Catch Word
Moolah!
Aug 16th
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In this week’s episode, we talk about money. First we review some slang terms for money, and then we talk about the popular names for our coins – have you every heard of the loonie? We also look at a couple more expressions to do with making money: the breadwinner and to bring home the bacon. Listen hear to learn about Canadian dough!
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 What is a Member? |
| Maura: | You might hate money or love money, but you have a feeling about it and you use it. Yeah, and in English there are so many slang terms for money. |
| Robin: | So many. |
| Maura: | Yeah, but we’re going to mention a few of the more popular ones. |
| Robin: | And to start with, what do we have? |
| Maura: | Well, one of my favourite slang terms for money is moolah. |
| Robin | Moolah. |
| Maura: | Yeah, like, “Robin do you have any moolah?” |
Expression included from this episode in Lipservice:
| moolah | dough |
| bread | well |
| loot | list of slang terms for money |
| penny | nickel |
| dime | quarter |
| vice versa | images on the coins in Canada |
| loonie | twoonie |
| bill | bucks |
| the breadwinner | to bring home the bacon |
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Anita Hart
Freelance, freelancer, moonlighting…
Aug 1st
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Jessie is starting a new type of employment that she wants to talk about: freelancing! Freelancing is popular nowadays and is the type of job that will continue to grow. In this episode we also talk about other expressions related to work including working under the table and moonlighting.
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| Jessie: | Well, I used to be a full-time editor and writer. So I would go into the office, I would sit at my desk. I worked from 9 o’clock to 5 o’clock, from Mondays to Fridays. But now that I’m a freelancer, I’m still writing and editing, so you could say that I’m a freelance writer and a freelance editor. But I work in my office at home and I talk to my clients over the phone or through email or, maybe, sometimes I’ll go into their office to meet with them. |
| Robin: | OK, that’s quite interesting. You know I heard that more and more people are doing this sort of work in North America and across the world, as well. |
| Jessie: | Yeah, it seems to be a big trend now because now that we have the Internet and phones are very easy to use, it’s a lot easier for people to communicate. Even if you live in different countries, you could work doing web design, or writing, or things like that. You could easily work for someone who you’ve never even met or don’t live near. |
| Robin: | Wow, that sounds really interesting. It sounds like something that I’d like to do. Maybe work on a beach in Bali, Indonesia, while working for someone over here in Canada. |
Expression included from this episode in Lipservice:
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Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: TypeFiend
Do you usually try to look on the bright side?
Jul 18th
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When you find yourself in a bad situation, do you try to look on the bright side? If your friend gets some bad news, have you ever said: Every cloud has a silver lining? When life gives you lemons, do you make lemonade? In this episode, we are optimistic and trying to find the good in the bad by looking at all these expressions. Check them out of you want to cheer someone up!
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| Robin: | Let’s do a dialogue. |
| Maura: | I don’t know what to do. |
| Robin: | What’s the matter? |
| Maura: | Well, I’ve been looking for a job for months everyday. I send my resume, but I just can’t get a job. I think I’m going to be unemployed all summer. |
| Robin: | Hey, hey, hey, look on the bright side. At least while we’re in the office, we’re working away, you can sit outside and enjoy that beautiful weather. |
| Maura: | You’re right. The weather has been nice lately. |
| Robin: | Yeah, so look on the bright side. At least you can do that. |
| Maura: | OK, great. So that was a great example of someone who is in a bad situation. |
Expression included from this episode in Lipservice:
| To look on the bright side (of something) | What’s the matter? |
| At least | Cheer up |
| Every cloud has a silver lining (and variations) | Cloud |
| Silver lining | When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. |
| Into a million pieces | Shall |
| Novels and other types of books |
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Pranav Singh
Harp is a chip off the old block.
Jul 4th
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Are you a chip off the old block? Are you similar to any relatives that came before you? In this episode we are talking about family, and how often family members look alike and act alike. There are many ways to talk about this, and some especially fun expression like to be a chip off the old block, to be the spitting image of, and the old proverb, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.To learn more about this fun — and long – expressions, listen here!
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| Harp: | Yeah, when I visited my grandma the last time, she kept saying that I looked so similar to my aunt, she kept saying that I was a chip off the old block. |
| Maura: | Yeah, OK, good. So really the meaning is that someone, like you in that example Harp, is made as the same thing as another person, in that case your aunt. So if you think about the old block as your aunt and the chip being you, you’re a chip off the old block, you’re made of the same stuff, you act alike, you look alike. |
| Harp: | Yup, that makes sense to me. |
| Maura: | Yeah, it’s actually a really old expression. It’s been around for a long time. I think since the 1600s. |
| Harp: | Yeah, but we still use this expression. |
| Maura: | Yeah, it’s been around for a long time but you still hear it today. |
| Harp: | Yeah, of course, we use this often. |
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Anita363
Expression: to have a ball
Jun 27th
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Most people learning English know the word ball. We can use it in a few different ways though, and it is used in many expressions! To have a ball describes a fun time! In this episode we have a ball giving you examples and explanations. We also included similar expressions like, to have a blast, to have a riot, and to have the time of your life!
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| Harp: | Robin, how was the concert yesterday? |
| Robin: | Incredible. The music is still in my head. I had such a ball. I had a real good time. |
| Harp: | That’s awesome. So the band was great? |
| Robin: | It was amazing. You would’ve had a good time. |
| Harp: | That’s too bad that I missed it. |
| Robin: | It is. |
| Harp: | Next time. So in that example, Robin went to a concert and had a really fun time. He had a great time so he used the expression to have a ball. |
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Dom Sagolla
Expression: Over the hill
Jun 20th
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This expression is a funny way of saying that someone is old. To be over the hill means that someone is old, and so not able to do things that they used to do. You might see this expression on birthday cards or hear it in movies. This expression is usually used in a joking way. We also look at the expressions to be no spring chicken and long in the tooth. In a more positive way we also look at the golden years or the golden age. Getting older can have a lot of benefits too!
