Native Tongue English – Learn Something New Every Day

Ep. 217 be caught in the crossfire

5 June 2020 by NTE Tutor Leave a Comment

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Ep. 217 be caught in the crossfire

Question of the Day

What hot topic usually turns into an argument with you?

Show Transcript & Grammar Notes

War in America

PODCAST | An Idiom a Day

Episode 217-Transcript and Grammar Notes

5 June 2020

be caught in the crossfire

Background Conversation

Hello. Hello. Hello.

Welcome to Episode 217 …of… An Idiom a Day

I’m Gina Johnson and the idiom of the day …is… be caught in the crossfire

No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.

― Nelson Mandela

Laundry is the only thing that should be separated by color.

be caught in the crossfire

if you are caught in the crossfire, you become involved in an unpleasant situation

where people are arguing around you and you do not want to be involved or say which person you agree with

caught between two arguing people or groups, making it difficult to remain neutral

to be caught in the middle of two arguments

Children are often caught in the middle when their parents’ divorce.

Here is the same sentence using the idiom… be caught in the crossfire

Children are often caught in the crossfire of divorce.

Here are a few more sentences using the idiom … be caught in the crossfire

My boss refused to be caught in the crossfire of office politics. She held a mandatory meeting so both sides could meet.

During a family discussion about the president, my uncle quickly changed the topic to prevent being caught in the crossfire.

Teachers are often caught in the crossfire between parents and administration.

#CONVERSATION STARTER

Question of the Day

What hot topic usually turns into an argument with you?

An Idiom a Day is sponsored by Native Tongue English. NTE is an online resource for ESL students, teachers, and tutors who study, live, and work abroad. For today’s podcast transcript and grammar notes visit Native Tongue English. That’s www–dot–NAT–IVE–TON–GUE–dash– ENG–LISH– dot– com.

Background Conversation

If you like the podcast, leave a review or comment. If you love the podcast, tell a friend.

Thank you for listening and the next idiom is… bite the bullet

Remember…Learn Something New Every Day

GRAMMAR NOTES

USAGE

often + of

often + between

VOCABULARY

crossfire – uncountable noun

bullets from two or more different directions that pass through the same area

During war, many civilians are caught in the crossfire

Ep. 216 up in arms

4 June 2020 by NTE Tutor Leave a Comment

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Ep. 216 up in arms

Question of the Day

Have you ever marched in a protest or rally?

Show Transcript & Idiom Notes

War in America

PODCAST | An Idiom a Day

Episode 216-Transcript and Grammar Notes

4 June 2020

up in arms

Background Conversation

Hello. Hello. Hello.

Welcome to Episode 216 …of… An Idiom a Day

I’m Gina Johnson and the idiom of the day …is… up in arms

People know about the Klan and the overt racism, but the killing of one’s soul little by little, day after day, is a lot worse than someone coming in your house and lynching you.
― Samuel L. Jackson

No Justice. No Peace.

Know Justice. Know Peace.

up in arms

if someone is up in arms about something, they are very angry, they are ready to fight, argue or protest strongly against something

to be extremely upset or angry about something

The protestors are extremely angry about police brutality.

Here is the same sentence using the idiom… up in arms

The protestors are up in arms about police brutality.

Here are a few more sentences using the idiom … up in arms

My neighbors are up in arms over the 30% increase in property taxes.

The whole country is up in arms over racism.

Many college students and parents are up in arms about distance learning. They are demanding refunds for tuition, room, and board.

#CONVERSATION STARTER

Question of the Day

Have you ever marched in a protest or rally?

An Idiom a Day is sponsored by Native Tongue English. NTE is an online resource for ESL students, teachers, and tutors who study, live, and work in America and abroad. For today’s podcast transcript and grammar notes visit Native Tongue English. That’s www–dot–NAT–IVE–TON–GUE–dash– ENG–LISH– dot– com

Background Conversation

If you like the podcast, leave a review or comment. If you love the podcast, tell a friend.

Thank you for listening and the next idiom is… be caught in the crossfire

Remember…Learn Something New Every Day

GRAMMAR NOTES

USAGE

Phrase

often + about

often + over

VOCABULARY

arms –countable noun, usually plural

a gun or other weapon that is used in a war or for protection

This country has a history of selling arms to other countries.

Only a few countries support the idea that its citizens have the right to keep and bear arms

small arms

firearms

arms race

Ep. 215 keep your hands clean

3 June 2020 by NTE Tutor Leave a Comment

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Ep. 215 keep your hands clean

Question of the Day

What law would you eliminate?

