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  • (upbeat music)

  • - Hello everyone and welcome back to English With Lucy.

  • Today I'm going to talk to you about 20 idioms,

  • which have different versions

  • in American English and in British English.

  • You need to be really careful with these

  • because you risk being misunderstood

  • if you use the wrong version in the wrong country.

  • Or actually that would mean you would be understood,

  • 'cause that's a double negative.

  • Anyway, I'm going to tell you

  • the British version of the idiom,

  • and then I'm going to tell you

  • the American version of the idiom.

  • I'm going to give you the definition,

  • and I'm going to give you an example.

  • So get you notebooks out,

  • and write these down.

  • Before we get started,

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  • Right, let's get on with the lesson.

  • Now I have curated a list of 20 idioms

  • which mean the same things,

  • but have different versions

  • in British English and American English.

  • They're all fairly common,

  • and you can use most of them in everyday conversation,

  • and you homework for today

  • is to write in the comments

  • any other idioms that you know

  • that might be different in different countries

  • and different parts of the world.

  • Right, number one.

  • In Britain, we say, to throw a spanner in the works.

  • To throw a spanner in the works.

  • But in American English,

  • they say, to throw a monkey wrench in the works,

  • or sometimes, just to throw a wrench in the works.

  • It's basically different

  • because what Americans call a monkey wrench,

  • we call a spanner.

  • And this idiom basically mean to do something

  • that prevents a plan or activity from succeeding.

  • For example, the intern threw a spanner in the works,

  • by ghosting the client on Tinder.

  • This actually happened to someone I know.

  • They met someone on Tinder,

  • never replied to their messages,

  • and turns out they're a big client for their company.

  • It didn't go well.

  • They threw a spanner in the works.

  • Number two.

  • As we say in British English,

  • to blow you own trumpet.

  • To blow your own trumpet.

  • But in American English,

  • they say to toot your own horn.

  • To toot your own horn.

  • This means to boast,

  • or to praise your own abilities and achievements.

  • For example, I don't mean to blow my own trumpet,

  • but I read the oxford dictionary three times

  • before the age of five.

  • That is a lie, I did not.

  • Number three.

  • In Britain we say,

  • to sweep something under the carpet.

  • To sweep something under the carpet.

  • But in America they say,

  • to sweep something under the rug.

  • To sweep something under the rug.

  • This means to deny or ignore something

  • that is embarrassing or might damage your reputation.

  • A lot of politicians like to sweep things under the carpet.

  • For example, as one of the most

  • controversial YouTube on the platform,

  • I have swept many scandals under the carpet.

  • Number four.

  • In British English we say, peaks and troughs.

  • Peaks and troughs.

  • But in American English they say, peaks and valleys.

  • Peaks and valleys.

  • This means to avoid something at all costs,

  • or to refuse to associate with something.

  • Woops, I said the wrong one.

  • This is the mixture of good and bad things in life.

  • For example having lovely sponsors like Skillshare

  • helps my business through the peaks and troughs of the year.

  • Number five.

  • In Britain we would say, to not touch something

  • with a bargepole.

  • To not touch something with a bargepole.

  • In American English they would simply say,

  • to not touch something with a ten-foot pole.

  • To not touch something with a ten-foot pole.

  • This simply means to avoid something at all costs,

  • or to refuse to associate with something.

  • For example, my father would not

  • touch trifle with a bargepole.

  • He absolutely hates trifle.

  • He's very good at pretending to like things,

  • but I've never seen him pretend to like a trifle.

  • It's that dessert which is like,

  • cake, jam, jelly, custard, cream, ugh.

  • I would eat it but,

  • I wouldn't choose it.

  • Right, number six.

  • This is a sort of superstitious one.

  • In British English it's touch wood.

  • Touch wood.

  • In American English, it's knock on wood.

  • Knock on wood.

  • And it's a phrase that's used

  • just after mentioning a way in which

  • you've been lucky in the past.

  • And it's said to prevent bad luck.

