TrendSpeak English

Category: Intermediate

Intermediate Level English Learning Contents

  • Introduction to Useful English Idioms

    Topic: Introduction to Useful English Idioms

    English Dialogue

    Alice: Hey Bob! Fancy seeing you here.

    Bob: Oh, hi Alice! You look stressed. Are you about to hit the books?

    Alice: I am! This history exam is a nightmare. I had to bite the bullet and cancel my plans for the weekend to study.

    Bob: Bite a bullet? Are you okay? Did someone threaten you with a gun?

    Alice: (Laughs) No, silly. To “bite the bullet” just means to face a difficult situation with courage.

    Bob: Oh! I see. So, you use these weird phrases a lot. At the party last week, you told me I was good at breaking the ice.

    Alice: You were! You got everyone talking. “Breaking the ice” means making people feel more comfortable.

    Bob: Right. Speaking of the party, did you hear about Mark’s secret? His brother accidentally let the cat out of the bag.

    Alice: No! Don’t leave me hanging! Spill the beans!

    Bob: He’s moving to Canada! He was going to tell everyone next month.

    Alice: Wow, that’s huge news! A plane ticket and moving costs must cost an arm and a leg.

    Bob: Totally. He said he only makes big life changes like this once in a blue moon, so he’s making it count.

    Alice: Good for him. Well, I should go to the library. I can drop off your book on the way and get some studying done.

    Bob: Ah, trying to kill two birds with one stone?

    Alice: (Smiling) Exactly! See? You’re getting the hang of it!

    Current Situation

    Idioms are a fundamental part of the English language, especially in informal, everyday conversation. Native speakers use them constantly without even thinking about it. For English learners, understanding idioms is a major step towards fluency. It allows you to grasp the true meaning behind conversations and sound more natural when you speak. While they can be confusing at first because their meanings are not literal, learning them can be a fun and rewarding part of your language journey.

    New Phrases

    Phrase / Idiom Meaning Example from Dialogue
    Hit the books To study very hard. “Are you about to hit the books?”
    Bite the bullet To force yourself to do something unpleasant or difficult. “I had to bite the bullet and cancel my plans…”
    Break the ice To say or do something to make people feel relaxed and comfortable when they first meet. “…you told me I was good at breaking the ice.”
    Let the cat out of the bag To reveal a secret carelessly or by mistake. “His brother accidentally let the cat out of the bag.”
    Spill the beans To tell people secret information. “Don’t leave me hanging! Spill the beans!”
    Cost an arm and a leg To be extremely expensive. “…must cost an arm and a leg.”
    Once in a blue moon Very rarely. “He only makes big life changes like this once in a blue moon…”
    Kill two birds with one stone To achieve two things at the same time with a single action. “Ah, trying to kill two birds with one stone?”

    Grammar Point: Understanding Idioms

    An idiom is a phrase or expression whose meaning cannot be understood from the ordinary meanings of its individual words. It’s a form of figurative language. For example, “kick the bucket” has nothing to do with kicking or buckets; it means “to die.”

    • Why are they important? They are used frequently in natural, everyday speech. Understanding them is crucial for comprehension in movies, TV shows, books, and conversations with native speakers.
    • How to learn them? Don’t try to translate them word for word. Instead, learn them as a whole chunk of vocabulary. The best way to learn idioms is through context. Pay attention to the situation in which an idiom is used to help you understand its meaning.
    • Tip: Think of idioms as special vocabulary words. When you learn a new one, try to use it in a sentence right away to help you remember it.

    Practice Exercises

    Exercise 1: Match the Idiom to its Meaning

    Match the idiom on the left with its correct meaning on the right.

    1. Spill the beans
    2. Once in a blue moon
    3. Cost an arm and a leg
    4. Hit the books
    • A. To be very expensive.
    • B. To study hard.
    • C. To reveal a secret.
    • D. Very rarely.

    Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

    Complete the sentences with the correct idiom from the list below. Use each idiom only once.

    (break the ice, bite the bullet, let the cat out of the bag, kill two birds with one stone)

    1. I was so nervous giving the presentation, but I knew I just had to ______________ and do my best.
    2. We need to go to the post office and the bank. They are on the same street, so we can ______________ and save time.
    3. At the start of the meeting, the manager told a funny joke to ______________.
    4. Please don’t tell anyone about the surprise party. I don’t want you to ______________!

    Exercise 3: Create Your Own Sentence

    Choose one idiom from the dialogue and write your own original sentence using it.

