Free English Class – 1 Hour Lesson on Popular Idioms/Vocabulary

Welcome to our Free English Class today!

Let’s talk about Idioms.

I’m sure you have all heard of expressions such as “He is walking on thin ice”

Or “I don’t want to burn any bridges”

These are all idioms.

That’s what we want to talk about in todays Free English lesson.

 

Idioms are an essential part of learning English.

Idioms are the best way of making yourself sound like your first language is English.

Although idiomatic expressions differ between Anglophone countries (mainly USA vs. UK), learning those that English speakers use frequently will help you to understand the English language better.

You will also sound more comfortable in your speech;

For example, learning expressions like “how’s it going?” (how are you?) and “I’m taking it easy” (I’m relaxing) will take your Spoken English to the next level.

What is an Idiom?

Before we start this free English speaking class, let’s take a moment to understand what an idiom is.

An idiom is a phrase or expression that has a meaning separate to the individual words it’s composed of.

Learning idioms is a vital part of learning the english language.

Idioms reflect the history of a language and are often dialect specific.

 

Idioms help you Improve English Speaking 

To improve from a beginner level to an intermediate level, an understanding of common idioms is a must.

So today, let’s look at 10 commonly used English idioms and dive deeper in to what they mean and how they are used. As always, don’t try to memorize these 10 idioms all at once.

Instead, try to learn 1 0r 2 every day while trying to use them in conversations. In other words, include these in your Active Vocabulary.

 

 

[button title=”Check English Speaking Courses” link=”https://www.spokenenglishpractice.com/programs/” color=”” size=””]

Today’s Free English Class covers the 10 idioms below

Bark up the wrong tree 

Misunderstanding, pursuing an incorrect position or opinion, making the wrong choice.

For example, the policeman is barking up the wrong tree if he questions that teenager about the robbery. The boy wasn’t even in the area at the time.

 

Know the ropes

To understand how to do something.

For example, after a week of training Peter will know the ropes of his new job.

 

A Free English Class about our Conversational Method

 

 

[button title=”How to Learn English Fast” link=”https://www.spokenenglishpractice.com/” color=”” size=””]

Neck of the woods

A neighbourhood or area.

For example, there is a new restaurant opening in your neck of the woods.

 

Water under the bridge

Something in the past that can not be changed; suggests that it needs to be accepted.

For example, don’t be angry with your sister for using your dress without asking; it’s water under the bridge.

 

Go out on a limb

Potentially isolate oneself or put oneself at a disadvantage.

For example, Tom went out on limb when he expressed an opinion that was very different to everyone else’s.

 

By the skin of (one’s) teeth

To only just complete something, to narrowly succeed.

For example, the student passed his exam by the skin of his teeth.

 

Free English Class – Tips to be Fluent

 

For anyone learning to speak English as a second language, conversation offers the best way to polish the skills needed to really become fluent.

Leave no stone unturned

To look everywhere possible, to put in every effort to complete a task.

For example, we will leave no stone unturned during our investigation of this crime.

 

Speak of the devil

Used to acknowledge someone’s arrival when you’ve just been talking about them.

For example, Jack and Jill were discussion what to buy their mother for her birthday when she surprised them with a visit. “Speak of the devil”, said Jill.

 

Tongue-in-cheek

Joking, not intended to be serious. F

or example, the politician gave a tongue in cheek reply to the reporter when asked if he prefers Burger King or Mcdonalds.

 

Get off (one’s) high horse

To stop behaving in a superior way.

For example, get off your high horse and help us scrub the floor instead of telling us how it should be done.

 

How to add idioms in to your English speaking

Here is the most important tip from our Free English class today.

Language is about usage.

English speaking is full of slang, mixed use of tenses and all sorts of grammatically incorrect sentences.

The key is-keep using the language.

Speak as much as you can, as often as you can with native speakers.

You will learn the most by doing this.

We live in a world full of technology: movies, “Ted Talks,” and radios are all at our fingertips.

So use them to help you learn English free.

There are free resources to learn English Speaking everywhere.

Fact: Spoken English Practice is the best resource if you want to improve English speaking fast.

Focus listen at every opportunity you can.

Always have your what-the-heck-does-this-mean notebook on hand and at the end of the day read and practice what you wrote down.

Then if you have time, review what you wrote down a few days ago.

The more you LISTEN to the words rather than just HEAR the jumble around you, the more familiar you will become with the language.

In other word, immerse in English as much as you can. Absorb idioms and slang naturally.

This is more powerful than any English Speaking software you can find.

 

How to keep expanding your vocabulary and idioms

We come to the last pat of this 1 hour Free English class….

So let’s talk about learning more idioms.

If you have contact with native English speakers, ask them to give you some idioms that they use regularly and that you practice in conversation.

Be careful with expressions listed in textbooks or on the internet as some are not commonly used by native speakers and idioms are constantly evolving over time.

Watching current television shows or films with English subtitles will introduce you to those being used at this moment in time.

As an ESL student your goal is to eventually speak English as a native speaker. Using idioms will not only make your conversation more interesting but it enhance your understanding. Try using an idiom next time you practice your English language speaking with your conversation partner.

 

Sources: United States Department of State – American English