Culips ESL Podcast » Culips

To stick out like a sore thumb—Culips English Podcast

Culips — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 12:24:58 +0000

Nobody wants to stick out like a sore thumb, but sometimes it happens. In this episode, we look at expressions that describe people and things that are different from the rest, often in a negative way. We also focus on to be out of place and to be the odd one out. Listen to our examples of when people might feel strange and uncomfortable for being different and learn how to put these expressions to use!

Maura:	So, *to stick out like a sore thumb* means that a person is different from everybody else and so they have a lot of attention on them and, like we said, it’s not positive attention.
Harp:	So maybe they’re wearing different clothes than everyone else or maybe someone speaks a language that not everyone else there speaks.
Maura:	Yeah. There are so many different ways that you can feel different from a group of people. It could be because everyone has a certain kind of job and you don’t, or everyone knows each other but you don’t know the people very well.
Harp:	Or everyone has the same style and you have a completely different style of clothing.
Maura:	Yeah. So, it could be physical, by looking at someone, but it also could be something different from the inside, maybe.

Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials:

To stick out like a sore thumb	Pronounciation of thumb
And?	Did I ever…
Dress code	Undergrad
To be out of place	To stand out
To be lost	Uh oh
To be the odd one out	To throw a tantrum

Podcast/ Learning Materials: Culips English Podcast, Photo: Sarah Reid, Edited by Culips English Podcast

A light bulb moment—Culips English Podcast

Culips — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 10:50:38 +0000

We hope that everyone has some bright ideas in 2012! This episode it about coming up with new ideas and having realizations, and the expressions we can use to talk about this. Of course, we’re always brainstorming at Culips to come up with new ideas for episodes, and now you can learn about expressions like a light bulb moment, to dawn on someone, and to have a brainwave. Maybe you’ll even find some inspiration in this episode!

Maura:	So first we had *a light bulb moment*, and now what’s the second expression?
Harp:	The next expression is *to dawn on*.
Maura:	Right. *To dawn on. And usually, you talk about something dawning on me* or you, or a person. It *dawns on someone*.
Harp:	Yes. And dawn is the time of day when the sun is about to rise and the sun starts rising for a new day.
Maura:	So, it’s the same idea as *a light bulb moment* because there’s a sense of light. When the sun is rising, there’s a lot of sunlight and light really means knowledge or some brilliant idea. So when *something dawns on you*, it means that you have a new understanding or a new idea about something.

Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials:

(From) out of nowhere	Bright/light expressions
To have a light bulb moment	To come up with something
To brainstorm	To come to you
To dawn on someone	To get gouged at the pump
To carpool	To have a brainwave
To take forever	Out of the way

Podcast/ Learning Materials: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Satoru Kikuchi

Looking back – 2011 —Culips English Podcast

Culips — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 15:12:27 +0000

Happy New Year! Today we’re bringing you an episode where we look back at the past year at Culips and also forward into 2012. (The year 2012 can be said as two thousand and twelve or twenty-twelve.) In this episode, Harp and Maura talk about changes in their lives this year and their plans for the future. It’s the right time of year! They also reveal some of their favourite episodes and talk about what’s in store in Culips’ future. Keep listening and learning with us in 2012. And thanks for your support in 2011!

Harp:	What ideas are you the most excited about for next year?
Maura:	Well, one episode that I was really happy with and really excited to do was the episode about blah blah blah.
Harp:	Ha ha, yeah. The episode about blah blah blah.
Maura:	Yes. And if you’ve never heard that, it might sound very funny, but it’s actually how people talk sometimes. Just last week, actually at work, I heard someone telling a story and they said blah blah blah and then they told a little bit more of the story and again they said blah blah blah in the same story. And I thought, “Great!” Because this is actually being used and we’re going to do an episode on this.
Harp:	Yes, definitely. So stay tuned next year to hear this episode.
Maura:	Yeah. This episode actually has blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadda, whatshername and whatshisname, and whatchamacallit. So it’s a really good one.
Harp:	*Whatchamacallit.*
Maura:	Yeah. What about you? What are you looking forward to in terms of Culips episodes?
Harp:	Well, there’s gonna be a super fun and interesting episode about fears and what we’re afraid of.
Maura:	I’m already scared for that one.

Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials:

To be in limbo	A big year
Our world	Fantabulous
To be someone’s rock	A pop quiz
To steal someone’s thunder	A back story
Garden-variety	Lucky you
’Em	First of all, second of all
To go down south	To skyrocket
To be a chicken

Podcast/ Learning Materials: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Camdiluv

Christmas – Culips English Podcast

Culips — Sun, 18 Dec 2011 02:16:00 +0000

Happy Holidays!!

Merry Christmas everyone! We know we’re early this year, but we wanted time to get you in the Christmas spirit. This holiday season, Harp and Maura look at Christmas over the years, talking about their own Christmas traditions and how things change as we grow up. They also talk about what’s new and happening this Christmas. Whether you celebrate this holiday or not, learn more about how it happens in Canada.

