The Vocab Man - Fluent Vocabulary

Daniel Goodson

Join the English learning journey with the English learner Daniel Goodson. Learn more vocabulary and get (more) fluent in English by listening to The Vocab Man! read less
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Episodes

123 Elbow Grease (Idiom) With SEND 7 Host Stephen
22-12-2023
123 Elbow Grease (Idiom) With SEND 7 Host Stephen
The idioms "Elbow Grease" explained. You'll also hear some exmapled from movies/series.On the Vocab Man, we cover interesting idioms, expressions, phrases and sayings to make you a better English speaker. Interview LinksWORLD NEWS QUIZ on Luke's English PodcastLearning English WIth The News (also on Luke's English Podacst)What is the idea of Simple English News Daily Podacst? (short clip)My interview with Stephen (How to learn English with a news podcast)LinksStephen Devincenzi on LinkedinSend7.org (where the learning with news happens)Definition of Elbow GreaseThe idiom "elbow grease" refers to physical effort or hard work, especially manual labor that requires physical exertion. When someone suggests using "elbow grease," they are typically emphasizing the need for diligent and strenuous effort to accomplish a task, often involving activities like cleaning, scrubbing, or any manual work that requires energy and perseverance.Send in your voice message and be part of The Vocab Man!Send a voice message to myfluentpodcast (myfluentpodcast_VOCAB_MAN) (speakpipe.com)Some example phrases"To get the stain out of the carpet, you'll need to apply some elbow grease and scrub it vigorously." 2. "Cleaning the garage will take some serious elbow grease, but it'll be worth it in the end.""If you want those shoes to shine, put in some elbow grease while polishing them.""The garden won't look its best unless you put some elbow grease into weeding and pruning.""Fixing up an old bicycle requires more than just spare parts; it needs some elbow grease to make it ride smoothly again."
118 To Pull Someone's Leg (Idiom)
04-12-2023
118 To Pull Someone's Leg (Idiom)
To Pull Someone's Leg explained. I'm pulling your leg!Head over to the interview with Sarah. 133 Reading in Italian until fluent - Sarah IfeomaDifferent meanings of "To Pull Someone's Leg":To Tease or Joke Playfully:Example: "I was just pulling your leg when I said the boss was looking for you."To Deceive or Mislead in a Light-Hearted Manner:Example: "Don't believe him; he's just pulling your leg about the surprise party."To Engage in Friendly Banter or Prank:Example: "John loves pulling his sister's leg by pretending to be a ghost in the dark."To Play a Light-Hearted Trick or Practical Joke:Example: "The kids pulled their teacher's leg by hiding all the chalk before class."Alternative Phrases:To Jest with Someone:Example: "I was jesting with you; there's no need to take it seriously."To Tease Gently:Example: "She was just teasing, don't let it bother you."To Engage in Light Banter:Example: "We were just engaging in some light banter; no harm meant."Etymology Stories:The origin of "to pull someone's leg" is a bit unclear, but several theories exist:Theatrical Origin:One theory suggests it originated in the theatrical world. In early theater, actors would literally trip or pull each other's legs to create comedic effects. Over time, this physical action evolved into a metaphor for playing a joke.Pickpocketing Connection:Another theory links it to pickpocketing. Some say that thieves would trip their targets to distract them while stealing from their pockets, giving rise to the expression.Old English Slang:There's also a belief that it's rooted in Old English slang where "pull" meant to trick or deceive. "Pulling someone's leg" could have been a figurative expression evolving from this linguistic background.Nautical Origins:A less common theory ties it to nautical slang, where "leg" referred to a rope. Pulling someone's leg might have been akin to figuratively pulling a person with a rope, suggesting trickery.