Bite-sized English: Recent Episodes
Mathew Rideout
Learn English in bite-sized pieces. With each daily episode, Matt will take you through a large variety of topics to help improve your listening and speaking bit by bit. Each episode will also feature some small goal or homework so you can apply the material in your day to day life.
In this episode, we will be covering some... "handy" idioms (pun very much intended). We hope you enjoy some of the great idioms below!
lend a hand
hands are clean
blood/dirt on your hands
show your hand
bite the hand that feeds
sitting on your hands
take something off your hands
Matt covers Grammy Award winning song of 2018, the smash hit "This is America." As it is July 4th, Independence Day in the United States, seems like the most fitting choice. Enjoy a break down of some of the more colloquial style of language used by Gambino!
Childish Gambino - "This is America":
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYOjWnS4cMY
https://open.spotify.com/album/7arx9qPJexCsDz67El4qvk
https://y.qq.com/n/yqq/singer/001HS2h02NYN1m.html
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, go, go away (x4)
We just wanna party
Party just for you
We just want the money
Money just for you
I know you wanna party
Party just for me
Girl, you got me dancin' (yeah, girl, you got me dancin')
Dance and shake the frame
We just wanna party (yeah)
Party just for you (yeah)
We just want the money (yeah)
Money just for you (you)
I know you wanna party (yeah)
Party just for me (yeah)
Girl, you got me dancin' (yeah, girl, you got me dancin')
Dance and shake the frame (you)
This is America
Don't catch you slippin' up
Don't catch you slippin' up
Look what I'm whippin' up
This is America (woo)
Don't catch you slippin' up
Don't catch you slippin' up
Look what I'm whippin' up
This is America (skrrt, skrrt, woo)
Don't catch you slippin' up (ayy)
Look at how I'm livin' now
Police be trippin' now (woo)
Yeah, this is America (woo, ayy)
Guns in my area (word, my area)
I got the strap (ayy, ayy)
I gotta carry 'em
Yeah, yeah, I'ma go into this (ugh)
Yeah, yeah, this is guerilla (woo)
Yeah, yeah, I'ma go get the bag
Yeah, yeah, or I'ma get the pad
Yeah, yeah, I'm so cold like yeah (yeah)
I'm so dope like yeah (woo)
We gon' blow like yeah (straight up, uh)
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell somebody
You go tell somebody
Grandma told me
Get your money, black man (get your money)
Get your money, black man (get your money)
Get your money, black man (get your, black man)
Get your money, black man (get your, black man)
Black man
This is America (woo, ayy)
Don't catch you slippin' up (woo, woo, don't catch you slippin', now)
Don't catch you slippin' up (ayy, woah)
Look what I'm whippin' up (Slime!)
This is America (yeah, yeah)
Don't catch you slippin' up (woah, ayy)
Don't catch you slippin' up (ayy, woo)
Look what I'm whippin' up (ayy)
Look how I'm geekin' out (hey)
I'm so fitted (I'm so fitted, woo)
I'm on Gucci (I'm on Gucci)
I'm so pretty (yeah, yeah)
I'm gon' get it (ayy, I'm gon' get it)
Watch me move (blaow)
This a celly (ha)
That's a tool (yeah)
On my Kodak (woo, Black)
Ooh, know that (yeah, know that, hold on)
Get it (get it, get it)
Ooh, work it (21)
Hunnid bands, hunnid bands, hunnid bands (hunnid bands)
Contraband, contraband, contraband (contraband)
I got the plug on Oaxaca (woah)
They gonna find you like blocka (blaow)
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell somebody
America, I just checked my following list and
You go tell somebody
You mothafuckas owe me
Grandma told me
Get your money, black man (black man)
Get your money, black man (black man)
Get your money, black man (black man)
Get your money, black man (black man)
Black man (one, two, three, get down)
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, tell somebody
You go tell somebody
Grandma told me, "Get your money, " black man
Get your money, black man (black man)
Get your money, black man (black man)
Get your money, black man (black man)
Black man
You just a black man in this world
You just a barcode, ayy
You just a black man in this world
Drivin' expensive foreigns, ayy
You just a big dawg, yeah
I kenneled him in the backyard
No proper life to a dog
For a big dog
Despite Matt's misleading intro, this episode covers idioms with the word game in them. Different uses and very different means, but still all quite common in English.
Help support the show with a review and warm recommendation to friends or family!
