Native English Expressions | Ep.9
Do you feel lost when listening to native speakers? It’s likely because textbook English isn’t enough. Welcome to Native Expressions Ep.9.
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.9 | 1 – 5
have butterflies
to feel very nervous or anxious, usually felt in the stomach
Whenever she stood near the gate to board the plane, she started to have butterflies, but she reminded herself it was just excitement.
buy
to believe or accept something as true (informal)
Because the physical symptoms of fear and excitement are similar, your brain buys the idea that you are actually excited.
bunch of baloney
nonsense or something that is not true
The expert’s claim that being afraid is just an illusion is a bunch of baloney because the feeling is very intense for many people.
rob someone of something
to take something important or valuable away from a person, often an opportunity or feeling
Allowing fear to control your decisions can rob you of the chance to enjoy travel or express your true thoughts.
ask for a raise
to request an increase in salary from an employer
She hesitated to speak to her manager and ask for a raise, which directly affected her financial income.
Native Expressions Ep.9 | 6 – 10
secret weapon
a hidden advantage, skill, or tool used to achieve success or defeat a problem
The speaker promised to reveal a special method that served as her secret weapon to defeat the anxiety that held her back.
cover
to discuss, explain, or deal with a specific subject or topic
Before explaining the solution, the speaker wanted to cover the fundamental facts about why we feel afraid.
heart race
to beat very fast, usually due to fear, excitement, or exercise
When you experience intense emotions, your heart races in a way that makes it difficult to tell if you are scared or thrilled.
pit in one’s stomach
a tight, heavy, or sick feeling in the stomach caused by strong nervousness or anxiety
You might notice a sudden pit in your stomach, which is a physical sign that your body is reacting to stress or anticipation.
surge
a sudden, strong increase or rush of something, often an emotion or substance
The body prepares for action by releasing a surge of cortisol, putting you into a heightened physical state.
Native Expressions Ep.9 | 11 – 15
hyperaware
extremely alert to everything happening around you
Because the body is getting ready to react, it enters a hyperaware mode where all your senses become very sharp.
agitated
feeling troubled, nervous, or physically restless
When your body becomes agitated with a fast heartbeat, your brain must decide whether to label that feeling as fun or dangerous.
critical
extremely important or essential
It is critical to realize that your physical reaction is neutral until your mind gives it a specific meaning.
work against
to cause problems for someone or make it harder for them to succeed
If your thoughts work against you by telling you to run away, you will interpret your physical energy as fear.
to one’s advantage
in a way that helps or benefits someone
You can use the similarity between fear and excitement to your advantage by changing how you mentally describe your physical feelings.
Native Expressions Ep.9 | 16 – 20
arousal
a state of being physically or mentally active, excited, or alert
The speaker explains that fear creates a high level of arousal in the body, which is why it feels physically impossible to just relax immediately.
amped up
filled with energy, excitement, or nervousness
When you are afraid, your body gets amped up with a racing heart, making it difficult to switch to a calm state.
freak out
to become very anxious, upset, or afraid suddenly
Instead of trying to stay calm when you start to freak out, you should recognize that your body is just preparing for action.
boulder
a very large, heavy rock
Trying to force yourself to be calm when you are terrified is dangerous, like trying to stop a speeding train by throwing a boulder on the tracks.
jacked up
to be full of high energy, excitement, or adrenaline (slang)
When your body is jacked up with high energy from fear, it is almost impossible to suddenly switch to a calm state.
Native Expressions Ep.9 | 21 – 25
weirded out
to feel uncomfortable, strange, or confused by something (slang)
The intense physical sensations can leave you feeling weirded out because your body is acting differently than normal.
jump off the tracks
to leave the rails (for a train) or to fail and go wrong (metaphorically)
Trying to force positive thoughts when you are terrified is dangerous and might make the situation jump off the tracks like a crashing train.
beat
to defeat or overcome a problem, difficulty, or opponent
The speaker claims that her secret strategy helped her beat every fear that used to stop her from living fully.
high stress situation
an event or condition that causes a lot of worry, pressure, or nervousness
Instead of panicking, the technique transforms you into someone who performs well even during a high stress situation.
in combination with
together with or joined with something else
You should use the 5-second rule in combination with a specific positive thought to effectively change your mindset.
