the Walls very restless. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/english-grammar-review/message

American English Grammar Review

Idioms! To Chicken Out & To Climb On The Bandwagon! English with Billgreen54

American English grammar review with Billgreen54. Idioms! Always a fun subject. Hey, let's start off today with the idiom close shave. It means to have a narrow escape. Here's an example I created for you. Hey The driver was distracted for a moment and nearly hit another car. He missed the other car, but it was a close shave. So there might have been an accident of some kind, but it was very, very close. Another example, he despite a close shave when she was nearly caught in the military camp, she had to climb a tree just to stay hidden. Next up is closed minded to be unwilling to consider new ideas. Hey, here's an example. I encourage you to try new things. Don't be so closed minded. Another example. Anyone who wants to make the world a better place will eventually have to contend with closed minded people. Yeah, that's probably true. Sometimes we work with people and they don't have any imagination. They're closed minded. The antonym to close minded is open minded. He or she is an open minded person. They listen to new ideas and they're always thinking about ways to improve. Hey, the next idiom coming up here is clown around to act silly. Of course, he's clowning around again, an example is Hey, the teacher asked the students to Stop being silly. She told them to stop clowning around stop playing in the classroom right? Hey, another example. Jerry likes to clown around and he's always playing practical jokes on everyone clown around can be compared to fool around horse around in monkey around cock and bull story, a story that's too unlikely to be believed. I have an example for you. Hey, you want me to believe some cock and bull story that you're late getting home because you got lost and then ran out of gas. It's not true isn't another example. Hey, the driver tried to explain his way out of getting a speeding ticket by inventing a Cock and bull story. a synonym to cock and bull story is song and dance. Or maybe snow job is giving me a snow job. It means he's lying. Or not telling me the truth. Cold Feet. It's when someone is too scared to do something. Joel wanted to ask Mr. Lee for a pay raise. But when Joel saw him, he got cold feet and just said good morning, something like that. Right? He didn't want to ask him for a pay raise. He had cold feet. Hey, the soldier got cold feet. When the pilot told him it was time to parachute out of the airplane. In other words, he didn't want to jump with his parachute out of the plane. He got cold feet, a couple of synonyms to cold feet is chicken out and to have second thoughts cold turkey, something that happens abruptly very quickly. And not gradually or over time, Harry decided to stop smoking cigarettes all at once he decided to quit cold turkey. So when he stopped smoking, which is a good idea, right? He stopped all at once, not over weeks or months. Another example of cold turkey. Hey, many doctors believe that if you want to give up using a drug, you can't do it gradually. You have to stop cold turkey come full circle to return figuratively to a point where one has been before Bruce practiced law in a small law firm, then taught law at a university and then gave up teaching and is practicing law again. He has come full circle. Now the example we started with a small two bedroom house but as the family grew, so did the size of the houses we moved into over the years. Now that the children are grown and have left home. We've come full circle and are moving back into a small house. The expression to come full circle suggests that in greeting a full circle one returns to a starting point, calm offered a response to a statement that can never be believed or a behavior that must be stopped. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/english-grammar-review/message

Idioms! Close Shave & To Come Out of Ones Shell! English with Billgreen54

Hey! This is Billgreen54 your favorite English teacher at American English Grammar Review! Halloween is always special for my family. This holiday holds many special memories from the past including my time in retail. Those years in the dime store business were a life adventure indeed! One Halloween In the late '80s, I decided to create a haunted house just before entering my store. Hauntingly unique with black walls and a spooky front gate. As you entered, to the left, there was a cardboard maze for kids to crawl through with tricks and treats from start to finish. To the right, were half a dozen bales of hay with six scarecrows wearing masks all neatly positioned. The first five looked alive meticulously stuffed with newspaper and more recyclables from around the house. The sixth and final scarecrow slumped over the last bale was my little brother Gary. It was his idea to dress up as one of the family and surprise or should I say, scare anyone too close for comfort. Our haunted house and Gary's need to make everyone jump back a few feet with a smile or two made for the perfect Halloween! I hope you enjoyed this blast from the past or should I say, a little fright at night! Stay tuned and have fun listening while learning English vocabulary for your next Halloween night out! Don't forget to subscribe to American English Grammar Review! Stay tuned for more with a very special word list all about Halloween! First up is... Banshee An unhappy ghost that comes from Irish and Scottish folklore. Bat A black small flying mammal with leather-like wings. Black cat A favorite animal for witches kept as pets. Said to have supernatural powers. Bloodcurdling Often used to describe a very loud chilling or scary scream. Bogeyman Often used to frighten children who misbehave. Bones A person's or animal's skeleton. Brew On Halloween, as a verb means to cook a liquid. As a noun, something cooked. Also called witches brew. Broomstick Something witches use to travel with. Candle A source of light made from wax and wick. Candy Sweet treats are given to trick or treaters. Cape A long piece of material often worn by vampires. Cauldron A witch's cooking pot used to create spells. Costume A fun or scary outfit worn by people at Halloween. Creepy Something or someone that's scary or unsettling. Maybe your next-door neighbor. Demon Compare to the devil. Devil An evil spirit. Compare to demon. Evil Someone or something that is bad or malicious. Fangs Sharp pointed teeth. Ghost A spirit that haunts houses. Goblin A small ugly creature that causes trouble. Haunted A place where you might find ghosts. Howl A sound made by dogs or wolves. Jack-o-lantern A carved pumpkin with a light or candle inside. Prank When someone plays a joke on someone. Pumpkin A small to very large orange-colored vegetable. Scary Something frightening. Spell Something a witch does to the unsuspecting. Spooky A little scary. Often used in a fun way. Trick When someone does something unexpected hopefully in a fun way. Treat Often used to refer to candy at Halloween. Trick or treat Kids use this phrase when a door is opened expecting candy on Halloween. Vampire An undead creature who sleeps in the daytime. Witch A woman believed to have magical powers. Hey, I hope you enjoyed this brief but fun Halloween vocabulary lesson! Don't forget to subscribe to American English Grammar Review! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/english-grammar-review/message

