#213: How to Talk about Christmas | 26+ Vocabulary & Expressions

Ho, ho, ho! Christmas is right around the corner, and it’s only fitting that Ethan and Andrea talk about everybody’s (or most people’s, right?) favorite holiday of the year. Curious to know if your name is on Santa’s nice list? Or is it on his naughty list? Ethan and Andrea explain what this whole “naughty or nice” thing is as well as many other words and expressions that we use around Christmastime.

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Topics:

  • Is Christmas a religious holiday or a cultural holiday?
  • Merry or Happy Christmas?
  • History of Santa Clause (Why did he use to dress in green?)
  • Expressions having to do with Christmas (used in other contexts as well)

Words You’ll Learn:

  • Its been ages
  • Medow
  • Spread Christmas cheer
  • Merry, jolly, cheer (Christmas words)
  • (UK) “to get merry”
  • Carols
  • Yule log
  • Leftovers
  • Decked out
  • Trim the tree
  • Sleigh

Quick Definitions:

  • Christmas is right around the corner: happening very soon.
  • Something’s off (talking about Christmas without snow): we say this when something doesn’t feel right.
  • Gorge oneself on: to eat something eagerly and usually to excess
  • That rings a bell: to sound vaguely familiar.
  • Naughty: badly behaved; disobedient
  • Lump of coal: coal is a hard black mineral which is dug out of the ground and burnt to produce heat. We use lump in this case to describe a compact mass of something.
  • Behave oneself: conduct oneself in accordance with the accepted norms of a society or group.
  • To be tight with money: to be unwilling to spend no more than just a little bit of money.
  • Help the needy: lacking the necessities of life; very poor.

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  • Jerry marcelin says:

    That’s good .i really take a fancy to it ..kudos to you guys

  • Abdikadir says:

    My name is mohammed from est africa and I am so excited to learn on this website really I don’t feel like I am English learner thank goodness I support you 100% I hope you keep the good work so good bye to you

  • Sergius says:

    Guys, look at the paragraph “Words You’ll Learn:”
    I think the correct way to write Medow is Meadow

  • Peter says:

    interesting

  • Pavithira says:

    Thank u both of us for sharing ur experience and joyfull moment in ur Christmas Eve.your sound r good keep going love u Ethan nd Andrea

  • german says:

    nice

  • Great topic its a useful.

    • Agnieszka from RealLife English says:

      We’re happy that you enjoyed it!

  • Thank you for sharing this post with us. This post helps me learning english and improve my vocabulary. Please keep writing and share with us you new post.

    • Agnieszka from RealLife English says:

      Thank you! We are happy to help, Betaine!

  • Anagha says:

    Great Post. Thanks for Sharing with us.

    • Agnieszka from RealLife English says:

      Happy you liked it!