Talk Like a Native Episode 20 - Ring a Bell Christine: Hey Kevin, who were you talking to? Kevin: I was talking to Beyonce. Christine: Who’s that? His name kind of rings a bell. Is he a comedian? Kevin: What? She is a famous singer. Christine: Really? What song does she sing? Kevin: The one that goes like, “All the single ladies, all the single ladies.” Christine: Hmm...that doesn’t ring a bell. Kevin: What is this bell you keep talking about? Christine: Kevin, are you sure you’re an American? Why do you not know any English expressions? Rings a bell is an expression that’s used when something sounds familiar like you’ve heard it somewhere before. It’s like your brain alerting you to an old memory. Kevin: Are you sure YOU’RE American? How do you not know Beyonce? She’s married to Jay-Z. Christine: Umm...I’m just going to pretend I know what you’re talking about and give our listeners some examples of this expression: I’m sorry but that description doesn’t ring any bell...
Talk Like a Native Episode 19 - (to) Find your Feet Kevin: What are you thinking about? Christine: Oh, I was thinking about when I first left for college. Everything happened so quickly, I don’t even know how I found my feet. Kevin: How does that even work? Have you lost them before? Christine: Haha, not literally. To find your feet means to adjust to your new environment or experience. The feet doesn’t refer to someone’s physical feet, but a foundation for them to stand on when you’re in an unfamiliar situation. You can also refer to it as “finding your footing”, too. Kevin: Ah, I see. Kind of like the way we had to find our feet when we first came to Korea? Christine: Exactly. We didn’t really know the language or have any friends but through time, we managed to find our feet. Kevin: I really like this expression because you can really visualize it. When you first get to a new place, it’s really hard to know where you stand. Everything is new and it almost feels like you’...
Talk Like a Native Episode 18 - Keep your chin up Kevin: Hey Christine, long time no see. Christine: Hey Kevin. Kevin: What’s wrong? Why so glum? Christine: Facebook Memories just reminded me of something I was trying to forget. Kevin: And what was that? Christine: Well, a few months ago I got into a fight with a friend of mine. Now, he doesn’t ever want to talk to me again. Kevin: What happened? Christine: I have no idea. It was completely out of the blue! He picked a fight and when I tried to explain myself he just blew me off. Kevin: Why would he do that? Were you guys really close? Christine: We’ve known each other for a really long time. I felt like he was someone I could really trust and confide in. I guess I was wrong. Kevin: Maybe he was just having a bad day. You should try to get in touch with him again. Christine: It’s been over 2 months already. I tried to say hi once, but got nothing but radio silence. Kevin: It’s okay man, keep your chin up. I’m sure things will ...
Talk Like a Native Episode 17 - Lost your touch Kevin: Hey Christine, what are you up to? Christine: I’m trying to sketch something but I think I’ve lost my touch. Kevin: What? Are you telling me that you can no longer feel anything? You lost your sense of touch? Christine: No, I mean I don’t think I can draw anymore. To lose your touch means to lose expertise or finesse. You may have been really good at something before, but suddenly you can no longer do it as well. Kevin: Ah, you mean you used to be able to draw well but you can’t anymore! Christine: Exactly! Haven’t you ever lost your touch with anything? Kevin: Hmm... I’ve lost my touch at basketball. I used to be able to shoot 3 pointers with my eyes closed. Now, I can barely do a layup. Christine: Oh, you used to play basketball too? I miss playing basketball. We should play sometime. Kevin: Let’s go play now! Christine: How about we give our listeners some examples of today’s expression and then worry about that later...
Talk Like a Native Episode 16 - Take with a grain of salt Kevin: Hey, guess what? I think I’m moving to Macau! Christine: What? Really? Why all of a sudden? Kevin: Robert just offered me a job position in Macau. He said that his company is about to hit the jackpot*, I think I can make a lot of money if I move there to work for him! Christine: Robert said that? Kevin, you know Robert! You should always take what he says with a grain of salt. Kevin: With a grain of salt? Are you trying to get back at me for telling you to put salt on your wound? Christine: No, no. I’m telling you that he seems to exaggerate a lot and maybe you shouldn’t take everything he says so seriously. Kevin: Oh, you mean I should give it some more thought before I decide to move to another country? Christine: Right. I’m saying that what he says may be true, but there’s a bigger chance that it might not be. I’m just saying that you should be careful. Kevin: Are you telling me that I should be skeptical of w...