Maura:	First we’re gonna talk about Christmas past; then we’re gonna talk about the present, what’s happening right now; and the future, upcoming Christmases.
Harp:	Yes. So let’s get started, Maura.
Maura:	Oh, Christmas past. I like thinking about past Christmases; I feel so nostalgic.
Harp:	I know, me too. I love Christmas. I love the Christmas season.
Maura:	You know, it’s interesting, though, how things change as the years go by and things are different now from when we were young. Do you have any good Christmas stories from when you were younger, Harp?
Harp:	I just remember waking up on Christmas morning and my mom would never know what to get us when we were in our teenage years…

Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials:

To wrap up	Mom’s territory
Christmas carols	The more…the less
Santa Claus and his other names	A trip down memory lane
To skip the malls	Canadian standards of Christmas
Gadgets	Home for the holidays
A gift exchange	Eggnog
To spice something up	The Christmas spirit
A Christmas Carol	Les Doux Cactus

Podcast/ Learning Materials: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Luz Adriana Villa

Public Speaking – Culips ESL Podcast

Culips — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 04:52:21 +0000

Most people feel nervous about public speaking, and it’s a difficult thing to do in any language. Greta, one of our listeners, suggested this idea for an episode and we went with it! Harp and Maura talk about their own experiences with public speaking and also share some advice on how to do it well. Does imagining the audience naked really work?

Maura:	So, you can say that you’re going *to give a talk. That’s one way of talking about public speaking. Another verb that you could use, another expression, is to make a speech.*
Harp:	Yes. *To make a speech. To give a speech* and *to make a speech*—it’s the exact same thing; it means that you’re gonna go in front of people and you’re going to do some public speaking.
Maura:	Yeah. *To make a speech* is really when you’re speaking. If you’re preparing for *the speech* that would be you’re writing *the speech* or you’re practicing *the speech. But if you make a speech*, you’re actually speaking in front of people.
Harp:	So you could say *to make a speech* or *to give a speech. And this is much more formal. When you talk about a speech*, I imagine someone standing in front of an audience, maybe behind a podium, very formal and they have very specific things they want to say.

Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials:

To be fishy	A tip
To warm up	To give a talk
TED Talks	To make a speech/To give a speech
To speak	A talk vs. a speech
Practice makes perfect	A rant
Stressful, stressed, stressed out	Public speaking tips
A hook	To get past something
Cue cards/Index cards	The naked audience theory
There’s a method to your madness

Podcast/ Learning Materials: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Brandon Atkinson

Starting from scratch – Culips English Podcast

Culips — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 05:43:18 +0000

Here’s another Catch Word episode! This one focuses on expressions with the word scratch. We look at to start from scratch, to scratch the surface, and to make something from scratch. Scratch in these expressions talks about starting at the beginning, often when you don’t have much knowledge or many skills. This episode does more than just scratch the surface, so listen and learn!

Harp:	When I think of *making something from scratch*, I’m thinking of a nice soup or something good that’s homemade.
Maura:	Yeah, something delicious.
Harp:	Mmhmm.
Maura:	Food *made from scratch* is just so much better than pre-made stuff that you can buy in stores.
Harp:	I know. Stuff you buy in stores that’s already made before, it’s faster, but food definitely tastes better when it’s homemade, when it’s *made from scratch*.
Maura:	Oh, yeah. What’s the last thing that you *made from scratch*, Harp?
Harp:	You know, I actually made chicken stock this weekend *from scratch*.

Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials:

To start from scratch	To crash (a computer)
To take up something	To scratch the surface
To make something from scratch	To hold on
Stomach grumbling	To flip a house
Man as slang	To be hardcore
A potluck

Podcast/ Learning Materials: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Jake and Lindsay Sherbert

Meet Kelly – Culips English Podcast

Culips — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 05:11:54 +0000

Here’s an interview with our friend Kelly. She helps out behind the scenes at Culips, so we thought we’d use an episode to introduce her to you! Like all of us at Culips, she’s not originally from Montreal. In this episode, we talk about her hometown, which is in the province of Saskatchewan. We also talk about Montreal and what makes it a place that people love! If you want to know more about Canada and hear a new voice, listen to this one!

Maura:	So first, let’s let everybody get to know you a little bit more.
Kelly:	OK.
Maura:	Tell us where you’re from.
Kelly:	I’m originally from a city called *Regina, Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan is a Prairie* province in the west of Canada. It’s *very, very flat*. I came to Montreal about four years ago and started teaching English at high schools here and I love it.
Maura:	Yeah, yeah. And I’m sure it’s very different from the flat place you’re from.
Kelly:	It is extremely different from the *flat* place that I’m from; *flat* in many senses of the word. It’s pretty boring, too. Here there are a lot more places to go, restaurants, people to see, concerts. I like it a lot.
Maura:	Yeah. So let’s talk a little bit about *Regina*, because Canada is such a big place and most of the time at Culips we talk about Montreal and what’s going on around here, which is exciting, but I’m sure many people listening don’t know much about Regina and that part of Canada.

Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials:

Chatterbox	The Prairies
Regina, Saskatchewan	Flat
Elbow, Eyebrow, and other crazy Saskatchewan town names	French words in English
Very, very	Montreal’s favourite foods
IMount Royal

Podcast/ Learning Materials: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Culips ESL Podcast

Tightwad—Culips English Podcast

Culips — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 16:01:55 +0000

No one likes to be thought of as cheap, but some of us just don’t like to spend money. Harp and Maura are two of these people! This is an episode about slang terms for people who are always saving their money. Most of these expressions are considered rude, so be careful how you use them. If you mean it as a compliment, you’d be better off to call a person frugal. Listen to this episode to hear all the slang terms for cheap and the meaning of frugal!

