026_Animal_Idioms

026_Animal_Idioms

Kevin and Hiroyo look at some English Idioms which are based on animals.

Kevin:

Hello everyone and welcome to Nichibei Kaiwa Gakuin Podcasting, A great way to review English words and phrases. My name is Kevin Jones. I’m here today with Nichibei student Hiroyo. How are you doing today Hiroyo?

Hiroyo:

Oh, pretty good. Thanks!

Kevin:

This is our first episode of summer term 2006. Summertime is vacation time, and vacation time means reading time for many people. So Hiroyo, are you reading anything this summer?

Hiroyo:

Yes I am. Right now I’m reading some easy romance stories.

BBB:

Oh, that’s great. Reading is an excellent way to improve your English.

Hiroyo:

Yeah, I think so too. Plus, It’s enjoyable.

Kevin:

So Hiroyo, what can I help you with today?

Hiroyo:

So, while I was reading, I found some phrases I can’t understand. I was hoping you could help me with them. Here, have a look, I wrote them down.

Kevin:

Oh, these are idioms.

Hiroyo:

What exactly are idioms?

Kevin:

Well an idiom is a word or a group of words which many people use but you can’t understand the meaning of the words directly. You have to learn the meaning.

Hiroyo:

Well, that’s exactly what I have, groups of words, and I can’t understand their meaning.

Kevin:

Well OK, let’s hear what you have.

Hiroyo:

OK, The first one is let the cat out of the bag

Kevin:

That one is pretty easy. To let the cat out of the bag means to tell a secret carelessly or by mistake. For example, Tom and Katie’s wedding was supposed to be a secret but someone let the cat out of the bag.

Hiroyo:

Great I’ve got it. Now the second one sounds really strange to me. The idiom is, straight from the horse’s mouth.

Kevin:

Yeah, that one is a little strange. This idiom means that information came from the source, directly from the person concerned, so the information is very reliable. For example, I told you David is moving to Hawaii, you might say…”where did you hear that?” I could say “straight from the horse’s mouth”. meaning, from David.

Hiroyo:

Hmm. OK, thanks. This one seems clear to me but I still want to check it. The idiom is take the bull by the horns.

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OK the meaning of take the bull by the horns is to deal bravely and decisively with a difficult, dangerous, or unpleasant situation. If you have a difficult situation, take the bull by the horns, be brave and take care of it!

Hiroyo:

OK I will. Do you have time for one more?

Kevin:

Sure, what is it?

Hiroyo:

Fishy

Kevin:

Fishy? Oh that one is easy. Fishy means something that you doubt or feel suspicious about. An example would be “You know, I don’t trust that company. There is something fishy about their money situation.”

Hiroyo:

That’s great Kevin. Thanks for your help. Idioms can be kinda fun once you understand their meaning!

Kevin:

Yeah, I think so too. I’m happy I could help.
Now let’s review the idioms we covered in this episode.
let the cat out of the bag
straight from the horse’s mouth
take the bull by the horns
and fishy

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