Halloween Past and The Scarecrow American English Wordlist

American English grammar review with Billgreen54. Idioms, another great topic to talk about in English. Hey, First up today is to catch someone red handed or to get caught red handed. It means to catch someone in the act of committing some offense. Something they're doing it's not correct. An example would be the little girl's mother caught her red handed trying to steal cookies from the cookie jar, not something I would be too upset about. Here's another example. The two men dropped the stolen goods when they heard the police car sirens they didn't want to get caught red handed. Next up, to catch someone's eye. It means to attract someone's visual attention. Here's an example. A when the girls met their mother in front of the post office, they could see her walking towards them in the crowd but couldn't catch her eye. In other words, she didn't see them. Next stop, catch someone's fancy to appeal to somebody. An example. Hey, Daniel arrived at the party not expecting to have a good time. But he met someone there who caught his fancy and spent the entire evening talking to her you liked her. Another example Hey, before you decide that you don't want anything for your birthday, let's go to the jewelry store. You might see something there that catches your fancy. In other words, something you will like next idiom up change horses in mid stream. It means to change plans or leaders in the middle of some action or event. My first example for you is the president older people that if they wanted the country to continue to move forward, they should reelect him. He said that to elect his opponent would be like changing horses in midstream. Here's another example. The chairman of the board died suddenly before he could complete his plans for the company. The stockholders were forced to change horses in midstream and elect someone new. The expression implies that trying to change horses in the middle of a stream is not a wise thing to do. It would be better to wait until one is on land. Next up change of heart change of heart and means a reversal of attitude. The expression is usually applied to an emotional attitude of some kind. Here's an example. Karen told her boss that she planned to leave the company but after the boss offered her a pay raise, she had a change of heart and agreed to stay. Another example. The girl's parents said no at first but then they had a change of heart and let her go to the dance. That was nice of them, wasn't it? Next up is checkered past. checkered past is about a personal history that includes both successes and failures, or ethical and unethical behavior. Here's an example. Larry has quite a checkered past. But things are getting better. He has a new job and is saving for a new apartment. Another example, the personal director of the company refused to consider Mr. Du Pont's application for employment because of his checkered past. The expression originates from the alternating black and white opposite colors of a checkerboard. It's generally used in a negative sense focusing more on failures and unethical behavior than on successes in ethical behavior. Here's an interesting idiom. To choose someone out or to get chewed out It means to scold or reprimand someone harshly. Here's an example. When Peggy came home three hours late, her parents were very angry. They chewed her out and told her she was restricted for two weeks. A second example, the newspaper boy got chewed out by Mrs. James when he ran through her flower garden. You could compare this to read someone the riot act, raked someone over the coals, call someone on the carpet or to give someone a piece of one's mind. Next up, to choose something over to think slowly and carefully about something I know the idea doesn't seem appealing at first, but why don't you Shoot over for a few days before you decide. So to chew over means to give something some thought before you make a decision. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/english-grammar-review/message

Idioms! To Catch Someone Red Handed & To Chicken Out! English with Billgreen54

American English grammar review with Billgreen54. First idiom up is Call someone on the carpet? It means to confront or hold someone responsible for some misdeed. Here's an example the student tried to make the teacher think that his report was original, but the teacher knew it wasn't and called him on the carpet. Another example, I got called on the carpet for being late again, I have some synonyms for this, rake someone over the coals or choose someone out or read someone the riot act. Next up is call someone's bluff. It means to challenge someone to carry out a threat or prove the truth of a statement. Here's an example. I told my parents that I had gotten passing grades in all my classes, but they didn't believe me. They called my bluff and asked to see my report card. Of course they didn't. They are your parents. Here's another example. The bank robber threatened to shoot the bank guard, but the guard called the robbers bluff by walking up to a man taking away his gun. So instead of listening to the robber, he took a chance and called the robbers bluff. this idiom is based on the literal meaning of this phrase as used in card games such as poker, a player who is bluffing may pretend to have a winning hand when in fact he or she does not to call one's bluff in poker is to challenge one to show his or her cards. Next up is call the shots. It means to be in control order to give orders. Here's an example. In this classroom, the teacher is in control. The teacher calls the shots, not the students. So the teacher is the one who is in charge. Another example, the lawyer tried to take control of the courtroom, but the judge reminded him that it's the judge who calls the shots. this idiom stems from use in sports that involve aiming for example, in darts, the thrower might call out the exact spot that he or she expects to hit on the target. Also calling the shots wills shows the player to be in control of the outcome. Next idiom up is to open a can of worms. It refers to a situation it contains many unexpected and unwanted problems and consequences. Here's an example the company's management thought their new policy would increase employee productivity, but instead it opened a whole new can of worms. In other words, some difficulties. Another example his situation is completely messed up. It's a can of worms that I'm happy not to have to deal with. You could compare a can of worms with another idiom, Pandora's Box next up to carry a torch. This is used when we talk about somebody who might be in love with someone, usually someone who does not love in return. In other words, somebody is carrying a torch for that person, but the other person doesn't like them in the same way. Here's an example. He went on to find a new boyfriend. Don't spend your life carrying a torch for someone who doesn't love you anymore. Another example Hey, Sarah will never remarry. She will always carry a torch for Henry. Lucky Henry. Hey, the expression suggests that love is a flame in the heart. Next up, carry the ball to take on worker responsibility in order to keep a project moving forward. Here's an example. Hey, we need more people to help get this work done on time. Are you going to sit there and do nothing? Or are you going to help carry the ball? In other words help other people? Yes. Another example the people in the office were sorry to see a mirror leave the company. She was such a dependable worker and you could always count on her to carry the ball. In other words to always make sure that something got done. Hey, I hope you enjoyed today's lesson American English grammar review with Billgreen54. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/english-grammar-review/message