Harp:	So if someone is *cheap* and likes to save all their money, you could call them a *tightwad*.
Maura:	Yes. Now, let’s explain this word, *tightwad.* A wad is actually some small thing, like in the shape of a ball; it’s really not a specific thing. It’s just some small thing that’s in the shape of a ball. Now, if you imagine your money is all rolled up, tightly, it’s like a wad. And a *tightwad* means that you don’t wanna open it up, you don’t wanna take any money out, you don’t wanna spend it.
Harp:	Yes. So when you’re a tightwad, that means you’re cheap and you don’t want to spend all your money. And one thing we need to mention right away is that you would never say this to someone. It’s a very rude thing to call someone. So you could maybe say it *behind their back*…
Maura:	Yeah. The thing with being called a *tightwad* is that it’s never a compliment. No one really likes to be seen as someone who doesn’t wanna spend money. It’s not a positive thing. And so you might use it as a joke. That’s the only way you could use it, because it is rude.

Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials:

A tightwad	A wad
To be tight on money & To be tight with money	To say/do something behind someone’s back
The office Christmas party	A penny pincher
A cheapskate	Cheap
It’s on me	To have a confession to make
Frugal	Other words for cheap

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Images Money

You are what you eat – Culips English Podcast

Culips — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 02:45:50 +0000

We’ve officially created 100 Catch Word episodes at Culips!

No matter where you are in the world, it’s important to be healthy. This episode looks at some expressions that people use to inspire and remind themselves and others to eat healthy food and to exercise. It may be tough, but there are all kinds of things you can do to stay motivated: Get friends to help you stay on track, work hard to achieve you goals, and get a mantra! Learn all about the saying a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips in this episode!

Maura:	The first expression is *you are what you eat*.
Harp:	*You are what you eat*.
Maura:	Yes. *You are what you eat*. And this just means exactly what it says.
Harp:	*You are what you eat*: If you eat something healthy, you’re healthy.
Maura:	Right. So what it wants to say is that what you eat reflects how healthy you are. So if you eat vegetables and fruit and good grains for you, then you will have good health. But if you eat a lot of potato chips and chocolate bars, then that might not be very good for your health.
Harp:	Yes. I’ve known of this expression since I was young, *you are what you eat. When I was young, I would remember my mom saying it to me, “Harp, remember, you are what you eat.*” And I would say, “What am I, a cucumber? What am I, french fries?”
Maura:	Yeah. As a kid, you take it completely literally. Obviously, if you eat an apple, you don’t become an apple, but if you eat an apple, that’s a healthy choice so that would mean that you’re probably a healthy person.

Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials:

Gosh	It seems like only yesterday
You are what you eat	An apple a day keeps the doctor away
Junk food/Fast food	A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips
To skip something	A mantra
No pain, no gain	To put on the pounds
To be in shape	I’m dying/You’re killing me

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Martino!

To bite the dust – Culips English Podcast

Culips — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 02:17:43 +0000

This is a fun episode about slang for to die! Of course, all these slang terms for dying are not meant to be used about anyone or anything we really care about, because that would be disrespectful. But people do use these terms to talk about things or strangers, and these expressions are very commonly used in films and on TV. So, don’t take it seriously and enjoy learning about these funny expressions with us.

Maura:	We’re not going to make this a serious episode, because all of these expressions about dying are not to be used in any serious circumstance. You would never use these expressions if you were talking about a real person actually dying.
Harp:	Yes. These are expressions if a thing dies or if someone dies who you don’t know or you’re not close to.
Maura:	Right. So what we mean by that is someone who dies in the news that you don’t know at all or a person that dies in a movie or a book, someone that’s not really real. Anyone who is actually dying in real life, in the life of a friend or someone you know, these expressions are completely inappropriate.
Harp:	Yes.
Maura:	But the reason we decided to do an episode anyways, because there are so many expressions that mean to die.
Harp:	Yeah, and there are fun expressions that you can hear out on the streets.
Maura:	Yes. They’re funny, they’re not serious, and they’re not used in any serious way.

Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials:

Eh	To pass away
To bite the dust	A showdown
To be a chicken	Allowances
To kick the bucket	A page-turner
Miles vs. kilometres	To be in the market
Additional expressions that mean to die

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Mark Fischer

Parents – Culips English Podcast

Culips — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 02:44:51 +0000

When you were young, did your parents give you an allowance? Did you have a curfew? Parents always want the best for their kids, but raising a child is not always easy. In this episode, Harp and Maura talk about parents and everything parents have to do for their kids. We talk about rules, chores, and punishments that many Canadian parents use. We also talk about some of the crazy expressions that parents say to their children. Listen to this one if you’re a parent, or if you have one!

Harp:	Another thing that parents do is they give an *allowance*.
Maura:	Right. Especially for doing chores. So, parents will give their children a certain amount of money per week and then it’s their money to do with what they want. So they could save it, or they could spend it. And that’s called an *allowance.*
Harp:	So often times in families, when kids are growing up, when they do their *chores, they get an allowance* and the amount would depend on the family.
Maura:	I probably don’t even know what kids get nowadays but I would say maybe $20 a week or something?
Harp:	I have no idea. I never got an *allowance* when I was growing up.
Maura:	Yeah, me neither.
Harp:	It always seemed to be so cool though. On TV I would see in shows that people would get an *allowance*, and I would imagine the things I would do with money.
Maura:	So right, children do chores, sometimes they get allowances, and then they also possibly get into trouble.

Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials:

To raise a child	Chores
Alotta	Dishwasher
To sleep in	Allowances
Kids and other slang terms for children	To ground
Punishments	Curfews
Money doesn’t grow on trees	As long as you live under my roof, you’ll do what I say
To walk uphill both ways	Do you think those socks are going to pick themselves up?
I brought you into this world, and I can take you out	To keep an ear out

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Sander van der Wel

Canada – Culips ESL Podcast

Culips — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 04:01:06 +0000

This podcast is Canadian! People all over the world know a little bit about Canada, but how much do you really know? We’ve finally put together an episode about some famous Canadian people and things. Listen to Harp and Maura talk about famous Canadians, Canadian inventions, and all sorts of other things we’re known for. Check it out, eh?

Maura:	So let’s do one more thing that we’re known for, which is that we’re very polite.
Harp:	Almost to the point that we’re boring.
Maura:	Yes. But very polite and not necessarily arrogant or aggressive, but a quieter kind of people, I think.
Harp:	Yeah, that’s definitely the image we have; we’re peaceful, polite. That’s what a lot of people think of when they think of Canada.
Maura:	And it’s so nice, but it is; it sounds so boring, Harp.
Harp:	It does. But in another way, I think it sounds nice.

Expressions from this episode included in the Learning Materials:

To be on top of it	Celine Dion
Jim Carrey	Justin Bieber
Michael J. Fox	The telephone
Basketball	Standard Time
Big surprise	To bum
The zipper	Hockey
The weather	To blow someon’s mind
Maple Syrup	Pancake Tuesday
Multiculturalism	As far as something goes
Free health care	Meh

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Ruben Schade

Mooch – Culips ESL Podcast

Culips — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 04:20:49 +0000

Does it bother you when someone is always asking you for things and always taking from you? It really bothers some people, so much so that we even have special verbs to talk about it: to mooch, to sponge, and to bum. In this episode, we’re talking about the people who like to borrow from others, but don’t return the favour! If you know anyone like this, you’ll love this episode.

Maura:	I find this is a fun word to say. *Mooch.*
Harp:	*Mooch.*
Maura:	So, to *mooch* is to borrow something from someone and just take it, just take it and use it, and you’re not gonna offer them money for it. You’re not gonna *pay them back* at a later date. You’re not gonna give the thing you borrowed back to them. You’re just gonna take it.
Harp:	Yeah. So you can *mooch* all kinds of different stuff. You can *mooch* a meal.
Maura:	Yup, you could *mooch* money.
Harp:	Mooch a ride.
Maura:	Yup. Anything that you can take from someone you can *mooch* from them, really. And yeah, like we said, it’s not a good thing. When someone *mooches, they directly ask the person for something, like money or food or a ride, or whatever. Now let’s give an example with the verb to mooch*.

Expressions included from this episode in Learning Materials:

To mooch/A mooch	To pay back
To turn someone down	Puppy-dog eyes
Stomach noises, grumbling, growling	To get someone back
To sponge	To be in town
Big surprise	To bum
To chip in

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: David Goehring

Working like a dog – Culips English Podcast

Culips — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 06:28:34 +0000

Many people try their best and put in a lot of effort at work or school. This week, we’re talking about expressions that mean to work hard. You can work like a dog, work your butt off, or put your nose to the grindstone. As usual, we give you lots of examples and teach you about how you can use these expressions.

Maura:	*To work like a dog* means to work very hard.
Harp:	Yes. So if you use the expression *to work like a dog*, that means that someone is working very hard, putting in a lot of effort.
Maura:	Whenever we have an idiom with an animal, I always wonder, “Why that animal?”
Harp:	And Maura, why a dog?
Maura:	Well, dogs do work hard. And I’m not talking about the dogs that most people have for pets, but dogs that work, like a seeing-eye dog that helps people who are visually impaired or the dogs that pull sleds, they work pretty hard too.
Harp:	Yeah, and police dogs work really hard too.
Maura:	Right. So a dog that works, works almost all the time.

Expressions included from this episode in Learning Materials:

Back-to-school	To work like a dog
To pay off	To work your butt off
Slang for buttocks	To pull it off
That’d be fun	Dropping the g in ing
To keep your nose to the grindstone	Are you with me?
To be swamped	To have something on the go

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: exfordy

Going down in flames—Culips English Podcast

Culips — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 13:47:52 +0000

This was a question from one of our listeners in China: What does the expression to go down in flames mean? In today’s episode, we’re happy to answer that and to give you some other related expressions. In this episode, you’ll learn about different situations that end in a dramatic and negative way where these expressions can be used. We just hope this episode doesn’t crash and burn!

Maura:	So, this expression is also used to talk about something negative, so something ended in a negative way.
Harp:	Yes. When something ends and it’s memorable and dramatic in a negative way.
Maura:	Yeah. So it could be that something didn’t work or it failed. But any way you’re gonna use it, it has a negative ending in a memorable way.
Harp:	And it could be used for anything. It could be sports, or work, or a project, or business. Really, *to go down in flames* could be used for so many different situations.
Maura:	Right. Any situation where something can end and something dramatic can happen, really. Now, if you think of the image of an airplane, that’s connected to this expression. So you see an airplane flying and something’s not going well, the plane is going down, it’s falling to the ground, it’s going to crash. And the flames make the scene very dramatic and memorable, but it’s not a good thing, of course, that this plane is going to crash.
Harp:	Yeah. A plane crash is negative so that’s why *to go down in flames* is used in negative situations.

