15 Everyday English Idioms You Must Learn!
Summary
TLDRIn this engaging video, Maddie from PC English introduces viewers to 15 everyday idioms that are essential for English language learners. Starting with 'piece of cake,' which signifies something easy to do, she progresses through idioms like 'break a leg' for good luck, 'hit the nail on the head' for accurately identifying a problem, and 'let the cat out of the bag' for accidentally revealing a secret. The lesson covers a range of expressions from 'cost an arm and a leg' indicating high cost, to 'under the weather' for feeling unwell, and 'bite the bullet' for facing an unpleasant task. Maddie also explains 'the best of both worlds,' 'speak of the devil,' 'when pigs fly' for something that will never happen, and 'cut to the chase' for getting to the point. She touches on 'add fuel to the fire' for exacerbating a problem, 'go the extra mile' for exceeding expectations, 'out of the blue' for unexpected events, and 'once in a blue moon' for something that rarely occurs. The video concludes with an offer for a comprehensive PDF summary of the lesson and a book containing summaries of all her YouTube videos, available for free on her website.
Takeaways
- 😀 'Piece of cake' means something is very easy to do, and is the inspiration behind the name of Maddie's channel, PC (Piece of Cake) English.
- 🍀 'Break a leg' is an idiom used to wish someone good luck, often before a performance, exam, or test.
- 🔨 'Hit the nail on the head' means to accurately identify the cause of a problem or difficult situation.
- 🐱 'Let the cat out of the bag' refers to accidentally revealing a secret that was not supposed to be told.
- 💸 'Cost an arm and a leg' indicates that something is very expensive, implying it was overpriced or unaffordable.
- 😷 'Under the weather' is a way to say someone is feeling a bit sick or unwell.
- 💪 'Bite the bullet' means to force oneself to do something unpleasant that is necessary.
- 🌐 'Best of both worlds' describes a situation where someone enjoys two very different but beneficial things simultaneously.
- 👻 'Speak of the devil' is used when discussing someone and that person unexpectedly appears.
- 🐷 'When pigs fly' is an idiom that means something will never happen, as it's an impossibility.
- 🏁 'Cut to the chase' urges someone to get to the main point without wasting time.
- 🔥 'Add fuel to the fire' means to make a bad situation worse by contributing to the problem.
- 🚶♂️ 'Go the extra mile' implies doing more than what is expected or required, often to provide exceptional service or effort.
- 🌌 'Out of the blue' describes something that happens unexpectedly, without warning.
- 🌙 'Once in a blue moon' means that something occurs very rarely.
Q & A
What does the idiom 'piece of cake' mean and how is it related to the channel name 'P English'?
-The idiom 'piece of cake' means something that is very easy to do. It is related to the channel name 'P English' because the 'P' stands for 'Piece of Cake', implying that learning English with their channel is meant to be easy.
What is the meaning of the idiom 'break a leg' and when is it typically used?
-The idiom 'break a leg' means 'good luck'. It is typically used before a performance, exam, test, or audition to wish someone success.
Can you explain the idiom 'hit the nail on the head' and provide an example of its usage?
-The idiom 'hit the nail on the head' means to accurately identify the cause of a problem or a difficult situation. An example is saying 'You hit the nail on the head when you said that the company needs a new financial strategy', which means the person clearly identified the problem.
What does 'let the cat out of the bag' mean and what is an example of using this idiom?
-The idiom 'let the cat out of the bag' means to accidentally reveal a secret. An example is 'I let the cat out of the bag about their surprise party', which means the person accidentally disclosed a secret that was not supposed to be told.
How is the phrase 'cost me an arm and a leg' used and what does it imply about the item's price?
-The phrase 'cost me an arm and a leg' is used to describe something that is very expensive. It implies that the item was so costly that it felt like a significant sacrifice was made to acquire it.
What does 'under the weather' mean and how can it be used in a sentence?