Show Transcript & Grammar Notes

War in America

PODCAST | An Idiom a Day

Episode 215-Transcript and Grammar Notes

3 June 2020

keep your hands clean

Background Conversation

Hello. Hello. Hello.

Welcome to Episode 215 …of… An Idiom a Day

I’m Gina Johnson and the idiom of the day …is… keep your hands clean

You can’t fight racism with racism, the best way to fight racism is with solidarity

-Bobby Seale

I can’t breathe, again.

keep your hands clean

to avoid being involved in any activities that are bad or illegal

to keep your distance from activities that are unpleasant, dishonest, against the rules or against the law

The principal advised the teenagers to not break any rules.

Here is the same sentence using the idiom… keep your hands clean

The principal advised the teenagers to keep their hands clean.

Here are a few more sentences using the idiom … keep your hands clean

The politician kept her hands clean during the mudslinging campaign.

His business partner went to jail because he couldn’t keep his hands clean.

The company hired an accounting agency that had a reputation for keeping their hands clean.

#CONVERSATION STARTER

Question of the Day

What law would you eliminate?

An Idiom a Day is sponsored by Native Tongue English. NTE is an online resource for ESL students, teachers, and tutors who study, live, and work abroad. For today’s podcast transcript and grammar notes visit Native Tongue English. That’s www–dot–NAT–IVE–TON–GUE–dash– ENG–LISH– dot– com

Background Conversation

If you like the podcast, leave a review or comment. If you love the podcast, tell a friend.

Thank you for listening and the next idiom is… up in arms

Remember…Learn Something New Every Day

GRAMMAR NOTES

OPPOSITE

get your hands dirty

to get involved in something that is difficult, dishonest, or unpleasant

The lawyer left the firm because he didn’t want to get his hands dirty.

Ep. 214 be on the front line

1 June 2020 by NTE Tutor Leave a Comment

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Ep. 214 be on the front line

Question of the Day

If you could name a dangerous job in the world right now, what would it be?

Open Transcript & Idiom Notes

COVID-19

PODCAST | An Idiom a Day

Episode 214-Transcript and Grammar Notes

1 June 2020

be on the front line

Background Conversation

Did you know …..

That only 1 out of 3 adults wash their hands after coughing and sneezing.

Infection control is in your hands. Wash your hands.

Hello. Hello. Hello.

Welcome to Episode 214 …of… An Idiom a Day

I’m Gina Johnson and the idiom of the day …is… be on the front line

The front line of this epidemic is you, the people in the community, tasked with the challenge of keeping each other safe.

-Dr. Margaret Au

be on the front line

if someone is on the front line, they play a very important role in defending or achieving something

it is an important position that is sometimes criticized or attacked

Do you know any essential workers who play an important role during the pandemic?

Here is the same sentence using the idiom… be on the front line

Do you know any essential workers on the front line during the pandemic?

Here are a few more sentences using the idiom … be on the front line

At times it is dangerous being on the front line standing up for your beliefs.

Researchers are on the front line of finding a cure.

Around the world healthcare workers are on the front-line saving lives.

#CONVERSATION STARTER

QUESTION

Question of the Day is…

If you could name a dangerous job in the world right now, what would it be?

An Idiom a Day is sponsored by Native Tongue English. NTE is an online resource for ESL students, teachers, and tutors who study, live, and work abroad.

For today’s podcast transcript and grammar, notes visit Native Tongue English. That’s www–dot–NAT–IVE–TON–GUE–dash– ENG–LISH– dot– com

If you like the podcast, leave a review or comment. If you love the podcast, tell a friend.

Thank you for listening and the next idiom is… keep your hands clean

Remember…Learn Something New Every Day

GRAMMAR NOTES

USAGE

countable noun – plural

front lines

ALTERNATIVES

front-line –always followed by a noun

a line or position that is in direct contact with an enemy often used with the military

front-line soldier

frontline

used to describe an employee who deals directly with the customer, or who is directly involved with making a product

To show its appreciation, the city applauds frontline workers every evening at 8.

Ep. 213 see the error of your ways

13 September 2019 by NTE Tutor Leave a Comment

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Ep. 213 see the error of your ways

If you made a huge mistake at work, would you admit it or pretend it had nothing to do with you?

Open Transcript and Idiom Notes

PODCAST | An Idiom a Day

Episode 213-Transcript and Idiom Notes

Friday, 13 September 2019

see the error of your ways

MUSIC

HERE’S SOMETHING INTERESTING…

An object used to correct mistakes made while writing is called an eraser in Canada and the United States, but in New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Ireland, India, and the UK an eraser is called a rubber.