Expressions included from this episode in Learning Materials:

To go down in flames	To be up
To pour a glass of water over someone’s head	To create a scene/To make a scene/To causes a scene
To crash and burn	To pay off
To be out of it	To boo
To go out with a bang	On the spot
To burn bridges

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: { pranav }

Clipped words – A special kind of abbreviation

Culips — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 05:05:34 +0000

Here’s a special episode that doesn’t exactly follow our usual format. This time we’re looking at clipped words, which are words in which the last one or two syllables are not pronounced when spoken, yet the word is still completely understandable. This episode will especially help you when talking to native English speakers or watching films or television shows. So check out this fab episode. It’s one of our faves!

Maura:	So now that we’ve introduced you to these kinds of abbreviations, we’re going to tell you a story. We’re going to act out a little story for you and it’s a bit of a different format than we usually do, if you’re a regular Culips listener.
Harp:	Yeah. So we’ll give you a little conversation where we use some of these words and then we’ll explain them after.
Maura:	Right. So keep your ear out for all of these kinds of abbreviations. Maybe you’ll understand them and maybe you’ll be confused by some of them, but after we’re done the story, then we’ll explain them all to you.
Harp:	Yes. So we’re gonna give you a little story where a friend is showing her pictures from a recent trip that she took. So get ready to listen really closely.
Maura:	OK, here goes our story.

Expressions included from this episode in Learning Materials:

Abbreviations/Clipped words	To keep an ear out
To grab a seat	A cute little something
Pic	Delish
A beaut	Prof
Fab	Fave
Mmm	To fit like a glove
Nanaimo bars

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: sunshinecity

Getting engaged—Culips English Podcast

Culips — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 13:34:01 +0000

A big “Congratulations!” from all of us here at Culips to Hasan and Gulustan from Azerbaijan on your recent engagement! We wish you all the best in your new lives together.

In honour of Hasan’s recent proposal to Gulustan, he asked us to do an episode all about getting engaged. What a romantic idea!

In this episode, Harp and Maura chat about some of the traditions, activities, and vocabulary associated with getting engaged, and about some of what happens during the engagement period. In Canada, there’s a lot of variation in how people get engaged, but there are definitely some classic, traditional aspects.

Thanks again for the great episode suggestion, Hasan. Let us know when you’re ready to hear an episode about weddings!

Maura:	So, first, we’re gonna talk about how people propose. So, you have a couple, they’ve been dating for a while, and then they want to get married.
Harp:	Yeah. And I would say it’s usually at least one year that they’re together.
Maura:	Yeah, I would say that too. Sometimes I’ve even heard of people *proposing* on their one-year anniversary.
Harp:	Yeah. There’s no set time that people are together before they *propose* or before they get engaged.
Maura:	So, there’s been a couple that’s been dating for a long time and one person asks the other to get married, so one person *proposes. And after the proposal, and once the other person, of course, agrees, they are engaged. So that’s the period of time after the marriage proposal* and before the wedding.

Expressions included from this episode in Learning Materials:

To propose	An ultimatum
Will you marry me?	Traditional proposals
Cultural weddings	To get down on one knee
Wedding bells	To tie the knot
To elope	To say “I do”
The wedding party	A stag/stagette
A stag and doe/buck and doe	A hall
To settle down	Fiancé/Fiancée
To drop someone a line

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Andrew Abogado

Right on the money—Culips English Podcast

Culips — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 14:40:38 +0000

Harp had the idea for this episode when her friend used the expression to be right on the money. This episode is all about being right! Here we look at expressions that can be used when someone says something that is correct. Instead of just saying you’re right, learn some other ways you can express the same thing!

Maura:	OK. So our first expression today is to be right on the money.
Harp:	Yeah. *To be right on the money.*
Maura:	So, this is kind of a long way to say you’re right, it even has the word right in it.
Harp:	Yeah, to be right on the money.
Maura:	And this means that you’re right, what you said is true, it’s exactly correct.
Harp:	Yup, whatever you said, it’s right, it’s true, it’s correct, it’s the real thing.
Maura:	And there’s no room for debate on it. So, where does this expression come from?
Harp:	You know, I was doing some research on this today and I thought it had to do something with sports or betting because it’s right on the money, and it is from sports. It’s actually from archery.

Expressions included from this episode in Learning Materials:

To be right on the money	Archery
Isn’t she right on the money?	A second thought
I would say	A VCR
To hit the nail on the head	To have a look
Musta	Bull’s-eye
Darts	Pictionary and charades

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: John Trainor

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks—Culips English Podcast

Culips — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 16:53:10 +0000

In this episode, we look at expressions that tell us that people find it hard to change. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks and a leopard can’t change its spots are two proverbs that aren’t really talking about animals. Maura and Harp talk about the possible reasons that people don’t change easily, as in old habits die hard. Are all these expressions correct or do you think that people can change?

