Native English Expressions | Ep.1
Do you feel lost when listening to native speakers? It’s likely because textbook English isn’t enough. Welcome to Native Expressions Ep.1.
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 to 5:10 mark of this video, where today’s expressions were originally used: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c36S2A7f1zc
Native Expressions Ep.1 |1 – 5
be dominated
to be controlled or overpowered by another person
He didn’t want to be dominated in the discussion.
assert oneself
to express one’s opinions or rights confidently and firmly
They want to assert themselves so they don’t feel dominated.
win arguments but lose the relationship
to succeed in proving your point but damage personal connections
You can win arguments but lose the relationship if you’re not careful.
resentment builds up
to gradually develop feelings of anger or bitterness
When problems aren’t discussed, resentment builds up.
compliance
the act of agreeing to a request or rule, often unwillingly
He nodded in compliance with the manager’s instructions.
Native Expressions Ep.1 |6 – 10
undermine
to weaken or damage something or someone, often secretly
They might find sneaky ways to undermine you while pretending to agree.
subconscious
existing in the mind but not fully aware
Even if it’s subconscious, people react negatively when they feel forced.
force someone to do something
to make someone act against their will
If someone forces you to do something, you feel disrespected.
bring your best self to the table
to contribute your best attitude, skills, or effort in a situation
When you feel respected, you’re more likely to bring your best self to the table.
hidden costs
negative consequences that are not immediately obvious
People often ignore the hidden costs of success in arguments.
Native Expressions Ep.1 |11 – 15
take the time to
to make an effort to do something carefully and thoughtfully
Not many people take the time to appreciate emotional costs in conversations.
make a meaningful connection
to form a real and sincere emotional or personal bond
We should make a meaningful connection instead of just trying to win.
lack of connection
not having understanding or emotional closeness between people
The real problem was a lack of connection, not the disagreement.
be seen, heard, and understood
to feel recognized, listened to, and accepted by others
Everyone wants to be seen, heard, and understood in a relationship.
fight, flight, or freeze
three common stress responses: confront (fight), escape (flight), or become unable to act (freeze)
She realized her reaction during arguments was often fight, flight, or freeze.
Native Expressions Ep.1 |16 – 20
comply
to act according to a rule, request, or demand, often unwillingly
They might comply in the moment, but deep down they disagree.
submit
to accept someone else’s authority or control, often unwillingly
He refused to submit to unfair treatment.
appreciate
to recognize and value the good qualities or importance of something or someone
I really appreciate your help with this project.
compliment
a polite expression of praise or admiration
Being called a “lawyer” by his wife wasn’t exactly a compliment.
be persuasive
to be able to convince others to agree with your ideas or opinions
It’s not enough to be right; you have to be persuasive.
Native Expressions Ep.1 |21 – 25
process logically
to think or analyze something using reason and logic
When we process logically, we tend to make better decisions.
negotiate better
to improve your ability to discuss and reach agreements successfully
Learning how to negotiate better can help you earn more money.
take some power back
to regain control or influence in a situation
When you learn to say no, you take some power back.
go awry
to go wrong or not happen as planned
If communication goes awry, misunderstandings can happen easily.
fall back on
to rely on something when other options fail
Good negotiators fall back on their training under pressure.
Native Expressions Ep.1 |26 – 30
comeback
a clever or quick reply during an argument or discussion
He was proud of his witty comeback during the debate.
figure out
to understand or solve something
It took me a while to figure out what she meant.
build up
to increase or develop gradually, often leading to tension or pressure
If resentment builds up, it can damage relationships.
maintain relationships
to keep good and healthy connections with people over time
It’s important to maintain relationships in both business and personal life.
pivotal moment
a very important or decisive point in time
Law school became the pivotal moment when he discovered negotiation.
Native Expressions Ep.1 |31 – 35
for the good or the bad
referring to both positive and negative outcomes
Negotiation can affect everything for the good or the bad.
people pleaser
a person who always wants to make others happy, often at their own expense
Being a people pleaser can make it hard to say no.
step into
to enter or begin something, often a new situation or role
When he stepped into that class, he realized negotiation was a skill.
eye-opening
surprising and educational; making you see something in a new way
Traveling alone was an eye-opening experience for her.
origin story
the background or beginnings of a person, project, or idea
His origin story is different from most negotiation experts.
Native Expressions Ep.1 |36 – 40
get better at
to improve one’s ability or skill in something
He realized he could get better at negotiation through practice.
empowering
giving someone confidence or a sense of control
He found it empowering to know negotiation was a learnable skill.
tough conversation
a difficult discussion, often emotional or uncomfortable
He grew stronger each time he faced a tough conversation.
vote of confidence
a sign that you believe in yourself or someone else
Each tough conversation felt like a vote of confidence in himself.
ultimately want to become
the person you hope to be in the future
Every challenge helps him move closer to the man he ultimately wants to become.
Native Expressions Ep.1 |41 – 45
limited lives
lives with fewer opportunities or freedom due to fear or lack of awareness
Many people live limited lives because they are afraid to take risks.
have what it takes
to have the necessary ability or qualities to do something
Many people didn’t know they had what it took to have honest conversations.
put someone on a direction
to set someone on a certain path or purpose in life
The realization put him on this direction of helping others communicate better.
heart rate’s racing
to have your heartbeat increase quickly due to excitement or nervousness
My heart rate’s racing every time I argue with someone.
feel at peace
to feel calm and free from stress or conflict
He learned how to argue and still feel at peace.
Native Expressions Ep.1 |46 – 50
argue for a living
to have a job that involves debating or defending ideas (often about lawyers)
As a lawyer, he argues for a living.
be lawyered
to be treated as if in a legal argument; to experience overly logical or argumentative behavior
Nobody wants to be lawyered during a casual conversation.
on the other side of an argument
to be the person opposing someone in a disagreement
She didn’t like being on the other side of an argument with her best friend.
comes at a cost
to have negative consequences even if there is success
Every victory in an argument comes at a cost.
give in
to stop resisting or arguing and finally agree to something
He didn’t want to give in, but he knew it was the only way to move forward.
Native Expressions Ep.1 |51 – 55
submit momentarily
to give in or agree for a short time
When you force someone to agree, they only submit momentarily.
hurts the relationship
to damage trust or closeness between people
Winning arguments often hurts the relationship.
stay pretty calm
to remain relaxed and not get emotional
He can stay pretty calm during business negotiations.
if I get the deal
a conditional expression meaning “if I successfully make an agreement”
He said, “If I get the deal, that’s great. If not, I’ll be fine.”
things become hard
when a situation turns difficult or complicated
At home, things become hard because emotions matter more.
Native Expressions Ep.1 |56 – 58
go sideways
to go wrong or take an unexpected bad turn
The meeting went sideways after someone made a rude comment.
carry oneself
to behave or present oneself in a certain way
The way we carry ourselves can make even correct words sound wrong.
start off by saying
to begin a statement or conversation with specific words
If you start off by saying “I’m right,” you might lose the listener.