Idioms! Call Someone On The Carpet & Carry The Ball! English with Billgreen54

American English grammar review with Billgreen54. Idioms another fun part of English. Hey today let's start out with the idiom butter someone up. It means to flatter someone, usually excessively in order to gain a fever. An example is Hey, my wife bought me candy and sent flowers. And now she's telling me how good my cooking is. I think she wants something and is trying to butter me up. So that I'll agree. Another example, if you want the professor to do a favor, just ask her, don't butter her up. This idiom is in reference to the act of covering someone in praise or flattery, like covering us slice of bread with butter. Next up is buy something for a song or just a buy for a song Hey, to buy something very cheaply. Here's an example. Sue and Dennis found an antique painting in that shop. But the salesman didn't know its true value, it must be worth a small fortune, and they bought it for a song. So they paid very little money for it. Here's another example. The man was desperate to get rid of his car, so I was able to buy it for a song. In other words, I bought it for very little money. Next up is by hook or by crook, by one way or another or by any means possible. Here's an example. Margaret was determined to lose 25 pounds before summer, by hook or by crook. In other words, she was very, very determined. Another example, hey, Bruce would be such an asset to this company. But there aren't any positions open right now. by hook or by crook, we'll have to get him a job in this office, by the book also go by the bog. It's when we operate according to the rules, doing something that is by the rules, and not ignoring the way we're supposed to do something maybe with a policy, something like that. An example is Hey, the pilot might have carried out some pre flight procedures more quickly. But because he was training a new pilot, he did everything by the book. So the trainee would learn the procedures the right way. Another example, as a parent raising children, you can't always go by the book and follow the rules. Sometime you have to use your intuition. The expression probably originates from the idea that the procedure or accepted rules of an established game are set down in a book. In other words, it is something that you're supposed to do correctly by the seat of one's pants, to do something to accomplish something by luck and instinct rather than skill. Here's an example. at the last minute the boss was taken ill and Kate had to give the sales presentation. She was not sure the best way to proceed. But she used the notes that the boss had prepared and followed her instincts, she managed the presentation by the seat of her bands. In other words, she did a good job right. Another example, the children had never cooked a whole meal or use a washing machine before when their mother left in an emergency. They kept things going at the house by the seat of their pants, hey, there are two synonyms that can be used in the same way to wing it. And to play it by ear by the skin of one's teeth to be a very narrow margin. In other words, something happened and it was very, very close. Here's an example. The thief leaped from one building to another to escape the police. He almost missed the second building, but he made it by the skin of his teeth. I have another example for you. Hey, Dan and Mark were swimming in the ocean and spotted a shark coming toward them. They swam to their boat and pulled themselves out of the water just in time they made it out of the water by the skin of their teeth. You could compare skin of one's teeth to the term or the idiom, close shave. Next up is by word of mouth the informal verbal passing of information from one person to another. Here's an example. Walter heard about it from one of the company's employees even though it had not been advertised in the newspaper. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/english-grammar-review/message

