🇬🇧 BRITISH PHRASES You Need to Sound Like a Native

Summary

In this video, the speaker guides viewers through a conversation packed with common idiomatic expressions used by native English speakers. Through the example of a person renovating a house, the speaker breaks down phrases like 'cost a bomb', 'left me in the lurch', and 'botch job'. The lesson highlights how to understand and use these expressions in everyday conversation. Along with practical examples, the speaker explains idioms in detail, helping learners improve their comprehension of native English speech. A PDF worksheet with idioms and synonyms is also available for download.

Takeaways

• 😀 Learning idiomatic expressions is essential for understanding native English conversations, as they can often be confusing for non-native speakers.
• 😀 'How's the house coming along?' is a way of asking about the progress of any project, not just related to homes.
• 😀 'Cost a bomb' means something is very expensive.
• 😀 If someone 'leaves you in the lurch,' they abandon you in a difficult situation.
• 😀 'Did a runner' refers to leaving suddenly to avoid responsibility, often used in situations where someone wants to escape the consequences of their actions.
• 😀 A 'botch job' is when something is done badly or poorly, often resulting in mistakes or a mess.
• 😀 'Pulled the wool over my eyes' means someone has tricked or deceived you.
• 😀 'Didn't have a clue' refers to not understanding or knowing what you are doing.
• 😀 'Shaping up' refers to something improving or getting better over time.
• 😀 'Light at the end of the tunnel' means the end of a difficult situation is in sight, with better outcomes ahead.
• 😀 'Don't even get me started' is used to express frustration, meaning there’s a lot of negative things to say on the subject.
• 😀 A 'total cowboy' refers to someone unprofessional or dishonest, particularly in work or service.
• 😀 'Fuming' means extremely angry or enraged.
• 😀 'What a headache' refers to a difficult or complicated problem.
• 😀 A 'proper catch up' refers to a long and relaxed conversation, often between friends who haven't seen each other in a while.
• 😀 The phrase 'over a glass (of wine)' means to do something while drinking, commonly used in social contexts.

Q & A

What does the phrase 'cost a bomb' mean?

The phrase 'cost a bomb' means that something is very expensive. For example, buying a new car or a house can cost a bomb.

What does 'leave someone in the lurch' mean?

'Leave someone in the lurch' means to abandon someone in a difficult situation. For example, if someone leaves you behind when you're stranded without help, they are leaving you in the lurch.

What does it mean if someone 'does a runner'?

'Doing a runner' means leaving suddenly and unexpectedly, often to avoid taking responsibility for something. For instance, if someone damages your car and leaves the scene to avoid liability, they've done a runner.

What is a 'botch job'?

A 'botch job' refers to poorly executed work. For example, if someone tries to build a wall but does it incorrectly, leaving the bricks uneven and the cement poorly mixed, that’s a botch job.

What does it mean to 'pull the wool over someone's eyes'?

'Pull the wool over someone's eyes' means to deceive or trick someone. For example, if someone pretends to be a professional rapper but they can't actually rap, they’re pulling the wool over your eyes.

What does 'not having a clue' mean?

'Not having a clue' means not knowing what you're doing. For example, if you're asked to substitute teach a class and you're unsure about the subject, you could say you don't have a clue.

What does it mean if something is 'shaping up'?

If something is 'shaping up', it means it's improving or getting better. For example, if a project is progressing well, you can say it's shaping up nicely.

What does 'light at the end of the tunnel' mean?

'Light at the end of the tunnel' means that after a difficult period, there is hope for a better outcome. For example, after a long illness, when you start recovering, you can say you're seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

What does 'don’t even get me started' mean?

'Don’t even get me started' means that the speaker has a lot to say about a topic, but it's likely to be negative. It implies that discussing the topic could lead to a long and frustrating conversation.

What does it mean if someone is described as a 'cowboy builder'?

A 'cowboy builder' is a term used for a builder who is dishonest, unprofessional, or does poor work. It's someone you cannot trust with a job, as they might take shortcuts or deliver subpar results.