Shadowing Practice: Learn the 100 MOST Common IDIOMS in 20 minutes (with examples) - Learn English Speaking with Video
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So hey everyone, welcome to Linguamarina.
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In this video, I'm gonna walk you through 100 most common idioms that native speakers actually use in daily life.
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They use them in shows, at work, everywhere.
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And some of them you've probably heard, others might be totally new.
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Either way, they'll help you sound more fluent and more natural.
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So let's dive in.
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Break the ice.
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Let's kick off with something you might say in awkward situations.
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To break the ice means to start a conversation and make everyone feel more comfortable.
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Whenever I'm at a networking event, I always try to break the ice by asking where people are from.
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Spill the beans.
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Now imagine you're trying to keep a secret and someone accidentally reveals it.
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That's what it means to spill the beans.
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She totally spilled the beans about the surprise party.
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Spill the tea.
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This one is a little more dramatic.
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To spill the tea is to gossip or share juicy details.
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Come on, spill the tea.
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What happened at the party?
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Hit the nail on the head.
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When someone says exactly the right thing, that's hitting the nail on the head.
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When she suggested a new launch strategy, she really hit the nail on the head.
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Free from blame or responsibility, you're off the hook.
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Turns out it wasn't your fault.
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You're off the hook.
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It can also mean you're no longer expected to do something even if you weren't in trouble to begin with.
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For example, I was supposed to babysit but they cancelled so I'm off the hook tonight.
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Pull an all-nighter Now let's talk about working late.
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Like really late.
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To pull an all-nighter means staying up the entire night to finish something.
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I had to pull an all-nighter to finish my presentation.
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Grind late.
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If that's something you do more than once, then you're officially grinding late.
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It means regularly working hard into the night.
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Let's look at an example.
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I've been grinding late every night this week to prepare for the launch.
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Out of the blue This one's about surprises.
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If something happens out of the blue, it's completely unexpected.
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For example, out of the blue, I got a call from an old coworker.
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Pull strings Sometimes success comes from who you know.
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To pull strings means to use your connections.
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For example, I pulled some strings to get you into the program.
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The ball is in your court.
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This one is about responsibility.
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If the ball is in your court, it's your turn to take action.
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I've sent them everything.
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Now the ball is in their court.
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By the way, if you're watching this video thinking, okay, Marina, I get these idioms, but it's just a list.
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How do I actually use them?
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I've got something cool for you.
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I built the app called Idiom Chat.
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In the app, you're texting with different characters, your friend, your boss, your crush, and your job is to pick the right idiom to reply.
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Every choice teaches you how real people actually speak.
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If you get it right, the chat continues.
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If you miss it, you learn the meaning and get another example on the spot.
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But here's the cool part.
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I did not hire a developer or touch any code.
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I built the whole thing using Lovable.
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AI that builds apps and websites just from a prompt.
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I literally typed I want an app where people text with characters and practice idioms.
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And after a few tweaks, I made the entire thing.
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And this isn't just for learning.
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If you're looking for a side hustle in 2025, this could be a goldmine.
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Businesses pay thousands for custom apps and websites and with Lovable, you can build those for your clients without knowing how to code.
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You can build one for yourself, you can build one for your students, you can create landing pages, personal planners, habit trackers, even branded tools for your own business.
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And the platform lets you fully customize layout, copy and images with a real-time preview.
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It's fast, beginner-friendly and surprisingly powerful.
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You can go from idea to life prototype in minutes.
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And the best part?
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You can start for free.
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You get 5 credits a day to test ideas, build something small and see where it takes you.
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Here's my tip.
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Start with something for yourself.
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Once you realize how fast it is, you'll start seeing more opportunities around you.
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By the way, tag me if you build something fun, I want to see it.
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The link is in the description, please make sure to check it out.
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And now, let's get back to our idioms.
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Bite the bullet To bite the bullet means to finally do something difficult or unpleasant you've been avoiding.
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For example, I didn't want to raise my prices, but I had to bite the bullet.
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Burn bridges.
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This one is about relationships.
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To burn bridges means to end something in a way that ruins future opportunities.
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I left the company on good terms, I didn't want to burn the bridges.
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Call it a day.
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That's my favorite one.
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It's a nice way to say I'm done for now.
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We've done enough for today, let's call it a day.
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A dime a dozen.
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This idiom is about things that are super common.
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For example, marketing agencies are a dime a dozen, but great ones, hard to find.
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Put all your eggs in one basket Now here's a classic about risk.
