Master Everyday English: Learn Real-World Phrases and Idioms

Introduction

Welcome back, lovely students, to English with Lucy! Today, you'll learn the English I use daily, taught through an engaging real-life story. As we journey through this narrative, you'll encounter common English phrases and idioms used in everyday speech. Hearing them in context is crucial for understanding, and I'll explain their meanings afterward. Using these expressions will make you sound more natural and native in English. To make this easier, there's a free PDF accompanying today's lesson. It includes the full story, notes, and exercises to practice what you've learned. Download the PDF and receive future PDFs weekly by signing up for my mailing list. It's a free service, and you can unsubscribe anytime.

Background or Problem Statement

Context

A few years ago, my husband Will used to be a farmer. Now, we work together on English with Lucy. His birthday is in June, which clashes with the high season in his farming area. As a result, he had never had a birthday party as an adult, which broke my heart. For his 30th birthday, I wanted to arrange something special—a surprise golf tournament with his friends.

Problem

I wasn't sure how to organize the golf tournament. So, I turned to one of Will's good friends, Charlie, who thought it was a great idea and offered some advice. He suggested calling the club first, getting a small group together to play, and inviting the partners for dinner afterward.

Main Content

Key Point 1: Getting Started

Charlie’s advice included several useful phrases. The first was "to get something off the ground," meaning to start something successfully. For example, "I have so many ideas but never seem able to get them off the ground." The second phrase was "best idea ever," a structure with a superlative to show enthusiasm. We often omit "the" and say "best idea ever" or "worst film ever." The third phrase was "if I were you, I’d," a common second conditional structure used for giving advice. For example, "If I were you, I wouldn’t invite Jack to the party; he always gets overexcited."

Key Point 2: Planning the Event

I went to the local golf club, and they thought it was a brilliant idea. They had a special menu available, and the chef even said, "you're in for a treat." Although it looked pricey, they assured me it was worth the money. They also recommended expensive whiskey, to which I responded, "I’m not sure about that. Let me have a think."

Here, "they were all" means they all said, often used to convey strong feelings. For example, "I invited Jerry to the party, and she was all, 'awesome, I’ll be there,' but she didn’t turn up." The phrase "you're in for a treat" is used to say something is a good idea, sometimes sarcastically. For example, "I signed up for a spinning class with Helen tomorrow." "Oh, you're in for a treat." The phrase "I’m not sure about that" is a polite British way of saying no. For example, "I think we should have a picnic for Olivia’s birthday." "I’m not sure about that. It’s going to rain." Lastly, "let me have a think" is another polite way to say no. For example, "Would you like to buy this?" "Let me have a think."

Key Point 3: Invitations and Surprises

I started inviting Will’s friends by asking, "Are you free on Saturday, the 3rd of June? Do you fancy coming down to celebrate Will’s 30th?" Here, "to get the ball rolling" means to start something. For example, "It looks like no one wants to speak first, so I’ll get the ball rolling." "Are you free on?" is a common way to ask someone to attend an event. For example, "Are you free on Sunday? We’re thinking of going out for a pub lunch." "Do you fancy?" is another way to ask if someone wants to do something. For example, "Do you fancy going out for a bite to eat?" Additionally, we often shorten significant birthdays like "Will’s 30th" instead of "Will’s 30th birthday."

Key Point 4: The Big Day

The forecast predicted rain, but I decided to "play it by ear" and not make other plans. The weather turned out gorgeous, and Will was "over the moon" when I told him about the surprise. At the golf club, I discovered the prices were higher than expected—£100 a head instead of £60. I trembled as I handed over my credit card. Will and his friends played golf and had a "tipple" between holes. During dinner, Will, feeling happy and generous, accidentally said, "We got this," offering to pay for everyone’s meal. Considering we were in the middle of a mortgage application, cash was tight, but everyone had an amazing time, and the food was "out of this world." We finally "called it a night" around midnight. Despite the cost, it was Will’s first birthday party in 10 years, so no regrets.

Actionable Advice

• Step 1: Use phrases like "get something off the ground" and "get the ball rolling" to describe starting something successfully.
• Step 2: Use superlatives like "best idea ever" to show enthusiasm in conversations.
• Step 3: Use "if I were you, I’d" for giving advice in the second conditional form.
• Step 4: Use "play it by ear" to describe dealing with situations as they develop.
• Step 5: Use "over the moon" to express extreme happiness.
• Step 6: Use "we got this" to offer to pay for something.
• Step 7: Use "bear in mind" to remind or consider information.
• Step 8: Use "out of this world" to describe something fantastic.
• Step 9: Use "call it a night" or "call it a day" to indicate finishing something for the day or night.
• Step 10: Use "lie down" metaphorically to describe being shocked or needing rest.

Summary

• Use everyday English phrases and idioms to sound more natural and native.
• Listen to these phrases in context to understand their meanings better.
• Practice using these phrases in your conversations to improve fluency.
• Download the PDF for notes, exercises, and the full story.
• Share similar experiences in the comments section and use the new vocabulary.
• Consider enrolling in our B1, B2, and C1 programs for in-depth learning.

Remember to download the accompanying PDF for this lesson. It includes all the phrases, the full story, and exercises to test your understanding. If you're interested in taking an English course with me, visit englishwithlucy.com for more information. See you soon for another lesson!