Idioms in today's show:
blame game
numbers game
two can play at that game
off one's game
at the top of one's game
Why not go back to this 90s classic and look at some of the great language available? We cover some cool words and phrases in the song so you can really rock your English!
Smash Mouth - "All-star": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_jWHffIx5E
https://open.spotify.com/album/0QluVU5ReXs7oI1ZyS101F
https://www.xiami.com/song/1771446391
Somebody once told me the world is gonna roll me
I ain't the sharpest tool in the shed
She was looking kind of dumb with her finger and her thumb
In the shape of an "L" on her forehead
Fed to the rules and I hit the ground running
Didn't make sense not to live for fun
Your brain gets smart but your head gets dumb
So much to do so much to see
So what's wrong with taking the back streets
You'll never know if you don't go
You'll never shine if you don't glow
[Chorus]
Hey now you're an All Star get your game on, go play
Hey now you're a Rock Star get the show on get paid
And all that glitters is gold
Only shooting stars break the mold
It's a cool place and they say it gets colder
You're bundled up now but wait 'til you get older
But the meteor men beg to differ
Judging by the hole in the satellite picture
The ice we skate is getting pretty thin
The water's getting warm so you might as well swim
My world's on fire how about yours
That's the way I like it and I never get bored
[Chorus x2]
Somebody once asked could I spare some change for gas
I need to get myself away from this place
I said yep what a concept
I could use a little fuel myself
And we could all use a little change
Fed to the rules and I hit the ground running
Didn't make sense not to live for fun
Your brain gets smart but your head gets dumb
So much to do, so much to see
So what's wrong with taking the back streets
You'll never know if you don't go
You'll never shine if you don't glow
We return to the idiom series talking about these 6 idioms that have to do with laughing, humour, or joking. Matt also gives his unsolicited opinion on the humour of Aussies, Kiwis, and Brits.
Idioms in today's episode:
butt of the joke
barrel of laughs
pull one's leg
take a joke
all joking aside
(just) for kicks
If you like today's lesson, please subscribe, recommend the show, and leave a review!
We kick off our new lyric series with the music from Canadian musician Shawn Mendes. Matt goes into some of the great language Shawn uses to convey romance, relationships, and more.
Help support the podcast by subscribing!
Shawn Mendes - Treat You Better: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lY2yjAdbvdQ / https://open.spotify.com/album/3wBabo4pmzsYjALMSKY7Iq / https://y.qq.com/n/yqq/singer/001NODJ71LGPD5.html
Lyrics
I won't lie to you
I know he's just not right for you
And you can tell me if I'm off
But I see it on your face
When you say that he's the one that you want
And you're spending all your time
In this wrong situation
And anytime you want it to stop
I know I can treat you better
Than he can
And any girl like you deserves a gentleman
Tell me why are we wasting time
On all your wasted cryin'
When you should be with me instead
I know I can treat you better
Better than he can
I'll stop time for you
The second you say you'd like me to
I just wanna give you the loving that you're missing
Baby, just to wake up with you
Would be everything I need and this could be so different
Tell me what you want to do
'Cause I know I can treat you better
Than he can
And any girl like you deserves a gentleman
Tell me why are we wasting time
On all your wasted cryin'
When you should be with me instead
I know I can treat you better
Better than he can
Better than he can
Give me a sign
Take my hand, we'll be fine
Promise I won't let you down
Just know that you don't
Have to do this alone
Promise I'll never let you down
'Cause I know I can treat you better
Than he can
And any girl like you deserves a gentleman
Tell me why are we wasting time
On all your wasted cryin'
When you should be with me instead
I know I can treat you better
Better than he can, oh oh
Better than he can
Better than he can
I talk unscripted (obviously) about my fourth favourite sports team, the Toronto Raptors. Learn a little about the North American sports culture and why this run of the Raptors is so important to Canada.
There is plenty of content upcoming over the next month and I am really excited for you guys to listen. Please support the show with a review, a follow, and a recommendation.
In this episode, we will be kicking off a new series exploring the wide variety of prefixes available in English. Today we will be learning about pre- and post-.
Words uses in this lesson:
Postscript
Preview
Postgraduate
Postmortem
Predict
Preempt
Pre-workout
Post-workout
Pregame
Postgame
Preschool
Email your assignment submissions to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com!
