Learn These 5 English Idioms and Never Sound Like a Textbook Again!

Hey, in this lesson, I'm going to help you stop sounding like a textbook.

I'm going to teach you five English idioms that will transform your English today.

But before we start, I want to remind you after each lesson, don't forget

to go to the English with Tiffani app.

It is free to download and each lesson that I teach you here on YouTube, or

if you're listening on the podcast.

After each lesson, you can go to the app and you can

practice what you have learned.

So don't forget to download the English with Tiffani app

and practice what you learned.

So are you ready?

My friend?

Well, then let's jump right in.

All right, here's the very first idiom.

We're going to look at today under the weather.

Under the weather.

Now, this is an English idiom that we use.

All the time.

So it's important for you as an English learner to understand

the meaning and how to use it.

So under the weather just refers to feeling ill or sick or not at your best.

Physically, you're kind of coughing, or maybe you're experiencing

aches and pains in your body, or maybe your head is hurting.

You can say, ah, I'm feeling a bit under the weather.

I'm not completely well, I feel a bit sick.

In English, we say under the weather.

Now, here's some examples sentences that will help you learn and understand

how to use this term in real life.

This idiom, here we go.

I'm feeling a bit under the weather today, so I'll work from home.

I'm not feeling my best, so I'll just work from home today.

Here's the second example sentence.

She called in under the weather and couldn't make it to the meeting.

She called in, Hey, I'm under the weather and could not make it to the meeting.

And sentence number three, the kids are both under the

weather with a cold this week.

Hey.

My kids aren't feeling the best.

They're a bit under the weather.

They have a cold.

Makes sense.

Right?

You got it.

Now I want to give you three specific situations in which

you can use this idiom.

Here's the first situation when calling in sick to work or school,

we had two example sentences and one of them dealt with work while the

other dealt with school for the kids.

This is a prime example.

These two situations again, one situation, but we're speaking about work and school.

When you're not feeling well, you normally don't want to work.

You normally want to stay in bed.

You can say, I'm so sorry, boss.

Uh, I'm not going to be able to come in today.

Your boss might ask you why, uh, I'm feeling a bit.

Under the weather, or maybe on the other side, your kids, they're coughing.

They're sneezing.

You call their teacher.

Hey, Ms. Smith, I'm so sorry.

I'm not going to be able to bring the kids to school today.

Oh no.

What happened?

They're okay, but they're, they're a little bit under the weather.

So they'll be there tomorrow.

You see how to use it, right?

Yes.

All right.

So here's the next situation.

The first one was kind of a double one for you.

Situation number two, explaining why you need to cancel social plans.

Think about it.

Your friends want to hang out with you.

Maybe your coworkers want to hang out, but all of a sudden

you start feeling yourself.

Not feeling the best.

You're you're coughing.

You're your head is hurting and you need to let them know that you're

not going to be able to hang out.

Hey guys, I'm so sorry.

You're leaving a voice message.

I want to hang out tonight, but unfortunately I'm feeling a bit under the

weather, so I'm going to have to cancel.

That's the second situation.

Here's the third situation in which you can use this idiom, describing

mild illness symptoms to others.

Notice it says mild symptoms.

So I don't have the flu per se, but I feel like it's coming on again, body

aches, a bit of a headache, a cough.

When I want to explain to others, my mild symptoms, like, Hey guys, I

don't know what's been going on, man.

I'm, I'm feeling a bit under the weather and immediately people will understand.

Ah, you're not at a hundred percent.

You're not completely sick just yet, but you're a bit under the weather.

Makes sense.

Yes.

Excellent.

All right, let's move on now to our second idiom.

Our second idiom is hit the hay, hit the hay.

And you're probably wondering, wait a minute.

What in the world hit the, Hey, don't worry.

This idiom just refers to going to bed or going to sleep.

Yep.

Going to bed or going to sleep.

Now I am your teacher, teacher, Tiffani.

