Let's Talk Money! (English Vocabulary & Idioms)

Summary

In this lesson, Maddie from Po English teaches various idioms and phrases related to money. The lesson covers common verbs like 'spend,' 'save,' and 'squander,' as well as idioms such as 'costs an arm and a leg,' 'throw money at a problem,' and 'dirt cheap.' It also introduces advanced phrases like 'bargain hunter' and 'saving for a rainy day.' Through dialogues and real-life examples, Maddie explains how to talk about expenses, savings, and financial challenges in English. The lesson offers practical insights into both everyday and advanced money-related idioms.

Takeaways

• 😀 Learning money-related idioms can help you sound more natural in English conversations.
• 😀 'To spend money' means to use money to buy things, while 'to save money' means to keep money for the future.
• 😀 'To waste' or 'to squander money' refers to using money on things you don't need.
• 😀 'To throw money at a problem' means to try to solve an issue by spending money without understanding the root cause.
• 😀 'Splash out' means to spend a lot of money on something, often as a treat or luxury.
• 😀 'Cost an arm and a leg' and 'cost a fortune' are both ways to say something is very expensive.
• 😀 'Pay through the nose' means to pay more than something is worth.
• 😀 To say something is cheap, you can use idioms like 'going for a song', 'dirt cheap', or 'as cheap as chips'.
• 😀 'Reasonably priced' means something is fairly priced, not too expensive nor too cheap.
• 😀 'Bargain hunters' are people who actively search for good deals or discounted items.
• 😀 Advanced idioms like 'save for a rainy day', 'live on a shoestring', and 'make ends meet' describe ways people manage their finances, especially in tough situations.

Q & A

What does the phrase 'pay through the nose' mean?

The phrase 'pay through the nose' means to pay a lot of money for something, often more than expected or reasonable.

What is the difference between 'save money' and 'put aside money'?

'Save money' generally refers to setting money aside for future use, while 'put aside money' is an informal expression with the same meaning but can imply a more deliberate or specific goal, like saving for a particular purchase.

What does it mean to 'splash out' on something?

'Splash out' means to spend a lot of money on something, often a luxury or non-essential item.

What idiom can be used to say something is very expensive?

Some idioms to say something is very expensive include 'cost an arm and a leg', 'cost a fortune', and 'pay through the nose'.

What is the meaning of 'going for a song'?

'Going for a song' means something is being sold at a very low price, often much lower than its actual value.

How is the phrase 'as cheap as chips' used?

'As cheap as chips' is a British idiom that means something is very inexpensive.

What does it mean to 'live on a shoestring'?

'Live on a shoestring' means to live with very little money or to spend very little in order to manage finances.

How does the phrase 'make ends meet' relate to money management?

'Make ends meet' refers to having just enough money to cover essential living expenses, often in challenging financial situations.

What is a mortgage, and how is it paid back?

A mortgage is a loan taken out to purchase a house or property. It is typically paid back in installments over time, usually monthly.

What does 'bargain hunter' mean?

'Bargain hunter' refers to a person who actively seeks out deals or discounts, always looking for items sold at a lower price than their usual value.