Idioms! Butter Someone Up & Word Of Mouth! English with Billgreen54

American English grammar review with Billgreen54. Hey, I've got some more idioms for you bool in a china shop bull in a china shop is used in insensitive to delicate situations to be so clumsy that one breaks things inadvertently or accidentally. Here's an example. Tom was a bit of a bull in a china shop when he met his girlfriend's family, asking all the wrong kinds of questions about her relatives. Here's another Larry, you can't take his son into the glassware store because he always manages to break things. He's like a bull in a china shop. Here's another idiom Bhama steer to give someone a bumpsteer bad advice or instructions. My stockbroker really gave me a bumpsteer I bought a stock he recommended and it did nothing but go down. Kim stopped at a gas station for directions to City Hall. The mechanic told her how to get there. But he gave her a bump steer and she got lost again, burn one's bridges to burn a bridge to take a course of action that makes it impossible to go back. Here's an example. Hey, if you commit yourself to that course of action, you'll be burning your bridges and you won't be able to start over a second example, Anita decided she ought to leave herself the option of going back to school she decided not to burn all her bridges. So when you use that phrase, burn one's bridges to burn your bridge, it means you've done something taking an action of some kind where you probably won't be able to go back and do that again often used in jobs to burn rubber. Hey, can you believe it? That's an idiom. To burn rubber is to accelerate with tires so quickly from a stopped position at the rubber tires. Make a loud squealing noise and leave a black mark on this treat. It's also a slang expression meaning to hurry. Here's an example a traffic light turned green. The car tires squealed as the driver push the gas pedal to the floor and burn rubber. Here's another one. Hey, we're going to have to burn rubber. If we hope to get to the wedding on time. This expression is also used as slang for Hurry, burn the candle at both ends to overwork oneself. Here's an example. Hey, Marie works all day and goes to school every evening, then she has to get up early in order to study she's wearing herself out she's burning the candle at both ends. Another example you really burn the candle at both ends. You've got to start taking it easy or you'll end up in the hospital. The expression suggests that one is a wasting one's resources or energy. Here's another idiom burn the midnight oil. burn the midnight oil to stay up late at night studying or working a great example Hey, if they expect to pass the test tomorrow, they'll have to open their books and begin burning the midnight oil. In other words, they'll have to study a lot real fast. Another example. Hey, the boss expects to see the new plans tomorrow. The only way I'm going to be able to finish them in time is to burn the midnight oil tonight. The literal definition of burning the midnight oil suggest burning the oil in an oil lamp for light in order to work in the dark. A lot of idioms come from expressions like that that may have been used literally in the early days. today. It's more idiomatic. He burned out lacking enthusiasm due to overexposure or too much of the same thing or completely used up or worn out. Here's an example. Hey, Scott just couldn't face another semester studying chemistry. He had taken so many chemistry classes that he was burned out. Another example a Betty got burned out spending so much time volunteering at the hospital, she decided she needed a vacation. The expression suggests a device like a light bulb that burns out or stops shining when all of its energy is used up. So again, many idioms come from literal meanings in the very beginning. And they've kind of changed the way that we use them over time. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/english-grammar-review/message

Idioms! Bull in a China Shop & Butt In! American English with Billgreen54

American English grammar review with Billgreen54. I have some more idioms for you he let's start out with Bottoms up. Bottoms up a call to drink or two empty one's glass. Here's an example. We'd better finish our drinks because the bar is closing. Bottoms up. Here's another young Timmy did not want to drink his medicine. But bottoms up his mother insisted as she pressed the glass into his hands. The expression suggests the idea that the bottom of one's glass will be up when one drinks. It's informal, of course, boxed in or two box in someone means could be a restricted area, or to restrict or stop somebody from doing something. Here's an example. David feels boxed in because he's stuck in a dead end job and he doesn't have any options. Here's another example. Don't box yourself in spending all your savings on the most expensive car and not having any money left in case of an emergency. Next up is brainstorm, brainstorm to generate many ideas quickly. When faced with a complicated problem, it's often useful to brainstorm several possible solutions first, before deciding on which strategy you will apply. Here's another example. Before we began writing, our teacher asked us to brainstorm topics for our compositions. brainstorming is often a formal step in problem solving. The goal is to generate potential solutions without immediately evaluating them. evaluation is carried out as a subsequent step. The word brainstorm is a verb but it's I in G form brainstorming is often used as a noun, next up breadwinner, somebody that provides financially for his or her family. When Harold quit his job and went back to school, he and his wife needed to adjust to having one breadwinner instead of two. In other words, only one was bringing in money or earning money to support the family. Here's a second when her family needed more money. Tara got a job after school to help out she became a breadwinner. breaking the ice, breaking the ice to get things started, particularly by means of a social introduction or conversation. It didn't take long for the guests at the party to break the ice. By the time dinner was served. Almost everyone was chatting with someone they just met. Here's another example. I am afraid we haven't met yet. Let me break the ice by introducing myself. My name is john Taylor. The expression suggests the idea of breaking through an icy surface to clear a path for ships. Bring down the house, bring down the house to be a great success. The comedian at the dinner show is wonderful. He brings down the house every night. In other words, they really like that person. Here's another example. The music critic didn't like the new Symphony being presented at the concert hall. In his newspaper review, he said it would never bring down the house. In other words, nobody would like the music. The idiom bring down the house is almost exclusively used to describe theatrical or musical performances but it could also be used for any event that would generate applause. Yeah, people clapping right. It suggests that when an artistic performance is a great success, the audience applause so noisily as to make this ceiling in the walls of the theater collapse. bring home the bacon, to bring money into the household to support a family. Here's an example. Hey, it's romantic to marry someone you love. But when you set up your household, you're going to have bills to pay. You should think about marrying someone who will help bring home the bacon. In other words, somebody who earns money by working in a job where they actually get paid. Here's another example. Leo became ill and couldn't work anymore. So his wife went back to work. Now she's the one who brings home the bacon. Next up, brush off to get the brush off or to give someone the brush off. The idiom brush off means to be dismissed casually. And almost cruelly. It's not a very nice thing to say to people, but people do it and you'll hear that. Here's an example. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/english-grammar-review/message

