Today on LetThemTalkTV we're going to
look at some common English idioms but it's not quite what you think. It's not
just a list of idioms with a definition of each one so stay with me. Often if
you're learning English you want to learn the most common idioms and that's
fine up to intermediate level but here's the thing, the idioms that are the most
common are often the ones that you should NOT be using too much.
Why? because any phrase that is used over and over again becomes a cliché and we
want to avoid sounding to clichéd and to conventional in our everyday speech
don't we? For example, if it's raining it's raining heavily (which it is today
in Paris) you could say ah "it's raining cats and dogs" You might have learned
that expression at school but who says that now? Not many people. why not?
there's nothing wrong with the expression it's quite funny but it's just become a
cliché. We've heard it 100 billion times before so should you be using
expressions that everybody uses? Well, sometimes the opposite is true. We can't
be original every time we speak, of course not,
but go out and search for original less well-known idioms "Do not insult
crocodile until you have crossed the river." I like that one.
Alternatively, what you can do, which is what I'm trying to do in this video,
is to take a commonplace expression and change it perhaps for humorous effect or
just to make it sound a bit better. And I'm not saying that you should never use
everyday idioms, of course not, we all do I do I'm just saying that you should
challenge yourself get playful with the language and that's how you push up your
from goods to great. And just before I start can I say that whenever I make a
video about expressions I read in the comments again and again "are these
expressions used in America" ok, please don't say that but to answer the
question; most English idioms are known throughout the English-speaking world.
We read each other's books we watch each other's films and TV shows so
we all know the common expressions with whichever part of the English speaking
world they come from. There are a few exceptions there are few American idioms
I don't know. There are a few English, British English idioms I don't know. There are
thousands I don't know them all but anyway it doesn't matter
forget about British, American, Australian, New Zealand whatever and just say
something that makes your sentence sound interesting. ok you ready? let's go Let's play it by ear. A very useful
expression and this means to act spontaneously, to do things without
having planned them in advance. For example "What should we do tonight? - "I don't know let's take the tube into town meet up with the gang and then let's
play it by ear." Now my alternative version is: Let's play it by beer and
this is quite obvious because often our plans change when we've been drinking. So
for example, "What shall we do tonight?" -" well we'll meet in the Dog and Duck in
Soho as usual and then we'll get in some drinks and we'll play it by beer." - ok good plan As free as a bird so I'm sure you know what this means if you're free as a
bird you are free to do whatever you want at any time without any trouble so
for example "I've left my job I've left my wife but I'm ok I can do anything and
go anywhere". My alternative version is: "As free as a nerd." "This evening I'm going to
watch all the Star Wars films and no one is going to stop me I'm as free as a
nerd." Because that's what nerds do If first you don't succeed try try and try
again. So that's a really positive expression and I'm sure you know what it
means but maybe it's a little bit too positive and whenever you fail at
something there's always some smart arse who will use this expression. So for
example you've been to an interview, you didn't get the job, you got rejected, "at
first you don't succeed try try try again" There's a girl that you like but I
start working out "Dorothy rejected my advances I don't
think she likes me." - "Nonsense nonsense if first you don't
succeed try try try again." - "look just shut the f*** up will you, I just
want to climb into a hole and die I don't need your cod philosophy your
relentless positivity and your phony bonhomie" ok I hate this expression
but I've heard a better version "If first you don't succeed give up there's
no point being obsessive." Far better, better philosophy let's stick with that
one so for example "Dorothy she rejected my advances again I don't think she
likes me." - "if first you don't succeed give up there's no point being obsessive
what about Mildred she's nice and available" - "Mildred hmm yeah good advice
thanks mate." "When the going gets tough the tough get going this means that when things are difficult it is the strong those with willpower who
will be committed and who will succeed. For example "Only one team from the group
will get through to the final so guys let's do this thing when the going gets
tough the tough get going." okay again I don't like this one
seems to be the type of thing that some tough guy would say and frankly I'm not
tough guy so I'll just give my alternative version. "Only one team from
the group can get through to the final ok guys so let's go to the pub and
think about it when the going gets tough it's time to
sit down with a beer and have a ponder." there you are. much easier much more relaxed use that one. Probably much more successful "Give a man a fish and you feed him
for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime." Which means it's better to teach someone to do something for
themselves rather than just give them something. So for example, "he's homeless
and he's begging for money but deep inside he's quite an intelligent and
talented guy let's give him a job and teach him some
new skills. You know what they say 'give a man a fish and you feed him for a day,
teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime'" Now the problem with this
idiom is that it's become a cliché I've heard it too often and frankly if he wants a
fish just give him the fish. Fishing is not a very stable or sustainable
industry these days anyway, what with overfishing and the depletion of fish
stocks. You might want to encourage him to go on a vegetarian diet which is
better all-round. So the alternative version "give the man or woman a potato."
