Podcast: Play in new window
| Download

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!

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

Podcast: Play in new window
| Download

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!

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

Podcast: Play in new window
| Download

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

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

Podcast: Play in new window
| Download

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!

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

Podcast: Play in new window
| Download

In this episode we are looking at the word guts and gut. They look similar but they have quite different meanings! Which one means a big, fat belly? There are also other related expressions like to follow your gut or to have a gut feeling. We can also describe someone as gutsy. Listen to this episode to hear all the explanations to the ways you can use gut!

Harp:	So now, Jessie what’s another meaning for guts?
Jessie:	Well another meaning for the word guts is as a synonym for courage or bravery. So you could say that someone has a lot of guts, that doesn’t mean they have a lot of organs, it means they have a lot of courage.
Harp:	So an example could be when someone goes in front of all their friends and they sing a song. It takes a lot of guts to sing in front of people.
Jessie:	Yeah, it definitely takes a lot of guts. Or the people who compete on TV shows, to see who’s the best singer, that takes a lot of guts.
Harp:	For sure. They’re very courageous, brave people.
Jessie:	Exactly. Now, you can say that someone has a lot of guts or you can say that someone is gutsy. And that means the exact same thing.

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: jemsweb

Podcast: Play in new window
| Download

Have you ever found someone’s story a bit suspicious? Did you ever meet someone who didn’t seem like they were who they said they were? You could say that this was fishy! In this episode we talk about the meaning of fishy, funny (different from humorous), and to say that something isn’t right. Check out this episode to get all the details!

Harp:	OK, Maura, do you know the origin of this expression?
Maura:	Well, there are a few possibilities but the most interesting one is that it actually comes from the smell of a fish.
Harp:	Oh, OK.
Maura:	So when the fish is fresh it actually doesn’t have a strong odour. But if the fish has been dead for a few days, it starts to have this really strong fishy smell.
Harp:	OK, so that’s where the expression came from.
Maura:	Right, so if you see a fish and it has a very strong fish smell, you think, “I don’t know if that is a good fish.”
Harp:	Right, because it’s not a fresh fish.
Maura:	Yeah, you are suspicious about the fish. Maybe at the market they are saying “fresh fish,” but because of the smell, you are not sure, right?
Harp:	Interesting.
Maura:	Right, so now we use it to talk about anything, not fish.

Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Illustration: Asami Takemoto