Expression: Down-to-earth
Nov 14th
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Are you a down-to-earth person or do you often have you head in the clouds? Are you realistic and sensible or are you a dreamer? In this episode we look at expressions used to describe people. Armando sent us a question about the expression down-to-earth and we decided to dedicate an episode to it and its synonyms, grounded and feet on the ground. Thanks Armando!
Jessie: Right, well, my friend Becky for instance is really down-to-earth. She never shows off or acts like she is better than other people. She is just honest and she always just acts genuine and real.
Harp: OK, that makes sense. She is a down-to-earth person.
Jessie: Right, but my cousin on the other hand…He tells everyone that he is a down-to-earth guy but he spends all his time dreaming about being a movie star. He is always dreaming about being something else.
Harp: So, he is not down-to-earth at all.
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Quasic
Expression: To be caught red-handed
Nov 8th
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When people commit crimes sometimes they get caught! That person may be caught in the act of doing it, and if you are caught in the act then we can say that you were caught red-handed. Another similar expression that is almost never used in a serious way is to be caught with your hand in the cookie jar. We give you lots of examples of being caught doing something and how to use the expressions here.
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Maura: Right, yeah.
Jessie: If you murder somebody you might get blood on your hands. Your hands would be red and if somebody saw you, they would know that you were the murderer.
Maura: Right, if you have the blood on your hands of the person who was killed, then probably you killed that person.
Jessie: Right, but today we can use this in a more light-hearted way too.
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo credit: Chief Trent
Expression: All talk (and no action)
Nov 1st
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Do you talk about doing something but never do it? Then other people might be saying that you are all talk. People can be all talk at work, or they can be all talk about some plans they have for their future. Do you think that being all talk is a good thing?
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Maura: So this is a more literal expression, you can see the meaning in it.
Harp: Exactly.
Maura: But usually or sometimes we don’t say the full expression we just say that someone is all talk.
Harp: Yeah exactly. Sometimes people say something but they never have the intention of doing it.
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Duncan Rawlinson
Expression: Wing it
Oct 24th
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At Culips, we plan our episodes in advance, we don’t just wing it. You can be specific and say that people can wing presentations or speeches, or you can simply say “wing it.” When you are not prepared, but you have to do something, you should try winging it.
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Harp: It was good. I had a presentation to give.
Maura: Oh really?
Harp: Yeah, I didn’t have any time to prepare for it so I had to wing it.
Maura: How did it go?
Harp: It went really well. I was on the spot, I improvised and people really enjoyed it.
Maura: Yeah, some people don’t need to prepare in advance.
Harp: I usually do but this time I winged it and it worked.
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: D’Arcy Norman
Travel: Vancouver
Oct 11th
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Are you one of the lucky people who has been to Vancouver? Do you know much about Vancouver? We have been getting emails from YOU asking us to tell you more about Canada. Harp and Maura both visited Vancouver this year and are really happy to tell you about it. It is a very beautiful city!
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Harp: Yup, the next Olympics are in Vancouver. And we just want to say hi to everyone who is listening to us in Vancouver.
Maura: Yeah, cause we know we have some listeners in Vancouver so we are saying hi from Montreal.
Harp: So if you don’t know, Vancouver is on the west coast of Canada and it’s basically right on the ocean.
Maura: And because it’s on the west coast it has a very different climate to the rest of Canada.
Harp: Yes, it’s one of the few places that isn’t cold.
Maura: And Harp and I like that a lot.
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Culips
Expression: Handy
Oct 4th
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Are you handy? Yes, this little expression is connected to hands and your ability to use yours well. Handy can be used to talk about a person or thing, but it is used a little bit differently. It is very handy to know many English expressions, so listen to this episode to learn another one!
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Jessie: Exactly. For example, if someone knows how to fix a toilet if it stops working, you would say they are a very handy person.
Robin: OK, so they are handy because we need to use the toilet and if they can fix it so it’s working, they are handy.
Jessie: Right, so usually when we fix things around the house, little jobs that you are using your hands. So in my mind that makes sense why you are calling the person handy.
Robin: OK, so someone who is very good with their hands and very useful, we can actually call them a handyman.