"He's a homeless guy, but I think he has talent shall we give
him a job?" - "No just give him a potato." - "really?" - "yeah" "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" I've
never really understood this proverb to be honest how will an apple stop the
doctor from getting to see you? Ok the doctor can easily parry an incoming
Apple. No you need a much heavier projectile, like a rock for example. If
you throw rocks at the doctor guaranteed they'll stay away. So my alternative
version: "Throwing rocks at doctor will keep him away (or her)" "Good things
come to those who wait" Which
means, again I'm pretty sure you know what it means.
"I've waited years as vice president and now the president is dead my
moment has come. Good things come to those who wait." ok fair enough
alternative version though "good things come to those who grate" Anyone
who knows that pasta tastes better with grated Parmesan will vouch for the
veracity of this statement ok good things come to those who grate. "The mind
is willing but the body is weak" This proverb originally comes from the Bible and it means that you have the intention
to do something but the desire NOT to do it is stronger. So for example "This month
you know I promised I would give up alcohol I managed to do it for a couple
of days but then I was invited to Sharon's party and well the mind is
willing but the body is weak." Ok fair enough
my improved version: "The mind is willing but the body is geek" So it's Saturday
night and you've been invited out by your friends but you want to stay in
update your software, run some Diagnostics on your computer, play some
video games. A geek by the way is someone who loves technology "I want to come out
tonight I think I'll stay in and do stuff on my computer 'the mind is
willing but the body is geek.'" - "OK, fair enough, please yourself." "Don't get mad get even"
Now this expression means that if you are wronged by someone you shouldn't
just get angry you should instead get your revenge on the person that wronged
you. So for example "I went to prison for five years because Perkins went to the
police I'm so angry." - "don't get mad get even" - "yeah good advice I'll send Perkins a little present you know I mean?."
okay now I'm not really a revengeful kind of guy so it doesn't work for me my
alternative version is: "Don't get mad get Steven." it's much better and this
invokes the image of a super guy called Steven who will make things right.
However the downside of this new expression is that it presupposes that
you know someone called Steven who can fix things. If not I'm afraid it's not
going to work. ok but an example anyway "I went to prison for five years because
Perkins went to the police I'm so angry" - "Don't get mad get Steven." -"Steven ok you got his number? Rome wasn't built in a day I'm sure
you've heard that one. You probably got it in your language: "Roma non fu fatta in un giorno." Even the Italians have it. It takes time to build something
important. "Don't expect your business to succeed in such a short time Rome wasn't
built in a day, you know." Why Rome no I'm not Italian, I'm British. it's not really
relevant to me so maybe I should use British City for example Milton Keynes.
Wonderful city, if you know Britain, which sounds better and is equally true. The MK
Hub glass towers alone took two years to build."
so my alternative version is "Milton Keynes wasn't built in a day." "This doughnut recipe is taking forever." - "take your time . take your time Milton Keynes wasn't
built in a day you know." "Ignorance is Bliss" This means that sometimes, it's
better NOT to know that something unpleasant is happening. So, for example,
"They've been married for thirty years he never knew that after she got married she had an affair with the postman and is better he
doesn't know. Ignorant is bliss." But once again, it's a cliché and I must admit I'm
trying hard to improve upon this one. I thought of "ignorance is fish" but how
would you use it perhaps you know Worcestershire sauce I can't pronounce it a lot of vegetarians use it and they think that it's
vegetarian and it doesn't contain any animal products but it does, it contains anchovy.
So for example "Doris, my vegan friend, she loves Bloody Marys and one of the
ingredients of Bloody Mary is Worcestershire Sauce.
she doesn't know it contains anchovy you never mind! Don't tell her. Ignorance is
fish." Admittedly the frequency that you can use this version of the expression
is rather limited. "Better late than never" "you're an hour late well better late than
never" the alternative version if you meet
someone at a café is "better latte than never." "You are an hour late" "We still have time
for a coffee yeah better latte than never" Now it's your turn do you have any improved versions of idioms, Proverbs
expressions? If you do let us know in the comments we'd love to hear them.
Thank you for watching. Fare thee well