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| Robin: | Yes, this expression is not really a compliment. You don’t usually say that someone is over the hill. |
| Jessie: | Right, it’s usually used as a joke or to describe yourself in a joking way. |
| Robin: | Can you give us an example of where we might use it in everyday speech? |
| Jessie: | OK, so for example, when someone has a big birthday, like when they turn 30 or 40, they might complain to their friends and say, “Oh, I’m over the hill. I’m so old now.” |
| Robin: | When they do say something like that it’s going to be done in a very joking sort of way. They’re not serious. |
| Jessie: | Exactly. So someone may say it about themselves or you might say it to tease a friend. You might say “Oh, you’re probably not going to come biking with us now that you’re over the hill.” |
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: vsz
Expression: are you on the ball today?
Jun 13th
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In this episode we look at expressions that describe someone who is intelligent, prepared, capable of doing some work! Do you know someone like this? Do you know someone who always seems on the ball? If you know someone who is alert and knows how to get the job done, then you may need to use expressions like, to be on the ball, to be on top of it, and to have it together.
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| Jessie: | So where does this expression come from? Why do we say that? |
| Maura: | Well, it actually does have an origin in baseball, and there are actually a lot of expressions related to baseball. |
| Jessie: | Yeah, there are tons. |
| Maura: | So this expression, to be on the ball, is also related to baseball. So when a pitcher throws the ball in baseball, really well and has good control, they would say that he was on the ball. |
| Jessie: | OK, so originally to be on the ball meant to be in control of the ball but now we mean it to mean, to be in control of your life, to be in control of the situation. |
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Laura Bittner
We are going to pump you up!
May 30th
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Everyone at Culips is especially pumped because the summer weather has arrived in Montreal. So, we thought we would make an episode all about feeling excited and full of energy! Here we look at the expressions of pumped up, fired up, stoked, and worked up. We are talking about being enthusiastic, energetic, and excited in this episode. Yeah!
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| Harp: | Well I’m going on a holiday very soon so I’m pumped about that. |
| Maura: | When are you going away? |
| Harp: | I’m leaving really soon. I’m leaving in a couple days. |
| Maura: | And where are you going? |
| Harp: | I’m going back home to visit my parents. |
| Maura: | So, is that why you’re pumped? |
| Harp: | That is why I’m pumped. It’s been a long time. |
| Maura: | So what else could someone be pumped about? |
| Harp: | Really, you could be pumped about anything: a hockey game, a competition. |
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Culips ESL Podcast
Slang: Let’s bounce
May 16th
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In this episode, we explain many slang expressions to say “Let’s leave.” These expressions are strange and funny. Knowing these expressions can help you in your listening comprehension. If you choose to use any of the expressions they should only be used in a casual way with friends. Expressions we talk about in this episodes are:
Let’s bounce
Let’s jet
Let’s blow this popstand
Let’s get a move on
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| Maura: | OK, so this episode we’re really just looking at funny or clever or unusual ways to say, let’s leave, or I’m going to leave. |
| Robin: | I’m going to leave. |
| Maura: | Yeah, and let’s bounce is the first example. So how else can we say, let’s go or I want to leave? |
| Robin: | Well, there’s another expression that’s very similar and that is let’s jet. |
| Maura: | Right, good, so let’s jet. |
| Robin: | Let’s jet. |
| Maura: | Just kind of like jet, like the airplane. So sometimes this expression can mean to leave quickly, like if I say, “sorry I gotta jet” means that I have to leave quickly and go somewhere else. |
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Culips ESL Podcast
Expression: To bump into someone
May 9th
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Is bumping into someone good or bad? Both! If you bump into someone it might hurt OR it might be a happy reunion between two old friends. In this episode we look at the expression to bump into someone and to run into someone. We also give you examples of what you can say when you meet someone unexpectedly: fancy seeing you here, it was a pleasure running into you, or what a small world! After this episode you will be prepared for surprise encounters!
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| Robin: | What a beautiful day it is outside. Oh, the birds, the sun — WOW, Harp, how’re you doing? |
| Harp: | I’m good. How are you? |
| Robin: | Not bad. I can’t believe I’m bumping into you. |
| Harp: | Yeah, it’s so random. |
| Robin: | Shouldn’t you be at work? |
| Harp: | I should. Today we had the day off. There was a fire alarm. |
| Robin: | Really? I decided to take a vacation day. |
| Harp: | Yeah, it’s a beautiful day. You’re enjoying the sunshine? |
| Robin: | Absolutely. Yeah, well, it’s great seeing you here. I hope you enjoy the rest of your day. |
| Harp: | Yeah, it’s nice bumping into you. |
| Robin: | Yeah, nice bumping into you too. |
| Harp: | OK, so that was a good example of how you can bump into someone. |
Podcast/ Lipservice, Photo: victoriapeckham
One day around three month ago, I visited culips.com for the first time, then downloaded a few podcasts and listened to them and I found this podcast so useful and full of fun. After that day I decided to listen to the podcasts everyday. So I downloaded all of the podcasts and continued to listen to them until now and it really helped me improve my English and now I'm so absorbed in following this great podcast. I want to thank this amazing team for their great job in teaching us English with their warm voices and their honest works. Thank you so much Maura, Harp, Robin and Jessie.
Esmaeil from Iran 
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