Talk Like a Native Episode 15 - (Don’t) cry over spilled milk Kevin: Hey Christine, what’s up? Why so serious? Christine: I’ve just been thinking about a job offer that I received last year. Kevin: Really? What about it? Christine: If I took that job last year, I could be making a lot more money than I am now. Kevin: What kind of job was it? Christine: It was a managerial position in London. I could have been making more money AND be living in London. I’ve always dreamed about living there since I was young. Kevin: But I thought that you were pretty satisfied with your life here! You have a lot going for you here as well! Christine: I know, but sometimes I just think about how different or how much better my life could be. Kevin: It’s okay! I’m sure that there will be more opportunities in the future. It’s just one job offer! There’s no point in crying over spilled milk. Just apply again later! Christine: What? You spilled milk? It better not have been in my car. Kevin: No, ...
Talk Like a Native Episode 14 - Hands are tied Kevin: Hey Christine, do you think I could get a raise? Christine: I can’t. My hands are tied. Kevin: What? Your hands look fine to me. If you didn’t want to give me a raise, you could just tell me. You don’t have to make up an obvious lie. Christine: It’s not that I don’t want to raise your salary, it’s that we don’t have enough money in the budget to do it. When I say my hands are tied, I mean that there is nothing I can do about it. Kevin: Oh, I thought you were just trying to make up an excuse. Christine: I’m really sorry. I promise that when we start to earn more money, I will give you a raise. Kevin: It’s ok, I understand. Let’s hear some more examples of this phrase! - Although the president promised to spend more on healthcare, he now claims his hands are tied due to budgetary restrictions. - I would really like to help you refund this product but my hands are tied. If you do not have your receipt, we cannot process th...
Talk Like a Native Episode 13: “Dodge a Bullet” Kevin: Hey Christine, what are you looking for? Christine: I lost the USB drive that my boss gave me. It has the project that we’ve been working on for the last month! Kevin: I’ll help you look too. When was the last time you saw it? Christine: I had it this morning when I was getting ready for work. Kevin: Have you checked the bathroom? Christine: Why would it be in the bathroom? Kevin: I usually brush my teeth before I leave the house. Sometimes I leave my phone there and I have to go back for it. Christine: Oh, that makes sense. I’ve done that before too. Let me go check the bathroom... Oh, I found it! Thank you Kevin! Thanks to you I really dodged a bullet. Kevin: Dodged a bullet? Do you work for the FBI or something? Christine: No! I work for a media company. It was an important proposal for an upcoming business deal. If you hadn’t helped me find my USB, I could have lost my job! To dodge a bullet means to successfully avoid...
Talk Like a Native Episode 12: Beat around the bush Kevin: Christine, I wanted to talk to you about something. Christine: Sure, what’s up? Kevin: Well, I’ve been thinking... Christine: Yeah…? Kevin: A lot of things have been on my mind lately. Christine: Okay… please keep going. Kevin: I’m not sure how to say this but… Christine: Oh my god Kevin. Just spit it out* already. Stop beating around the bush. Kevin: I think our podcast is awesome. I’ve been wondering who has been listening to us. Christine: Seriously? That’s all you wanted to say? Kevin: Well yeah, what did you think I was going to say? Christine: I don’t know. I was worried that you were going to tell me you had some sort of terminal illness or something. Kevin: Yeah, I’m sorry for beating around the bush. I just didn’t know how to put all of my feelings into words. Christine: Next time, please just tell me what’s wrong. Kevin: Oh I just realized we haven’t explained what the expression means yet. Christine: ...
Talk Like a Native Episode 11: (Cost) an arm and a leg Kevin: What are you doing? Christine: I’m debating whether I should buy tickets to the rock festival. I really want to see Weezer*. Kevin: So, what’s stopping you? Christine: The tickets cost an arm and a leg and I fear that I may be too old for rock festivals. Kevin: What? An arm and a leg? Like literally? Christine: No! Of course not! If we say something costs an arm and a leg, it just means that it is very expensive. Kevin: Oh! So how much are the tickets? Christine: Tickets are $180 per person. Kevin: Ouch...that is pretty pricey. Christine: Plus, it’s summertime and it’s hot. I fear that it might actually cost me an arm and a leg in the pit* with all of those youngins*. Kevin: But maybe it’s worth it. I know how much you like Weezer. Christine: Let me think about it while we give our listeners some examples. Everything at the restaurant tastes amazing but it costs an arm and a leg I really wanted to go to Europe but pl...