These two homonyms are very different in meaning, but are both very useful! In this episode Matt covers the means of the words, and some common phrases you might encounter:
peace and quiet
peace out
peace in our time
falling to peaces
piece of cake
bits and pieces
piecing something together
For today's assignment, I want you to describe the pieces of something. How would you describe it as pieces rather than parts? Try to avoid food and challenge yourself to come up with another thing that has "pieces."
Leave a comment or email to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com.
Matt is back with a brand new series of Bite-sized English! We kick of with a lesson about returns, coming back (getting back, going back as well), and the word comeback.
Questions can be directed to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com. I am very happy to be back behind the mic after so much time away. I would like to make a special mention of listener Marcia who encouraged a comeback of the podcast!
Matt walks through just a few alternate ways of saying thank you.
There is no assignment for today, but do send questions to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com
Matt talks about a few tips when talking to native English speakers, watching a film, and flashcards.
We finish our week on the conditional with the third and perhaps most complicated of the three. Matt talks about the differences between "could have" "should have" and "would have."
All questions and assignments can be sent to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com or via Twitter @bitesizedengpod.
Matt continues talking about the conditional phrasings, covering the hypothetical or second conditional. Used to talk about unlikely or impossible situations, this is a very common phrasing in English.
All questions and comments can be sent to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com.
Matt covers some basic phrases and adverbs we use to determine how likely something is to happen. The phrases he talks about are: will definitely will probably likely to may well / might not likely to probably won't definitely won't
Send all questions and assignments to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com.
Matt goes over six different phrases using the word game.
The phrases: -fair game -zero-sum game -game plan -waiting game -I'm game -a whole new ball game
Matt talks about some (but certainly not all!) of the phrases that we use that contains the word ball. The phrases that he discusses are: -on the ball
-keep your eye on the ball / take your eye off the ball
-have a ball
-the ball is in your court
-a curve ball
-drop the ball / fumble the ball
Please be sure to send all questions to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com!
Matt goes through some basic tips when we are tackling reading comprehension in our English proficiency tests. He discusses some places to find some extra practice like: BBC News, CNN News, CBC News, The Economist, The New Scientist, and the askhistorians and askscientists subreddits on reddit.com.
If you have any questions, comments, or critiques for Matt, fire him an email at bitesizedenglish@gmail.com
Matt wraps up his short topic on the passive voice with two more tenses, the present perfect and the future form.
Present perfect: have/has + been + past participle Future form: will + be + past participle
Be sure to practice converting or changing active sentences into the passive voice to develop your skills in the passive voice. Matt is happy to help read and comment on your sentences at bitesizedenglish@gmail.com.
Matt sits down with his long time student, Cecelia, for a quick chat about some interesting topics. They discuss the environment, animals, and Beijing's bikes.
Vocabulary: QR code apex predators refraction rainbows
Today we continue our discussion on the passive voice using the present tenses. We form the simple with am/is/are + past participle and we form the continuous with am/is/are + being + past participle.
Send your practice sentences to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com.
Matt begins his week talking about the passive voice with one of the more important tenses of the passive: past simple. We use it to describe some of the major achievements in human history all the way to minor happenings in day to day life.
Please direct all questions and homework to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com or @bitesizedengpod.
Matt summarises some of the complicated history between France and England, and how that has impacted the English language in very dramatic ways. He also covers a few French words and phrases that we use in day to day English: -touche -bon voyage -mousse -carte blanche -entree -cul-de-sac
Be sure to submit your questions to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com or on Twitter @bitesizedengpod!
Matt talks about some important tips we can focus on when we are writing persuasive essays, especially for tests or in a classroom setting. He does introduce a few new words/phrases: anecdotal, infrastructure, stay on topic, rack your brain.
Direct questions and comments to bitesizedenglish@gmail or on Twitter @bitesizedengpod.
Matt covers some of the trickier uncountable nouns that caused some confusion for submitted answers. He talks about words like news, meats, paper, money (and currencies), and grass.
If there are any more nouns you are not sure of, please do send your questions to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com.
Today Matt covers the main quantifiers we use in English with countable and uncountable nouns. We practice some of them with examples, and highlight some of the related quantifiers that are interchangable or similar but slightly different.
Send your assignment to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com and Matt will be happy to help!
Matt talks us through countable and uncountable nouns. He covers some important basic points like general rules, basic quantifiers, and some key irregularities. Check in tomorrow for more detail on quantifiers.