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If you put all your eggs in one basket, you're relying on just one thing.
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That's why I have so many projects going on all the time.
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When I first started out, I put all my eggs in one basket and luckily it paid off.
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Make a long story short.
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Skip the details.
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Just get to the point.
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To make a long story short, we missed the flight.
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On thin ice.
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You've messed up one too many times.
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You're on thin ice.
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You're on thin ice with your boss after showing up late again.
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The next idiom is out of your league.
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Too good for you.
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Romantically, professionally, whatever.
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That's out of your league.
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Example, he's great, but totally out of my league.
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Come in handy.
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When something turns out to be really useful, it comes in handy.
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For example, this extra charger always comes in handy when I'm traveling.
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Have a sweet tooth.
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If you love sugary snacks, that's my husband.
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You've definitely got a sweet tooth.
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For example, my family and I try to eat healthy, but we've got such a sweet tooth for chocolate.
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By the way, dark chocolate is fine for you.
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Lose my temper.
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This idiom means to get really angry.
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I usually stay calm, but when someone doesn't deliver what they promised, I lose my temper.
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And when you lose your temper, you might need to blow off steam.
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Let that tension out.
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For example, I always go on a hike to blow off some steam.
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Let off steam and blow off steam are really similar.
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They both mean releasing built-up stress, frustration, or energy.
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They're often used interchangeably, especially in casual conversations.
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Blow off steam can sound a bit more intense, like releasing anger or high frustration.
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Let off steam is often a bit milder, more about unwinding or decompressing after stress.
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For example, after a long day, I let off steam by dancing in my kitchen with my kids.
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Ring a bell.
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When something sounds familiar, but you can't remember exactly why or from where, it rings a bell.
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For example, his face rings a bell.
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I think we went to the same school, but I don't remember his name.
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Take it easy.
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A gentle way to say, relax, rest, don't stress.
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You've done enough, take it easy.
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Think outside the box.
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Time to get creative.
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Thinking outside the box means approaching it in a new, creative and unexpected way.
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For example, we need to think outside the box for this campaign.
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Hit the road.
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This one's great for travel.
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To hit the road means to leave or start a journey.
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For example, I packed everything and I'm hitting the road tomorrow at 8pm.
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I'm flying to Paris.
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By the way, follow me on Instagram, Silicon Valley Girl.
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To see my adventures in Paris, I'm going to go to VivaTech, a conference, and I'm going to go to Cannes Lions.
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Super exciting.
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That's my first time visiting Cannes for that event.
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So super cool.
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Time flies.
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Time flies means time seems to pass very quickly, often without you noticing it.
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For example, I can't believe it's already midnight.
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Time flies when you're having fun.
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Up in the air.
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If something is undecided or uncertain, it's still up in the air.
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Our weekend plans are still up in the air.
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Your guess is as good as mine.
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In other words, I have no clue either.
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Where did they go?
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Your guess is as good as mine.
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Hit the books.
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Now this one's for my students.
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To hit the books means to study seriously.
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Your TOEFL test is next week, so it's time to hit the books or I'd say time to hit your apps, right? Or 2025.
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In hot water.
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If you're in hot water, you are in trouble.
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exam is in a week and you haven't started preparing yet.
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You're in hot water.
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Jump the gun.
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This one means doing something too early.
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For example, we jumped the gun with our ad campaign.
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The product wasn't ready yet.
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Get the hang of it.
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The first time's hard, the second time gets easier.
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Eventually, you get the hang of it.
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To get the hang of it means to learn how to do something, especially when it felt difficult or confusing at first.
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It was tricky at first, but I got the the hang of it.
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Get cold feet.
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If you get nervous right before doing something big, you're getting cold feet.
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Example.
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I was excited to launch my YouTube channel and then I got cold feet right before uploading my first video.
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A picture is worth a thousand words.
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Sometimes a single image explains everything.
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Example.
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Just show them the graph.
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A picture is worth a thousand words.
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Keep your fingers crossed.
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A fun way to say hope for good luck.
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Example.
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I've got a very Very important interview during Viva Tech.
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Keeping my fingers crossed that it works out, that everything works well.
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Beat around the bush.
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If someone's avoiding the main point, they're beating around the bush.
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Stop beating around the bush.
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Just tell me what happened.
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On the ball.
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To be on the ball means you're sharp, quick, and paying attention.
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She noticed the typo before everyone else.
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She's always on the ball.
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Cut corners.
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When someone tries to do something fast and cheap, often ignoring quality, they're cutting corners.
