Native English Expressions | Ep.30

Do you feel lost when listening to native speakers? It’s likely because textbook English isn’t enough. Welcome to Native Expressions Ep.30.

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.30 | 1 – 10

fallout

: consequences. the unpleasant results of a situation or action.
The guest had to be strong enough to handle the fallout of his honest opinions.

mimetic desire

: copycat craving. wanting something mainly because you see other people wanting or doing it.
The host asks if people truly love podcasting or if they just have a mimetic desire to be famous like others.

out loud

: audibly. using your voice so that others can hear.
The author believes in telling the truth out loud even if it causes trouble.

come off as

: seem. to appear to have a particular quality or character to other people.
The interviewer might come off as aggressive, but she just wants to do her job well.

well-versed

: knowledgeable. having a lot of information or experience about a specific subject.
Because she follows the news every day, she is well-versed in many different topics like sports and politics.

intrusive

: nosy. affecting someone’s private life in an annoying or unwanted way.
Some people think asking about personal feelings is intrusive during a professional talk.

so to speak

as if. used to show that a description is not literal but a way of explaining.
He used to treat his guests like objects, so to speak, instead of seeing them as real humans.

petty

: narrow-minded. caring too much about small, unimportant things to be mean.
It is sometimes hard to ignore petty behavior from people on social media.

genuinely

: truly. in a real or sincere way.
She genuinely wants to improve her life without feeling bad about herself.

verbally abusive

: insulting. using cruel words to hurt someone’s feelings.
The speaker warns that social media can feel like a verbally abusive relationship.

Native Expressions Ep.30 | 11 – 20

stick around

: stay. to remain in a place or situation for some time.
If someone treats you poorly, you should not stick around in that environment.

inner work

: self-reflection. efforts to improve one’s own mind and emotions.
Doing inner work helps people stay calm when they face criticism from others.

get tactical

: be strategic. to focus on specific actions to reach a goal.
The podcast host wants to get tactical about how to win during hard times.

aspire to

: aim. to have a strong desire to achieve or become something.
Many people aspire to be as confident as the person they see on the screen.

offend the wrong person

upset. to insult a person who has the power to cause you trouble.
You should be careful not to offend the wrong person because they might damage your career.

enemy for life

foe. someone who will always hate you and never forgive you.
Being rude to a powerful leader can accidentally make them an enemy for life.

let someone go easy

be soft. to treat a person in a way that is not strict or difficult.
Even though she liked the guest, she did not let them go easy and asked the most difficult questions.

subject

target. the person who is being interviewed, studied, or talked about.
The young reporter viewed the famous politician simply as a subject for his next big story.

dig deep

explore. to search very carefully for more information or the hidden truth.
To find the real story, a journalist must dig deep instead of just listening to simple answers.

empathy

compassion. the ability to understand and share the feelings of another person.
It is possible to ask tough questions while still having empathy for the person you are talking to.

Native Expressions Ep.30 | 21 – 30

hard-hitting

: tough. being very direct and not hiding the truth, even if it is unpleasant.
You can be a kind person and still ask hard-hitting questions to get the real story.

human aspect

: personal side. the part of a person’s character that shows real emotions and experiences.
Asking “why” twice helps a reporter see the human aspect of a person instead of their public image.

hit someone with

: surprise. to suddenly present or ask someone something, often to get a real reaction.
After the guest finishes their first response, the host will hit them with a much deeper question.

prep

: prepare. to get ready for something by studying or practicing beforehand.
A professional host needs to prep for a long time before they sit down with a big star.

have something out

: release. to make something like a book or a song available to the public.
When an author has a new book out, they usually visit many shows to talk about their work.

drop

: release. to make a new movie, song, or TV show available for people to see or hear.
The famous actor is about to drop a new action film next month.

over-prepped

: overly-ready. having prepared so much that the conversation no longer feels natural.
If a host is over-prepped, they might miss the chance to ask about a surprising new topic.

value something

: appreciate. to recognize how important or useful something is.
Because millions of people are listening, the speaker tries to value the time he has with his guest.

no longer here

: deceased. a polite way to say that someone has died.
The show has many recordings of famous people who are no longer here today.

pass away

: die. a gentle way to say that a person’s life has ended.
Interviews become very important historical records after a famous legend passes away.

Native Expressions Ep.30 | 31 – 39

obsessed with

: fixated. thinking about something all the time because you care about it so much.
The young creator is obsessed with making the best videos possible for his viewers.

price of greatness

: cost. the hard work or sacrifice needed to become very successful.
Working long hours and staying focused is often the price of greatness in any career.

do someone’s bidding

: obey. to do what another person or group tells you to do or wants.
He believes a leader should do the bidding of the people instead of just following personal goals.

do something for free

: unpaid. to work or perform a task without receiving any money for it.
When you are truly obsessed with a hobby, it is often something you would do for free.

path of righteousness

: moral way. a way of living that is honest, good, and fair.
The show tries to help listeners get on a path of righteousness through spiritual talk.

layered question

: complex inquiry. a question that has many different parts or meanings to consider.
Asking how to find your passion is a layered question because the answer is different for everyone.

get in trouble

: be punished. to do something wrong and experience negative consequences.
In his youth, he would often get in trouble because he couldn’t stop talking in class.

disruptive

: troublesome. causing interruptions and preventing things from continuing normally.
A student who is disruptive in school might actually have a talent for entertaining others.

class clown

: joker. a student who frequently makes jokes and acts silly to make others laugh.
Being the class clown helped him develop the skills he needed to talk on a microphone.