Native English Expressions | Ep.8
Do you feel lost when listening to native speakers? It’s likely because textbook English isn’t enough. Welcome to Native Expressions Ep.8.
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.8 | 1 – 5
host
a person who receives or entertains guests at an event or gathering
The host welcomed everyone warmly before explaining how the unusual party would work.
would anyone care to ~
a polite way to ask if someone is willing to do something
At the start of the gathering, the host asked if anyone would care to help prepare a drink.
mix a drink
to prepare an alcoholic beverage by combining ingredients
One guest stepped forward when someone needed help to mix a drink for the evening.
What will you have?
a polite question asking what someone wants to drink or eat
At the gathering, the host turned to a guest and asked, “What will you have?” to offer them a drink choice.
strangers to each other
people who do not know one another
Because the guests were strangers to each other, the host suggested they chat over drinks to break the ice.
Native Expressions Ep.8 | 6 – 10
get acquainted
to become familiar with someone or something
The guests tried to get acquainted with each other before the strange party officially started.
call something off
to cancel an event or plan
Some guests wanted Mr. Lauren to call the party off because the atmosphere felt unsettling.
a bad sign
something that suggests trouble or danger might happen
They felt the strange noises in the house were a bad sign for the night ahead.
apologize for
to say sorry because someone did something wrong or inconvenient
He had to apologize for his wife’s absence, saying she would join them later.
go over the details
to review or explain important information
Before the evening truly started, the host gathered everyone to go over the details of the event.
Native Expressions Ep.8 | 11 – 15
caretaker
a person hired to look after and maintain a house or property
The caretakers warned the guests that they would leave at midnight, leaving everyone alone in the mansion.
lock someone in
to secure a place so that people inside cannot leave
The guests grew nervous when they learned the staff would lock them in until morning.
no way out
no possible method or path to escape
Once the heavy door shut, the group realized there was no way out of the old house.
rod
a long, thin, straight piece of wood or metal
The windows were secured with metal rods that made the house feel more like a prison than a party venue.
bars
strong metal rods placed across windows or doors for security
The windows had thick bars that made the house feel more like a prison.
Native Expressions Ep.8 | 16 – 20
jail
a place where people are kept as punishment or while waiting for a trial
The guests felt uneasy when they saw the barred windows that looked like something from a jail.
like a vault
very secure and difficult to open, similar to a bank vault
The main door was built like a vault, making escape impossible once it was locked.
no one within miles
no other people or houses nearby for a long distance
Because there was no one within miles, the guests knew they couldn’t call for help even if they tried.
like a coffin
similar to a closed box used for burying a body, used metaphorically to express feeling trapped
One guest whispered that the sealed house felt like a coffin as midnight approached.
decide not to
to choose not to do something
The host warned that anyone who decided not to stay must announce it before midnight.
Native Expressions Ep.8 | 21 – 25
shan’t
a contraction of “shall not,” meaning “will not” (formal or old-fashioned)
The host warned that he shan’t give any payment to guests who choose to leave before midnight.
be able to pay
to have the ability or permission to give someone money for something
He explained that he wouldn’t be able to pay anyone who left the party early.
company
the people you are with, especially in a social situation
One guest said the house felt so scary that they almost forgot about the unusual company around them.
aside from
except for; excluding something from a statement
One guest admitted they didn’t understand the purpose of the gathering aside from the unusual company.
wonder what someone would do
to think about how a person might act in a certain situation
The group quietly began to wonder what they would do if a ghost actually appeared.
Native Expressions Ep.8 | 26 – 30
opportunity to
a chance or occasion to do something
The host said his wife had given everyone an opportunity to experience something frightening.
amusing
funny or entertaining in a light way
One guest said the idea of hunting for ghosts was amusing, even though everyone felt a little nervous.
hysteria
extreme or uncontrolled emotion, often causing exaggerated reactions
One man claimed ghosts were just creations of hysteria and nothing more.
promise someone something
to assure someone that you will provide or do something
Pritchard promised them that the house had real ghosts, not just stories.
cheerful
showing or expressing happiness, sometimes used ironically when the situation is grim
When they heard how many people had died there, someone said “That’s cheerful,” trying to hide their fear.
Native Expressions Ep.8 | 31 – 35
murdered
killed intentionally and unlawfully
The host calmly mentioned that several people had been murdered in the house, shocking the guests.
it goes for everybody
a phrase meaning that something applies to all people in the group
The guest pointed out that the number of men and women in the house matched the past victims, saying the rule goes for everybody in the room.
take someone on a tour
to guide someone around a place while explaining things
The host asked Pritchard to take them on a tour of the old house to show its strange history.
belong to
to be owned by someone
They learned that many of the dusty items in the basement belonged to Mr. Norton.
be electrocuted
to be killed by an electric shock
The group was surprised to hear that Mr. Norton had been electrocuted somewhere else, not in the house.
Native Expressions Ep.8 | 36 – 40
experiment with
to try different methods or ideas to see what happens
Mr. Norton liked to experiment with wines, even if his wife didn’t enjoy the results.
vat
a large container used for storing liquids
They stared at the huge vat where the terrible incident with the acid had happened.
supposed to
expected or intended to do something
The victim was supposed to stay hidden in the vat, but the bones rose to the surface.
come up
to rise to the surface or appear unexpectedly
Everyone felt uneasy when they heard how the bones had come up afterward.
ordinary
normal or usual; not special or unusual
One guest whispered that none of the past events in the house were ordinary, which made everyone more nervous.
Native Expressions Ep.8 | 41 – 45
look out
a warning telling someone to be careful or avoid danger
Someone shouted “Look out!” when a guest nearly slipped near the dangerous vat.
thank God
an expression used to show relief that something bad did not happen
Everyone said “Thank God” when they realized the woman hadn’t fallen into the acid.
destroy
to ruin something completely so it no longer exists or works
Pritchard explained that the acid could destroy anything except bones.
what’s going on
a phrase used to ask about what is happening, especially when confused
A guest stepped back and asked, “What’s going on down here?” after hearing the frightening story.
get some air
to go somewhere with fresher or cleaner air, usually to calm down
Feeling overwhelmed, one guest said they needed to get some air before continuing the tour.
Native Expressions Ep.8 | 46 – 46
cure for
something that solves or improves a problem
Another guest joked that there was a cure for the dusty basement upstairs—leaving it quickly.