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Welcome to my audio journey through fascinating topics! From technology and science to culture and beyond, I break down complex subjects into engaging, accessible episodes designed for all types of listeners. Each episode features clear explanations and a thoughtful pace that respects different information processing styles.
Connect with me:
🔗 YouTube: crsh.link/youtube
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🔗 Support: crsh.link/patreon
- Welcome to CrashCasts.
- Hey everyone.
- Hey, you ever get that feeling?
Like buzzing with energy, just can't sit still.
Like you need to, I don't know, pace around the room.
- Oh yeah, that restless feeling.
Or maybe that urge to move,
even when there's nowhere specific to go.
- Exactly.
- Well today we're gonna look at some really fun ways
English captures those kinds of feelings,
and some other situations too.
- Yeah we are.
And CrashCasts, well it's all about helping you
build your English step by step.
We really believe in keeping this education free
and you know, inclusive for everyone.
- It's our core mission really.
- It is.
And if you're enjoying these deep dives,
if they're helping you out,
the best way to support that mission, honestly, is free.
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- Right, every little click really does help
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- It really does.
And if you wanna connect more,
maybe practice a bit, ask questions,
our Discord community is fantastic for that.
- Yeah, it's a great bunch of learners,
the link's right there in the show notes for you.
CrashLinks.com/Discord.
- And if you're able and you want some bonus stuff,
becoming a patron is amazing.
That directly helps us create more content like this.
- And you get some cool perks too.
That link is also below crashlinks.com/patreon.
- Okay, awesome, so let's dive in.
We've got five really lively, action-packed
English idioms lined up for today.
- Yeah, these are ones you hear
native speakers use quite a bit.
Understanding them can really make
your own English sound more natural.
- Totally, they paint these great little pictures with words.
- Gives you a peek into how English speakers
sometimes think about things.
- All right, first one up.
This one definitely has energy.
Have ants in your pants.
- Yeah, have ants in your pants.
What does that make you think of, like actual ants?
- Kind of, like you're all squirmy and itchy.
- Exactly, it means you just can't sit still.
Maybe you're impatient or a little anxious
or just, you know, bursting with energy.
- It's such a vivid image, right?
And it's apparently been around for ages.
Our sources say maybe late 1800s America.
- Wow, really?
- Yeah, possibly used by cowboys even
to describe someone fidgeting in the saddle.
Can you picture it?
- That's brilliant, and it captures
that inner feeling, right?
That sort of mental restlessness,
not just physical squirming.
It could be eagerness, too.
- Yeah, definitely.
Okay, let's put in a quick scene.
Imagine Ben and Sarah waiting for a movie.
Ben's tapping his foot, shifting around.
Sarah might say, "Relax."
And Ben goes, "I can't, I've totally got ants in my pants."
ants in my pants. I just want to see the preview start.
- See? It shows he can't be still and he's excited,
that restless energy.
- Perfect. Now you try it.
Think of something you're waiting for.
Maybe say to yourself,
I have ants in my pants waiting for my coffee.
Feel that impatience.
- Yeah, that little buzz of anticipation.
That's the feeling.
- And a cool little fact.
The phrase apparently first showed up in print around 1877.
- Wow. So it really stuck.
- Shows how everyday feelings turn into lasting language.
- Totally.
Okay. Let's move from restless energy to secrecy.
Our second idiom, behind closed doors.
- Ooh, sounds a bit mysterious, doesn't it?
- It does.
- Behind closed doors.
It basically means something is happening in private
or, you know, secretly away from the public eye.
- The image is pretty literal, right?
Closing a door for a private chat.
- Exactly.
Like think about judges deliberating
or maybe a board meeting discussing something confidential.
They've literally closed the door.
- Makes sense.
It implies discretion that maybe not everyone
is supposed to know what's being discussed.
- Precisely.
So you might hear a manager say something like,
we'll discuss your potential raise behind closed doors
after the main meeting.
- Okay.
And the employee would probably reply,
got it, see you then.
and maybe feeling a bit nervous.
- Right, it signals that private,
potentially important conversation is coming.
- Okay, your turn to practice.
Try this one.
We'll settle this disagreement behind closed doors.
- Think about why something might need
to be discussed that way.
What situations call for that kind of privacy?
- And quick quiz.
Does behind closed doors mean public or private?
- That one's easy.
Private, definitely private.
- You got it.
All right, idiom number three is all about performance.
Deliver the goods.
- Oh, this is a great one.
Deliver the goods.
It means basically doing what's expected of you,
fulfilling your promises.
- Or even exceeding expectations, right?
Like really performing well.
- Exactly, meeting the challenge.
The origin might come from actual merchants.
They promised goods, and if they provided them as agreed,
they delivered the goods.
- That makes a lot of sense.
Fulfilling the order, basically.
- Yeah, and it applies in so many areas now.
Work, sports, you name it.
- Okay, example time.
Imagine a coach talking to their player
after a great practice drill.
- Okay.
- The coach might say, "Wow, you crushed that drill.
