May

PODCAST | An Idiom a Day

Episode 122 -Transcript & Idiom Notes

Tuesday, 29 May 2018

a knight in shining armor

MUSIC

HERE’S SOMETHING INTERESTING…

Hats are the protocol for any royal wedding. Women were not allowed to show their hair in public until the 1950s.

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DID YOU KNOW…

A fascinator is a small headpiece, often made of beads, ribbons, and feathers.  In the 1990s fascinators became popular at weddings. Fascinators are generally worn on the right side of the head and they are great at maintaining a hairstyle.

MUSIC

Hello and welcome to episode 122… of… An Idiom a Day

I’m Gina Johnson and the idiom of the day …is… a knight in shining armor

QUOTE

As I learned from growing up, you don’t mess with your grandmother. ~ Prince William

MUSIC

a knight in shining armor … if you refer to someone or something as a knight in shining armor, they help you in a difficult situation…they come to your rescue

My car wouldn’t start, and someone stopped to help me.

Here is the same sentence using the idiom… a knight in shining armor

My car wouldn’t start, and a knight in shining armor stopped to help me.

Here are a few more sentences using the idiom … a knight in shining armor

A knight in shining armor stopped traffic when the child wandered into the street.

The bank proved to be a knight in shining armor when they saved our company from bankruptcy.

The volunteers were our knights in shining armor. They worked around the clock cleaning up after the flood.

CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION?

Have you or your family been affected by a natural disaster?

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. To read 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. In celebration of Repeat Day on June 3…. the theme for our next set of idioms …..Worth Repeating… idioms that repeat themselves. …There, there is the next idiom.

Remember…Learn Something New Every Day

For all my listeners on Anchor dot FM, I want to hear your voice. Leave a voice message sharing your sentence using today’s idiom …a knight in shining armor…On Fridays, I will post an episode called Now You’re Talking which will feature your voice messages. If you are not on Anchor dot FM. Join the fun and sign up for Anchor dot FM. It’s a free app. With the anchor app,  you can send me a voice message from your phone or your desktop.

IDIOM NOTES

ALTERNATIVES

knight in shining armor

a man who is the perfect romantic partner

I am still waiting for my knight in shining armor.

USAGE

VOCABULARY

homophones

knight

night

SPELLING

armor – American spelling

armour

©Copyright, Native Tongue English, 2015-2018. All rights reserved.

Earl of Wessex | Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys-Jones

PODCAST | An Idiom a Day

Episode 121 -Transcript & Idiom Notes

Monday, 28 May 2018

the common touch

MUSIC

HERE’S SOMETHING INTERESTING…

Three of the four children of Queen Elizabeth have been divorced In 2002, the Church of England dropped their provision against remarriage for a divorced person with a living spouse. This allowed Prince Charles to marry Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005. This was the first royal wedding between two divorcees.

MUSIC

DID YOU KNOW…

The divorce rate in America has been dropping since 2005. Now 42-45% of marriages in the United States ends in divorce. Infidelity is the number one reason for divorce.

MUSIC

Hello and welcome to episode 121 …of… An Idiom a Day

I’m Gina Johnson and the idiom of the day …is… the common touch

QUOTE

I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love. ~ King Edward VIII

MUSIC

the common touch … if you say that someone has the common touch, you mean that they have the natural ability to have a good relationship with ordinary people …. the ability of someone in power or authority to talk to and understand ordinary people

Successful politicians have the ability to relate to ordinary people.

Here is the same sentence using the idiom… the common touch

Successful politicians have the common touch.

Here are a few more sentences using the idiom … the common touch

 He never lost the common touch once he left politics.

 Our new leader lacks the common touch.

CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION?

Is anyone in your family famous?

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. To read today’s podcast transcript & 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… a knight in shining armor

Remember…Learn Something New Every Day

For all my listeners on Anchor dot FM, I want to hear your voice. Leave a voice message sharing your sentence using today’s idiom…. the common touch…On Fridays, I will post an episode called Now You’re Talking which will feature your voice messages. If you are not on Anchor dot FM. Join the fun and sign up for Anchor dot FM. It’s a free app. With the anchor app, you can send me a voice message from your phone or your desktop.

