Hey guys, welcome back to the English fluency journey channel.
I'm Anna. and today we'll learn 10 informal expressions for everyday use.
You know that idioms and idiomatic phrases are very important and they are used every day in all sorts of situations, both formal and informal.
And it would be great if you could incorporate them into your speech.
And of course, it would be great if you knew what they mean.
The first one is to be down with something, which means to be absolutely okay with something, just support it.
You can say, I'm down with that. That's okay.
I don't mind. We at public television, we're really down with the woman's lib thing.
Another meaning is to be very sick at home in bed.
You can say I'm down with the flu or I came down with the flu.
I thought you were staying till Sunday. Every time I stay with Lisa or her sister, Number two, knock yourself out.
And it doesn't mean like literally knock yourself out, But it means to do something for as much and as long as you want to do this, to indulge, to feel free to do something, like go for it.
She's all yours. Knock yourself out, Magnum.
I need to use the restroom. Knock yourself out.
Number three, run errands. That means To go somewhere to do a specific task, to perform duty.
Something like a chore, because you have to do it.
Her mornings were spent running errands for her husband.
Hi. Oh, she's got you running errands, you know, picking up wedding dresses.
Number four, to be out and about. That means to be doing your normal activities. to be out doing things you usually do, especially if you haven't been able for a while. or just spend free time outside your house doing whatever. when there are vampires and miscellaneous undead out and about?
Oy vey. 5. To hit someone up, which means to get in contact with them, to call them or to text them or to talk to them later or to send them an email. usually what we hear is I'll hit you up later or hit me up later or I'll hit you back.
Oh, Mr. Key, I got a P.O. box. I'll hit you back as soon as I know where he's staying.
Also, it means to ask someone for something.
You can ask for money or you can ask a question.
You can hit me up with questions if you have any.
Number six. To take a rain check. which means to postpone something, to do something that you were supposed to do with someone at another time.
So if you have to leave and you want to postpone something with someone, you can say, can I get a rain check?
You know, I just looked at the time. I have to get back to the journalism room.
Rain check on the pizza? Absolutely. I gotta go over there.
Could I please have a rain check? Oh, of course.
I'm really sorry. No, no, no. Don't be ridiculous.
We'll do this another time. Number seven, I hear you.
Usually it is pronounced casually like I hear ya.
And, of course, it has one meaning that is literal, like I can't hear you, my hearing is fine.
But another is, I understand you. I understand your point of view, not necessarily that I agree with you, but I know what you're talking about.
Public place? I hear you. And there's another very much similar expression to this one.
Also informal, slang even, I feel you. So when you say, I feel you, that means that you understand the speaker as well as you agree with them and relate to them.
8. To hold one's horses. That means to wait, to slow down, to stop and to think through their decision or the thing they're about to do.
We're on our way there now. All right, Spence and I are on our way to Maddox office in Bethesda.
Whoa, hold your crime-fighting horses, Matt and Spence.
I can do you one better than his office.
I found his arsenal. Alright, well, just give me a moment to turn it around.
Well, drive it backwards, dumb nuts, before you drive it and drive it now.
Okay, okay, stop yelling. Hold your horses.
We're leaving. Number nine. Catch you later.
It means see you later. It's used for saying goodbye.
I'll catch you later. I've been stood up.
Well, I gotta get ready for a date. So catch you later, Miss Lonely Hearts.
And number 10, never mind, which means forget about it.
Don't worry about it. It's not that important.
I deal with that means. It's a reference to a very popular film that Never mind.
Wait. Never mind. This is just this colloquial usage.
It sounds casual and natural. Not everybody uses these expressions and you don't have to. but they're good to know, right?
They're informal, so be sure not to use them with your boss. like knock yourself out or hold your horses because there's always a time and a place for everything.
Okay guys, that's it for now. Thank you for choosing our podcast.
Until the next one.
