Native English Expressions | Ep.20

Do you feel lost when listening to native speakers? It’s likely because textbook English isn’t enough. Welcome to Native Expressions Ep.20.

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.

Native Expressions Ep.20 | 1 – 10

grind

to work very hard or perform repetitive tasks to reach a goal
Success is not just about the grind; it is also about finding joy in the journey.

no flaws

being perfect without any marks or mistakes
Don’t worry about having no flaws; your unique imperfections are what make you special.

glam

relating to the hair, makeup, and fashion that make someone look very attractive for a show or event
He spent so much time on his glam that the party was almost over by the time he arrived.

insecure

feeling uncertain or lacking confidence in yourself
Social media can make people feel insecure, but true happiness comes from within.

hold on to

to keep something
Don’t hold on to anger, as it only weighs you down in the long run.

break out of

to escape from a boring routine or a situation that limits you
She decided to break out of her comfort zone and try public speaking for the first time.

bananas

a slang word used to describe something that is crazy, silly, or unexpected
The weather lately has been absolutely bananas; it was snowing yesterday and now it is warm enough for a t-shirt.

kill it

to do something exceptionally well or be very successful
They were nervous about the performance, but they went on stage and managed to kill it.

to one’s advantage

to use something to help yourself
The songwriter uses her past pain to her advantage when creating music.

trickery

the use of clever tricks to fool or deceive people
The magician’s show was full of trickery, but the audience loved being fooled by the performance.

Native Expressions Ep.20 | 11 – 20

rain cloud

a person who feels sad or brings a gloomy mood to a group
Don’t let one rain cloud ruin your sunny day; stay positive and keep moving forward.

flannel

a soft fabric often used for shirts with a checkered or plaid pattern
Even in the middle of summer, he insists on wearing a thick flannel because he likes the style.

spent

very tired or exhausted
The artist felt spent after a long day of training.

be aware of

to know or realize something
Please be aware of your own potential, because you are capable of amazing things.

blown out of proportion

made to seem much more important or serious than it really is
Don’t let a small misunderstanding get blown out of proportion; just talk it out.

escapism

the activity of avoiding reality by thinking about pleasant things
Watching a movie is a great form of escapism when you need a break from stress.

get caught in

to become stuck or trapped in something
He often gets his hair caught in the hair dryer because he dreams of being a rock star.

badass

very impressive, cool, or highly skilled
You are a total badass for facing your fears and following your own path.

emo

a style or feeling related to being very emotional or expressive of sadness
Having an emo phase is a normal part of growing up and figuring out who you are.

make a face

to change your facial expression to look funny or silly
The little boy tried to make a face to make his sister stop crying.

Native Expressions Ep.20 | 21 – 30

mastermind

a person who is very good at planning and leading something
My dog is a mastermind who always finds a way to steal snacks from the counter.

at some point

at an unspecified time in the future
Everyone feels lost at some point, but that is often when the best journey begins.

whether you want to or not

regardless of your choice or preference
You have to face your fears whether you want to or not to become the person you want to be.

ridiculous

very silly or unreasonable
It is ridiculous how much joy a small cup of coffee can bring on a rainy morning.

chime

to make a clear, ringing sound like a bell
The old clock began to chime just as the sun started to rise over the hills.

bracelets

pieces of jewelry worn around the wrist
He wears so many bracelets that he sounds like a walking wind chime whenever he runs.

lit

provided with light or decorated with lights
The cozy room was lit by a warm fireplace, making it the perfect spot for a long nap.

it might be hard not to

used to say that avoiding a certain action or feeling is very difficult
When you see a beautiful sunset after a long day, it might be hard not to stop and appreciate the moment.

deal with

to handle or solve a problem or situation
It is better to deal with a small problem today than to wait for it to become a big one tomorrow.

make it work

to find a way to be successful even when things are difficult
They had very little time to finish the project, but they managed to make it work.

Native Expressions Ep.20 | 31 – 40

nail down

to fix or settle a specific detail, such as a time, price, or plan, exactly
It is hard to nail down a specific date for the trip until we know everyone’s schedule.

larger-than-life

having a very strong and interesting personality that attracts a lot of attention
Although the speaker was small in height, her larger-than-life personality filled the entire room.

work into the ground

to make someone work so hard that they become extremely tired
He worked himself into the ground trying to finish the project, only to realize the deadline was actually next week.

non-negotiable

something that is fixed and cannot be changed or discussed
For many people, having a cup of coffee in the morning is a non-negotiable part of their day.

on the road

traveling for a long time, especially for work or a tour
Even though they are on the road often, they always make time to call home.

smartest of us all

the person with the most wisdom or intelligence in a group
The person who knows when to stay silent is often the smartest of us all.

blur out

to make a part of a picture less clear or fuzzy
You can blur out the messy background of your room before starting the video call.

witchcraft

magic or mysterious power that is hard to explain
To people from the past, a simple smartphone would look like pure witchcraft.

nurture

to help someone or something grow and develop
The older artist wants to nurture younger stars to help them succeed.

make it through

to survive or finish a difficult situation
She hopes to make it through the tough challenges of the music industry.

Native Expressions Ep.20 | 41 – 50

treacherous pathways

dangerous or unpredictable routes to a goal
The young performer faced many treacherous pathways on the road to fame.

be there for

to be available to support or help someone
The veteran singer promised to be there for the newcomer during the pandemic.

old guard

a group of people who have been in a field for a long time
The singer respects the old guard who helped guide her when she first started her career.

manifest itself

to show or appear
Stress can manifest itself as physical pain in the back.

exercise the demons

to get rid of negative feelings through hard work
She uses her daily workout to exercise the demons and clear her mind.

sell one’s soul

to give up one’s values for power
People joked that the artist had to sell his soul to play the blues so well.

mantra

a word or phrase repeated to help focus
Finding a good balance in life has become her personal mantra.

thrust into

to be suddenly forced into a new situation
The young girl was thrust into fame after her TV show became a hit.

puddle of sweat

a small pool of liquid from hard work
After her intense workout, she was lying in a puddle of sweat.

purge

to get rid of something unwanted or harmful
She uses hard exercise to purge the negative thoughts from her mind.

Native Expressions Ep.20 | 51 – 52

monastery

a place where monks live and focus on spiritual work
An artist cannot live in a monastery because they need real life experience.

provocateur

a person who causes trouble or excitement
She acted as a provocateur to change her image after the Disney show.