Leap Year Idioms and Proverbs - English Vocabulary

2016 is a leap year.

As you know, every four years there are twenty-nine days in February.

I taught my kids a rhyme to help them remember.

Let's learn six expressions related to leap year.

English with Jennifer

February gets an extra day when it's a leap year,

so we end up with 366 days on the calendar.

Do you know any idioms with the word "extra"?

Here's one: go the extra mile.

Do you know it?

It means to do more than necessary.

You do more than what's expected or what's required.

Going the extra mile is about putting in additional effort,

so it's a good thing.

Employers value a worker who often goes the extra mile.

And a kind friend will go the extra mile for you.

Here's an example.

Speaking of miles, we have a saying:

Give them an inch, and they'll take a mile.

This is not good.

We say this when someone takes advantage of us

and our generosity.

Usually the person wants more freedom or more power.

This could be a child who is testing his or her parents

and demanding more privileges.

Or it could be customers wanting more free services.

Example.

Here's another idiom with the word "extra."

An extra pair of hands.

You can have, need, or offer an extra pair of hands.

If you have an extra pair of hands,

you have additional help from another person.

For example, when you're moving to a new home,

you take all the help that you can get

because there are a lot of boxes and bags to carry,

so it's wonderful to have an extra pair of hands.

Example.

"Leap" means to jump forward.

Have you ever taken a leap of faith?

If you take a leap of faith, you believe in something

although it's not easy or maybe there's no real evidence

to support your decision.

For example, marrying someone is a leap of faith

or it takes a leap of faith --

meaning you believe in your heart it's the right thing to do.

You just have to trust your decision is truly for the best.

Example.

Here's another expression with the word "leap."

by leaps and bounds

If your language skills have improved by leaps and bounds,

you've made great progress.

Growing by leaps and bounds

means growing a lot and quickly.

Example.

Finally, we have the saying "Look before you leap."

These are words of wisdom.

This proverb means think before you act.

We need to consider our decisions carefully

and examine a situation before we take action

or before we get involved, for example,

intervening in a conflict or making a business investment.

Example

Let's review. First, we'll say the six expressions.

Repeat after me.

Now recall the meanings.

Which one refers to additional help from another person?

Which one means to do more than necessary

and put in additional effort?

Which is a proverb?

And it means think before you act.

Which expression do we use to talk about great progress?

-- A lot of progress made very quickly.

Which expression means believe in something

although it's not easy to do?

And this last one --

Give them an inch, and they'll take a mile.

Is it positive or negative in meaning?

Negative, right?

What do people want?

They usually want more freedom or more power.

So we say this when someone takes advantage of us

and our generosity.

Now let's practice. I'll pose questions for your to answer.

But first you have to help me complete the questions with the right words.

One. Read the question to yourself

and then I'll help you complete it.

That's all for now.

Thanks for watching and happy studies.

And happy leap year, too!