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Windell Oskay
To bite off more than you can chew
Sep 26th
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If you bite off more than you can chew things might be difficult for you. This expression might sound like it is talking about eating but – don’t be fooled – it is not. Another expression with a similar meaning is to get in over your head. You can use both of these expressions when you agree to do something and then find that it is too difficult.
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Maura: Right! So you get involved in something, but it’s more difficult than you realized and maybe too difficult for you.
Jessie: Right! Or maybe you take more responsibility than you can actually handle.
Maura: Right! So, if you imagine that you bite a piece of food and it’s a very, very big piece, it will be difficult to chew the food.
Jessie: Right! So, when we’re talking about this as an idiom, you can imagine that you’re agreeing to do something, but then you can’t actually do it. Just like you’re biting the food, but you can’t actually chew it.
Maura: Right, because it’s too much or too difficult.
Jessie: Exactly! So, for instance, if I agreed to arm wrestle Arnold Schwarzenegger, I would be biting off more than I can chew.
Maura: I think you would definitely be biting off more than you can chew because Arnold Schwarzenegger is pretty strong.
Jessie: Yeah, he’s probably a lot stronger than me.
Maura: And a lot stronger than me, too.
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo credit: Dave 77459
No matter what
Sep 13th
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| No matter what is a common expression used by English speakers. The question in this episode comes from Ae Sun who heard this expression used while she was watching TV. There are also other similar expressions like, no matter what happens and no matter who/when/why/where/which/how. Check out this episode to find out how to use this expression like a native speaker. |
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Harp: Yeah, it’s like saying that it isn’t important what happens. You will complete the action. So, it shows a strong feeling about the action. So even if something is difficult, or if you have to try really hard different ways, it’s still the same result.
Maura: Let’s give an example.
Harp: Hey, are you going to the party? Did your parents say you could go, or are you grounded?
Maura: I’m going to the party no matter what.
Harp: All right! See you there
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Video: No Matter What – Badfinger
Labour Day
Sep 5th
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Labour Day is the last holiday of summer in Canada and the US. Jessie and Maura talk about Labour Day and its origins, as well as what we now do on this holiday. Other topics in this episode include the rule of not wearing white after Labour Day, summer memories and Back to school. Help us celebrate the summer by listening to this episode!
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Jessie: Right! That makes sense because it is almost the end of summer.
Maura: Right! So, what is Labour Day?
Jessie: Well, Labour Day is a holiday in Canada and the US. It happens on the first Monday of September.
Maura: Exactly! So, it is a holiday in Canada and the US. And what do people normally do on Labour Day?
Jessie: Well, despite the name Labour Day—people actually do not do labour, they relax. They have a break from labour, or work.
Maura: Right, so they treat Labour Day as a regular holiday: people relax, they go to the beach, travel with family.
Jessie: Lots of people barbecue, eat outside.
Maura: Yeah, sometimes they have fireworks. So, the Labour Day is a fun day.
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo credit: Mel
Expression: To put your foot in your mouth
Aug 31st
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Sometimes we embarrass ourselves by saying something stupid. You can say, I embarrassed myself by saying something stupid or you can say I put my foot in my mouth. In this episode we look at that expression and also to make a fool of myself. Both of these expressions are used for embarrassing behaviour. Listen to this episode to hear our examples of situations most people consider embarrassing.
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Harp: Yeah, I like this one as well. So, this is to put your foot in your mouth.
Maura: Right. So the meaning of this expression is to embarrass yourself by something you that you say.
Harp: And this can also make others uncomfortable or embarrassed too.
Maura: Right! So you say something stupid or strange and it creates an uncomfortable situation.
Harp: Yeah. If you imagine trying to actually put your foot in your mouth, it would be embarrassing, and make you look stupid.
Maura: Yeah, I think for most people it would be a very difficult thing to do, to put your foot in your mouth.
Harp: Exactly!
Maura: So, the result is really the same. In both cases, whether you say something stupid or you try to put your foot in your mouth, you are embarrassed and you look stupid.
Podcast/ Lipservice: Culips ESL Podcast, Photo: Jo Jakeman
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