Native English Expressions | Ep.2
Do you feel lost when listening to native speakers? It’s likely because textbook English isn’t enough. Welcome to Native Expressions Ep.2.
Real conversations are full of idioms, phrasal verbs, and cultural nuances. This series curates authentic expressions directly from podcasts and YouTube videos to help you sound more natural and confident.
To see these idioms in action, check out the 04:53 to 10:08 mark of this video, where today’s expressions were originally used: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c36S2A7f1zc&t=293s
Native Expressions Ep.2 |1 – 5
partnership
a relationship between two people or groups who work together or share responsibilities
Building a healthy partnership takes patience, honesty, and mutual respect.
flight, fight or freeze
a common phrase describing three basic reactions to stress or danger: escaping, confronting, or becoming unable to act
When tension rises, some people go into flight, fight or freeze mode without realizing it.
shut down
to stop reacting or communicating, often because of emotional stress or exhaustion
During difficult conversations, he tends to shut down instead of expressing his feelings.
get away from
to move away from or avoid a person, place, or situation
Sometimes, avoiding conflict feels easier, so people try to get away from uncomfortable situations.
not engage
to choose not to participate or respond in a discussion or conflict
She decided to not engage in another pointless argument and stayed silent instead.
Native Expressions Ep.2 |6 – 10
figure out
to understand or find the solution to something
He couldn’t figure out how to express himself without starting another fight.
by the end
used to describe the final stage or conclusion of a situation
By the end of the long disagreement, both sides were simply too exhausted to continue.
tired
feeling a need for rest or lacking energy, often due to stress or overwork
After years of repeated arguments, he felt completely tired and emotionally drained.
you win
an expression used to admit defeat in a discussion or argument
He sighed and said, “you win,” showing he no longer cared to continue.
even worse
more serious or unpleasant than something already bad
When the fights stopped, things felt even worse because there was no emotion left.
Native Expressions Ep.2 |11 – 15
find oneself
to realize that you are in a particular situation unexpectedly
He often found himself in arguments without knowing how they started.
get rolled over
to be dominated or ignored in a discussion or decision
He felt like he was constantly getting rolled over and not respected.
commentate the conversation
to describe or analyze what is happening during a conversation, like a sports commentator
He tried to commentate the conversation by stepping back and observing it objectively.
pull someone out
to help someone step away from a situation to see it more clearly
He tried to pull her out to the “commentator’s booth” so they could look at the problem together.
be honest and blunt
to speak truthfully and directly, even if it’s uncomfortable
Being honest and blunt about how they felt helped improve their communication.
Native Expressions Ep.2 |16 – 20
anchoring
a negotiation or communication technique where the first idea or position sets the tone for what follows
They discussed how anchoring can influence an argument by framing expectations early.
vulnerable
open to emotional hurt or showing feelings that make one easy to be hurt or affected
She was afraid to be vulnerable and share how the constant arguments made her feel.
psychological bias
a tendency to think or make decisions in a certain way that can lead to errors in judgment
Anchoring is a psychological bias that influences how people make decisions in negotiations.
negotiation space
the situation or setting where people discuss and try to reach an agreement
In the negotiation space, starting strong can affect how the whole conversation unfolds.
aggressive request
a bold or high-demand proposal meant to push for a better outcome
He explained that making an aggressive request first can shape how the other person responds.
Native Expressions Ep.2 |21 – 25
reasonably justify
to support something with logic or evidence so that it sounds fair or acceptable
You should only make a demand that you can reasonably justify with facts or reasoning.
broke people up into two groups
to divide a group of people into separate parts for comparison or study
In the experiment, they broke people up into two groups to test how numbers affect guesses.
primed with
given certain information beforehand that influences later behavior or thinking
The group primed with the number 140 guessed Gandhi’s age much higher.
disproportionate impact
an effect that is much larger or smaller than expected
Even a silly number had a disproportionate impact on how people estimated his age.
reference point
a standard or starting value used for comparison
In a negotiation, your first offer becomes the reference point for all later offers.
Native Expressions Ep.2 |26 – 30
the other side
the opposing person or group in a discussion, negotiation, or conflict
He said that whether you or the other side should make the first offer depends on anchoring.
make the first offer
to present the initial proposal in a negotiation
He prefers to make the first offer when he has enough information because it gives him control.
nerd
a person who is very interested in academic or intellectual subjects, often more than social activities
He called himself a nerd because he gets excited about studies and psychological experiments.
give that away
to reveal or hand over something valuable, often information or an advantage
He didn’t want to give that away to the other side by speaking first.
sit back
to stay calm and wait instead of taking action immediately
He decided to sit back and wait for their offer before responding.
Native Expressions Ep.2 |31 – 35
counter
to respond to an offer or argument with another offer or argument
After hearing their price, he planned to counter with his own proposal.
re-anchor
to establish a new reference point after the other side’s first offer
He wanted to re-anchor the negotiation using his counteroffer.
adage
a well-known saying that expresses a general truth or piece of advice
He mentioned the old adage that you should never be the first to name a price.
put a price on the table
to state a specific price in a negotiation
In business deals, it’s risky to put a price on the table too early.
small business owners
people who own and run their own small companies
Many small business owners don’t actually know how much their companies are worth.
Native Expressions Ep.2 |36 – 40
seven figure idea
a belief or expectation involving a number in the millions (seven digits)
Some owners have a seven figure idea about their company even if it’s not realistic.
super transparent
very open and honest about information or intentions
He said he likes to be super transparent about how business values are calculated.
set the precedent
to establish a standard or example that others will follow
He wanted to set the precedent by explaining how businesses are typically valued.
textbook
perfectly following an ideal example or model; typical of how something should be done
His negotiation method was textbook — exactly how professionals recommend doing it.
upfront
honest and direct about something; not hiding information or intentions
He wanted to be upfront about how businesses are valued before starting the negotiation.
Native Expressions Ep.2 |41 – 45
maneuver
to move or adjust carefully or skillfully in order to get an advantage
He explained that some factors can maneuver a little on both sides depending on the situation.
I’d be curious your take
a polite way to ask someone for their opinion or thoughts
He began by saying, “I’d be curious your take,” to invite the other person to share their perspective.
appreciative
feeling or showing gratitude or thankfulness
He said he was appreciative that the business owner took the time to meet with him.
sat down to talk
to meet and have a serious or focused conversation
He thanked the owner who sat down to talk about the value of the business.
trade for
to be sold or exchanged for a certain amount or value
He explained that businesses usually trade for two to three times their profits.