"Yeah, you really delivered the goods today."
- And the player, maybe beaming, says,
"Thanks, coach.
"Been working hard.
"It's a strong way to praise someone's--"
Definitely.
Okay, your turn.
Try saying this.
She promised a great presentation and she really delivered the goods.
Nice.
Think about a time someone really impressed you by doing exactly what they said they would
or even more.
They delivered the goods.
And a little fun fact here, a bit of trivia.
There's a classic 80s rock song called Deliver the Goods by a band called Saxon.
No way.
See?
It even made it into rock and roll.
Proof it's a solid phrase.
Totally.
All right, moving on.
This one here is about effort.
Go the extra mile.
I like this one.
Go the extra mile.
It means putting in more effort than is really expected or required.
Doing more than the minimum.
Yeah, going above and beyond.
And the origin for this one is really quite interesting.
Sources point to the Bible.
Oh, okay.
Yeah, apparently Roman soldiers could force someone in occupied territories to carry their
heavy pack for one mile.
Right.
I think I've heard about this.
His teaching was if someone forces you to go one mile, go with him to voluntarily do
the second mile.
So it's about willingly doing more.
That sense of generosity or dedication, not just doing what you're forced to do.
Exactly.
So imagine a customer gets a package and there's a little surprise gift inside they weren't
expecting.
Nice.
They might message the seller, "Wow, thanks for the extra treat."
And the seller can reply, "You're welcome, just wanted to go the extra mile for a good
customer."
Yeah, it shows that commitment to really good service or care.
Okay, practice time for you.
Try saying, "I'm willing to go the extra mile to make sure this project is perfect."
Good one.
Think about a time you chose to do more than asked.
What made you decide to go the extra mile?
And a quick challenge.
What text first mentioned this idea?
Hint, hint.
It's got to be the Bible based on what you said.
Bingo.
A little history behind the phrase.
Cool.
Okay, last one for today.
Idiom number five tackles that feeling of being stuck in two minds.
In decision.
In two minds.
This means you just can't make a decision about something, you're torn between two different
options.
Feeling pulled in different directions, right.
Undecided.
Exactly.
And this one's apparently a British phrase, been around since the 1600s.
Wow.
That long.
Yeah.
Totally captures that feeling of your brain being split.
Like one part wants one thing, the other part wants something else.
Totally captures that mental tug of war.
So imagine your friend Anna is trying to decide something big.
She says, "Oh, should I take the job in Amsterdam or stay here in London?"
- Okay, tough choice.
- Yeah, and her friend Tom might say,
"Wow, sounds like you're really in two minds about it."
He's just acknowledging her difficulty in choosing.
- Right, recognizing that feeling of being stuck
between two good or maybe too difficult options.
- Exactly.
Okay, your turn now.
Try saying, "Hmm, I'm in two minds
"about whether to go out tonight or just stay in."
- A classic dilemma.
- Ha ha, totally.
Think about a decision you're struggling with right now,
big or small.
Are you in two minds?
What are the two sides pulling you?
- And a little cultural note.
While Brits often say, "In two minds,"
Americans frequently use "on the fence"
for that same feeling.
- But yeah, "on the fence" means the same thing,
basically undecided.
Interesting how language varies like that.
- Isn't it?
Okay, let's do a super quick recap of all five, ready?
- Let's do it.
Lightning round.
First, have ants in your pants.
- Feeling restless, impatient.
- Behind closed doors.
- In private, secret.
- Deliver the goods.
- Meet or exceed expectations, perform well.
- Go the extra mile.
- Do more than required, extra effort.
- And finally, in two minds.
- Undecided, torn between two options.
- Boom, five great idioms.
- And here's a quick bonus tip to help you remember them.
try making a little mental movie or drawing a tiny cartoon for each one.
>> Oh, I like that visualizing it.
>> Yeah, the weirder or funnier the image,
the more likely you are to remember the phrase and what it means.
>> That's actually great advice.
Engaging your imagination really helps things stick.
>> Definitely. So if you enjoyed this deep dive,
if you learned something new,
please do us a huge favor rate, like,
subscribe, it helps Crash Cast to reach more learners.
>> Yeah, and come hang out with us and other learners on Discord.
Practice these idioms, ask questions,
the link's waiting for you.
>> Crashlinks.com/discord.
>> And for bonus content and to really fuel the creation of more episodes,
check out our Patreon.
Crashlinks.com to Patreon.
We appreciate any support so much.
>> Absolutely. You can also find all our past deep dives
and more resources over on our website, Crashcasts.com.
>> So our final thought for you today,
start listening for these idioms.
You'll hear them in movies, TV shows, conversations.
>> Noticing them in the wild is a fantastic way to really lock them
into your understanding.
>> See, when people use them, how they use them,
it makes a big difference.
>> And get ready because next time,
we're tackling idioms all about time.
That should be interesting.
>> Definitely. Can't wait for that one.
Okay. Well, until then, keep crashing those language barriers.
>> Bye for now.
>> Bye, everyone.