I love teaching you English.

I am very passionate.

About teaching English.

I am also an early bird at the time of this recording.

It literally is 5 45 AM.

Yes.

Very early in the morning.

I am an early bird.

I do my best work early in the morning.

What does that mean?

That means I have to hit the hay very early at night.

You got it.

I normally go to bed quite early, either 8 30 at the latest 9 PM.

Sometimes I'll stay up late to be on the phone, but I normally hit

the hay early because I am an early bird and I like to get up early.

You got it.

Yes.

All right.

So it just means to go to sleep.

I'm going to get some water real quick.

It's early in the morning.

So my voice is still coming.

Don't worry, we're going to get back to the lesson, but I wanted to ask you this.

Have you ever felt lost in an English conversation because of idioms?

You hear an idiom like, hit the nail on the head and wonder, what does that mean?

That's exactly why I created the English Idiom Bundle.

This bundle gives you instant access to my top secret idiom files,

packed with video lessons, PDFs, and practical exercises designed to help

you understand, use, and finally master English idioms effortlessly.

When you use idioms, your English sounds natural, engaging, and confident.

Without them, conversations can feel awkward and confusing.

My students love this system, and now it's your turn.

So, my friend, you can get lifetime access to the English Idiom Bundle

today by simply clicking the link in the description below this video.

It's time for you to start speaking English like a native.

Are you ready?

All right.

So let's check out the first example sentence.

Here is sentence number one.

I'm exhausted.

I think I'll hit the hay early tonight.

I'm exhausted.

I think I'll go to sleep early tonight.

You got it.

Yes.

All right.

Here is sentence number two.

We should hit the hay soon.

We have an early flight tomorrow.

Hey, we need to get up early tomorrow.

So let's hit the hay early tonight.

And sentence number three, after the long meeting, all I

wanted to do was hit the hay.

Listen, I was so tired after that meeting.

All I wanted to do was go to sleep.

All I wanted to do.

Was hit the hay.

Whoa, listen, I love water for those not watching.

I do love water.

All right, so we have our three sentences.

Now we have situations.

When can you use this idiom?

Situation number one, when ending a social gathering or party.

Imagine that you've invited your friends, your family members to come

over and And now you're tired, you're a bit sleepy, you prepared everything.

You hung out with your family and friends, but now,

okay, guys, I need to hit the hay.

We're going to have to wrap this party up.

So when you're trying to end a social gathering, you can say,

Hey guys, I'm having so much fun, but now I need to hit the hay.

Here's the second situation.

Preparing for an early morning, the next day, like I mentioned to you, I knew

that this morning I was going to get up early in order to record these videos.

So I wanted to hit the hay early last night.

I needed to go to bed early last night.

You got it.

And here's situation number three, expressing exhaustion after a long day.

Listen, maybe you worked a 10 hour day.

Maybe there was a huge project that needed to be completed.

So you had to work overtime at the end of that day.

Oh my, Oh, all you wanted to do was.

Yes.

Hit the hay again.

You wanted to get some rest because you were exhausted.

So again, the idiom is hit the hay.

Here's our third idiom.

Spill the beans again.

Spill the beans.

What in the world does this idiom mean?

Spill the beans.

It literally just means to reveal a secret or share private information.

Again, to reveal a secret or share private information.

Hey, I told you a secret and then you ended up telling somebody else.

Why did you spill the beans?

Or, Hey, we're planning this big event.

This big party is a surprise though.

Don't say anything.

Oops.

Sorry.

I spilled the beans.

I revealed a secret or shared private information.

Makes sense.

Yes.

All right.

So here are the example sentences.

Sentence number one, come on, spill the beans about your last date night.

Your date last night.

Come on, let me know.

Let me know.

I know you're trying to keep it private, but I got to know.

Was he nice?

Was he handsome?

Tell me all about it.

Spill the beans.

Tell me your private information.

Here's the second example sentence.

Someone finally spilled the beans about the surprise party.