  • So an example would be,

  • I am not a great driver,

  • but I've never been in a serious car crash.

  • Touch wood.

  • I'm saying touch wood to prevent myself

  • from being in a serious car crash.

  • I actually need to touch wood now.

  • (knocking)

  • Okay.

  • I'm not superstitious I'm just...

  • I'm just British.

  • Number seven.

  • British English we would say, to flog a dead horse.

  • To flog a dead horse.

  • In American English they would say,

  • to beat a dead horse.

  • To beat a dead horse.

  • This simply means to waste energy

  • on something that has no chance of succeeding.

  • For example, you're flogging a dead horse

  • by trying to make my dad eat trifle.

  • He's not gonna do it.

  • You're not going to succeed.

  • Number eight.

  • Now I will admit that sometimes I use the American version.

  • And you do have to bear that in mind with these idioms,

  • because in Britain we consume so many American sitcoms,

  • tv programmes and movies,

  • that their vocabulary does bleed into our vocabulary.

  • But in Britain traditionally,

  • we would say to take something with a grain of salt.

  • To take something with a grain of salt.

  • When in America, they would say,

  • to take something with a pinch of salt.

  • To take something with a pinch of salt.

  • And this means to view something with scepticism

  • or to not take something literally.

  • For example, if I offer you a tequila,

  • you should take it with a pinch of salt

  • and a slice of lemon.

  • Just joking.

  • That's proof, that you should take everything I say

  • with a grain of salt.

  • Number nine.

  • In British English, we would say swings and roundabouts.

  • Swings and roundabouts.

  • In American English they would simply say, ups and downs.

  • Ups and downs.

  • These idioms are used to describe situations

  • where there are as many gains as there are losses.

  • For example, in the UK,

  • we pay high taxes, but it's all swings and roundabouts,

  • because we have a great National Health Service.

  • Number 10.

  • Another one where I might actually say the American one,

  • because the Americanisms have bled into Britain.

  • But the British idiom is skeletons in the cupboard.

  • Skeletons in the cupboard.

  • Whilst in American English,

  • they say skeletons in the closet.

  • Skeletons in the closet.

  • And we don't actually use the word closet,

  • which means wardrobe in British English,

  • but I would use the word closet for this specific idiom.

  • And a skeleton in the closet is a secret

  • that would cause embarrassment if known.

  • For example, I could never run for prime minister,

  • because I have ar too many skeletons in my closet.

  • Number 11.

  • Oo this one is so British.

  • The British version is so British.

  • To have a go at someone.

  • To have a go at someone.

  • We use this all the time.

  • If there's one that you remember,

  • remember this one.

  • The American version is to tear into someone.

  • To tear into someone.

  • It means to attack someone with either force or language.

  • For example, true story.

  • A teacher once had a go at me for faking an illness

  • when I was genuinely very unwell.

  • Number 12.

  • In British English we say a storm in a teacup.

  • A storm in a teacup.

  • In American English, they say a tempest in a teapot.

  • A tempest in a teapot.

  • That sound much more posh.

  • Teacup, teapot, much more tea.

  • This means great outrage or excitement

  • over a trivial matter.

  • For example, I don't think the apocalypse is coming.

  • I think it's big old storm in a teacup.

  • Number 13.

  • In British English we say a drop in the ocean.

  • A drop in the ocean.

  • And in American English they say, a drop in the bucket.

  • A drop in the bucket.

  • It means a very small or insignificant amount

  • compared to the amount needed.

  • For example, I saved 33 pence by doing my shopping online,

  • which is a drop in the ocean

  • compare to what I need to save for a house deposit.

  • That's what I trying to save for at the moment,

  • and it's not easy.

  • Number 14.

  • This is a personal favourite.

  • I just really like it.

  • And I actually love the American version.

  • But saying makes me cringe.

  • The British version is hard cheese.

  • Hard cheese.

  • The American version, and I find it

  • very very hard to say this

  • without sounding so ridiculous,

  • so bear with me.

