Vocabulary

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Lesson Transcript

INTRODUCTION
John: Expressions with Unusual Literal Translations
John: I'm John.
Sydney: And I'm Sydney!
John: In this lesson, you'll learn expressions with unusual literal translations.
John: Americans often like to describe situations with unusual expressions that can't be translated directly, so don't be surprised when you hear these on a regular basis.
SLANG EXPRESSIONS
John: The expressions you will be learning in this lesson are:
Sydney: hit the nail on the head
Sydney: Get it?
Sydney: the burbs
Sydney: when pigs fly
John: Sydney, what's our first expression?
Sydney: hit the nail on the head
John: meaning "to find precisely the right answer."
Sydney: [SLOW] hit the nail on the head [NORMAL] hit the nail on the head
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Sydney: hit the nail on the head
[pause - 5 sec.]
John: If you literally hit the nail on the head, that means you hit a nail with a hammer on precisely the right spot to hammer it in. Similarly, if you "hit the nail on the head" in a conversation, that means you said something that was exactly correct. Maybe you summed up the conversation in a very astute, correct way, or you made an apt observation.
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Sydney: [NORMAL] "I think you really hit the nail on the head when you said the plan was illogical." [SLOW] "I think you really hit the nail on the head when you said the plan was illogical."
Sydney: [NORMAL] "I think you really hit the nail on the head when you said the plan was illogical."
John: Okay, what's the next expression?
Sydney: Get it?
John: It’s a question to confirm one's understanding.
Sydney: [SLOW] Get it? [NORMAL] Get it?
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Sydney: Get it?
[pause - 5 sec.]
John: "Get it?" Is a question usually asked to confirm one's understanding of a situation or concept. Generally, it's often used at the end of a long explanation or list of instructions. Once the speaker has finished, he or she may confirm the listener's comprehension by asking "Get it?"
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Sydney: [NORMAL] Get it? I can tell you again. [SLOW] Get it? I can tell you again.
Sydney: [NORMAL] Get it? I can tell you again.
John: Okay, what's our next expression?
Sydney: the burbs
John: meaning "the suburbs."
Sydney: [SLOW] the burbs [NORMAL] the burbs
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Sydney: the burbs
[pause - 5 sec.]
John: Unlike many other countries, most people in the United States don't live in densely populated, urban cities, but in the suburbs. The suburbs are districts usually near a city which are more spacious and residential.
Sydney: "The burbs" is a shortened term for the suburbs. If someone says they're from the burbs, they could be saying they are from the suburbs in general or from the nearby suburbs.
This term is inoffensive, but should be avoided in formal situations.
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Sydney: [NORMAL] "I used to ride my bike around the burbs since there's less traffic." [SLOW] "I used to ride my bike around the burbs since there's less traffic."
Sydney: [NORMAL] "I used to ride my bike around the burbs since there's less traffic."
John: Okay, what's the last expression?
Sydney: when pigs fly
John: meaning "never, when the impossible happens."
Sydney: [SLOW] when pigs fly [NORMAL] when pigs fly
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Sydney: when pigs fly
[pause - 5 sec.]
John: As you might know, pigs cannot fly, so when someone says they'll do something "when pigs fly," it means that they'll never do it, or they'll only do it if things radically change, like pigs sprouting wings and taking to the sky.
This phrase is used by everyone, but only in informal situations.
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Sydney: [NORMAL] "They say he'll win." "Yeah when pigs fly." [SLOW] "They say he'll win." "Yeah when pigs fly."
Sydney: [NORMAL] "They say he'll win." "Yeah when pigs fly."
QUIZ
John: Okay listeners, are you ready to be quizzed on the expressions you just learned? I will describe four situations, and you will choose the right expression to use in your reply. Are you ready?
John: A friend explains the school assignment.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Sydney: Get it?
John: "a question to confirm one's understanding"
John: An employee does a great job on a project.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Sydney: hit the nail on the head
John: "to find precisely the right answer"
John: A woman wishes she could quit her job and travel around the world.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Sydney: when pigs fly
John: "never, when the impossible happens"
John: A family moves into a residential area.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Sydney: the burbs
John: "the suburbs"

Outro
John: There you have it; you have mastered four English Slang Expressions! We have more vocab lists available at EnglishClass101.com so be sure to check them out. Thanks everyone, and see you next time!
Sydney: Goodbye!

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