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They really cut corners on the construction and now the walls are cracking.
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Down to Earth.
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This describes someone who's humble, practical, and easy to talk to.
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No ego, no attitude.
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A down-to-earth person feels real and grounded, no matter how successful they are.
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Example, even after all her success, she's still really down-to-earth.
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Face the music, time to deal with the consequences.
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If you mess up, you got to face the music.
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Example, he forgot the deadline, so now he has to face the music.
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Piece of cake.
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If something's super easy, you can call it a piece of cake.
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That TOEFL exam was a piece of cake.
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I aced it.
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Play it by ear, something that Americans use a lot.
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Sometimes it's better not to plan too much and to play it by ear means to decide things as you go.
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We'll see how you feel tomorrow and just play it by ear.
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Happens a lot with me and the kids these days.
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Get your ducks in a row before you start something big.
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Make sure everything's organized.
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Get your ducks in a row.
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Example, we need to get our ducks in a row before presenting to investors.
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Head over heels.
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Totally, completely in love.
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Your head over heels.
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Example, he's head over heels for her.
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In a pickle?
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Stuck in a tricky situation?
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You're in a pickle.
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Example, I lost my passport.
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I'm really in a pickle now.
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Pull someone's leg.
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If you're joking with someone, you're pulling their leg.
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Relax, I'm just pulling your leg.
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Cry over spilled milk.
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We've all done it.
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Messed up and then obsessed over it for hours, especially over our mistakes in English.
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It's done now.
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There's no use crying over spilled milk.
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Break the bank.
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This one is for someone who loves fashion, like me.
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If something breaks the bank, it's way too expensive.
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That designer bag would break the bank.
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If you're in the loop, you know what's going on.
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Make sure to keep me in the loop with project updates.
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Know the ropes.
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Once you've learned how everything works, you know the ropes.
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It took a few weeks, but I finally know the ropes at my new job.
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On cloud nine, floating with happiness.
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That's being on cloud nine.
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She was on cloud nine after getting the job offer.
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Get a taste of your own medicine.
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You know that satisfying moment when someone who's been mean gets treated the same way.
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That's getting a taste of their own medicine.
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He was always hating on people until he got a taste of his own medicine.
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Go down in flames.
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So it's gonna be forever.
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Oh, it's gonna go down in flames.
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Sometimes failure is quiet.
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Other times it's a disaster like going down in flames.
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Our pitch went down in flames.
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They hated it.
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A blessing in disguise.
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Sometimes bad news turns out to be good.
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That's what we call a blessing in disguise.
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Example, losing that job was hard but it turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
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It pushed me to start my own thing.
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Rock the boat.
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To cause disruption or make waves, that's rocking the boat.
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We finally agreed on the plan.
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Please don't rock the boat by bringing up new ideas now.
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See eye to eye.
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When you fully agree with someone, you see eye to eye.
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Example, We finally saw eye to eye on the project goals.
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In the same boat.
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If someone's struggling just like you, you're in the same boat.
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Don't worry, we're all in the same boat, we're all non-native speakers and it's hard for us to understand Americans sometimes, but we're gonna make it.
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Not my cup of tea.
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That one's about preferences.
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If something isn't your thing, you can say it's not my cup of tea.
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Reality shows just aren't my cup of tea.
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I prefer documentaries on Netflix.
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Sit tight.
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This means to stay where you are and wait patiently.
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No action needed for now.
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Sit tight.
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I'll be right back with the results.
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Smell a rat.
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When something feels suspicious, you smell a rat.
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I smell a rat.
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These numbers just don't add up.
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Speak your mind.
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Say exactly what you think.
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No sugar coating.
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That's speaking your mind.
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She always speaks her mind, even when it's uncomfortable.
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Wrap your head around something.
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Ever stare at something for so long trying to understand it, that's trying to wrap your head around it.
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It took me a while to wrap my head around this new AI tool, but now I use it all the time.
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Hit the sack.
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You're done for the day, you're tired, and you're going to bed.
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Time to hit the sack.
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I'm exhausted.
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I'm going to hit the sack.
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The elephant in the room.
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There's something big that nobody wants to talk about.
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Yep, that's the elephant in the room.
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Let's talk about the elephant in the room.
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Where are your comments, guys?
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I'm looking forward to reading them.
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Why are you not commenting on this video?
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Take something with a grain of salt.
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Don't take it too literally or seriously, just take it with a grain of salt.
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I've heard that rumor too, but take it with a grain of salt.