MUSIC

DID YOU KNOW…

In 1770, Joseph Priestley, who discovered oxygen and soda water, was credited with naming the eraser when he described a substance that wiped or rubbed off black lead pencil marks from paper….OOPS, I DID IT AGAIN.

MUSIC

Hello and welcome to episode 213 …of… An Idiom a Day

I’m Gina Johnson and the idiom of the day …is… see the error of your ways

QUOTE

Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new. ~Albert Einstein

MUSIC

see the error of your ways…

to realize or admit that you have behaved badly or made a mistake

to understand that your behavior was wrong and you start to behave differently

to see, recognize, acknowledge the error of your ways is to admit to your wrongdoing or misbehavior with intentions to stop doing something or to improve your behavior

A few criminals admit to their mistakes while sitting in a jail cell.

Here is the same sentence using the idiom… see the error of your ways

A few criminals see the error of their ways while sitting in a jail cell.

Here are a few more sentences using the idiom … see the error of your ways

Be patient. It takes a while for teenagers to see the error of their ways.

The government forced the tobacco industry to see the error of its ways. Now all cigarettes are sold with a warning label.

I now see the error of my ways. My bad decisions jeopardized our company. I ‘m sorry.

A few years after the divorce, our father acknowledged the error of his ways. He wrote our mother a letter and asked for forgiveness.

#CONVERSATION STARTER

QUESTION

If you made a huge mistake at work, would you admit it or pretend it had nothing to do with you?

An Idiom a Day is sponsored by Native Tongue English. NTE is an online resource for ESL students, teachers, and tutors who study, live, and work in America and abroad. For today’s podcast transcript and idiom notes visit Native Tongue English. That’s www–dot–NAT–IVE–TON–GUE–dash– ENG–LISH– dot– com

MUSIC

If you like the podcast, leave a review or comment. If you love the podcast, tell a friend.

Thank you for listening, and the next idiom is… commit something to memory

Remember…Learn Something New Every Day

IDIOM NOTES

ALTERNATIVES

realize the error of your ways

point out the error of your ways

show someone the error of their ways

Ep. 212 in absentia

12 September 2019 by NTE Tutor Leave a Comment

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Ep. 212 in absentia

Did you achieve perfect attendance in school?

Open Transcript and Idiom Notes

PODCAST | An Idiom a Day

Episode 212-Transcript and Idiom Notes

Thursday, 12 September 2019

in absentia

MUSIC

HERE’S SOMETHING INTERESTING…

In France, students have Wednesday off and attend school on Saturday morning.

MUSIC

DID YOU KNOW…

In the United States, the average school year has 180 days. All public schools and most private schools have a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday school week … Attend Today, Achieve Tomorrow

MUSIC

Hello and welcome to episode 212 …of… An Idiom a Day

I’m Gina Johnson and the idiom of the day …is… in absentia

QUOTE

Aim for success, not perfection…. remember that fear always lurks behind perfectionism. ~ David Burns

MUSIC

in absentia …

without being present

the person involved is not present

if something is done in absentia, it is done when you are not present

She was convicted of a crime and tried without being present in the courtroom.

Here is the same sentence using the idiom… in absentia

She was convicted of a crime and tried in absentia.

Here are a few more sentences using the idiom … in absentia

In absentia, the rapper was awarded a Pulitzer in Music.

The movie director fled the country and was convicted in absentia.

Due to the high school senior’s month-long hospital stay in June, he graduated in absentia.

After months of searching the ocean, the sailors were declared dead in absentia.

#CONVERSATION STARTER

QUESTION

Did you achieve perfect attendance in school?

An Idiom a Day is sponsored by Native Tongue English. NTE is an online resource for ESL students, teachers, and tutors who study, live and work in America and abroad. For today’s podcast transcript and idiom notes visit Native Tongue English. That’s www–dot–NAT–IVE–TON–GUE–dash– ENG–LISH– dot– com

MUSIC

If you like the podcast, leave a review or comment. If you love the podcast, tell a friend.

Thank you for listening and the next idiom is… see the error of your ways

Remember…Learn Something New Every Day

IDIOM NOTES

GRAMMAR

USAGE

formal

Ep. 211 the school of hard knocks

9 September 2019 by NTE Tutor Leave a Comment

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Ep. 211 the school of hard knocks

Do you believe that experience is the best teacher?

