- Hello everyone and welcome back to English With Lucy.
Today I'm going to talk to you about 20 idioms,
in American English and in British English.
You need to be really careful with these
because you risk being misunderstood
if you use the wrong version in the wrong country.
Or actually that would mean you would be understood,
'cause that's a double negative.
the British version of the idiom,
and then I'm going to tell you
the American version of the idiom.
I'm going to give you the definition,
and I'm going to give you an example.
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Right, let's get on with the lesson.
Now I have curated a list of 20 idioms
in British English and American English.
and you can use most of them in everyday conversation,
any other idioms that you know
that might be different in different countries
and different parts of the world.
In Britain, we say, to throw a spanner in the works.
To throw a spanner in the works.
they say, to throw a monkey wrench in the works,
or sometimes, just to throw a wrench in the works.
because what Americans call a monkey wrench,
And this idiom basically mean to do something
that prevents a plan or activity from succeeding.
For example, the intern threw a spanner in the works,
by ghosting the client on Tinder.
This actually happened to someone I know.
never replied to their messages,
and turns out they're a big client for their company.
They threw a spanner in the works.
they say to toot your own horn.
or to praise your own abilities and achievements.
For example, I don't mean to blow my own trumpet,
but I read the oxford dictionary three times
to sweep something under the carpet.
To sweep something under the carpet.
to sweep something under the rug.
To sweep something under the rug.
This means to deny or ignore something
that is embarrassing or might damage your reputation.
A lot of politicians like to sweep things under the carpet.
For example, as one of the most
controversial YouTube on the platform,
I have swept many scandals under the carpet.
In British English we say, peaks and troughs.
But in American English they say, peaks and valleys.
This means to avoid something at all costs,
or to refuse to associate with something.
This is the mixture of good and bad things in life.
For example having lovely sponsors like Skillshare
helps my business through the peaks and troughs of the year.
In Britain we would say, to not touch something
To not touch something with a bargepole.
In American English they would simply say,
to not touch something with a ten-foot pole.
To not touch something with a ten-foot pole.
This simply means to avoid something at all costs,
or to refuse to associate with something.
For example, my father would not
touch trifle with a bargepole.
He's very good at pretending to like things,
but I've never seen him pretend to like a trifle.
It's that dessert which is like,
cake, jam, jelly, custard, cream, ugh.
This is a sort of superstitious one.
In British English it's touch wood.
In American English, it's knock on wood.
just after mentioning a way in which
you've been lucky in the past.
And it's said to prevent bad luck.
but I've never been in a serious car crash.
I'm saying touch wood to prevent myself
from being in a serious car crash.
I actually need to touch wood now.
(knocking)
Okay.
I'm not superstitious I'm just...
British English we would say, to flog a dead horse.
In American English they would say,
This simply means to waste energy
on something that has no chance of succeeding.
For example, you're flogging a dead horse
by trying to make my dad eat trifle.
Now I will admit that sometimes I use the American version.
And you do have to bear that in mind with these idioms,
because in Britain we consume so many American sitcoms,
that their vocabulary does bleed into our vocabulary.
we would say to take something with a grain of salt.
To take something with a grain of salt.
When in America, they would say,
to take something with a pinch of salt.
To take something with a pinch of salt.
And this means to view something with scepticism
or to not take something literally.
For example, if I offer you a tequila,
you should take it with a pinch of salt
That's proof, that you should take everything I say
In British English, we would say swings and roundabouts.
In American English they would simply say, ups and downs.
These idioms are used to describe situations
where there are as many gains as there are losses.
For example, in the UK,
we pay high taxes, but it's all swings and roundabouts,
because we have a great National Health Service.
Number 10.
Another one where I might actually say the American one,
because the Americanisms have bled into Britain.
But the British idiom is skeletons in the cupboard.
they say skeletons in the closet.
And we don't actually use the word closet,
which means wardrobe in British English,
but I would use the word closet for this specific idiom.
And a skeleton in the closet is a secret
that would cause embarrassment if known.
For example, I could never run for prime minister,
because I have ar too many skeletons in my closet.
Number 11.
The British version is so British.
If there's one that you remember,
The American version is to tear into someone.
It means to attack someone with either force or language.
A teacher once had a go at me for faking an illness
when I was genuinely very unwell.
Number 12.
In British English we say a storm in a teacup.
In American English, they say a tempest in a teapot.
Teacup, teapot, much more tea.
This means great outrage or excitement
For example, I don't think the apocalypse is coming.
I think it's big old storm in a teacup.
Number 13.
In British English we say a drop in the ocean.
And in American English they say, a drop in the bucket.
It means a very small or insignificant amount
compared to the amount needed.
For example, I saved 33 pence by doing my shopping online,
compare to what I need to save for a house deposit.
That's what I trying to save for at the moment,
Number 14.
And I actually love the American version.
The British version is hard cheese.
The American version, and I find it
without sounding so ridiculous,
The American version is tough titty.
(laughs)
(laughs)
I wonder if I could say it without smiling.
(laughs)
This is used to express somewhat sarcastic sympathy
over a petty or trivial matter.
For example, you missed your exam
because you stayed up watching Bird Box,
Number 15.
In American English they would say
to rant and rave about something.
To rant and rave about something.
This meas to talk about something for a long time,
especially in a way that is boring to others.
For example, I know I bang on about Skillshare,
but it really is a fantastic service.
Number 16, in British English it's to call a spade a spade.
In American English, to call it as one sees it.
This simply means to speak honestly
and describe something as it really is.
For example, my mother calls a spade a spade,
Number 17.
In British English we say, to cram.
Which isn't strictly an idiom,
in American English they say to hit the books.
And this means to study intensively
For example, I relied heavily on cramming
throughout my university degree.
but I did get a first class degree.
So make of that what you will.
Number 18.
In British English, to get itchy feet.
This means to start to want to travel
or to want to do something different with your life.
For example, after 14 years of schooling,
I got itchy feet and started to plan my move to Spain.
Number 19.
In British English we say, to go pear shaped.
In American English they say, to go south.
This means to go wrong or to go badly.
For example, the party was great,
but after they handed out tequila shots,
it started to go a bit pear shaped.
Our final idiom of the lesson,
and I've saved the best 'til last,
'cause this is what I love to do.
In British English we say, to queue up.
But in American English they say, to wait in line.
Simply means to take one's place in a queue.
For example, as a Brit,
I can honestly say there is nothing I enjoy more
than queuing up and silently judging those
to who try to break the queue rules.
Ah, I love it and hate it at the same time.
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(beep)
Oo I'm gonna use the word curated.
oh god that was so good, curated.
(laughs)
I love it, I just love the word.
(beep)
Damn it, I really wanna use this word.
This simply means to refuse to associate.
And it's a phrase that's used, ah, my god.
These phrases are used to describe
a situation where there are, bla.
It's all swings and roundabouts,