In this episode, we will be covering some... "handy" idioms (pun very much intended). We hope you enjoy some of the great idioms below! lend a hand hands are clean blood/dirt on your hands show your hand bite the hand that feeds sitting on your hands take something off your hands

Bite-sized English

Lesson 37: "hand" idioms

Matt covers Grammy Award winning song of 2018, the smash hit "This is America." As it is July 4th, Independence Day in the United States, seems like the most fitting choice. Enjoy a break down of some of the more colloquial style of language used by Gambino! Childish Gambino - "This is America": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYOjWnS4cMY https://open.spotify.com/album/7arx9qPJexCsDz67El4qvk https://y.qq.com/n/yqq/singer/001HS2h02NYN1m.html  Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away (x4) We just wanna party Party just for you We just want the money Money just for you I know you wanna party Party just for me Girl, you got me dancin' (yeah, girl, you got me dancin') Dance and shake the frame We just wanna party (yeah) Party just for you (yeah) We just want the money (yeah) Money just for you (you) I know you wanna party (yeah) Party just for me (yeah) Girl, you got me dancin' (yeah, girl, you got me dancin') Dance and shake the frame (you) This is America Don't catch you slippin' up Don't catch you slippin' up Look what I'm whippin' up This is America (woo) Don't catch you slippin' up Don't catch you slippin' up Look what I'm whippin' up This is America (skrrt, skrrt, woo) Don't catch you slippin' up (ayy) Look at how I'm livin' now Police be trippin' now (woo) Yeah, this is America (woo, ayy) Guns in my area (word, my area) I got the strap (ayy, ayy) I gotta carry 'em Yeah, yeah, I'ma go into this (ugh) Yeah, yeah, this is guerilla (woo) Yeah, yeah, I'ma go get the bag Yeah, yeah, or I'ma get the pad Yeah, yeah, I'm so cold like yeah (yeah) I'm so dope like yeah (woo) We gon' blow like yeah (straight up, uh) Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell somebody You go tell somebody Grandma told me Get your money, black man (get your money) Get your money, black man (get your money) Get your money, black man (get your, black man) Get your money, black man (get your, black man) Black man This is America (woo, ayy) Don't catch you slippin' up (woo, woo, don't catch you slippin', now) Don't catch you slippin' up (ayy, woah) Look what I'm whippin' up (Slime!) This is America (yeah, yeah) Don't catch you slippin' up (woah, ayy) Don't catch you slippin' up (ayy, woo) Look what I'm whippin' up (ayy) Look how I'm geekin' out (hey) I'm so fitted (I'm so fitted, woo) I'm on Gucci (I'm on Gucci) I'm so pretty (yeah, yeah) I'm gon' get it (ayy, I'm gon' get it) Watch me move (blaow) This a celly (ha) That's a tool (yeah) On my Kodak (woo, Black) Ooh, know that (yeah, know that, hold on) Get it (get it, get it) Ooh, work it (21) Hunnid bands, hunnid bands, hunnid bands (hunnid bands) Contraband, contraband, contraband (contraband) I got the plug on Oaxaca (woah) They gonna find you like blocka (blaow) Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell somebody America, I just checked my following list and You go tell somebody You mothafuckas owe me Grandma told me Get your money, black man (black man) Get your money, black man (black man) Get your money, black man (black man) Get your money, black man (black man) Black man (one, two, three, get down) Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell somebody You go tell somebody Grandma told me, "Get your money, " black man Get your money, black man (black man) Get your money, black man (black man) Get your money, black man (black man) Black man You just a black man in this world You just a barcode, ayy You just a black man in this world Drivin' expensive foreigns, ayy You just a big dawg, yeah I kenneled him in the backyard No proper life to a dog For a big dog 

Lyric Series 3: Childish Gambino - "This is America"

Despite Matt's misleading intro, this episode covers idioms with the word game in them. Different uses and very different means, but still all quite common in English. Help support the show with a review and warm recommendation to friends or family! Idioms in today's show:  blame game numbers game two can play at that game off one's game at the top of one's game

Lesson 36: Game Idioms

Why not go back to this 90s classic and look at some of the great language available? We cover some cool words and phrases in the song so you can really rock your English! Smash Mouth - "All-star": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_jWHffIx5E https://open.spotify.com/album/0QluVU5ReXs7oI1ZyS101F https://www.xiami.com/song/1771446391   Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed She was looking kind of dumb with her finger and her thumb In the shape of an "L" on her forehead Fed to the rules and I hit the ground running Didn't make sense not to live for fun Your brain gets smart but your head gets dumb So much to do so much to see So what's wrong with taking the back streets You'll never know if you don't go You'll never shine if you don't glow [Chorus] Hey now you're an All Star get your game on, go play Hey now you're a Rock Star get the show on get paid And all that glitters is gold Only shooting stars break the mold It's a cool place and they say it gets colder You're bundled up now but wait 'til you get older But the meteor men beg to differ Judging by the hole in the satellite picture The ice we skate is getting pretty thin The water's getting warm so you might as well swim My world's on fire how about yours That's the way I like it and I never get bored [Chorus x2] Somebody once asked could I spare some change for gas I need to get myself away from this place I said yep what a concept I could use a little fuel myself And we could all use a little change Fed to the rules and I hit the ground running Didn't make sense not to live for fun Your brain gets smart but your head gets dumb So much to do, so much to see So what's wrong with taking the back streets You'll never know if you don't go You'll never shine if you don't glow