Idioms! Bottums Up & To Bug Someone! English with Billgreen54

American English grammar review with Billgreen54. idioms Hey, I've got a few more idioms for you. The first one I want to start with today is born yesterday. Born Yesterday means that someone might be a little naive. Hey, do you really think you can fool me? I'm not that dumb. I wasn't born yesterday, you know. So this explains a little bit about being naive. Someone who is unsuspecting of things that might happen it could be possibly negative or bad. Here's another example. Philip is going to get hurt if he goes on trusting everyone the way he does. He never suspects that people make friends with him just because he's rich. He acts like he was born yesterday. You could compare born yesterday to wet behind the ears. This expression suggested someone who was born yesterday has not learned to distrust or be suspicious of people and is therefore naive, wet behind the ears suggests inexperience while more than yesterday suggests that the person is easily fooled. A Be careful with that one. But it's a great idiom to use. If you need to tell somebody something they may or may not want to hear more than yesterday. Here's another one, both feet on the ground, both feet on the ground is to be realistic and practical. Here's an example. They're getting married very suddenly, they say they have both feet on the ground and that they've given it serious thought, but I have my doubts. Here's another you're leaving school before you graduate. I don't think you know what you're doing. You're sure you have both feet on the ground. You see how that works. So to be realistic or practical, both feet on the ground. Here's another idiom for you. The bottom line, the net result or a simple and irrefutable truth. Here's an example for you. Hey, you've told me about the downpayment, the closing costs, the interest rate and the price of the house. Okay, but what's the bottom line? How much money am I actually going to spend on this house. Here's another example. You and I can argue around and around on this issue. But the bottom line is that our children will have to go to college if they want to get well paid jobs in the future. A a synonym to the bottom line could be long and short of it. And also the nitty gritty, let's get down to the nitty gritty, the expression The bottom line is often used to describe a monetary figure. That was my first example. But it also describes the basic, supposedly undeniable truth of an argument. The expression probably originates from the accounting practice of adding together the profits and subtracting the cost to arrive at a final figure under the bottom line on a spreadsheet or in a ledger or account book. I've got another idiom for you, bottom of the barrel, the least evil member of a group, or the least desirable items from a collection. Here's an example. That's probably the worst idea I've ever heard. You really reach the bottom of the barrel, haven't you? Here's another example. I guess we can ask George to help but in my opinion, we're scraping the bottom of the barrel if we have to turn to him. In other words, we really don't want to ask that person for help because he's not the best of the best of the best. An antonym to bottom of the barrel would be cream of the crop. cream of the crop is like the best of the best of the best. bottom of the barrel is often used with the verbs to reach or to scrape. Hey, you finally reached the bottom of the barrel or you're scraping the bottom of the barrel. Hey, I hope you enjoyed today's lesson American English grammar review with Billgreen54. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/english-grammar-review/message

Idioms! Born Yesterday & Bottom of The Barrel! English with Billgreen54

Great news! You can now easily subscribe to more than 500 English lessons for just 99 cents a month. Click subscribe at anchor dot f m slash English grammar review slash subscribe. Hey, it's so easy. Thanks for subscribing. Have fun learning English American English grammar review with Billgreen54. Let's start out with blue collar worker. A blue collar worker is a person who earns a living doing manual labor or generally uses his or her body rather than his or her mind to earn a living. Here's an example. Sam works on an assembly line mass producing clock radios. He's a blue collar worker. Here's another people who work in factories doing heavy labor are usually blue collar workers. The antonym to blue collar worker is white collar worker. The expression originates from the color of the shirt, generally worn by factory workers while on the job. Here's another idiom, boiling point. boiling point is the point in which one loses one's temper. Here's an example. You just about push me to the boiling point in a minute, I'm going to lose my temper. Here's another don't push the boss too hard about taking time off work. She hasn't had much patience is weak and it wouldn't take much to reach her boiling point, you could compare a boiling point to make one's blood boil. The expression suggests heated water whose serve as he rubs with bubbles when it reaches a particular temperature. Here's another idiom bomb the word bomb to fail completely. Don't confuse the word bomb with a noun. This is an idiom and it means something completely different. The playwrights new play closed on the first night it bombed. In other words, it was unsuccessful, they thought they had hired an exciting speaker but instead, he really bombed. In other words, nobody liked what he had to say. You could compare the idiom bomb, B o m b. To lay in egg that happens when people aren't successful or they've done something and people don't like bomb is usually applied to creative activities like a play a book, a movie, an idea that fail on a grand scale, lay an egg is usually applied to doing something that is socially embarrassing on a smaller scale. Next up is bone of contention. bone of contention is all about a topic of dispute. Here's an example. The subject of politics is a bone of contention between Sandra and me, we never seem to agree. Here's another john wants to send the children to a private school. And I think it's unnecessary. It's a bone of contention between us, you could compare a bone of contention to bone to pick In other words, I have a bone to pick with you. The expressions suggest a bone thrown between two dogs that would naturally fight over it. An example of a bone to pick is I have a bone to pick with and she told the boss I was looking for a new job and now she's angry at me. Another example you could tell by the angry look on their faces and the way they walked in looking for a gene that they had a bone to pick with her. You could also compare this to bone of contention. Hey, I hope you enjoyed today's lesson American English grammar review with Billgreen54. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/english-grammar-review/message

