20 ENGLISH IDOMS TO SOUND LIKE A NATIVE SPEAKER

A group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the
individual words (e.g. over the moon, see the light ).

Today, I will show you 20 idioms that you can use to sound like a native English speaker.

This lesson is going to help you improve your vocabulary. But suppose you want to
improve your listening and pronunciation skills even further. In that case, I highly
recommend the particular method of combining reading books with listening to the
audio book version on Audible.

It sounds weird, reading and listening simultaneously, but it's such an effective method.
For example, take a book that you have already read in English or a book that you
would like to read.

I've got lots of recommendations for books and audio books down below. And as you
read that book, listen to the audio book version at the same time. Reading alone will
not help with your pronunciation, or you're listening, for that matter.

Sherlock Holmes book: https://geni.us/SherlockBook Then download Sherlock Holmes

audiobook read by Stephen Fry: https://geni.us/SherlockAudiobooks Or Harry Potter read
by Stephen Fry audiobook: https://geni.us/HarryPotterAudioBook Harry Potter books:
https://geni.us/HarryPotterBooks Or The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time
Audiobook (easier level) : https://geni.us/CuriousAudiobook And the Curious Incident
Book: https://geni.us/CuriousBook Contribute subtitle translations: http://bit.ly/2pUVee7
(have your name displayed under the video and practice your translation skills!)

English is not a strictly phonetic language; the way a word is spelt or written in En glish
might not give you any indication as to how that word is pronounced. That's why
pronunciation in English is so hard for my students.

But if you listen to a word as you read it, your brain will start making connections. And
the next time you see that word, you'll know exactly how it's pronounced, how it's
supposed to sound.

And the next time you hear that word, you'll know how it's spelt, how it's written. It's
such an effective method,

Idiom number one is, a drop in the ocean

A drop in the ocean

I think we have a song called a Drop In The Ocean, I used to really like that when I was
at school. A drop in the ocean means a very small, or insignificant part of something big
or whole.

For example, the government's pledge to increase health funding by 100 million is a
drop in the ocean compared to the billions that need to be spent.
Number two is a lovely one, I think they're all lovely actually because I chose that
myself for you.

Number two is, actions speak louder than words.

Actions speak louder than words

This means that it's better to actually do something rather than just talk about it. For
example, stop apologising to me and prove to me that I can trust you, actions speak
louder than words.

That's a good one to use in your next fight with someone who has lost your trust.

Number three is, to add fuel to the fire.

To add fuel to the fire

This simply means to make a problem worse, to exacerbate a problem. We learned
exacerbate in another class, didn't we recently, comment down below if you remember
which it was. For example, don't tell her about the delays, you'll just be adding fuel to
the fire.

Number four is, the ball is in your court.

The ball is in your court

This means that it's your turn to make the next step or decision. For example, I've done
all I can do, the ball is in your court now.

Number five is, to bend over backwards.

To bend over backwards

This means to do whatever it takes to help someone. For example, our company is
bending over backwards to satisfy our customers. Sometimes it can mean that you've
helped too much, you've put in too much effort.

Oh, I've been bending over backwards trying to solve his problems and he hasn't given
me the time of day. To give someone the time of day, is to give someone the proper
attention.
Number six, to bite off more than you can chew.

To be bite off more than you can chew

It means taking on a task that is too big. For example, I think I've bitten off more than I
can chew with this project.

I was working; I had a YouTube channel, I was doing projects, I'd taken on extra work. I
bit off more than I could chew, and I suffered the consequences, but it was worth it. I'm
okay now, actually homework here. Have you ever bitten off more than you could
chew?

Let me know about the situation in the comment section down below. Maybe you were
studying and working simultaneously; perhaps you were trying to maintain a long -
distance relationship whilst doing an internship; I don't know, let me know.

Oh, number seven is a good one. It's by the skin of one's teeth,

by the skin of your teeth

It means to only succeed something by a very narrow margin, by the enamel on your
teeth, but we say skin; we don't usually say the skin of teeth. But for this particular
saying, we do. So, an example, I think I might have passed that exam by the skin of my
teeth, only just.

Number eight is from, I think, or a childhood story.

It's to cry wolf, to cry wolf

It means to call for help when you don't need it. And I think the story is; I wonder if yo u
have this in your own country and culture. A boy kept pretending that there was a wolf
so that people would come.

And in the end, when a wolf did come, he called for help, and no one came because
they always thought that he was crying for help when he didn't need it. An example, My
new flatmate is always crying wolf.

Number nine is to cut somebody some slack.

To cut somebody some slack

It means to give someone a break, to stop judging them so hard. For example, you need
to cut the intern some slack; they are still learning.
Number 10 is to cut to the chase.

To cut to the chase

It means to leave out all of the unnecessary details and get to the point. An example, To
cut to the chase, I'm not comfortable working alongside John anymore.

Number 11, to get one's head around something.

To get your head around something

It means to come to understand something, to work to understand something. So, for
example, I will spend a night trying to get my head around this new legislation.

Number 12 is to hear on the grapevine.

To hear on the grapevine

It means to hear a rumour or an unconfirmed story. For example, I heard on the
grapevine that our receptionist will be leaving us soon.

Number 13, a personal favourite, it takes two to tango.

It takes two to tango

You've got to be comfortable with the T sound to say that, it takes two to tango. This
means that actions or communications need more than one person. For example, don't
just blame him for the affair, it takes two to tango, two parties were involved in that
bad behaviour.

Number 14 is, to miss the boat, to miss the boat.

To miss the boat, to miss the boat

This means to miss the opportunity to do something. For example, I think you've missed
the boat on that application, they've already started interviewing candidates.

Number 15 is a lovely one. It is a piece of cake, a piece of cake.

A piece of cake
This means really easy. That pop quiz was a piece of cake.
Number 16 is, pull yourself together.

Pull yourself together

This means calm down and act normally, it's normally said when somebody is stressing
out. For example, I think you need to pull yourself together and stop stressing about
the presentation.

Number 17 is, to sit or to be on the fence.

To sit on the fence, to be on the fence

This means to stay neutral and to not take sides. For example, I'm sitting on the fence
on this one, I don't want to offend anyone.

Number 18 is, to step up one's game.

To step up your game

This means to start performing better. For example, if you really want to get this
promotion, you'll need to step up your game.

Number 19 is, to sell someone out.

To sell someone out

It means to snitch on someone, or to let their secret out.

For example, I asked you to keep that information to yourself, I can't believe you've
sold me out like that.

And number 20 is, your guess is as good as mine.

Your guess is as good as mine

This means I don't know, or I have no idea. For example, we just don't have enough
data, your guess is as good as mine. Right, those were our 20 idioms that you can use
to sound like a native speaker.