Lyric Series 2: Smash Mouth - "All-star"

We return to the idiom series talking about these 6 idioms that have to do with laughing, humour, or joking. Matt also gives his unsolicited opinion on the humour of Aussies, Kiwis, and Brits. Idioms in today's episode: butt of the joke barrel of laughs pull one's leg take a joke all joking aside (just) for kicks If you like today's lesson, please subscribe, recommend the show, and leave a review!

Lesson 35: Funny Idioms

 We kick off our new lyric series with the music from Canadian musician Shawn Mendes. Matt goes into some of the great language Shawn uses to convey romance, relationships, and more. Help support the podcast by subscribing! Shawn Mendes - Treat You Better:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY2yjAdbvdQ  / https://open.spotify.com/album/3wBabo4pmzsYjALMSKY7Iq / https://y.qq.com/n/yqq/singer/001NODJ71LGPD5.html Lyrics I won't lie to you I know he's just not right for you And you can tell me if I'm off But I see it on your face When you say that he's the one that you want And you're spending all your time In this wrong situation And anytime you want it to stop I know I can treat you better Than he can And any girl like you deserves a gentleman Tell me why are we wasting time On all your wasted cryin' When you should be with me instead I know I can treat you better Better than he can I'll stop time for you The second you say you'd like me to I just wanna give you the loving that you're missing Baby, just to wake up with you Would be everything I need and this could be so different Tell me what you want to do 'Cause I know I can treat you better Than he can And any girl like you deserves a gentleman Tell me why are we wasting time On all your wasted cryin' When you should be with me instead I know I can treat you better Better than he can Better than he can Give me a sign Take my hand, we'll be fine Promise I won't let you down Just know that you don't Have to do this alone Promise I'll never let you down 'Cause I know I can treat you better Than he can And any girl like you deserves a gentleman Tell me why are we wasting time On all your wasted cryin' When you should be with me instead I know I can treat you better Better than he can, oh oh Better than he can Better than he can

Lyric Series 01 - Shawn Mendes "Treat You Better"

I talk unscripted (obviously) about my fourth favourite sports team, the Toronto Raptors. Learn a little about the North American sports culture and why this run of the Raptors is so important to Canada. There is plenty of content upcoming over the next month and I am really excited for you guys to listen. Please support the show with a review, a follow, and a recommendation.

Raptors Talk

In this episode, we will be kicking off a new series exploring the wide variety of prefixes available in English. Today we will be learning about pre- and post-. Words uses in this lesson: Postscript Preview Postgraduate Postmortem Predict Preempt  Pre-workout Post-workout Pregame Postgame Preschool Email your assignment submissions to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com! 

Lesson 34: pre- and post-

These two homonyms are very different in meaning, but are both very useful! In this episode Matt covers the means of the words, and some common phrases you might encounter: peace and quiet peace out peace in our time falling to peaces piece of cake bits and pieces piecing something together For today's assignment, I want you to describe the pieces of something. How would you describe it as pieces rather than parts? Try to avoid food and challenge yourself to come up with another thing that has "pieces." Leave a comment or email to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com.

Lesson 33: Peace and Piece

Matt is back with a brand new series of Bite-sized English! We kick of with a lesson about returns, coming back (getting back, going back as well), and the word comeback.  Questions can be directed to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com. I am very happy to be back behind the mic after so much time away. I would like to make a special mention of listener Marcia who encouraged a comeback of the podcast!

Lesson 32: Returns and Comebacks

Matt walks through just a few alternate ways of saying thank you. There is no assignment for today, but do send questions to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com

April 09 - Thanks

Matt talks about a few tips when talking to native English speakers, watching a film, and flashcards.

April 08 - Tip(s) for Our Listening and Speaking

We finish our week on the conditional with the third and perhaps most complicated of the three. Matt talks about the differences between "could have" "should have" and "would have." All questions and assignments can be sent to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com or via Twitter @bitesizedengpod.

April 07 - Third Conditional

Matt continues talking about the conditional phrasings, covering the hypothetical or second conditional. Used to talk about unlikely or impossible situations, this is a very common phrasing in English. All questions and comments can be sent to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com.

April 04 - Second Conditional

Matt covers some basic phrases and adverbs we use to determine how likely something is to happen. The phrases he talks about are: will definitely will probably likely to may well / might not likely to probably won't definitely won't Send all questions and assignments to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com.

April 03 - Degrees of possibility

Learn English in bite-sized pieces. With each daily episode, Matt will take you through a large variety of topics to help improve your listening and speaking bit by bit. Each episode will also feature some small goal or homework so you can apply the material in your day to day life.

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Bite-sized English

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