    Your Sentence: _____________________________________________________

    Answers to Exercises

    Exercise 1:

    1. C
    2. D
    3. A
    4. B

    Exercise 2:

    1. bite the bullet
    2. kill two birds with one stone
    3. break the ice
    4. let the cat out of the bag

    Exercise 3:

    (Answers will vary. Your sentence should use one of the idioms correctly in context.)

  • Introduction to Useful English Proverb

    Learn English: Introduction to Useful Proverbs

    Alice: Bob? Is that you? Wow, you look like you’re on cloud nine!

    Bob: Alice! Hey! I am! I just had the most amazing job interview ever. I totally nailed it.

    Alice: That’s fantastic news! So, what’s the occasion for the huge smile?

    Bob: I’m already planning my victory celebration. First, I’m going to buy that new sports car I’ve been dreaming about.

    Alice: A sports car? Already? That’s a big step.

    Bob: And that’s not all! I’m going to book a two-week vacation to Hawaii for next month. I can already feel the sun on my skin.

    Alice: Whoa there, hold your horses! You haven’t even gotten an official offer yet, have you?

    Bob: Well, no, but the manager said I was a “perfect fit” and that they’d be in touch soon. It’s a sure thing!

    Alice: I’m really happy for you, Bob, and I’ve got my fingers crossed. But maybe you’re getting a little ahead of yourself.

    Bob: What do you mean?

    Alice: In English, we have a proverb: “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”

    Bob: Don’t count my chickens… what? Are you saying I shouldn’t buy eggs?

    Alice: (Laughs) No, silly. It means you shouldn’t make plans that depend on something good happening before you know for sure that it has actually happened.

    Bob: Oh, I get it. So, I shouldn’t mentally spend my first paycheck before I’ve even signed the contract.

    Alice: Exactly! Be optimistic, but maybe wait for the official email before you visit the car dealership. For now, let’s just celebrate the great interview!

    About the Situation

    In this conversation, Bob has just finished a job interview that he feels went extremely well. He is so confident that he will get the job that he immediately starts making expensive plans. His friend, Alice, is happy for him but is more cautious. She uses a famous English proverb, “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch,” to advise him to wait for a confirmed job offer before making big financial commitments. The dialogue is a fun way to learn about managing expectations and a very common English expression.

    New Phrases

    Phrase Meaning Example from Dialogue
    On cloud nine To be extremely happy and excited. Wow, you look like you’re on cloud nine!
    Nailed it (Informal) Succeeded at something perfectly. I totally nailed it.
    What’s the occasion? What is the special event or reason for a celebration? So, what’s the occasion for the huge smile?
    Hold your horses (Informal) Wait a moment; don’t be so fast. Whoa there, hold your horses!
    A sure thing Something that is certain to happen. It’s a sure thing!
    Fingers crossed A gesture or phrase to wish for good luck. I’ve got my fingers crossed.
    Get ahead of yourself To do or plan something too early. Maybe you’re getting a little ahead of yourself.
    Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. (Proverb) Don’t make plans based on a future event that isn’t certain yet. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.

    Grammar Point: Future with “be going to”

    We often use “be going to” to talk about the future. It’s very common in conversation, especially for plans and predictions.

    Structure:

    Subject + am/is/are + going to + base verb

    • Positive: I am going to buy a car.
    • Negative: He is not (isn’t) going to book a vacation.
    • Question: Are you going to celebrate tonight?

    Usage:

    1. Future Plans and Intentions

    We use “be going to” to talk about plans we have already decided on for the future. In the dialogue, Bob has already decided what he wants to do when he gets the job.

    • “I‘m going to buy that new sports car.” (This is his plan/intention.)
    • “I‘m going to book a two-week vacation.” (This is another plan.)

    2. Predictions Based on Present Evidence

    We also use “be going to” to predict the future when we have some evidence or a sign now.

    • Look at those dark clouds. It‘s going to rain. (The evidence is the dark clouds.)
    • He studied hard. He‘s going to pass the exam. (The evidence is his hard work.)

    Practice Exercises

    Exercise 1: Vocabulary Fill-in-the-Blanks

    Complete the sentences with a phrase from the “New Phrases” table.

    1. She just won the lottery! She’s completely _____.
    2. You’ve only had one date. Don’t _____ and start planning the wedding!
    3. A: “Are you buying a new house?” B: “____! I need to save more money first.”
    4. The final exam was tough, but I think I _____.
    5. I hope you get the promotion. _____!
    6. He thinks winning the race will be easy, but I don’t think it’s _____.

    Exercise 2: Grammar Practice

    Your friend just won a small prize of $500. What are their plans? Write three sentences using “be going to” to describe what they are planning to do with the money.

    Example: He is going to buy a new video game.

    1. ____________.
    2. ____________.
    3. ____________.

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