Idioms! Blue Collar Worker & Bone To Pick! American English with Billgreen54

Would you like to help support better English around the world? You can support this podcast and more with a small contribution at https://ko-fi.com/billgreen54 American English grammar review with Billgreen54. Idioms! Of course there are many ways to express yourself in English. Idioms are just a part of the English language. One of the main reasons why you should study idioms in English, so that you know what others are saying. Blow off steam to express one's anger usually noisily in harmlessly, thereby relieving one's tension. An example my BA, forgive me for yelling at you. I guess I just had to blow off some steam. In other words, somebody may be shouted at, they seem to be a little bit angry, made a mistake and shouldn't have said what they said. Another example, hey, when my mother needs to blow off steam, she slams the cupboard doors. A couple of synonyms to blow off steam would be Hey, blow one's stack or fly off the handle. The expression suggests the noise created when a steam boiler releases excess pressure. Another idiom to remember is that often we use words in many ways in English, the word may have started as an adjective, but now when we use it, it means something completely different than what we learn at the early stages of English, the word blue can also mean sad. Here's an example. Rachel seems pretty unhappy these days. I wonder why she's feeling blue. So that term blue can relate to depression. Some kind of sadness. Another example might be Hey, let's try to cheer up the children. They've been pretty blues since their pet dog died. That would make anybody sad. Couple of synonyms might be down in the dumps and down in the mouth. Here's an idiom that we don't use every day, but it's out there. blue blood, a person or animal that is an aristocrat or from a normal family. The old man's parents did not want him to marry the woman he'd chosen because they considered themselves Blue Bloods and thought their son was too good for her subject for another day. Another example, the race horses raised on my father's horse farm are bluebloods. They come from a long line of Kentucky Derby winners blue law, a law which regulates personal behaviors such as going to certain movies, dancing or gambling. In the United States. In 1920, a blue law was passed prohibiting the sale of alcoholic beverages, it was later repealed, that period of time was also called prohibition. Another example, some cities have blue laws that limit or prohibit such activities as dancing, and gambling. Here's another idiom: Blue Ribbon. This can be used a couple of different ways as someone or something that is very famous. It might be used for a first prize in a special event, maybe at the fair or something like that. Here's an example. The President assembled a blue ribbon panel of experts to study the problem. In other words, a very special panel of people. Another example, Sally's science project one the Blue Ribbon because it was the best in the contest. You see that could be an affair at school, something like that, where somebody won top prize. The expression originates from the blue ribbon that is often presented to the best entry in a contest. Hey, I hope you enjoyed today's lesson American English grammar review with Billgreen54. Thanks for listening! Would you like to help support better English around the world? You can support this podcast with a small contribution at https://ko-fi.com/billgreen54 ESL Teacher Billgreen54 shares American English at its best! Pronunciation, Intonation, Spelling, Grammar Rules! It's all here in this special podcast! Our English lessons are easy to understand! Our podcast is created for Native English speakers as well as ESL students! Whether you are studying English as a second language or as a refresher! Have fun with English! Would you like to help support better English around the world? You can support this podcast and more with a small contribution at https://ko-fi.com/billgreen54. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/english-grammar-review/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/english-grammar-review/support

Idioms! Blow Off Steam and Blue Ribbon! American English with Billgreen54

Would you like to help support better English around the world? You can support this podcast and more with a small contribution at https://ko-fi.com/billgreen54 American English grammar review with Billgreen54. Idioms! Remember idioms can be both literal and idiomatic, meaning you can't see it as something that people use to describe a situation or something that has happened in the past. Black sheep, an outcast, I have an example for you. I haven't seen my own goals since I was a child because he isn't in contact with my parents. He's the black sheep of the family. In other words, we don't talk to him much. He's the one that people don't speak with very often. Another example might be, hey, all the girls in that family except Mary grew up to become respected members of the community. She was the black sheep of the family. So black sheep obviously has a negative connotation. The expression probably originates from the fact that most sheep are white, and only the very different ones are black, black tie, formal dress, in which men wear black bow ties and dinner jackets or tuxedos and women wear formal, usually floor length dresses. Here's an example. The dinner was black tie, so all the men wore black bow ties and dinner jackets. Another example The film stars wedding was black tie, it was a glamorous affair that I'll never forget. So when we talk about the dinner was black tie, it means a very special event where we're going to dress up maybe with a tuxedo, and of course, the expression originates from the black bow tie that is part of a man's formal dress. Blow one's own horn, it means to most or brag to blow one's own horn. An example: Hey, Keith lets everyone know that the boss is going to make him the new assistant manager. He likes to blow his own horn. In other words, to brag or to tell everybody what's going to happen when he gets promoted. Another example, hey, Ruth won't make many friends if she keeps blowing her own horn about her accomplishments. There's an example where somebody likes telling everybody about all the good things they have done. Blowing one's horn has a little history to it. It dates back to at least the 16th century. This phrase is a reference to the practice of blowing horns to announce the arrival of important officials, such as kings to blow one's own horn to most or claim a position of superiority over others. Here's one where someone gets a little bit angry, blow one stack to become suddenly very angry. When Emily's father saw the damage she had done to the family car, he blew his stack. In other words, he got very angry. Another example: Hey, I hope the boss doesn't blow his stack. When he finds out. I didn't finish this work on time. You could compare this expression or this idiom blow one's stack to raise Cain. He raised Cain and he was so angry. He flew off the handle. He got his dander up, he blew off steam. All of those could be compared to blow one's stack. Here's another interesting idiom to run hot and cold to have mixed or inconsistent feelings about something. An example: Hey, I don't understand jack. One day he's really nice to me and the next day. He couldn't care less. He runs hot and cold. Pam runs hot in gold about studying nursing. Sometimes she says she would enjoy it and sometimes she says it would be too much work. Hey, I hope you enjoyed today's lesson American English grammar review with Billgreen54. Thanks for listening! Would you like to help support better English around the world? You can support this podcast with a small contribution at https://ko-fi.com/billgreen54 ESL Teacher Billgreen54 shares American English at its best! Pronunciation, Intonation, Spelling, Grammar Rules! It's all here in this special podcast! Our English lessons are easy to understand! Our podcast is created for Native English speakers as well as ESL students! Whether you are studying English as a second language or as a refresher! Have fun with English! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/english-grammar-review/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/english-grammar-review/support