And finally, sentence number three, don't spill the beans to your

sister about her birthday gift.

Don't tell her, keep it a secret.

Don't spill the beans.

Yes, you got it.

All right.

So our fourth, not fourth, we have to look first at our three situations.

Here are the three situations for this idiom.

I almost went, went to the fourth idiom, but I got to

give you your three situations.

Situation number one, don't or during gossip sessions with friends.

I will say don't gossip, but during gossip sessions with friends,

let's say it's lighthearted gossip.

Your friends are all sitting together.

And then all of a sudden one friend says, um, so I heard that someone.

Sarah is dating a new guy, spill the beans girl.

So you're speaking about things going on in your lives.

You're talking about things going on at home or at school.

All of a sudden, wait a minute.

Did you hear that Sarah and Brian are dating girl, spill the beans.

When you're speaking with your friends, here's the second situation

when trying to get information from someone, someone has a secret or

someone has some private information and you want to know that information.

I'm not encouraging this.

I'm a very, um, understanding person and I let people have their own privacy.

So if it's private information, I won't push.

But again, in the situation, Where you actually want to know, you can say,

listen, girl, girl, spill the beans.

Come on, tell me what's going on when you want to know information from

someone and situation number three, warning someone to keep a secret.

Listen.

Please don't spill the beans.

I'm telling you this and I'm trusting you.

I'm trusting that you won't spill the beans.

I'm trusting that you won't tell anyone in this situation,

you can say, spill the beans.

You got it.

Yes.

Excellent.

All right.

Now.

We are going to proceed to our fourth idiom.

The fourth idiom is butterflies in my stomach again, butterflies in my stomach.

What does this idiom mean?

Butterflies in my stomach, butterflies in her stomach, butterflies in his stomach.

It literally just refers to.

Feeling nervous or anxious about something.

Think about it.

Imagine that you have to give a speech in front of a thousand people.

Immediately your body starts reacting.

You start feeling a bit nervous.

You start wondering, Oh no, am I going to be able to present in front of them?

Am I going to be able to, to speak clearly?

Are they going to like what I have to say?

You start getting butterflies in your stomach, that weird feeling when

you're nervous and your stomach, right?

Kind of like bubbling.

Butterflies in your stomach.

So check out this first example, sentence, sentence number one.

I have butterflies in my stomach before every presentation.

I'm just so nervous.

I'm not sure if my boss will like my presentation or if my coworkers

will understand what I'm presenting.

So I, I usually get butterflies in my stomach before every presentation.

Sentence number two.

The job interview is tomorrow and I already have butterflies in my stomach.

I'm already feeling nervous.

You got it.

Sentence number three, first time performers often get butterflies in

their stomachs before going on stage.

It's their first time.

They're nervous.

They're not sure how people are going to receive them.

So they usually get butterflies in their stomachs.

Now, I want to give you three specific situations in

which you can use this idiom.

Situation number one, before public speaking or performances,

like the example sentences.

So anytime you have to go in front of people or anytime there's a performance.

It's you could think of this idiom, ah, the individuals performing

or the individual giving the speech probably feels nervous.

They probably feel nervous.

They probably have butterflies in their yes.

Stomachs.

Excellent.

Here's the second situation when meeting someone important, I want you to imagine.

That the president or the prime minister or the king of your country, whichever

country you live in, suddenly gives you a call and says, hello, I would

like to meet you tomorrow at 9am.

You hang up the phone and do you feel elated or do you all of a sudden feel, Oh

my gosh, oh my gosh, what just happened?

I have to meet him tomorrow.

I have to meet her.

What, what am I, her mom?

You suddenly feel nervous butterflies in your stomach.

So when you have to meet someone important situation, number three.

Prior to significant life events or changes, graduating from university,

getting a new job, having a baby, getting married, moving to another state, another

country, these are big life events.

And normally they can make a person feel just a bit nervous, having

butterflies in their stomachs.