Maura:	Today we’re looking at expressions that have to do with how difficult it is for people to change.
Harp:	Do you believe people can change?
Maura:	I think that people can change if they really want to.
Harp:	Yup.
Maura:	But there are obviously a lot of expressions out there that tell us that people can’t change very easily.
Harp:	Yeah. We have some expressions that we’re gonna introduce that are all related to how people can’t change.
Maura:	Yup. Now the first one is the expression you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

Expressions included from this episode in Learning Materials:

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks	Doesn’t matter
Stepdad/stepfater	Stir fry
To be stuck on	GPS
A heck of a lot	A leopard can’t change its spots
A dye job	To learn something the hard way
Who knows?	Old habits die hard
A shortcut

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: BobMacInnes

Who’s got mail?—Culips English Podcast

Culips — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 14:41:24 +0000

Before we had e-mail, the popular way to exchange written messages was by sending letters through snail mail. Canada’s postal service recently went through a period when they weren’t delivering mail, which inspired us to create this episode. We talk about traditional mail versus e-mail too, as well as Harp’s grandparents’ letters from India and Maura’s pen pal in England.

Harp:	So you met him on the Internet, and then you guys become pen pals and used traditional *snail mail. Then you met in real life and then now you met again, years later, using Facebook*.
Maura:	Yup. It’s pretty cool.
Harp:	That’s a very cool story.
Maura:	Yeah, it was fun. And it’s always fun to meet people from different places and exchange with them and get to know people. I like that.
Harp:	Yeah. I had pen pals when I was young but they were always living somewhere far and I never wrote to them for a long time. I never met any of my pen pals. That’s very cool.
Maura:	Yeah, yeah, it was fun.

Expressions included from this episode in Learning Materials:

Snail mail	A strike
Sick days	To walk off
The bargaining table	To be backed up
Junk mail and bills	A rule of thumb
Paperless	Back in the day
Pen pals

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Girls from the hills

You’re my rock.—Culips English Podcast

Culips — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 14:49:26 +0000

When you’re going through a difficult time in life, it’s nice to have a person who you know will support you and listen to you when you need to talk about your problems. This episode is all about wonderful people like that! We’re looking at expressions that talk about people who you know will help you out if you’re not feeling good. Learn expressions like to be someone’s rock, to be someone’s shoulder to cry on, and to lean on someone.

Maura:	The first expression that we’re going to look at in this episode is to say that someone is your rock.
Harp:	Yes, someone is your rock.
Maura:	Right. So you can say he’s my rock, or she’s your rock, or any combination, but the important thing to note is that a person is being called a rock.
Harp:	So, if someone is described as your rock, this means that the person is supportive and helps when times are difficult.
Maura:	Right. So, when everything in your life is out of control, or chaotic, and things aren’t going well, the person who is your rock is there for you, helping you out, and they’re very solid and strong and not affected by all the craziness.
Harp:	Exactly. They’ll support you, maybe, if you need a little bit of money, or they’ll listen to all your problems, or they’ll just sit with you if you’re crying.

Expressions included from this episode in Learning Materials:

We can’t complain	To chill out
To be there for someone	To go through something/To get through something
To be someone’s rock	To be out of control
To be someone’s shoulder to cry on	A breakup
Aunt	To lean on someone
To make ends meet	To count on someone

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Automania

I have to get something off my chest.—Culips English Podcast

Culips — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 17:26:45 +0000

Have you ever had something that bothered or worried you, that you couldn’t stop thinking about? Sometimes the best thing to do in that situation is to get it off your chest. In this episode, we’re talking about feelings. If you need to have an honest conversation with someone about how you feel, you could have a heart-to-heart. It’s always a good idea to open up!

Maura:	So it’s a touchy-feely episode. It’s a sensitive episode, where we’re looking at expressions that people use when they’re talking about sentimental, serious things.
Harp:	Yes. So the first expression today is *to get something off your chest*.
Maura:	Yes. *To get something off your chest* and this expression means to talk about something that’s been bothering you or worrying you. So if you get something off your chest, it means that you talk about something that’s been on your mind a lot.
Harp:	Yeah. *To get something off your chest* you speak with another person, in order to feel better afterwards, because you’ve been worrying about something, something’s been bothering you.

Expressions included from this episode in Learning Materials:

You don’t know what you’re missing	Touchy-feely
To get something off your chest	To be on your mind
To weigh you down	Jerry Springer
Vase pronunciation	What’s done is done
What can you do?	To go for it
To have a heart to heart	To bring a tear to your eye
To open up (to someone)	Skeletons in the closet

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Robert Fornal

Outer space—Culips English Podcast

Culips — Sun, 26 Jun 2011 15:31:49 +0000

Outer space is fascinating. Throughout history, human beings have looked up at the stars and wondered just what was out there. In this episode, Harp and Maura chat about a variety of topics relating to outer space. Would you like to take a trip to Mars? What if it were only a one-way trip and you could never come back? Check out this episode to hear Harp and Maura discuss their opinions on the topic. You’ll also hear what they think about aliens, UFOs, and conspiracy theories and learn some great space-related idioms. And best of all, you’ll get to hear Maura sing!