Idioms! Black Sheep & Run Hot and Cold! American English with Billgreen54

Would you like to help support better English around the world? You can support this podcast and more with a small contribution at https://ko-fi.com/billgreen54 American English grammar review with Billgreen54. Idioms! Another fun subject right? Hey bite the dust to be destroyed or ruined beyond repair. This can be applied to people, it can be applied to things. For instance, if you had, say, a motor in a car, and the motor stopped working and needed to be replaced, you could say the motor has bitten the dust, something like that. Another example, the boss didn't like my proposal, and he wants me to start over. Another good idea bites the dust. In other words, that idea is no good. We're not going to use it. Another example could be I think this lamp just bit the dust it broke in. I know it's not worth fixing. So there's something wrong with the lamp. It doesn't work anymore. I need to buy a new lamp. Maybe the dust here's one we don't use every day. There's two different ways to say this idiom, bitter pill to swallow or hard pill to swallow. It's when you have a difficult or unpleasant reality to deal with. An example is John discovered the hard truth about responsibility. He didn't get his college application in on time and the school won't reconsider. It was a hard pill to swallow. But he had to learn the hard way. Another example is Jill thought she was a good singer. When her brother told her she was tone deaf. It was a bitter pill to swallow. The term tone deaf means somebody can't sing very well because they can't hear what they're singing or don't realize that what they're trying to sing is not very, let's say, easy to listen to the expression and it's a bitter pill to swallow suggest something that like a pill is unpleasant but can not be avoided black and blue, discolored from a bruise injured in a fight either physically or verbally. Here's an example. The girl fell out of the tree but didn't break any bones. She just had a black and blue knee. You could see that right? So that would be literal. Another example might be Hey, James came out of the meeting black and blue since he had made so many mistakes preparing the report without consulting his boss. In this context, he came out of the meeting black and blue, not really, he didn't have any black and blue on him. It was all about what happened in the meeting. And he made a few mistakes. And therefore, he wasn't looked upon as someone who did a very good job black market, a system of buying and selling illegal goods or goods at illegal prices or quantities. During the war each household was allotted a small amount of sugar and butter each month. If you wanted more, you had to buy it on the black market. Another example: Hey, there's a growing black market for consumer goods that are difficult or impossible to find here the black market. Most people know what that means. But in this context, it is always about finding something that you cannot find in your own market or something where you have to do something in a against the law or illegal way, blackout to lose consciousness temporarily. Thanks for listening! Would you like to help support better English around the world? You can support this podcast with a small contribution at https://ko-fi.com/billgreen54 ESL Teacher Billgreen54 shares American English at its best! Pronunciation, Intonation, Spelling, Grammar Rules! It's all here in this special podcast! Our English lessons are easy to understand! Our podcast is created for Native English speakers as well as ESL students! Whether you are studying English as a second language or as a refresher! Have fun with English! Would you like to help support better English around the world? You can support this podcast and more with a small contribution at https://ko-fi.com/billgreen54 Watch and learn from our channel at https://www.youtube.com/americanenglish2020 More English resources at https://www.larisaenglishclub.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/english-grammar-review/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/english-grammar-review/support