  • The American version is tough titty.

  • (laughs)

  • Tough titty.

  • (laughs)

  • I wonder if I could say it without smiling.

  • Tough titty.

  • (laughs)

  • No, I can't.

  • This is used to express somewhat sarcastic sympathy

  • over a petty or trivial matter.

  • For example, you missed your exam

  • because you stayed up watching Bird Box,

  • hard cheese mate.

  • Number 15.

  • Oo, another super British one

  • that we use so frequently.

  • To bang on about something.

  • To bang on about something.

  • In American English they would say

  • to rant and rave about something.

  • To rant and rave about something.

  • This meas to talk about something for a long time,

  • especially in a way that is boring to others.

  • For example, I know I bang on about Skillshare,

  • but it really is a fantastic service.

  • Number 16, in British English it's to call a spade a spade.

  • To call a spade a spade.

  • In American English, to call it as one sees it.

  • To call it as one sees it.

  • This simply means to speak honestly

  • and describe something as it really is.

  • For example, my mother calls a spade a spade,

  • if I'm being out of order,

  • which I sometimes am.

  • She will put me right.

  • She always does.

  • Number 17.

  • In British English we say, to cram.

  • To cram.

  • Which isn't strictly an idiom,

  • but the American version is,

  • in American English they say to hit the books.

  • To hit the books.

  • And this means to study intensively

  • over a short period of time,

  • usually right before an exam.

  • For example, I relied heavily on cramming

  • throughout my university degree.

  • I wouldn't recommend it,

  • but I did get a first class degree.

  • So make of that what you will.

  • Number 18.

  • In British English, to get itchy feet.

  • To get itchy feet.

  • In American English they say

  • to seek new pastures.

  • To seek new pastures.

  • This means to start to want to travel

  • or to want to do something different with your life.

  • For example, after 14 years of schooling,

  • I got itchy feet and started to plan my move to Spain.

  • Number 19.

  • In British English we say, to go pear shaped.

  • To go pear shaped.

  • In American English they say, to go south.

  • To go south.

  • This means to go wrong or to go badly.

  • For example, the party was great,

  • but after they handed out tequila shots,

  • it started to go a bit pear shaped.

  • Our final idiom of the lesson,

  • and I've saved the best 'til last,

  • 'cause this is what I love to do.

  • In British English we say, to queue up.

  • To queue up.

  • But in American English they say, to wait in line.

  • To wait in line.

  • Simply means to take one's place in a queue.

  • For example, as a Brit,

  • I can honestly say there is nothing I enjoy more

  • than queuing up and silently judging those

  • to who try to break the queue rules.

  • Ah, I love it and hate it at the same time.

  • Anyway, moving on.

  • That's it for today's lesson.

  • Don't forget to check out Skillshare.

  • Remember the first 500 people

  • get their first two months free.

  • Just click on the link in the description,

  • and don't forget to check out all of my social media.

  • I've got my Facebook, I've got Instagram,

  • and I've got my twitter.

  • And I shall see you soon for another lesson.

  • And since Skillshare are sponsoring this video,

  • they have given the first 500 people

  • to link the click.

  • Things you will genuinely be interested in.

  • (beep)

  • Oo I'm gonna use the word curated.

  • Now I have curated a list of,

  • oh god that was so good, curated.

  • (laughs)

  • I love that word, curated.

  • Now I have curated.

  • I love it, I just love the word.

  • (beep)

  • Now I have created.

  • No I haven't created it,

  • I've curated it!

  • Damn it, I really wanna use this word.

  • No, that's wrong!

  • That is wrong!

  • This simply means to refuse to associate.

  • And it's a phrase that's used, ah, my god.

  • My neck is so itchy, ah.

  • These phrases are used to describe

  • a situation where there are, bla.

  • It's all swings and roundabouts,

  • because we have a great NHS.

  • A-bla.

  • To get itchy feet.

  • And don't forget to check me out on,

  • check me out, check me out.

  • (upbeat music)

(upbeat music)

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