Shadowing Practice: English Idioms and Phrasal Verbs - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

B2
I'm at the end of my rope with this job.
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87 sentences
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I'm at the end of my rope with this job.
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The boss has really crossed the line this time.
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He asked us again to work on our day off.
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And I had such wonderful plans for today.
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He really pushed my buttons with this.
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This is the last straw.
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I'll end up going bananas if I have to work here for one more day.
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Just take it easy, Tom.
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You know you need this job.
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You always go above and beyond to please him.
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I can't believe you're so calm,
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given the fact that you've just lost another day off.
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But this time, I'll just go to him and ask him for a raise.
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If you think he's going to give in,
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you might as well save your breath.
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He'll never do it.
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Then I'll make sure to let him know I'm fed up with doing extra work for no pay.
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I'm going to stand up for my rights.
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He'll hold a grudge against you.
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Or even worse, he may give you the sack.
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Just let it go.
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So the solution is to just butter him up and agree with everything he does?
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No, of course not.
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But for the time being,
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it's better not to say anything.
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Maybe he will pay for our extra work after all.
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Nine times out of ten,
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you act first and then figure things out.
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You don't want him to kick you out of your job.
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Just wait and see.
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I wish I won the lottery so that all my problems could come to an end.
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You're playing the lottery?
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Yes, I am.
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Have you ever tried it?
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No, I haven't.
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Lottery is not my cup of tea.
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So, how often do you play?
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I buy a lottery ticket every week.
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Something tells me a large lottery win is just around the corner.
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Consistency can work wonders, you know.
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Maybe my numbers will come up soon.
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If I won the lottery,
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I would be on top of the world.
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All my dreams would come true.
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I could pay off all my debts,
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and I wouldn't have to worry about money for the rest of my life.
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I think I'm close to making it.
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Don't be fooled into thinking that winning the lottery is a piece of cake.
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Just take into account the amount of money you have to pay to buy tickets,
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even if you want.
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So much money out of nowhere could make you go nuts.
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You can lose it as easily as you want it.
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On the one hand, it can make all your dreams come true.
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But on the other hand,
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it can tear families and friendships apart.
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I don't think lottery winners have such a worry-free life.
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I wouldn't like to be in their shoes.
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To make a long story short,
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when it comes to the lottery,
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I have a bad opinion.
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So you're saying we're better off poor,
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struggling to keep our heads above water?
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It's difficult to make a living on minimum wage.
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I think you're better off making your way up step by step,
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through your own work.
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You'd rather hit it big in life through hard work.
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Over the long run, you'll be much happier earning your money by your own effort.
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There are so many people that started out poor,
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living from hand to mouth,
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and ended up very well off.
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They actually founded and ran their own company.
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I think we should take the leap and start our own business.
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It is up to us to be successful.
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I'll have my own business when pigs fly.
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That's out of the question for me.
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I'll just stick to playing the lottery.
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It may turn into an addiction.
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There's nothing wrong with playing the lottery every once in a while.
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You are more likely to lose money than to win.
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Well, do it your way.
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The bottom line is this.
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You can play once in a while,
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but don't get carried away.
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Don't get caught up in the lottery craze.
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Keep your job and go about your life in the same way you've done so far.
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Until you win, just seize the day and enjoy life as it is.
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Thank you.

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About This Lesson

In this lesson, you will practice essential English idioms and phrasal verbs that are commonly used in everyday conversations, especially in workplace contexts. By engaging with the transcript, you will enhance your understanding of these expressions and learn how to apply them in real-life situations. This is an excellent opportunity for you to improve your English pronunciation and refine your conversational skills as you learn English with YouTube.

Key Vocabulary & Phrases

  • At the end of my rope - Feeling frustrated or overwhelmed.
  • Crossed the line - Exceeding what is considered appropriate or acceptable.
  • Pushed my buttons - Causing someone to become upset or irritated.
  • The last straw - The final problem or annoyance that leads to a reaction.
  • Going bananas - Becoming extremely frustrated or upset.
  • Fed up - Tired of something unpleasant and no longer willing to tolerate it.
  • Butter him up - To flatter someone or be overly nice to get something from them.
  • Not my cup of tea - Something that one does not like or prefer.

Practice Tips

To maximize your learning experience, try shadow speech techniques with this video. Start by listening to a small segment of the conversation, then pause and repeat what you hear, mimicking the speakers' intonation and rhythm. This exercise will help you improve English pronunciation and make your speech more natural. Given that the speed of the dialogue in the video is fairly moderate, it’s a perfect pace for English speaking practice. Listen for nuances in the phrasing and emotional cues conveyed by the speakers. As you shadow the dialogue, focus on maintaining a relaxed and conversational tone to emulate everyday speech. Consistent practice will not only help you internalize these idioms and phrases but also boost your confidence in using them during conversations. Remember, the more you practice, the more fluent you will become!

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

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