-'Under the weather' means feeling a bit sick or unwell. It can be used in a sentence like 'I'm feeling a bit under the weather today, so I might stay in'.
What is the meaning of 'bite the bullet' and how does it relate to facing an unpleasant task?
-'Bite the bullet' means to force oneself to do something unpleasant that is necessary. It relates to facing an unpleasant task by implying that one must endure the discomfort or difficulty to accomplish what is needed.
Can you describe the idiom 'best of both worlds' and provide a scenario where it might be used?
-The idiom 'best of both worlds' describes a situation where someone enjoys two different, yet contrasting, experiences or benefits. A scenario could be 'She works in the city and lives in the country, enjoying the best of both worlds', meaning she gets the benefits of both urban professional life and rural tranquility.
What does 'speak of the devil' mean and when is it used?
-'speak of the devil' is used when you are talking about someone and that person unexpectedly appears or arrives. It is a way of expressing surprise when the subject of your conversation shows up.
Explain the idiom 'when pigs fly' and its implication about the likelihood of an event occurring.
-The idiom 'when pigs fly' is used to express that something will never happen. It implies that the event being discussed is highly unlikely or impossible.
What does 'cut to the chase' mean and in what context is it commonly used?
-'Cut to the chase' means to get to the main point without wasting time. It is commonly used when someone wants to quickly address the most important aspects of a discussion or situation.
How is the phrase 'add fuel to the fire' used and what does it signify?
-The phrase 'add fuel to the fire' is used to describe actions that make a bad situation worse. It signifies that instead of helping, the action exacerbates the problem.
What is the meaning of 'go the extra mile' and how can it be demonstrated in a work scenario?
-'Go the extra mile' means to do more than what is expected or required. In a work scenario, it could be demonstrated by a person who not only makes a phone call to a customer as expected but also sends an email and a text message to ensure the customer is well informed.
What does 'out of the blue' signify and can you provide an example of its usage?
-'Out of the blue' signifies something happening unexpectedly. An example of its usage is 'I hadn't talked to him in years, but out of the blue, I received a letter from him', indicating the surprise of receiving communication after a long period of no contact.
What is the meaning of 'once in a blue moon' and how does it describe the frequency of an event?
-'Once in a blue moon' means that something happens very rarely. It describes the frequency of an event as being infrequent or occurring only occasionally.
Outlines
📚 English Idioms Lesson with Maddie
In this educational video, Maddie from PC English introduces viewers to 15 common English idioms. She begins with 'piece of cake', explaining that it means something is very easy to do, and uses it to illustrate the ease of learning English with her channel. Maddie continues with 'break a leg', which is a way to wish someone good luck, especially before a performance or test. She also covers idioms like 'hit the nail on the head', which means accurately identifying a problem, and 'let the cat out of the bag', which means accidentally revealing a secret. Other expressions include 'cost an arm and a leg' for something being very expensive, and 'under the weather' for feeling sick. The lesson aims to familiarize viewers with these idioms to enhance their English language skills.
