Native English Expressions | Ep.24

Do you feel lost when listening to native speakers? It’s likely because textbook English isn’t enough. Welcome to Native Expressions Ep.24.

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.24 | 1 – 10

poisonous

toxic. containing a substance that can cause death or illness.
Be careful not to let poisonous thoughts stay in your head for too long.

road trip

drive. a long journey made by car to visit different places.
The best part of a road trip is not reaching the destination, but the funny stories you create along the way.

either one or the other

choice. used when there are two possibilities and you must pick one.
In life, you can either one or the other: wait for the perfect moment or simply make the moment perfect.

adorable

cute. very charming and easy to love.
The puppy looked adorable in the photo, but it immediately chewed up my favorite shoes.

wiry

stiff. thin but very strong and tough.
He has a wiry build, which makes him a surprisingly fast and powerful runner.

all there is

everything. the only thing that is available or present.
A small act of kindness is often all there is needed to change someone’s entire day.

cuddly

huggable. soft and pleasant to hold closely in your arms.
I bought a huge, cuddly teddy bear to hide the fact that I still do not have a real pillow.

Cheers

Thanks. A casual and common way to say thank you.
Cheers for the help; I would probably still be lost without your directions.

conquistador

conqueror. A powerful explorer who takes control of a new land.
You do not need to be a conquistador to be great; conquering your own fears is the biggest victory of all.

be frightened of something

fear. To feel afraid of something.
Don’t be frightened of failure because it is just a lesson on your way to success.

Native Expressions Ep.24 | 11 – 20

How lovely to see you

Nice greeting. A warm and polite way to say you are happy to see someone.
How lovely to see you! Your positive energy always makes the room feel much brighter.

kind of

somewhat. Used to describe something that is true to a small degree.
I kind of suspect that my dog is smarter than me, especially when he tricks me into giving him extra treats.

around about

approximately. used to describe an amount or size that is not exact.
The trip should take around about three hours if we do not hit any heavy traffic.

as rough as

coarse. having a surface that is not smooth or soft.
The beginning of a new journey is often as rough as an unpaved road, but it leads to a better place.

be a relief

comfort. to be a reason for feeling happy after a worry ends.
It was such a relief to find my keys in my hand while I was looking for them everywhere.

get comfortable

settle. to start feeling relaxed and confident in a new environment.
It takes a while to get comfortable in a new city, so be patient and take it one day at a time.

stay in

remain. to continue to be in a particular place, like your home.
On cold rainy days, I love to stay in and listen to the sound of the water against the window.

boar

wild pig. a large, wild pig with tusks and thick hair.
The hiker ran faster than ever when he saw a boar staring at him from the bushes.

spindle around

twist. to rotate or turn in a spiral shape.
I watched the steam spindle around my coffee cup as I sat quietly and planned my day.

go nuts

get crazy. to become very excited, angry, or out of control.
The children will go nuts if they find out there is a giant chocolate cake waiting in the kitchen.

Native Expressions Ep.24 | 21 – 30

a new do

hairstyle. a new style or a different way of cutting your hair.
He showed up at the party with a new do, and his own sister did not recognize him for a moment.

keep an open mind

be receptive. to be willing to consider new ideas or opinions.
You should always keep an open mind, but do not let it be so open that your common sense falls out.

indication

sign. something that shows that something else exists or is true.
A wagging tail is a very clear indication that your dog is extremely happy to see you.

every now and then

occasionally. happening sometimes but not very often.
It is healthy to turn off your phone every now and then to enjoy the beauty of the real world.

go wild

act freely. to behave in a very excited or uncontrolled way.
The crowd started to go wild when the singer finally walked onto the stage.

nothing wrong with that

acceptable. a phrase used to say that a situation or choice is perfectly fine.
He likes to eat breakfast for dinner every single day, and honestly, there is nothing wrong with that.

nurturer

caregiver. a person who protects and helps someone or something to grow.
A great teacher is a nurturer who helps every student feel confident and capable of achieving their dreams.

step on one’s territory

intrude. to enter or interfere with an area that belongs to someone else.
In the office, it is always wise to be polite and careful not to step on one’s territory during your first week.

mess with someone

annoy. to interfere with or bother someone in a way that causes trouble.
You should never mess with someone who has not had their morning coffee yet, or you might regret it!

rear someone

raise. to care for a child or an animal until they are fully grown.
It takes a lot of patience and love to rear someone to be a kind and honest person in this busy world.

Native Expressions Ep.24 | 31 – 40

protector

guardian. a person or thing that protects someone or something from harm.
A loyal dog is not just a pet; it is a brave protector who always looks after its family.

hang

attach. to put something on a hook or a wall.
You can hang your jacket on the hook behind the door so your room stays neat.

pouch

bag. a small pocket-like part of an animal or a small bag.
A kangaroo carries its baby in a pouch to keep it safe, warm, and close.

bound up

jump. to move quickly with a leap or a skip.
The happy puppy will bound up the stairs the moment it hears the sound of a food bowl.

needy

demanding. wanting a lot of attention or emotional support from others.
Everyone feels a bit needy on a rainy day, and there is no shame in asking a friend for a hug.

reside

live. to have a home in a specific place for a long time.
Many beautiful birds reside in this quiet park, filling the air with music every single morning.

take over something

control. to get control of something like a place, a job, or a project.
A kind heart and a big smile can take over a room and make everyone feel immediately welcome.

out of time

finished. having no more time left to finish a task or an activity.
We should finish our meeting now because the building is closing and we are out of time.

convince

persuade. to make someone believe that something is true.
It is very difficult to convince a cat that your computer keyboard is not a perfect place for a nap.

hurt oneself

get injured. to cause physical pain or damage to your own body.
Be careful when you are cooking in a hurry, or you might hurt oneself with a sharp knife or a hot pan.