Native English Expressions | Ep.13
Do you feel lost when listening to native speakers? It’s likely because textbook English isn’t enough. Welcome to Native Expressions Ep.13.
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 this video, where today’s expressions were originally used: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7muA1KCCUc
Native Expressions Ep.13 | 1 – 5
infiltrate
to enter a place or organization secretly in order to find out secrets or cause damage
He suggested that an enemy might infiltrate society by sending agents who look like normal people.
pose
to pretend to be a particular person
The man worried that a robot might pose as a human actor to hide its true identity.
lull
to make someone feel safe or confident, often so that they are less prepared for danger
The robot’s friendly appearance was designed to lull the passengers into a false sense of security.
stroke
a sudden action or event that is very effective or successful
Finding a celebrity on the train was a stroke of luck that the friends never expected.
cheesy pick-up line
a common remark used to start a conversation
He used a cheesy pick-up line about the weather, but the woman didn’t seem very impressed by it.
Native Expressions Ep.13 | 6 – 10
have a shot at something
to have a chance to achieve or try something
One of the passengers felt excited because he believed he finally had a shot at meeting a person from his favorite television show.
be a dear
used to ask someone to do a small favor in a kind and polite way
She asked him to be a dear and fetch her another drink while they were talking on the train.
confined space
a small or restricted area where movement is limited
He realized that staying in a confined space like a train carriage for many hours would give him plenty of time to talk to the lady.
succumb to something
to stop resisting something or to give in to a pressure or a feeling
The man joked that eventually, the famous actress would succumb to his personality because they were stuck on the journey together.
pro-robot
supporting or favoring robots
The man humorously shouted that he was pro-robot so that the actress, who played a machine on TV, wouldn’t attack him.
Native Expressions Ep.13 | 11 – 15
acquired taste
something that you do not like at first but begin to like after experiencing it for a while
He described his own difficult personality as an acquired taste, believing that people need time to truly appreciate him.
get first crack at something
to have the first opportunity to try something or to do something
The two friends started arguing over who should get first crack at introducing themselves to the celebrity they saw.
score with someone
to succeed in starting a romantic relationship
His friend made fun of him, saying he had no chance to score with the famous actress on the train.
take something into account
to consider or remember a particular fact when you are making a decision or judging a situation
One man argued that his friend failed to take into account that being quiet and mysterious could actually be an advantage when meeting new people.
make something up
to invent a story, joke, or explanation that is not true
He tried to be charming by pretending he had made up the cheesy pick-up line himself.
Native Expressions Ep.13 | 16 – 20
loosely based on
having a foundation in real events or a specific source but with many changes
The traveler joked that a popular award-winning film was actually loosely based on his own life story.
peek one’s head out
to appear briefly or start to become visible from behind or inside something
The man pointed toward the horizon where a bright star was peeking its head out earlier than usual.
come on
used to show that you do not believe what someone is saying or think they are being silly
She said “Come on” when the passenger acted as if her science fiction character was a real person.
fetch
to go to another place to get something and bring it back
She asked the man to fetch her another drink while they were sitting on the train.
good things come in small packages
a saying used to suggest that the size of something does not determine its quality or value
One of the shorter men tried to impress her by joking that good things come in small packages when he introduced himself.
Native Expressions Ep.13 | 21 – 25
go for broke
to risk everything or put all your effort into one last attempt to succeed
After his jokes failed to get a big reaction, he decided to go for broke and honestly tell her that he liked her.
hopeless geek
a person who is extremely obsessed with niche subjects like technology and lacks social skills
The man tried to distance himself from the hopeless geeks on the train, even though he was acting like one himself.
fail to notice
to not realize or see something that is important or obvious
He was so nervous that he failed to notice the drink he was holding was actually non-alcoholic, which would ruin his plan.
ask someone out
to invite someone to go on a date with you
The man realized the conversation wasn’t going well, so he asked if there was any chance he could ask her out in the future.
leave someone in peace
to stop bothering someone and let them be alone
After being rejected, he promised to leave her in peace so she could enjoy the rest of her train ride.
Native Expressions Ep.13 | 26 – 30
make out
to kiss and touch someone in a sexual way
He caused an awkward moment by asking to take a photo where it looked like they were making out together.
conversational path
a sequence of topics or statements that leads to a specific conclusion or outcome
He desperately searched for a conversational path that might change her mind about going on a date with him.
Holy crap
an informal expression used to show great surprise, excitement, or shock
The passenger shouted “Holy crap” when he suddenly realized a famous actress was sitting right across from him.
tuck and roll
a safety technique where a person curls their body into a ball and rolls upon landing to minimize injury after falling or jumping
The character joked that the woman would rather tuck and roll out of a moving train than spend the whole trip talking to him.
intimate pairing
a formal or scientific way to describe a romantic relationship
The scientist used the term intimate pairing to describe the romantic relationship his friend had with a colleague.
Native Expressions Ep.13 | 31 – 32
sober
not affected by alcohol; not drunk
One friend claimed he had an advantage because he could talk to women while sober, unlike his companion who needed a drink to speak.
frail and pasty
physically weak and having a pale, unhealthy-looking skin tone
The man was insulted for being frail and pasty, but he jokingly claimed that looking weak was actually a secret way to attract people.