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Lesson Transcript

INTRODUCTION
John: Expressions Related to Time
John: I'm John.
Sydney: And I'm Sydney!
John: In this lesson, you'll learn expressions related to time.
John: These expressions are often used when talking about time.
SLANG EXPRESSIONS
John: The expressions you will be learning in this lesson are:
Sydney: a jiffy
Sydney: in a New York minute
Sydney: once in a blue moon
Sydney: to have a ball
John: Sydney, what's our first expression?
Sydney: a jiffy
John: meaning "a short amount of time."
Sydney: [SLOW] a jiffy [NORMAL] a jiffy
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Sydney: a jiffy
[pause - 5 sec.]
John: A "jiffy" is technically an amount of time: 33.3564 picoseconds. But in general, it's used to mean "a moment or a short amount of time." So if someone tells you that they'll be "back in a jiffy," then they'll be back in a moment.
Sydney: This term is used by everyone, but it should be avoided in formal situations.
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Sydney: [NORMAL] "I'll have it done in a jiffy." [SLOW] "I'll have it done in a jiffy."
Sydney: [NORMAL] "I'll have it done in a jiffy."
John: Okay, what's the next expression?
Sydney: in a New York minute
John: meaning "to do something very quickly."
Sydney: [SLOW] in a New York minute [NORMAL] in a New York minute
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Sydney: in a New York minute
[pause - 5 sec.]
John: Life's pretty fast-paced in the Big Apple. Everyone is racing to get to work, school, or the next big event. That's how the phrase "in a New York minute" got its name. You can use this phrase when you tell someone you'll do something very quickly or that something happened fast.
Sydney: For example, if you're late to drinks with friends you can say, "I'll be there in a New York minute."
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Sydney: [NORMAL] "She was there faster than a New York minute when I told her tickets were selling out soon!" [SLOW] "She was there faster than a New York minute when I told her tickets were selling out soon!"
Sydney: [NORMAL] "She was there faster than a New York minute when I told her tickets were selling out soon!"
John: Okay, what's our next expression?
Sydney: once in a blue moon
John: meaning "rarely, once in a while."
Sydney: [SLOW] once in a blue moon [NORMAL] once in a blue moon
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Sydney: once in a blue moon
[pause - 5 sec.]
John: Each season normally has three full moons. But occasionally, four full moons will appear in a season. This "extra" full moon is called a blue moon. This only happens once in a while, so when you say something happens "once in a blue moon," you mean it doesn't happen very often.
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Sydney: [NORMAL] "I still see him once in a blue moon." [SLOW] "I still see him once in a blue moon."
Sydney: [NORMAL] "I still see him once in a blue moon."
John: Okay, what's the last expression?
Sydney: to have a ball
John: meaning "to enjoy oneself, to have a great time."
Sydney: [SLOW] to have a ball [NORMAL] to have a ball
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Sydney: to have a ball
[pause - 5 sec.]
John: If you're "having a ball," that means you're having a great time. A ball is literally a sphere that you play with, like a soccer ball or tennis ball. But in the past, people would have formal dance parties, known as "balls."
Sydney: Nowadays, parties are rarely referred to as balls.
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Sydney: [NORMAL] "Thanks for inviting me. I had a ball." [SLOW] "Thanks for inviting me. I had a ball."
Sydney: [NORMAL] "Thanks for inviting me. I had a ball."
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: She finished her meal very fast.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Sydney: in a New York minute
John: "to do something very quickly"
John: Her mother told her she would be there very soon.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Sydney: a jiffy
John: "a short amount of time"
John: A girl goes to a party and makes lots of new friends.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Sydney: to have a ball
John: "to enjoy oneself, to have a great time"
John: A man only goes to the dentist once every five years.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Sydney: once in a blue moon
John: "rarely, once in a while"

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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