Harp:	Let’s look at some space-related idioms.
Maura:	So, the first one is Are you from Mars?
Harp:	No, I’m not from Mars. I’m from Earth.
Maura:	So, you might get asked if you’re from Mars, or ask someone if they’re from Mars, if they’re very strange and bizarre, doing things differently than how most people do.
Harp:	Yeah. I think kids use this expression the most.
Maura:	Yeah. But again, with this, you wanna make sure you ask a friend or someone you know. You don’t say this to someone you don’t know very well, because it could be rude then.
Harp:	Yeah, and don’t ask your boss.

Expressions included from this episode in Learning Materials:

Outer space	Space travel and space tourism
The adventure of a lifetime	A one-way trip/A return trip
Conspiracy theories	Fishy
The Apollo program	Astronomy
The Big Dipper and the Little Dipper	To pick something out
The moon cycle	UFOs
Aliens	Who knows?
Are you from Mars?	Out of this world
Reach for the stars	Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Futurilla

Give it 100%!—Culips English Podcast

Culips — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 16:24:39 +0000

In this episode, we talk about ways to say that someone is trying very hard and putting in their best effort. Harp and Maura put their heart and soul into explaining some useful everyday phrases and introducing some new vocabulary related to making an effort. Listen now to find out what Harp’s dad used to say to encourage her to do her homework in high school, as well as Harp’s stubborn teenager response!

Harp:	For this one, with the heart or the heart and soul, it’s really your passion, ’cause your passion is in your heart and your soul, so it’s something you feel really passionate about.
Maura:	Right. Whenever we’re talking about heart, we’re usually referring to emotions and feelings, so whatever this project is, if you put your heart into it, it means that you really put part of who you are into the project.
Harp:	Yeah. You’re putting a lot of emotions into the project.
Maura:	Right. So that’s why when I hear this example, I think about creativity and different projects where you might have to use your own personality to do a good job.
Harp:	Yeah. I definitely think of the artistic side.

Expressions included from this episode in Learning Materials:

To give 100%	To give 110%
A tie game/a tie	You know
DIY	To put everything you’ve got into something
To give it everything you’ve got	To put your heart into something
To put your heart and soul into something	Artistic flair
Whatever	It’s a shame
A rerun	The Oprah Winfrey Show

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Jeremy Brooks

Talking with Kara, Maura’s sister—Culips English Podcast

Culips — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 15:24:17 +0000

Introducing Maura’s sister! Kara visited Maura in Montreal recently and she took the opportunity to interview her sister. Kara talks about why she loves visiting Montreal – the food and the culture. They also discuss the difficulties when living away from your family, and Kara shares what she thought about living in Sydney, Australia. And she never once hear G’day Mate!

Maura:	So, by now you’ve been to Montreal a few times to visit me, or more than a few times, so you know the city a little bit. Although, there’s still a lot of things you haven’t tried yet. So I’m wondering if you can tell us what you like about Montreal and what are some of your favourite things to do here?
Kara:	I really enjoy Montreal, mainly because it’s such a big city and I love visiting a big city. I love the food and the culture, would be my favourite things. I find that there’s just so much to do because it’s a big city. You can just wander around the streets and there’s so much to look at. It’s probably because I don’t live here, so I find that there’s a lot more to do just by wandering around, but I love going out and to eat in Montreal. So, usually do a breakfast, lunch, and dinner, going out.
Maura:	Well, I’m very glad that you said eating, because whenever you come to visit, you’re always talking about the restaurants we’re gonna go to and the food we’re going to eat. One thing that you always wanna do is have a *poutine*, or share the poutine experience with a friend that you bring with you who’s never been to Montreal.
Kara:	That is correct. I love the poutine and I know that we have them back in Ontario, but they’re just not the same as they are here because the french fries and everything just tastes so different, and it is my favourite thing to eat when I’m here.
Maura:	So, do you wanna explain exactly what is in a poutine?
Kara:	I would love to. A poutine is very good fresh-cut fries with cheese curds. It’s a type of cheese, tastes a lot like a mozzarella but it’s chunks of cheese. And then poured over top of it is a gravy, usually a brown gravy, and that melts the cheese and it gets all in between the fries and it’s so good.

Expressions included from this episode in Learning Materials:

Kitchener	Otherwise
Poutine	To compare apples and oranges
To be dead	Uptown and downtown
St. Jacobs Farmers’ Marke	Mennonites
A signature item	Oktoberfest
To settle down	A smoothie
Chicken noodle soup	One thing is nothing compared to another thing
To have a feeling

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Culips ESL Podcast

Driving around Canada—Culips English Podcast

Culips — Sun, 05 Jun 2011 16:36:19 +0000

We are sorry for the delay in posting this episode. This episode is for you if you love cars, plan on driving around Canada, or are curious about more vocabulary related to these topics. In Canada the seasons change quite a bit, which makes for a variety of driving situations. Maura and Harp talk about these, along with their own memorable road trips. Find out if you’re a backseat driver! Enjoy the ride!

Harp:	Can you drive a manual car?
Maura:	To be honest, I learned a little probably a little bit, probably about 10 or 15 years ago now and it was difficult. I liked it but I stalled the car a lot.
Harp:	Same thing. I learned how to do it a long time ago.
Maura:	So sometimes when you’re driving, and this is something that annoys everybody, you might have a backseat driver.
Harp:	I have to admit I’m a backseat driver.
Maura:	It’s annoying, isn’t it?
Harp:	It’s probably annoying for the driver, but because I’m the one doing it, I don’t think it’s annoying.

