Native English Expressions | Ep.10
Do you feel lost when listening to native speakers? It’s likely because textbook English isn’t enough. Welcome to Native Expressions Ep.10.
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 00:00 – 6:05 mark of this video, where today’s expressions were originally used: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7muA1KCCUc
Native Expressions Ep.10 | 1 – 5
to win, you have to suffer
success requires enduring hardship or sacrifice
He argues that to win, you have to suffer through problems instead of avoiding them.
doormat
someone who lets others treat them badly or use them
If you never set boundaries, people may treat you like a doormat.
push back
to oppose or resist a plan, idea, or influence
The team decided to push back against the management’s plan to increase working hours.
walked over
treated without respect; taken advantage of
She felt walked over because she never pushed back.
pushed around
controlled or treated roughly by others, emotionally or socially
A timid employee can get pushed around by louder teammates.
Native Expressions Ep.10 | 6 – 10
frazzled
tired and stressed, showing it in your behavior or appearance
After a chaotic week, he looked frazzled in every meeting.
frantic
very nervous and rushed, acting as if there is an emergency
When things go wrong, a frantic teammate can create more confusion.
get all the way to the truth
to reach the full, honest reality without avoiding hard facts
He said leadership means you must get all the way to the truth, even when it’s unpleasant.
setbacks
problems or delays that stop progress temporarily but do not end it
During the long journey toward success, he faced many setbacks that tested his determination.
have someone’s back
to support and protect someone, especially in a difficult situation
He realized that not everyone would have his back when competition got tough.
Native Expressions Ep.10 | 11 – 15
docile
quiet and easy to influence, persuade, or control
Society tries to make people docile, but to win in life, you must be aggressive and tough.
the truth of the matter
the real fact about a situation, even if it is unpleasant
After listening to the talk, she accepted the truth of the matter that life is not always friendly.
collide
to crash into something or to come into conflict with someone or something because interests or goals are different
In competitive situations, people often clash when their ambitions collide.
collide
to crash into something or to come into conflict with someone or something because interests or goals are different
In competitive situations, people often clash when their ambitions collide.
at war with
in strong conflict or constant struggle with someone or something
In the speaker’s view, people are often at war with others when goals collide.
Native Expressions Ep.10 | 16 – 20
undercurrent
a hidden influence, feeling, or tension that is not openly shown
Even when everyone smiled, there was an undercurrent of rivalry in the group.
competitor
a person or group trying to achieve the same goal as someone else
He started training harder because a competitor was aiming for the same position.
compete for
to try to get something that other people also want
They began to compete for attention and status instead of cooperating.
evolve from
to develop over time from an earlier form
The speaker argued that humans still carry instincts they evolve from earlier animals.
pretend
to act as if something is true when it is not
He said society can pretend everything is easy, even when tension exists.
Native Expressions Ep.10 | 21 – 25
politically incorrect
likely to offend people because it goes against accepted social views
He claimed some honest messages are labeled politically incorrect today.
make someone feel good
to comfort someone or create pleasant emotions, sometimes without telling hard truths
He insisted he wasn’t there just to make people feel good with flattering words.
what it takes
the effort, skills, or sacrifices needed to achieve a goal
The video focused on what it takes to succeed when others want the same prize.
must suffer
to have to endure pain, hardship, or discomfort
He argued that to truly win, you must suffer through pressure and sacrifice.
apes
primates similar to humans, such as chimpanzees and gorillas
The speaker suggested that modern humans still carry instincts from their time as apes.
Native Expressions Ep.10 | 26 – 30
no way around it
no alternative; something is unavoidable
If you want serious results, there is no way around it—you must put in the work.
take longer than you think
require more time than you expect
Building credibility may take longer than you think, even if you work every day.
lose friends
stop being close to some people because priorities or values change
When he became more driven, he began to lose friends who didn’t support his goals.
gain them in the end
eventually make new friends after a hard period
After staying consistent, he began to gain them in the end through new communities and shared goals.
be worth it
to have value that justifies the effort or cost
He believes the struggle can be worth it if it leads to the life you truly want.
Native Expressions Ep.10 | 31 – 35
by the name of
called; known as
He mentioned a well-known entrepreneur by the name of Ben Horowitz to support his point.
hype
strong promotion or exaggerated excitement meant to attract attention, often beyond reality
He explained that the video avoids hype and focuses on the difficult truths of leadership.
isn’t meant to be
not designed for a certain purpose
He said the talk isn’t meant to be hype—it’s meant to be honest.
don’t work
are not effective
He argued that quick-fix lifestyle promises often don’t work in real life.
communicate honestly
to share thoughts and information in a direct, truthful way
He warned that many teammates don’t communicate honestly, which creates confusion and conflict.