Makes sense, right?

Yes.

All right.

So here is idiom number five, bite off more than you can chew.

Again, bite off more than you can chew.

Now this has nothing to do with food.

This idiom bite off more than you can chew is actually speaking about

taking on more responsibilities or tasks than you can handle.

Again, you're taking on more responsibilities or

tasks that you can handle.

Hey, you only have eight hours a day to work.

For example, don't take on 50 different tasks.

You're biting off more than you can chew.

Just do the tasks that you are able to do in that eight hour period.

Don't bite off more than you can chew.

Makes sense.

Yes.

You're so smart.

Here we go.

All right.

Let's check out these example sentences.

Sentence number one.

I think I've bitten off more than I can chew between work school and volunteering.

I think I have too many responsibilities.

I bit off more than I can chew.

Sentence number two, don't bite off more than you can chew by

signing up for too many classes.

Sign up for one, make sure you can handle it.

Don't sign up for six classes.

Don't bite off more than you can chew.

Excellent.

And sentence number three, before we get to our situations, she

bit off more than she could chew when she agreed to organize.

Three events in one week, she bit off more than she could chew.

You got it.

Right.

All right.

Now there are three situations, three other situations in which

you can use this idiom situation.

Number one, when taking on multiple projects simultaneously, just like

the last example sentence, she wanted to organize three events in one week.

Hey.

You've taken on too many projects at the same time.

When this happens, you can say, don't bite off more than you can shoot.

Here's the second situation in which you can use this idiom, making

commitments during busy periods.

Listen, you know, next week is going to be your busiest week.

You have lots of meetings, lots of project deadlines.

Don't schedule anything else.

If you do, you'll be biting off more than you can.

Yes, and situation number three, advising someone about managing their workload.

Hey, listen, you're an amazing worker.

You are an excellent coworker.

I do want to say though, that I think you're taking on

more tasks than you need to.

You're doing a bit too much.

I think you've bitten off more than you can chew.

You see how useful this idiom is, how it can help you describe in your opinion,

when a person is doing too much and you just say it in one phrase, one idiom.

Hey, I think you've bitten off more than you can chew.

Makes sense.

Excellent.

All right.

So I hope this lesson helped you.

And I want you to start using these idioms today.

You won't sound like a textbook.

You'll sound like a native English speaker.

I will talk to you in the next lesson.

Do do do do do.

Um, um, um, um, this,

you still there, you know, what time it is.

Story time.

Eh, eh, eh.

I said story time.

Alright, I want to tell you this story.

It happened when I was in South Korea.

And some of you might know this story, but I love this story

because it's an example of friends.

Being good friends and not spilling the beans.

So just to give you a little insight into who I am, you know, me as your teacher,

as your English teacher, I'm passionate about helping you speak English.

I am also passionate about making my family and friends.

So when I was in South Korea, there was a big group of us, a lot of us

were together and we all came together.

Um, well, we came at the same time from different countries.

So our group included about 40 or 45 people.

And so we naturally became.

Um, good friends, all of us would hang out a lot.

So we had a large group of missionary English teachers when I was in

South Korea and we hung out a lot.

So we got very close.

Now, again, I said, I'm the type of friend that who enjoys

making people feel special.

So whenever someone had a birthday, whenever we would go to church and

after church, people would be hungry.

I would always, and my roommate, we would invite them over to our place, or we'd

organize a meal at someone else's house.

Why we want everyone to feel like, Hey, you're not by yourself.

We can come together and eat together.

I love making people feel special.

So for birthdays, we would always organize something big for people's birthdays.

And again, I am an organizer.

I love organizing.

So I would be a part of the planning crew and many times I would start.

The plans, right?

Um, even when we went on vacation together as a group, I was the one

organizing many of the trip details.

So again, that's just my personality.

I love to organize and I love to make people feel happy.

Remember I said this is a story about good friends and good

friends who don't spill the beans.