Expressions included from this episode in Learning Materials:

Driving in Canada	Automatic and Standard cars
To stall a car	A backseat driver
Driver’s license/Permit	Gas Prices
Gas guzzlers	That must hurt
SUV	It goes without saying
To come up	Black ice
To do a 180	To freak out
Snowploughs	To be right next door
Potholes	Dropping the subject of your sentence
To carpool	To drop someone a line

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Culips ESL Podcast

Embarrassing Moments!—Culips English Podcast

Culips — Sun, 29 May 2011 14:19:33 +0000

This episode we’re talking about moments that people usually don’t like to talk about – their embarrassing ones! We go over some things that embarrass most people, like flying low. Then we discuss how people react to the moments, like turning red or brushing it off. The last things that Maura and Harp talk about are a couple of their embarrassing moments. They make for great stories later!

Harp:	Today we’re going to talk about embarrassing moments.
Maura:	Embarrassing moments.
Harp:	The funniest is that we started this episode with an embarrassing moment from you.
Maura:	Yeah. We just recorded another episode and while we were recording, I was sitting kind of strangely on this little bench we’re sitting on and I fell over. I lost my balance. But I wasn’t that embarrassed because everyone here is a friend. I would be more embarrassed if I was with strangers.
Harp:	No, exactly. We all just laughed it off.

Expressions included from this episode in Learning Materials:

Embarrassing!	To laugh it off
To be flying low	To do up
Goofy	To play it down
Booger	To pass gas/to fart
To burp	A dead give away
To turn red	Beet red
To get away with it	To make fun of someone
Winter boots inside

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Chris Fane

To get it off the ground—Culips English Podcast

Culips — Mon, 23 May 2011 01:09:22 +0000

Sometimes it can be difficult to get things off the ground. In this episode we are talking about expressions used at the beginning of a new project or plan. We look at to get it off the ground, to get off on the wrong foot or the right foot, and to put your best foot forward. When you’re starting a new project find out how to talk about using these natural expressions.

Maura:	The first expression we’re gonna look at is to get it off the ground.
Harp:	To get it off the ground.
Maura:	Right. So to get something off the ground is to get it started. So you’re gonna use this expression at the beginning of a new venture, like a new project or a new job.
Harp:	Yes. So to get it off the ground is when, for example, if you have a project, you’ve thought of the idea, you’ve created a plan, but once you start the project, you get it off the ground.
Maura:	Right. And this expression is actually connected to an airplane. So an airplane’s rolling along, and when does the flight actually start? When it gets off the ground. That’s when the flight begins.

Expressions included from this episode in Learning Materials:

To get off the ground	A venture
To start on	To get off on the wrong foot
To get off on the right foot	To be on the same page
To put your best foot forward	A hundred percent
Headquarters

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: caribb

Pets—Culips English Podcast

Culips — Tue, 17 May 2011 02:46:16 +0000

My name is Monk. Meow to everyone!

Do you have pets? Do you want pets? In this episode, Maura and Harp talk about pets! (Maura has them and Harp doesn’t.) First, they discuss their experiences living with animals and tell some funny stories. Then they talk about average pets and those that are strange, updating you on what’s popular in the pet world, and different pet trends they’ve seen!

Harp:	Maura do you have any pets?
Maura:	I do. Right now I have two wonderful, beautiful kitty cats.
Harp:	You have two cats. Yes, I remember.
Maura:	Yes. I have one big, black cat. He’s pretty cool and laid back. His name is Monk. And my other cat is a little bit smaller and she has three colours, white, orange, and black, and her name is Kneesaa.
Harp:	They’re cute. I remember.
Maura:	They’re very nice and kind cats. And Harp, well, I know Harp does not have a pet.
Harp:	I do not have a pet.
Maura:	I know that Harp does not like pets very much. Am I right?
Harp:	It’s not that I don’t like pets. It’s that I didn’t grow up with pets at all.

Expressions included from this episode in Learning Materials:

Kitty cat	Naming pets
Cuddly	To be open to something
To deal with	SPCA
To get all…	To flush a fish down the toilet
Gotta	Pets for children
To dye hair	Purebred animals
Mutts	To shed
It or he/she for pets

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Culips ESL Podcast

Heads up!—Culips English Podcast

Culips — Sun, 08 May 2011 16:53:14 +0000

This week we’re looking at expressions used for sharing information with people when you are trying to help them out. We talk about which expressions are casual, which are formal, and which can be used in different situations. All of the expressions are used often, so listen here and learn how to use them correctly.

Maura:	So if we say that I gave my friend a heads up about the test, it means that I told her about the test, or I warned her about the test, before it happened so that she could prepare and be ready for the test.
Harp:	Exactly. And the possible origin for this expression comes from baseball.
Maura:	Like so many American expressions.
Harp:	Exactly. So at a baseball game, when someone yells heads up, it’s because a ball is coming towards you. So you put your head up to see the ball so you can move out of the way and so it doesn’t hit you.
Maura:	Right. So if you think about it, when that person yells, heads up they’re giving you a warning that the ball is coming.
Harp:	Exactly.

Expressions included from this episode in Lipservice:

To give someone a heads up or to get a heads up	Heads up!
Baseball expressions	Class
To give someone notice	To take a day off
To give someone notice	To cancel the hotel
To let someone know	To stay put

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: terren in Virginia