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Twist someone's arm.
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To convince someone to do something they didn't plan to, you twist their arm.
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I didn't want to go, but they twisted my arm.
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Under your nose.
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Hidden in plain sight, that's something happening right under your nose.
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I searched everywhere and the keys were right under my nose.
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Pull yourself together.
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When things feel like too much or you're falling apart, someone might tell you to pull yourself together.
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It means to regain control of your emotions or behavior and keep going, even when everything feels overwhelming.
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I know it's hard, but you need to pull yourself together.
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Give someone the cold shoulder.
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Oh my God, an absolute must.
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Icy behavior alert.
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Giving someone the cold shoulder means ignoring them on purpose.
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She gave me the cold shoulder after our argument.
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Wear your heart on your sleeve.
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When you don't hide your emotions, you wear your heart on your sleeve.
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Example.
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He wears his heart on his sleeve and it's honestly refreshing.
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Whole nine yards.
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To go all in.
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That's giving the whole nine yards.
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Example, we went the whole nine yards for her birthday party.
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Over the moon.
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Just absolutely thrilled.
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That's being over the moon.
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Example, I was over the moon when I found out I passed a test.
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Speak of the devil.
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You're talking about someone and boom, they show up.
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Speak of the devil.
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Speak of the devil.
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Here comes Emma.
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Go the extra mile.
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If you're going above and beyond, you're going the extra mile and people notice.
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Our production team always goes the extra mile to provide the best content for you.
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In a good place.
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This is about how you feel mentally, emotionally, even spiritually.
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If you're stable and content, you're in a good place.
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Example.
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After everything, I'm finally in a good place.
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Backed into a corner, no good options left.
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You're backed into a corner.
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Example.
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He was backed into a corner and had no choice but to quit.
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Don't reopen old wounds.
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Leave the past in the past.
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Don't reopen old wounds.
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Example, we've moved on.
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Let's not reopen old wounds.
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The last straw.
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Everyone has a limit.
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And when you reach it, that final thing is the last straw.
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That rude comment was the last straw.
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Get the ball rolling.
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Start the process.
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Get the ball rolling.
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Example, let's get the ball rolling on this project.
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Keep your chin up.
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Stay strong and positive.
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Example, I know things are tough right now.
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Keep your chin up.
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Jump on the bandwagon.
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If something's popular and you suddenly join in, you're jumping on the bandwagon.
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Example, I wasn't into it at first, but then I jumped on the bandwagon.
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I like this one.
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A leopard can't change its thoughts.
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Some people just don't change.
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He said he changed, but a leopard can't change its thoughts.
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Don't judge a book by its cover.
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cliche, maybe, but true, and you don't judge people based on how they look.
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She may look young, but don't judge a book by its cover.
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Cold turkey.
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When you quit something completely with no gradual steps, that's going cold turkey.
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Example, he stopped drinking coffee cold turkey last week.
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Make ends meet.
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When you're just managing to cover your expenses, you're making ends meet.
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Example, with rent so high it's hard to make ends meet.
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Under the weather, a softer way to say someone's feeling sick.
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Example, I didn't film last week because I was under the weather.
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Get something off your chest.
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If something been waiting on you and you finally say it, you're getting it off your chest.
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For example, I finally told her how I felt and I got it off my chest.
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Out of the woods, you were in trouble but now things are better.
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You're out of the woods.
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She's still recovering but she's out of the woods.
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Play with fire?
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Taking a risky move that could backfire?
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You're playing with fire.
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Flirting with your boss's ex?
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You're playing with fire.
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Pull the plug.
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To shut something down completely?
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That's pulling the plug.
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They pulled the plug on the app before launch.
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Get your act together.
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It's time to focus.
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Get your act together means start being more organized and responsible.
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You need to get your act together before the presentation.
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Rule of thumb, a general principle that works most of the time, a rule of thumb.
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Example, as a rule of thumb, always check your sources.
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Take a rain check.
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Politely postponing something, you're taking a rain check.
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Example, mind if we take a rain check on dinner.
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Think on your feet, to react quickly and cleverly in the moment.
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Example, she really had to think on her feet during the pitch.
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Give the benefit of the doubt.
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By the way, when you're remembering idioms, remember the articles.
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Give the benefit of the doubt.
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Someone might have messed up, but you chose to assume the best or trust their intentions.
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That's giving them the benefit of the doubt.
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Let's give her the benefit of the doubt this time.
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Touch base.
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To check in quickly or reconnect.