Send your assignment to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com or Tweet at Matt @bitesizedengpod!
Matt talks about the various words we use when talking about the habit of smoking.
Vocabulary: cigarettes, tobacco, cigars, pipe, smoking, butts, second-hand smoke, inhale, addicted to, quit, cold turkey, wean off
Matt practices some basic greetings we use in English rather than the boring standard: "hello."
Please do email bitesizedenglish@gmail.com for any questions or comments!
Matt reviews some of the highlights of this week's material. Be sure to check out the podcasts from the last week to practice the material we covered.
Comments and questions to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com!
We celebrate the national day of Ireland by talking about the origins, celebrations, and meaning of Saint Patrick's Day!
Vocabulary: -Catholic saint -shamrock -diaspora -Ireland/Irish
Matt covers the different feelings of fear, from the mild to the extreme. He explains how different words like startling and spooky are used.
Vocabulary: spooky and eerie scary and terrifying startling / startled nervous
Phrases: scared the crap out of me scared stiff butterflies in my stomach/tummy
Please do send an email to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com if you have any questions.
Matt covers how we express our anger! He covers some important synonyms and some practice on how we can sound angry.
Vocabulary: -mad, angry, furious -Short temper (noun) and short tempered (adj) -enraged -blood boiling -hot blooded
Phrases we say when we are angry: -Oh come on! For Pete's sake! You gotta be kidding me! You must be joking!
Matt is joined by a guest, Thomas, to talk about the feeling of disappointment. They practice "disappointed in" and the following phrases:
Let down Bummer Fall short
Matt talks about the two main ways we use the word "sad." It can be used as a feeling of unhappiness, but also as an insult for a situation or person that is unaccomplished or pathetic.
Examples: -I am sad to hear that you are leaving. -She looked sad when I told her the news. -Does that make you feel sad?
-That was a sad showing from the local sports team. -A: Did you see that guy fail? B: Yeah, that was pretty sad.
We start the week of emotions with one of the best ones: joy and happiness. Matt covers the verbs we use with the adjective happy, and reminds us how to use emotional nouns like joy.
Phrases from today: -happy as a clam -happy hour -happy camper (commonly "not a happy camper")
For questions or comments, do be scared to send an email to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com. Matt will be HAPPY to help you. <(^.^)>
Matt covers the basics of the Present Perfect Simple and Present Perfect Continuous tenses. The example sentences are below:
-I have seen that movie before. -She has written eight books. -You haven't cooked dinner for months. -Have you seen my watch??
-I have been living here for three years. OR I have been living here since 2015. -Frank hasn't been eating much these days. -Has Sam been watching The Price is Right all day? -Have you been watching TV all day!?
Remember to comment if you have any questions or send an email to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com!
We have a shorter episode today, covering some ways we use these three vocabulary words in phrases and practical spoken English.
To focus on: half an hour, quarter of an hour, two and a half hours (NOT 2.5 hours)
24 hours describing a store, 24/7 describing something constant. "Give me a minute/second/half a minute/18 seconds" - I need more time "There are only so many hours in a day" - I don't have time to do everything.
Please send an email to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com for any questions or comments about the podcast!
Today's phrases: "It's time to +verb" "The time has come" "On time" "I don't have the time" "Time's Up" "Good times" "You got me at a bad time" "It's a matter of time" "Time flies" "I am pressed for time" "It's about time"
Be sure to post your questions or comments to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com!
Matt goes over the main three prepositions we use with time, and also covers three less used (but still very important) prepositions.
We use in with: months, years, centuries, periods of time, times of the day
We use on with: days of the week, days+parts of the day, dates, special days
We use at with: clock times
Be sure to comment or send an email to bitesizedenglish@gmail.com!
Matt covers the origins of the names of the days of the week and months of the year.
The vocabulary for today: Monday - Moon Day Tuesday - Tyr's Day Wednesday - Odin's Day Thursday - Thor's Day Friday - Frigg's Day Saturday - Saturn's Day Sunday - Sun Day January - Janus, God of Doors February - purification (the end of winter) March - Mars, God of War April - opening (the blossoming of flowers) May - Maia, Goddess of Fertility June - Juno, Goddess of Marriage July - Julius Caesar August - Augustus Caesar September - sept=7 October - oct=8 November - nov=9 December - dec=10
In our first podcast, we will be learning what the goals of Bite Sized English will be and what podcasts are in general.