Join Anchor

IDIOM NOTES

USAGE

used to show approval

VOCABULARY

ordinary | ADJECTIVE

always used before a noun

normal or usual, not special

Today was an ordinary day. Nothing special happened.

common | ADJECTIVE

not having wealth, power or high status

the common man

the common people

©Copyright, Native Tongue English, 2015-2018. All rights reserved.

Lord Churchill | Winston Churchill

PODCAST | An Idiom a Day

Episode 120 -Transcript & Idiom Notes

Sunday, 27 May 2018

lord it over someone

MUSIC

HERE’S SOMETHING INTERESTING…

It is a myth that royal icing got its name from Queen Victoria. Yes, Queen Victoria was the first to ever have pure white icing on her wedding cake, but professional bakers used the term royal icing in 1770. 70 years before Queen Victoria’s wedding in 1840.

MUSIC

DID YOU KNOW…

Royal icing is a hard white icing, made from softly beaten egg whites. If eggs present a health risk meringue powder or ready-to-use pasteurized, refrigerated egg whites are used with similar results.

MUSIC

Hello and welcome to episode 120 …of… An Idiom a Day

I’m Gina Johnson and the idiom of the day …is… lord it over someone

QUOTE

Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. ~ William Shakespeare

MUSIC

lord it over someone … if someone lords it over you, they act in a way that shows that they think they are better than you, especially by giving orders…to behave as if you are better than someone else and have the right to tell them what to do

 I know you won. Don’t behave in a way that shows you think you are better than me.

Here is the same sentence using the idiom… lord it over someone

 I know you won. Don’t lord it over me.

Here are a few more sentences using the idiom … lord it over someone

I hate to lord it over you, but I did beat you at chess…twice.

Once she got her promotion, she lorded it over everyone in the office.

He received the highest grade, and he enjoyed lording it over his classmates.

CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION?

Have you accomplished more than your family or friends?

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 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… the common touch

Remember…Learn Something New Every Day

For all my listeners on Anchor.FM, I want to hear your voice. Leave a voice message sharing your sentence using today’s idiom…. lord it over someone…On Fridays, I will post an episode called Now You’re Talking which will feature your voice messages. If you are not an Anchor.FM, join the fun and sign up for Anchor.FM. It’s a free app. With the anchor app, you can send me a voice message from your phone or your desktop.

Join Anchor

IDIOM NOTES

USAGE

to show disapproval

VOCABULARY

Lord | NOUN

a title for British male officials of high rank

Alfred, Lord Tennyson

 ©Copyright, Native Tongue English, 2015-2018. All rights reserved.

Duchess of Cornwall | Camilla Parker Bowles

PODCAST | An Idiom a Day

Episode 119 -Transcript & Idiom Notes

Thursday, 24 May 2018

live like a king

MUSIC

HERE’S SOMETHING INTERESTING…

Most royals do not go by their last name. If a last name or surname is needed, a royal will go by their royal house -Wales, Cambridge and now Sussex. The Queen’s official surname is Mountbatten -Windsor.

MUSIC

DID YOU KNOW…

In America there are three options for a married last name: keeping a maiden name or (current) last name, taking a spouse’s name, or hyphenating to combine the two.

MUSIC

Hello and welcome to episode 119 …of… An Idiom a Day

I’m Gina Johnson and the idiom of the day …is… live like a king

QUOTE

All the time I feel I must justify my existence. ~ Prince Charles

MUSIC

live like a king … if you say that someone lives like a king, you mean that they are able to live a luxurious lifestyle… to live in a very comfortable way with all the luxuries you want

I look for vacation resorts that are comfortable and provide luxuries.

Here is the same sentence using the idiom… live like a king

I look for vacation resorts where I can live like a king.

Here are a few more sentences using the idiom … live like a king

Once I retire, I want to live like a king.

After years of sacrifice, he sold his successful company, and now he lives like a king.

Since winning the lottery, our neighbors are living like princes.

live like a prince is used the same way as live like a king

CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION?

What was your upbringing: rich, middle class or poor?

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. To read today’s podcast 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… lord it over someone

Remember…Learn Something New Every Day

For all my listeners on Anchor.FM, I want to hear your voice. Leave a voice message sharing your sentence using today’s idiom…. live like a king…On Fridays, I will post an episode called Now You’re Talking which will feature your voice messages. If you are not on Anchor.FM, join the fun and sign up for Anchor.FM. It’s a free app. You can send me a voice message using your phone or your desktop.