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Let's touch base tomorrow after the meeting.
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Word of mouth.
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Information spreading through conversations.
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That's word of mouth.
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Most of our business comes from word of mouth.
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Throw someone under the bus.
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It sounds dramatic, but nobody's getting run over.
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To throw someone under the bus means to betray or blame them to protect yourself or make yourself look better.
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It usually happens suddenly and unfairly.
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My coworker forgot to send the email, but in the meeting, he threw me under the bus and said it was my fault.
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That's a wrap on 100 idioms.
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Some you probably knew, others might have been totally new, but now they're all yours to use.
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you can practice them in the free app I built with Lovable
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or even create something of your own if you're feeling inspired.
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Let me know in the comments below which idiom was your favorite or better yet, drop a comment using one of them.
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I'll be reading and giving you hearts and liking your comments.
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See you in the next video.
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Bye!
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This B2 speaking lesson is built on the video “Learn the 100 MOST Common IDIOMS in 20 minutes”. This video has 444 sentences and 3733 words to shadow. The speech runs for 21:14. The speaker talks at a natural 176 words per minute, close to everyday conversation. 85% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start.
Key vocabulary in this video
The 15 most advanced words in the video, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| idiom noun | /ˈɪdiəm/ | A manner of speaking, a mode of expression peculiar to a language, language family, or group of people. |
| spill verb | /spɪl/ | To drop something so that it spreads out or makes a mess; to accidentally pour. |
| flame noun | /fleɪm/ | The visible part of fire; a stream of burning vapour or gas, emitting light and heat. |
| wrap verb | /ɹæp/ | To enclose (an object) completely in any flexible, thin material such as fabric or paper. |
| bandwagon noun | /ˈbændˌwæɡ.ən/ | A large wagon used to carry a band of musicians in a parade. |
| nighter noun | Someone or something who does something for a certain number of nights | |
| pickle noun | /ˈpɪkəl/ | A cucumber preserved in a solution, usually a brine or a vinegar syrup. |
| reopen verb | /ɹiːˈəʊpən/ | To open (something) again. |
| disguise verb | /dɪsˈɡaɪz/ | To change the appearance of (a person or thing) so as to hide, or to assume an identity. |
| temper noun | /ˈtɛmpɚ/ | A general tendency or orientation towards a certain type of mood, a volatile state; a habitual way of thinking, behaving or reacting. |
| heel noun | /hil/ | The rear part of the foot, where it joins the leg. |
| sack noun | /sæk/ | A bag; especially a large bag of strong, coarse material for storage and handling of various commodities, such as potatoes, coal, coffee; or, a bag with… |
| sleeve noun | /sliv/ | The part of a garment that covers the arm. |
| grind verb | /ˈɡɹaɪnd/ | To reduce to smaller pieces by crushing with lateral motion. |
| bean noun | /ˈbi(ː)n/ | Any plant of several genera of the taxonomic family Fabaceae that produces large edible seeds or edible seedpods. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| blow off verb | To vent, usually, to reduce pressure in a container. |
| mess up verb | To make a mess of; to untidy, disorder, soil, or muss. |
| let off verb | To cause to explode or come out; to release. |
| show up verb | To appear, arrive, or attend, especially suddenly or erratically. |
| add up verb | To take the sum of; to total. |
| bring up verb | To mention. |
| build up verb | To erect; to construct. |
| fall apart verb | To disintegrate, to break into pieces. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Free from blame or responsibility, you're off the hook.
- How do I actually use them?
- Where are your comments, guys?
- Why are you not commenting on this video?
- Flirting with your boss's ex?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on | I've been grinding · you've been avoiding |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | you've probably heard · I've sent · We've done |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is undecided · was backed |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 119 contractions and reduced forms, such as you're, I'm, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: thumb /ˈθʌm/, tooth /tuθ/, thrill /θɹɪl/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: frustration /fɹʌsˈtɹeɪ.ʃən/, emotion /ɪˈməʊ.ʃən/, refresh /ɹɪˈfɹɛʃ/, disruption /dɪsˈɹʌpʃən/, emotionally /ɪˈməʊʃənəli/
- Long words — get the stress right: emotionally /ɪˈməʊʃənəli/, surprisingly /səˈpɹaɪzɪŋli/, uncomfortable /ʌnˈkʌm.fɚ.tə.bl̩/, developer /dɪˈvɛləpɚ/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Start at 0.75× speed, shadow it sentence by sentence, then go back to normal speed once it feels easy.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like idiom, spill, flame.
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.