Idioms! Bite The Dust and Black Out! American English with Billgreen54

Would you like to help support better English around the world? You can support this podcast and more with a small contribution at https://ko-fi.com/billgreen54 American English grammar review with Billgreen54. Idioms! Another fun part of English. Hey, today let's start out with the idiom big wheel, an important powerful or influential person, all the big wheels get the use of company cars and parking spaces right next to the door of the building. Another example, Janet says she doesn't want to become a big wheel in a company because she doesn't want so much responsibility. I've talked before about big wheel in some of these synonyms that can be used the same way. Big wig, big shot, Big Cheese head honcho and heavyweight, big wig, an important powerful or influential person. Fred likes to think he's a bigwig, but he really doesn't have much power outside his own department. A second one. Did you see all the expensive cars in the parking lot outside, there must be a meeting of company bigwigs today, you've probably noticed that these two examples are a little bit negative. The term big wig is usually applied to a person high up in a corporate structure, but very often used in a negative way. Some synonyms could be big wheel, Big Shot Big Cheese head honcho, bird's eye view, a broad view or overview of something or some place. This outline will give you a bird's eye view of my new book. In other words, just a general outline of what I have written. It's a bird's eye view. Another example, the flight attendant said if we sit on the right side of the airplane, we'd get a bird's eye view of the Grand Canyon. Remember that idioms can both be literal and idiomatic. But I need to tell you that most of the time they're idiomatic here in this case, the second example I gave you, where the flight attendant told people if they sat on the right side of the airplane, we'd get a bird's eye view, it means a very good look at the Grand Canyon, bite off more than one can chew to take on more work or responsibility that one can accomplish. Here's an example, Sue plans to oversee the construction of our new house at the same time that she's taken on a lot of volunteer work at her son's school. I think she's bitten off more than she can chew. So in this case, she has a couple of projects. Here's a second example. They can't keep up with the number of classes they're taking at the university, they bit off more than they can chew. In other words, they are trying to bite the bullet to face a difficult or unpleasant situation. With our credit cards. We've been spending more money than we have. We're going to have to bite the bullet and figure out a way to pay for everything we've charged. Another example. The doctor says you're going to have to change your lifestyle unless you want to become very sick. It's time to bite the bullet. Take a look at what you're doing to yourself and change before it's too late. Some examples face to music, grin and Barrett. Take the bull by the horns. In other words, make a decision when you have a very difficult or challenging decision to make. Hey, I hope you enjoyed today's lesson American English grammar review with Billgreen54. Thanks for listening! Would you like to help support better English around the world? You can support this podcast with a small contribution at https://ko-fi.com/billgreen54 ESL Teacher Billgreen54 shares American English at its best! Pronunciation, Intonation, Spelling, Grammar Rules! It's all here in this special podcast! Our English lessons are easy to understand! Our podcast is created for Native English speakers as well as ESL students! Whether you are studying English as a second language or as a refresher! Have fun with English! Would you like to help support better English around the world? You can support this podcast and more with a small contribution at https://ko-fi.com/billgreen54 Watch and learn from our channel at https://www.youtube.com/americanenglish2020 --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/english-grammar-review/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/english-grammar-review/support

Idioms! Big Wheel and Bite The Bullet! American English with Billgreen54

Would you like to help support better English around the world? You can support this podcast and more with a small contribution at https://ko-fi.com/billgreen54 American English grammar review with Billgreen54. Idioms! Always a fun subject! Hey, today let's start out with beyond the pale, beyond or outside the limits of morally or socially acceptable behavior. An example is Hey, that remark Jerry made wasn't simply import taste, it was beyond the pale. In other words, it wasn't very nice. Another example, Ron received an invitation to dinner and didn't have the decency to let his hosts know he wouldn't be able to attend. I think that kind of behavior is beyond the pale. In other words, it's not very nice or not very socially acceptable. The word pay all in this expression should not be confused with the adjective meaning colorless, here, pale means all regions surrounded by a paling or fence and ruled by a governing body. in British history. The Pale was the area in and around Dublin, Ireland, which was colonized and ruled by the English. beyond the pale was anything outside this area to the English This was synonymous with being outside law and order. In other words, outside civilization. Here's another fun one: big cheese, an important powerful or influential person. An example: Hey, you can tell he's the Big Cheese in this city because everyone listens to what he says. Even the mayor. Another example, she must really think she's a big cheese. She speaks to her co-workers as if they were her servants. Some synonyms to Big Cheese, his big wig, he or she is a big wig. Big Shot. She thinks she's a big shot, right? or a big wheel. Hey, he thinks he thinks he's a big wheel. Or Hey, he is the head honcho that might have a little bit of a negative meaning or connotation. Here's a fun one big fish in a small pond. It's all about a person who is considered important primarily because the place or setting is small. I accepted a teaching position in a small village overseas because I'll have responsibilities that I wouldn't be able to get for years in a big city. I like the idea of being a big fish in a small pond. Another example, Diane was a big fish in a small pond in her hometown. But when she moved to New York City, nobody knew who she was. She was a big fish in a small pond when she was in her hometown. Here's one you often hear: big shot and important, powerful or influential person. The company's big shots are getting free trips to Hawaii this year. Another example: Hey, now that you've been made a vice president, you're really a big shot, aren't you? The synonyms to that are some that I've just mentioned, big wheel. Big wig Big Cheese head honcho, another one could be heavyweight. The expression big shot is often used sarcastically or despairingly. So be careful with that if you say, hey, that person's a big shot, or that person thinks he or she is a big shot. It's normally used in a negative way. Hey, I hope you enjoyed today's lesson American English grammar review with Billgreen54. Thanks for listening! Would you like to help support better English around the world? You can support this podcast with a small contribution at https://ko-fi.com/billgreen54 ESL Teacher Billgreen54 shares American English at its best! Pronunciation, Intonation, Spelling, Grammar Rules! It's all here in this special podcast! Our English lessons are easy to understand! Our podcast is created for Native English speakers as well as ESL students! Whether you are studying English as a second language or as a refresher! Have fun with English! Would you like to help support better English around the world? You can support this podcast and more with a small contribution at https://ko-fi.com/billgreen54 Watch and learn from our channel at https://www.youtube.com/americanenglish2020 More English resources at https://www.larisaenglishclub.com/ Contact Billgreen54 at https://www.larisaweb.com/contact-larisa-web-today/ --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/english-grammar-review/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/english-grammar-review/support

Idioms! Beyond The Pale and Big Shot! American English with Billgreen54

Billgreen54 has created this refresher podcast just for you. American English Grammar Review is all about studying English again. Do you remember what verbs do? What about nouns? Do you remember all of your pronouns? What is an interjection? Billgreen54 is an ESL teacher. He has taught over 15,000 hours of English. In this podcast, he shares English in an understandable way. Have fun learning English again!

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American English Grammar Review

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