Native Expressions Ep.10 | 36 – 40
live with the reality
to accept an unpleasant fact and deal with it
A leader has to live with the reality that the world isn’t always fair or gentle.
strategic warrior
a person who plans carefully and stays tough in competitive situations
He described effective leaders as a strategic warrior who stays calm and thinks ahead.
armed for
prepared and equipped to deal with something difficult
He wants leaders to be armed for conflict by recognizing different personality types.
win less
to achieve fewer successes or good outcomes
He warns you will win less if you ignore these behaviors.
snap
to respond suddenly in an angry or sharp way
When stressed, she might snap at simple questions.
Native Expressions Ep.10 | 41 – 45
reactive responder
a person who reacts quickly and emotionally instead of thinking calmly first
A reactive responder may snap when you ask for a small update.
overwhelmed
feeling unable to cope because there is too much to do or handle
He describes someone who is constantly overwhelmed and on edge.
give off
to show or produce a particular feeling or impression
His body language gave off nervous energy even before he spoke.
emotional empath
a person who feels emotions strongly and is highly sensitive to others’ feelings
An emotional empath may react intensely to feedback, even if it’s minor.
project onto
to wrongly attribute your own feelings or problems to someone else
When he felt anxious, he would project onto the whole team.
Native Expressions Ep.10 | 46 – 50
bring something up
to start talking about an issue or topic, often a sensitive one
Leaders sometimes hesitate to bring something up because they expect a strong reaction.
pleasing pushover
a person who tries to make everyone happy and cannot say no, so others take advantage
A pleasing pushover may agree to extra work even when they are exhausted.
puppy dog
someone overly eager to please and always seeking approval
He compared this type to a puppy dog who just wants to be liked.
change their ways
to change habits or behavior patterns
He said they must change their ways or they’ll keep getting used.
aggressive attacker
a person who tries to dominate by being forceful
An aggressive attacker may pressure others to agree quickly.
Native Expressions Ep.10 | 51 – 55
push people around
to bully or control people through forceful behavior
He dislikes leaders who push people around to get quick results.
intimidation
the use of fear, or aggressive behavior to control or influence others
He relied on intimidation in meetings to silence disagreement and force quick decisions.
bully
someone who uses intimidation or cruelty to control others
He described that person as a bully in meetings.
get away with it
to do something wrong without being punished or facing consequences
He warned you can’t get away with it forever if you treat people badly.
long term
over a long period of time; in the future
In the long term, trust matters more than intimidation.
Native Expressions Ep.10 | 56 – 60
implode
to collapse or fail suddenly from internal pressure or problems
He said this type eventually implodes when relationships break down.
seen through
understood beyond appearances
Over time, the act gets seen through and people stop trusting them.
speak the loudest
to dominate a conversation by being louder than others
He said they often speak the loudest to control the room.
posture
the way you hold your body, which can show confidence, fear, or aggression
An aggressive posture can make others feel pressured.
get too close
to stand or move into someone’s personal space in a way that feels uncomfortable
He mentioned bullies may get too close to intimidate you.
Native Expressions Ep.10 | 61 – 65
physiognomy
the physical appearance of a person that can suggest their character
You could recognize his stress and defensiveness just from his physiognomy before he said anything.
constant whiner
a person who repeatedly complains and focuses on what is wrong
A constant whiner can drain a team by turning every challenge into a complaint.
play the victim
to act as if you are always harmed and not responsible for problems
He tends to play the victim whenever a project goes badly.
what isn’t going so great
the negative parts of a situation; things that are not working well
When asked about progress, she only talked about what isn’t going so great.
strategic leader
a leader who stays calm, thinks ahead, and acts deliberately to win long-term
A strategic leader keeps the group focused even when emotions rise.
Native Expressions Ep.10 | 66 – 70
rational fighter
someone who stays logical and controlled while handling conflict
In a crisis, a rational fighter chooses the next step instead of panicking.
project calm
to intentionally show calmness so others feel stable
During chaos, she tried to project calm so the team wouldn’t spiral.
downregulate
to help reduce someone’s emotional intensity or stress level
He learned to downregulate others by speaking slowly and clearly.
hold firm
to stay strong in your decision or boundary and not change under pressure
She held firm on the deadline even when people complained.
say your truth
to express your personal feelings or perspective openly
He criticized the idea that you can always say your truth without consequences.
Native Expressions Ep.10 | 71 – 75
brutal
very harsh, direct, and possibly painful to hear
His message was brutal, but he believed it was necessary.
half the job
a major part of the work; about half of what matters
He said half the job of winning is strong communication.
an easy day at the beach
something that feels relaxed and effortless
He said tough talks should feel like an easy day at the beach in your delivery.
hold the line
to keep your position or boundary and not give in
He warned that most people won’t hold the line when emotions rise.
show you their stripes
to reveal their true character through their behavior
Under pressure, people often show you their stripes.
Native Expressions Ep.10 | 76 – 78
avatar
a type or role that represents a certain pattern of behavior
He used avatar to describe predictable personality types you’ll notice.
tell by
to know or judge something based on signs or evidence
He said you can tell by someone’s reaction what they are really like.
all upset
very bothered, angry, or emotionally disturbed
He described someone who came in all upset and ready to argue.