🌐 Idiom Explanations and Their Usage
Maddie continues her lesson on English idioms, explaining the phrase 'bite the bullet', which means to force oneself to do something unpleasant but necessary. She then describes 'best of both worlds' as enjoying two different but complementary situations, such as working in the city and living in the country. The idiom 'speak of the devil' is used when discussing someone and they unexpectedly appear. 'When pigs fly' is a humorous way to say that something will never happen. 'Cut to the chase' urges someone to get to the main point quickly, while 'add fuel to the fire' means to exacerbate a bad situation. 'Go the extra mile' is about doing more than what is expected. 'Out of the blue' refers to unexpected occurrences, and 'once in a blue moon' indicates something that happens very rarely. Maddie wraps up her lesson by encouraging viewers to engage with her content and offering a comprehensive book of her channel's lessons for download.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Piece of cake
💡Break a leg
💡Hit the nail on the head
💡Let the cat out of the bag
💡Cost an arm and a leg
💡Under the weather
💡Bite the bullet
💡Best of both worlds
💡Speak of the devil
💡When pigs fly
💡Cut to the chase
💡Add fuel to the fire
💡Go the extra mile
💡Out of the blue
💡Once in a blue moon
Highlights
Introduction to learning 15 everyday idioms
Explanation of 'piece of cake' meaning something very easy to do
The origin of 'P English' as a channel name based on the idiom 'piece of cake'
Clarification that 'break a leg' is a way to wish good luck, not a violent expression
Description of 'hit the nail on the head' as accurately identifying the cause of a problem
The idiom 'let the cat out of the bag' explained as accidentally revealing a secret
Understanding 'cost me an arm and a leg' as a way to say something is very expensive
Definition of 'under the weather' as feeling a bit sick
The meaning of 'bite the bullet' as forcing oneself to do something unpleasant but necessary
Explanation of 'best of both worlds' as enjoying two different but good situations
The idiom 'speak of the devil' used when discussing someone who then appears
'When pigs fly' as an idiom to express that something will never happen
The phrase 'cut to the chase' meaning to get to the main point without delay
Definition of 'add fuel to the fire' as making a bad situation worse
'Go the extra mile' as doing more than what is expected or required
The meaning of 'out of the blue' as something happening unexpectedly
The idiom 'once in a blue moon' to describe something that happens very rarely
Invitation to download a summary of the lesson and channel videos in an ultimate English book
Transcripts
[Music]
I'm worried about the test don't worry
that'll be a piece of cake piece of cake
so what are you going to do about it
there is nothing much I can do I got to
bite the bullet bite the bullet what is
he talking about are you okay uh yeah
yeah yeah uh I'm going to go study all
right break a leg break a leg why would
I break a
leg hello my name is Maddie from PC
English and in this lesson we're going
to learn 15 everyday idioms I'll start
with something familiar piece of cake
huh piece of cake p o c that's the name
of my channel I don't know if you knew
but P English stands for a piece of cake
English but what does piece of cake mean
piece of cake means something that is
very easy to do and with pu English
learning English is easy and that's the
whole idea of P for example don't worry
about the test it'll be a piece of cake
don't worry it'll be a piece of cake
it'll be very easy second one is break
your leg well no don't break any legs
break a leg doesn't mean to fight or to
kill someone or no no no no break a leg
means good luck usually before a
performance or an exam or a test or an
audition you have your big presentation
today right break a leg it means good
luck with the
presentation what am I doing I'm hitting
the nail on the
head to hit the nail on the head what
does that mean it means to describe
exactly what is causing a problem or a
difficult situation to be very accurate
at identifying the cause of a problem to
hit the nail on the head you hit the
nail on the head when you said that the
company needs a new Financial strategy
it means you clearly identify the
problem you HD the nail on the
head I let the cat out of the bag let
the cat out of the bag that means open
the bag and let the cat out no it means
to accidentally reveal a secret you're
not supposed to tell anyone but you
accidentally say it and you let the cat
out of the B
for example I let the cat out of the bag
about their surprise party I let the cat
out of the bag I revealed the secret by
accident it was not my
fault I bought this tennis racket last
week and it cost me an arm and a leg
cost me an arm and a leg Yeah that means
I paid for it with my arm and with my
leg no if something costs you an arm and
a leg that thing is very expensive it's
another way of saying I was ripped off
or that it was too expensive that car
costs an arm and a leg I cannot afford
it I'm feeling a bit under the weather
today under the weather what does that
