Episode 68 You'll Take A Shine To These English Idioms

Today we're talking about some different idioms, words and phrases that we use in the UK. These are all related to the sunshine, but some of them are descriptions rather than idioms. Some of these are very British and I also talk a little bit about the sarcasm used in British humour. Have a great weekend! See you next week! It's boiling! This is a phrase we often use when we feel too hot. We might be describing a place (for example a busy club) or we might be describing the hot weather. We might use it to describe ourselves too 'I'm boiling!' I'm sweating like a pig! This one just describes when we're hot and sweaty. It could be because of the weather, or it could be because you've been exercising. He's got his legs out! This is for when we see someone in shorts. Of course you're less likely to hear it in summer, when everyone is wearing shorts! But you might hear it in the other seasons when very few people are wearing shorts and maybe we're a bit surprised to see them. (Although, British Post Men and Women have a tendency to wear shorts all year round!) Aren't you just a little ray of sunshine! This one could be positive (usually without the 'little') describing a sweet, happy personality, or it could be sarcastic for when we're a bit annoyed that someone is so happy. Morning sunshine! Just like the last one, we could use this just to say 'Good morning!' To a happy person, or we could use it sarcastically when we're annoyed someone is happy in the morning. To take a shine to something This is an idiom we use to describe when we like someone or something. Walking on Sunshine This is also an idiom that means we're really happy, but these days it is more closely related to the song and so not used so much as an idiom. However, we might say 'she's walking on sunshine' for someone who looks really happy. Additional Vocabulary tempting fate - this is a phrase we use when we are saying something we think might be a bit ominous. For example, we (in the UK) think it's bad to talk about the rain because then the rain may come. people watching - describes the activity of sitting and watching people go by. Quite a popular pastime in the UK. a total diss - very American phrase. If someone is 'dissing' you then they are speaking badly about you. 'A total diss' means the phrase was really just speaking badly about you. bubbly person - personality description meaning someone who is cheerful, outgoing and fun to be around. if somebody comes bouncing into the office - we might say someone is 'bouncing' somewhere to describe someone moving very happily. So if we see someone come into the office very happily, big smile on their face, saying 'Good Morning!' in a happy way to everyone, then we could say they 'bounced into the office.' 80's tunes - we use 'tunes' to describe songs, so in this case songs from the 1980's