Click for Transcript and Idiom Notes

An Idiom a Day

Episode 211-Transcript and Idiom Notes

Monday, 9 September 2019

school of hard knocks

MUSIC

HERE’S SOMETHING INTERESTING…

In the second half of the 19th century, many rural areas of the United States and Canada were served by one-room schoolhouses. For those students who lived beyond walking distance, a horse-drawn carriage, called a kid hack, was used to transport children to school.

MUSIC

DID YOU KNOW…

In April of 1939, Frank W. Cyr, a professor at Teachers College at Columbia University in New York, organized a meeting to establish national school bus construction standards, including the adoption of a standard shade of paint. The color, School Bus Yellow, was selected because black lettering was easier to see in the early morning and late afternoon school bus runs. Today, the official color is called National School Bus Glossy Yellow….the wheels on the bus go round and round

MUSIC

Hello and welcome to episode 211 …of… An Idiom a Day

I’m Gina Johnson and the idiom of the day …is… the school of hard knocks

QUOTE

The difference between school and life? In school, you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life, you’re given a test that teaches you a lesson. ~ Tom Bodett

MUSIC

the school of hard knocks …

a difficult or painful experience that people have in their lives and careers

to learn something as a result of difficult or unpleasant experiences

experience gained from hard work

learning through difficult experiences

learning from your mistakes

Difficult experiences taught me about life.

Here is the same sentence using the idiom… the school of hard knocks

The school of hard knocks taught me about life.

Here are a few more sentences using the idiom … the school of hard knocks

The school of hard knocks will teach you what you did not learn in school.

My uncle did not get an opportunity to go to college. Instead, he graduated from the school of hard knocks.

The successful entrepreneur never got an MBA but came up through the school of hard knocks.

Several business owners developed their skills from the school of hard knocks.

#CONVERSATION STARTER

QUESTION

Do you believe that experience is the best teacher?

MUSIC

If you like the podcast, leave a review or comment. If you love the podcast, tell a friend.

Thank you for listening and the next idiom is… in absentia

Remember…Learn Something New Every Day

IDIOM NOTES

GRAMMAR

USAGE

informal

ALTERNATIVES

the University of Life

experiences as opposed to a formal education

I received the most painful lessons from the University of Life.

knocks

hard knocks

knocks refer to setbacks

The Senator took a few knocks early in his political career.

Ep. 210 play hooky

6 September 2019 by NTE Tutor Leave a Comment

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Ep. 210 play hooky

What was your favorite thing to do during recess?

Click for Transcript and Idiom Notes

PODCAST | An Idiom a Day

Episode 210-Transcript and Grammar Notes

Thursday, 6 September 2019

play hooky

MUSIC

HERE’S SOMETHING INTERESTING…

In 2010, of the fifty states in America, only fifteen had policies that recommended or required daily recess or a physical activity break.

MUSIC

DID YOU KNOW…

Recess is a common part of the school day for children around the world. Playground favorites include jump rope, Chinese jump rope, hopscotch, basketball, soccer, wall ball, hula hoop, chase, and playing on the playground equipment…..TAG YOU’RE IT

MUSIC

Hello and welcome to episode 210 …of… An Idiom a Day

I’m Gina Johnson and the idiom of the day …is… play hooky

QUOTE

If people did not do silly things, nothing intelligent would ever get done.~ Ludwig Wittgenstein

MUSIC

play hooky …

to not go to school or not keep an appointment

to fail to attend school, work or some other obligation

to be absent without permission

Are you not going to work today?

Here is the same sentence using the idiom… play hooky

Are you playing hooky from work today?

Here are a few more sentences using the idiom … play hooky

I don’t want to go to the conference, let’s play hooky.

A few of us are playing hooky on Friday after lunch. Do you want to join us?

The principal caught some students in the hallway playing hooky from class.

The bride and groom played hooky and skipped their wedding reception.

#CONVERSATION STARTER

QUESTION

What was your favorite thing to do during recess?

An Idiom a Day is sponsored by Native Tongue English. NTE is an online resource for ESL students, teachers, and tutors who study, live and work here and abroad. For today’s podcast transcript and grammar notes visit Native Tongue English. That’s www–dot–NAT–IVE–TON–GUE–dash– ENG–LISH– dot– com

MUSIC

If you like the podcast, leave a review or comment. If you love the podcast, tell a friend.

Thank you for listening and the next idiom is… school of hard knocks

Remember…Learn Something New Every Day

GRAMMAR NOTES

USAGE

informal

SPELLING

play hookey not common

hookies, hookeys plural