Native Expressions Ep.9 | 26 – 30
reframe
to change the way you look at, think about, or describe a situation
The goal of the anchor thought is to reframe the physical agitation in your body so your mind interprets it as excitement.
terrific
extremely good, excellent, or skilled
By mastering this method, she became terrific at handling pressure and no longer let fear control her actions.
work like magic
to be extremely effective and produce the desired result quickly
The speaker promises that the technique she uses to control fear works like magic and has helped her for many years.
backstage
the area behind the stage where performers wait and prepare before appearing in front of an audience
To show the reality of the situation, she describes taking the viewer backstage right before she walks out to a large crowd.
roar
to make a very loud, deep sound, often used to describe the noise made by a large, excited crowd
While waiting behind the curtain, she could hear the audience roaring with anticipation for her speech.
Native Expressions Ep.9 | 31 – 35
nerves
feelings of worry, anxiety, or nervousness, especially before a stressful event
She uses the technique to reframe her nerves so that the intense energy becomes helpful rather than stopping her.
physiological
relating to the way a living body functions and its physical processes
The speaker insists that the physiological signs of fear, such as sweating and a racing heart, are exactly the same as excitement.
relate to
to understand how someone feels because you have experienced something similar
The speaker said she could relate to people who are afraid of flying because she used to suffer from the same problem.
conquer
to successfully overcome a problem, fear, or difficulty
Using the strategy of reframing her thoughts helped her conquer the anxiety that used to stop her from traveling.
first things first
a phrase used to say that the most important thing should be done before anything else
To deal with your fear, first things first, you need to accept that your body is just preparing for action, not danger.
Native Expressions Ep.9 | 36 – 40
come up with
to think of, create, or find an idea or plan
Before you get into a stressful situation, you should come up with a specific positive thought to help calm your mind.
escalate
to become worse, more serious, or more intense very quickly
You should focus on a calming image so that your small worry does not escalate into a major panic attack.
full-blown
completely developed or showing all the characteristics of something
Without a strategy to stay calm, simple nervousness might turn into a full-blown emotional crisis.
screw up
to make a mistake or spoil a situation (informal)
Using an anchor thought helps you stay focused so you do not screw up an important interaction due to fear.
maintain control
to keep the power to direct or manage a situation and one’s actions
This mental technique allows you to maintain control over your behavior instead of letting fear take over.
Native Expressions Ep.9 | 41 – 45
have to do with
to be related to or connected with something
When selecting a positive thought, choose one that has to do with the specific trip or event you are facing.
beat
to defeat, overcome, or control a problem or difficulty
Once you have visualized a successful outcome, you will be ready to beat your anxiety about the situation.
turbulence
violent or unsteady movement of air or water, often causing a plane to shake
When the plane hits turbulence, your body might start to feel nervous, but you can choose how to react.
switch gears
to change the way you are thinking, acting, or dealing with a situation
Counting down from five is an essential tool to help your mind switch gears from panic to logical thinking.
assert control
to take action to show that you have power or authority over a situation
By using the counting rule, you assert control over your brain and prepare it to focus on a positive thought.
Native Expressions Ep.9 | 46 – 48
petrified
extremely frightened; unable to move or think due to fear
Even if you have always been petrified of flying, this technique can help you remain calm enough to enjoy the experience.
check off one’s bucket list
to complete a goal or experience that one has wanted to do in their lifetime
Overcoming her fear of public speaking allowed her to give a presentation to her colleagues and check off her bucket list a major life goal.
flat
exactly or quickly (used to emphasize a short amount of time)
With this powerful mental tool, you can interrupt your negative thoughts and shift your mindset in five seconds flat.