Lesson 28: Advanced English Speaking / Idioms - Slangs - Phrasal verbs
Speak English like a native speaker!Show Notes
One of my resolutions for 2021 was to exercise five days per week for two hours. This led me to run out of gas. I had set unreasonable plans, especially that I came from an inactive place. What made things even worse was that my sister just kept running her mouth that I had never stuck to what I planned and that I was paying through the nose for trainers, gym memberships, applications, and healthy food subscriptions. To her, it looked like I made a quick buck and decided to spend it everywhere without even thinking. She really pissed me off. I don’t even understand how she’s got the nerve to talk to me like that? Didn’t she see that what I was doing felt like pulling teeth? I knew that I wasn’t making megabucks but I didn’t have any other choice. I needed to lose my excess weight, especially my love handles. I told her that she needed to get her facts straight and that she needed to keep off my back. Even though I quit and failed many times that didn’t mean I would not reach what I want. I pulled myself together that day so I could move on. The very next day, I bumped into a random person at my favorite coffee shop. She told me about her own journey of losing weight. She let me in on how she was able to achieve what she wanted without even burning herself out. She said that it was not about the destination, it was all about the journey. In other words, she was trying to say that I should not get obsessed with the quick results. I only need to keep doing the right thing for a very long period of time and things will eventually pay off.
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I still remember the day I decided to START OFF this project. During one of the sessions with my English teacher, I expressed my concern about not knowing the meaning of the most common idioms, slangs, and phrasal verbs. She suggested that I use them in sentences in order to memorize them and fully understand their meaning. An idea suddenly CAME TO my mind. How about, instead of writing a single sentence for every idiom, slang, and phrasal verb, I would make it more challenging and write different paragraphs using them all. At the same time, I felt like if I really wanted to PUT IN all this effort to create and COME UP with new content, wouldn’t it be more exciting and worthwhile to share my work with the public? That’s why I TOOK THE PLUNGE and decided that podcasting was my go-to plan. I was committed to uploading 70 episodes in a 5 months period. Here I am AT THE END OF THE ROAD with 70 episodes published. I am really thankful that I GOT MY FEET WET and understood what life looks like with my own podcast to run. However, most importantly, this podcast wouldn’t have come to life without the help, support, and encouragement of my English teacher. She was the one BEHIND THE SCENES working with me to make this project happen. I want to take this opportunity to thank her and show a sincere appreciation to her for STANDING BY me during every step of this journey. Let’s CALL IT A DAY and I’m looking forward to hearing from you guys. What is your next plan to become fluent in English? Farewell.
Her latest project had many LOOSE ENDS. She was half way there and had a lot to do before she FINISHED UP her book. Unfortunately, due to her horrible car accident on the i35 highway, she PASSED OUT and was severely hurt. Regrettably, Maria went into a coma. After a whole month, she CAME TO with shock. She couldn’t believe what she and her family have gone through. Following the doctor’s assessment and examination, they were able to LET HER OUT of the hospital with full guidance on how to deal with her situation and take care of herself. Her two little boys were delighted when they saw their mother came back home after she had fully recovered. However, when she entered her small office at home, she remembered her unfinished work that needed to be delivered by the end of next month. She would either SHAPE UP OR SHIP OUT. She didn’t lose faith in herself; instead, she believed that she could MAKE DO and PICK UP where she left off. Maria didn’t want to LEAVE ANY STONE UNTURNED but wanted to find the best way to write the book she had been dreaming of publishing her whole life. She realized it was CRUNCH TIME and was sure she would be able to complete it on time.
My closest cousin EATS LIKE A PIG but is still as SKINNY AS A BEANPOLE. I’m happy for her. I really am. But what really frustrates me the most is that I look like a pig when I EAT LIKE BIRD. My situation is getting worse and I feel like things are GOING DOWNHILL for me since I keep PUTTING ON a few pounds every month. It is unfair. If you ask me about the one thing I would die to know it would be how some people get to enjoy any meal, whether healthy or not, and still be FIT AS A FIDDLE. I want to be like those people. One day I want to feel that I can have both: a great body that looks good in anything and enjoys food all day long and EAT UP everything and anything I want. If this wish comes true I guess I would be the happiest person on earth. I will spend my time ORDERING IN, and getting TAKE OUT on the weekdays and shopping for all kinds of clothes on the weekends.
They advised her to compromise and WATER DOWN the issue, but she insisted that she will be GOING AFTER her heart’s desire. No one was able to CHANGE HER MIND. She thought it was best for her to leave the states and follow her dream of becoming an artist in India. This idea was abnormal and bizarre to everyone in her circle. Her family wanted to KEEP the dangers of living abroad by herself in a strange country AT BAY. Also, she knew that she could only recognize the TIP OF THE ICEBERG when it comes to all the hardships of this journey and that it would be impossible to enumerate them. However, she was convinced and HELD HER GROUND. She believed it was her only shot since no agency in the US has opened their door and sponsored her yet. Aleena was scheduled to SET OFF for India at 10 o'clock the next morning and her oldest sister decided to DROP her OFF at the airport to CHECK-IN hoping that her plane would TAKE OFF, and land safely.
Victoria has recently been facing a hard time with her roommate Scarlett. Scarlett is disrespectful to the people she LIVES WITH. She would borrow things without asking and sometimes she would go to the extent of stealing from Victoria. She is so loud and talks so much that nobody could GET A WORD IN EDGEWISE. She leaves most of her stuff on the LEFT, RIGHT, AND CENTER of the house. She INVITES STRANGERS OVER without asking for permission or even notifying her roommates in advance. She also GETS ON VICTORIA’S CASE when it comes to paying the bills even though she has a lot to PAY OFF. Victoria has GONE ALL OUT since they lived under the same roof. Victoria can’t CAVE IN anymore since Scarlett refuses to DIG IN HER HEELS and compromise. Victoria finally decides to leave the place for good and to find another place to live by herself.