Join Anchor

IDIOM NOTES

ALTERNATIVES

live like a prince

©Copyright, Native Tongue English, 2015-2018. All rights reserved.

The Duchess of York | Sarah Ferguson

PODCAST | An Idiom a Day

Episode 117 -Transcript & Idiom Notes

Wednesday, 23 May 2018

an ivory tower

MUSIC

HERE’S SOMETHING INTERESTING…

At a royal wedding, it is customary for the royal bridesmaids and pageboys to be the young children of family and friends.  During the wedding procession, the children walk behind the bride carrying the veil and the flowers.

MUSIC

DID YOU KNOW…

Traditionally American wedding parties include a flower girl. A flower girl is a young girl who scatters flower petals down the aisle during the wedding procession.  She symbolically leads the bride forward, from childhood to adulthood and from innocence to her roles of wife and mother.

MUSIC

Hello and welcome to episode 117… of… An Idiom a Day

I’m Gina Johnson and the idiom of the day …is… an ivory tower

QUOTE

I’d like to be queen of people’s hearts. ~ Princess Diana

MUSIC

an ivory tower … if you describe someone as living in an ivory tower, they have no knowledge or experience of the practical problems of everyday life… to want to avoid the ordinary and unpleasant things that happen in people’s lives

Whoever wrote this article has no knowledge or experience of everyday life.

Here is the same sentence using the idiom… an ivory tower

Whoever wrote this article lives in an ivory tower.

Here are a few more sentences using the idiom … an ivory tower

If you climbed down from your ivory tower, you would see homelessness is everywhere

Politicians need to come down from their ivory towers and talk to real people with real problems.

You are living in an ivory tower if you believe that everyone has clean drinking water.

CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION?

What charity work have you done?

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. To read today’s podcast 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… a knight in shining armor

Remember…Learn Something New Every Day

For all my listeners on Anchor.FM, I want to hear your voice. Leave a voice message sharing your sentence using today’s idiom…. an ivory tower…On Fridays, I will post an episode with just your voice messages.

IDIOM NOTES

USAGE

disapproval

commonly used in academic settings such as colleges or universities

The professor retired after 30 years in the ivory tower.

often used before another noun

 an ivory-tower intellectual

 ©Copyright, Native Tongue English, 2015-2018. All rights reserved.

Princess Diana | Diana Spencer

PODCAST | An Idiom a Day

Episode 116 -Transcript & Idiom Notes

Tuesday, 22 May 2018

the jewel in the crown

MUSIC

HERE’S SOMETHING INTERESTING…

Queen Victoria is credited with starting the tradition of white bridal gowns, but in 1406 Phillipa of England was the first daughter of an English sovereign to wear a white outfit on her wedding day.

MUSIC

DID YOU KNOW…

Today, Western wedding dresses are usually white. Wedding white” includes shades such as eggshell, ecru, and ivory. Many people assumed that the color white was intended to symbolize virginity, though this was not the original intention: it was the color blue that was connected to purity, loyalty, faithfulness, and the Virgin Mary.

MUSIC

Hello, and welcome to episode 116 …of… An Idiom a Day

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

QUOTE

From the first day, I joined that family, nothing could be done naturally anymore. ~ Princess Diana

MUSIC

the jewel in the crown  …is the best or most valuable of something… someone or something that is highly valued or admired

Dubai is an attractive destination for tourism in the Middle East.

Here is the same sentence using the idiom… the jewel in the crown

Dubai is the jewel in the crown of tourism in the Middle East.

Here are a few more sentences using the idiom … the jewel in the crown

He has an amazing car collection, but the Mustang is the jewel in the crown.

Several actors consider winning a People’s Choice Award the jewel in the crown.

Children are the jewels in a mother’s crown.

For all my listeners on Anchor, let’s hear your voice. Leave a message sharing your sentence using today’s idiom…. the jewel in the crown. On Fridays, I will post an episode with just your sentences.

CAN I ASK YOU A QUESTION?

How do you contribute to your family?

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. To read today’s podcast 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… the ivory tower

Remember…Learn Something New Every Day

©Copyright, Native Tongue English, 2015-2018. All rights reserved.