So you have in mind now who I am as a person.

I'm the friend.

My love language is giving.

So I like to give.

I give.

My time to help you.

Right?

So anyways, so our friends, we all got together because one of our friends was

actually going to be going back home.

I think she was from London.

So we wanted to give her a going away party, right?

So there were about honestly 30 to 40 of us.

We were all going to come together and give her a surprise going away party.

So I was a part of the planning crew.

I was like, listen, guys, yes, let's do this, this, and this.

We can make sure she won't know.

So we had everything planned, the food, the invitations.

I was excited.

Everyone was excited.

So the night of the event, the party came and the plan was we were going to meet

at one of our other friends apartments.

We were all going to be there and then shout surprise when this friend came in.

Now the event was going to be in the apartment complex

behind my apartment complex.

So I was at home at my apartment changing my clothes.

My roommate was there and then one of my other, our other close friends.

So the three of us were in my bedroom.

I was getting ready and I noticed that they were acting a little weird

and I was like, guys, we have to go.

Another thing about me, I am very punctual.

I don't like to be late.

So everyone was supposed to be at the apartment.

Let's say it's seven o'clock and the girl who the party was for

was going to be there at 730.

I was like, Hey guys, it's 645.

We got to, you know, kind of wrap things up, you know, cause they

were kind of lounging around.

I was like, Hey guys, we got to get ready.

Let's go.

I was excited, but they were real chill.

And I was like, it wasn't like them because they also, I'm

still friends with them today.

They're very punctual.

So I was like, what is going on?

But they were acting a little weird and they were kind of just lounging around.

And I was like, what is going on?

And they kept asking me questions that weren't important.

Like Tiff, what are you teaching your students on Monday?

I was like, I don't know.

Let's go to this party anyway.

So we eventually get up and they kept looking at their phones again.

I couldn't figure out what was going on.

I was just focused on making sure.

Our friend that was going to be leaving was going to enjoy our party.

So anyways, we eventually walk out of my apartment together and we

walk towards the other apartment where the event was going to occur.

Again, they're kind of still acting weird and I was like, I don't

know, maybe something happened and they're discussing something.

So we're walking up the steps.

Our friend, whose apartment is going to be at, she's on the third floor.

So we get to the third floor and I'm in the front and they're behind me.

And they kind of, did they switch?

No, it's a tip.

You can go ahead and knock on the door and open.

And I was like, okay, again, it seemed weird.

I was like, why are they acting so weird?

Like we got to hurry up.

She's going to be here.

So I knocked on the door and then someone on the other side said it's open.

And I was like, okay.

So I opened the door and there are a lot of people in there and

all of a sudden they say surprise.

And I was like, be quiet.

I was like, guys, I'm not her.

She's not here yet.

We got to be quiet.

And everyone was looking at me like Tiff surprise.

And I was like, no, she's not here.

And I turned to look behind me and my other two friends and they

had big smiles on their faces.

And I was like, why are you guys?

I was like, Oh my gosh.

This entire time I thought we were planning a party for the other girl.

They had all been planning my 27th birthday party.

They were acting weird because again, I'm a planner, so I'm used to knowing

what's going on and they were like, how do we hide this information

when she asks all these questions?

So I went in and I was like, you guys, like, does everyone screamed what

they did was they told me the party was for the other girl and they told

the other girl the party was for me.

So she was going away.

So it was a party for both of us.

It was the best surprise ever.

I have never been surprised like that in my life.

And I told everyone there, I said, you guys did a great job.

I mean, it was a full weekend.

Like we all, we went out to eat.

We went on a. Excuse me, a dinner cruise, then everyone came back to

my apartment, all the females, and we spent the night, watched movies.

It was a weekend.

I will never forget my two friends, great friends didn't spill the beans.

And I had one of the best birthday celebrations I've ever had in my life.

So remember to make your friends feel special.

They won't forget it.

I'll talk to you in the next lesson.