mean that means I'm a bit sick if
somebody is under the weather or is a
bit under the weather they are a bit
unwell they're feeling a bit sick I'm
feeling a bit under the weather today so
I might stay in idiom number seven to
bite the bullet bullet is something that
comes out of a
gun and then you get it and then bite
the bullet what does that mean bite the
bullet means to force yourself to do
something unpleasant to do something
that you do not like but is necessary
for example if you have an exam and you
don't like studying for it what else can
you do nothing bite the bullet do it
force yourself because it's necessary I
don't really want to exercise today but
I think I'll just have to bite the
bullet I don't want to exercise but I
have to bite the bullet it means I have
to do it I have to force myself have you
ever heard the phrase best of both
worlds best of both worlds what does it
mean Both Worlds The Best of Both Worlds
is a situation in which someone someone
has two different things to enjoy and
these two different things are totally
different for example you have a
part-time job that pays really well and
you study at a university you have Best
of Both Worlds you work and earn an
income and at the same time you're a
student and improving your knowledge you
have two different situations but you're
enjoying both The Best of Both Worlds
she works in the city and lives in the
country and gets the The Best of Both
Worlds she works in the city and lives
in the country two different situations
but she's enjoying both of them The Best
of Both Worlds next idiom speak of the
devil what does it mean imagine you're
talking to a friend about another friend
whose name is Jack and you say yeah you
know what I talked to jaad yesterday and
all of a sudden Jack comes in and you're
like yeah and Jack told me oh speak of
the devil here he comes speak of the
devil is used when you're talking to
someone about someone else and that
person appears out of nowhere hi John
speak of the devil we were just talking
about you next idiom When Pigs Fly can
pigs fly do they have
wings what does it mean when pigs fly
that means never we use this idiom to
talk about something that can never
happen when pigs fly Sorry boss can I
get a promotion huh you can have a
promotion When Pigs Fly that means you
can never get a promotion well yeah my
boss is not the best person next idiom
let's cut to the
chase cut to the chase cut to the chase
means to get to the point without
wasting time we don't have much time so
please cut to the chase that means
please get to the main point we don't
have much time cut to the Chase come on
next one is pretty
self-explanatory to add fuel to the fire
so imagine there's a fire and you have
some gas and you add fuel to the fire
what will happen to the fire when you
add fuel to it add fuel to the fire
means to make a bad situation worse the
situation is already bad and you add
fuel to the fire that means you make it
even worse don't argue back you will
just add fuel to the fire don't argue
back you will just add fuel to the fire
mean the situation is already bad don't
argue just go home speaking of go go the
extra mile what does that mean for
example you wanted to walk for 10 miles
now walk for 11 miles go the extra mile
right no go the extra mile means to go
beyond what is expected of you to do
more than necessary for example your
boss expects you to be nice to the
customer and make one phone call but you
make a phone call and you email the
customer as well and you text them too
you're going the extra mile you're doing
things which are not expected but are
good things to be done she always goes
the extra mile to ensure that the
clients are happy idium 14 out of the
blue out of the blue what does that mean
if something happens out of the blue it
happens unexpectedly you didn't expect
that and it happened out of the blue woo
I hadn't talked to him in years but out
of the blue I received a letter from him
I received a letter out of the blue I
wasn't expecting that letter and
speaking of blue I have one last idium
for you before we get to the last IDI if
you've enjoyed this lesson so far don't
forget to give this video a thumbs up if
you want to have the summary of this
lesson in one PDF file and better yet if
you want to have the summary of all of
my YouTube Channel videos in one book
you can download My ultimate English
book this book has more than 500 pages
of lesson summaries with beautiful
pictures and interesting sentences and
example sentences and meanings and
everything in one pdfi for free how can
you get this simply click on the link
above my head go to my website type in
your name your email address your
country click download and you will get
the file in your inbox and now for the
last idiom once in a blue moon huh what
color is the moon I thought it's white
once in a blue moon what does that mean
if something happens once in a blue moon
that happens very rarely I only go to
the cinema once in a blue moon that
means I rarely go to the cinema I often
watch movies on Netflix and that's it
guys I hope you've enjoyed this lesson
see you next time
[Music]
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