RealLife Radio #90 – Maximize Your Fluency with Power Idioms

Start making your English more powerful by using figurative expressions.

In this episode Max is going to explain to us all how using idioms in spoken English can really help you connect more to people and sound a lot more fluent. Also, we will be testing our newest section, Killer Quotes! Learn popular expressions and get improve your pronunciation with clips from movies and TV series.

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Words You’ll Learn

  • Pumping iron- to lift weights at the gym
  • Lathering- rubbing soap to make it bubbly
  • Pisco- traditional drink from Peru/Chile
  • Caipirinha- traditional drink from Brail
  • Hold the fort down- to protect something and
  • Laymen’s terms- a simplified version of something
  • Idiomatic- when something doesn’t have a literal meaning
  • Pull out of your hat- to do something as if it was magic
  • In a nutshell- a summarize explanation
  • Jump on the band wagon- get involved in something because everyone else is
  • Bit off more than you can chew- to accept too many task and not have time to do them
  • Think outside the box- to not be constrained with your creativity
  • A blessing in disguise- an unexpected opportunity
  • When all hell breaks loose- when a situation becomes chaotic
  • Don’t jump the gun- to do something too early without thinking carefully
  • To leave someone hanging- to leave an audience wanting more
  • Cut someone some slack- to not be so strict with someone

Shout Outs

  • 5 Star iTunes Review : Emron from Canada- Absolutely useful”
  • RealLife English Coordinators from Belo Horizonte Brazil: Allyson, Bianca, Pricilla, Camila, Tiago, Aww Yeah!!

Leave us a review and get a shoutout in a future episode!
Click to learn how for iTunes and Stitcher

Kickass Quote

  • “If you can’t explain it to a six year old, you don’t understand it yourself” –Albert Einstein

Conversation Topic

  • Learn about the benefits of learning and using idiomatic expressions in while speaking English. Max guides us through a handful of common expressions that he has been collecting over time for his upcoming e-book.

Killer Clip

  • Learn all the different ways to use the phrasal verb TAKE OUT with a funny clip from the movie “The Interview.”

Weekly Challenge

  • Find 3 idioms that you like and make examples of those expressions. Examples used will be featured in Max’s FREE E-book which we will give to all of our listeners. Just post the expressions in the comments below.

Connect with us

  • Follow us on Youtube: We have hundreds of fun, exciting RealLife lessons!
  • Follow us on Twitter: receive daily tweets about phrasal verbs, slang, grammar exercises, quotes, jokes, and music videos with lyrics.
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  • Join our Facebook Group: join the daily English discussions with tens of thousands of teachers and learners from all over the world. 

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Song: Franz Ferdinand “Take Me Out”

Lyrics

So if you’re lonely
You know I’m here waiting for you
I’m just a crosshair
I’m just a shot away from you
And if you leave here
You leave me broken, shattered, I lie
I’m just a crosshair
I’m just a shot, then we can die

I know I won’t be leaving here with you

I say don’t you know
You say you don’t know
I say… take me out!

I say you don’t show
Don’t move, time is slow
I say… take me out!

I say you don’t know
You say you don’t know
I say… take me out!

If I move this could die
If eyes move this could die
I want you…to take me out!

I know I won’t be leaving here (with you)
I know I won’t be leaving here
I know I won’t be leaving here (with you)
I know I won’t be leaving here with you

I say don’t you know?
You say you don’t know
I say take me out

If I wane, this can die
If I wane, this can die
I want you to take me out

If I move, this could die
If eyes move, this could die
Come on, take me out

I know I won’t be leaving here
I know I won’t be leaving here
I know I won’t be leaving here
I know I won’t be leaving here with you

 Return to RealLife English ESL Podcasts

  • Justin says:

    Hey Juhapekka, Those are awesome idioms you used there. Three of my favorites. About dodgy eggs, I’ve never heard that one before and I couldn’t find it on the internet, but here’s a link to an explanation of the idiom, BAD EGG– http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/a+bad+egg

    Cheers and thanks for your participation!

  • Justin says:

    Hey Abhi, Thanks for sharing! I love the “Piece of Cake” one! I don’t know if “all of the sudden” is an idiomatic expression, but it’s an excellent phrase to communicate with.

  • Max Ahumada says:

    Thanks Juhapekka and Abhi. You'll soon see these expressions on the eBook.

  • Challenge accepted!
    1 – English fluency is a hot potato.
    2 – I haven't yet reached the english fluency so let's go back to the drawing board.
    3 – What we want, folks? Fluency!!! And when we want? At a drop of a hat!!!
    4 – Stop to beat around the bush and explain me what means beat around the bush!!
    5 – Listen to podcasts to learn English is a best thing since sliced bread, because It's like the real life.
    Thank's a lot guys. I hope you enjoy it, and most important, I hope this help a lot of people.

  • Justin says:

    Hey Nataly, Great to hear from you and I loved your idioms. Great use especially of #1 and #5- I love these ones (caught red-handed/ rub salt on the wound.) I’m not familiar with “I think cows can fly” but I have heard “when pigs fly.” Thanks again for sharing and supporting us!

  • Justin says:

    Aww yeah, Abdul! Thanks for response and participation. That’s some pretty impressive use of idioms there, all in one paragraph! Keep on rocking it!

  • Joyce says:

    1. Savoring guacamole is all the rage since Chad & Justin mentioned this sumptuous Mexican food in the podcast.
    2. He is a proactive person. He may jump the gun to make impulsive decisions without weighing the pros & cons.
    3. “Think outside of the box” is Ethan’s maxim. He is unlikely to jump on the bandwagon to follow popular belief.

    • Justin says:

      Aww yeah, Joyce. Great examples. You hit the nail on the head!