Hello, today, we are learning some water related idioms.
In fact, we're going to cover 10.
Now, I'm going to start by giving you the idioms and the meanings.
And then I will read you a short story.
So you can hear those idioms in context.
So get your notebooks to the ready.
And give me a second.
Just a quick note, you can download the notes for this lesson by clicking on the link in
the description below.
Let's go.
Number one.
"To keep one's head above water".
"To keep your head above water" means to manage to survive something and usually financially
or emotionally.
So if you're having a hard time financially, maybe you've lost your job.
Or if you've gone through a breakup, or someone in your family has passed away, then you're
going to have to try to keep your head above the water, you will have to try to survive
that difficult situation.
Number two.
"To make a splash".
"To make a splash" means to make a big impression, or to draw attention to yourself.
So if I am going into a new career, perhaps I'm going to go into painting.
And I take all of my art to an art gallery.
And all those pieces of art sell and lots of people start talking about my art, then
you could say "Anna is making a splash on the art scene, everyone's talking about her
work".
Number three.
"To be in deep water".
If you're in deep water, then you are in trouble.
You are in a difficult situation, just like if you were in deep water.
Number four.
"To be in the same boat".
If you're in the same boat as someone else, then it means you're in a similar or the same
situation or circumstance.
So, if I am struggling to get any work done, because I have a new baby.
And I complain to the young woman on the bus about my situation, she might say to me, we're
in the same boat, I just had a baby three months ago, and I can't get any work done
either. Number five.
"To be like a fish out of water".
If you are a fish out of water, then you are not going to feel very comfortable, you'll
certainly feel like you're in the wrong place.
So, if you're ever in a situation that makes you uncomfortable, you just don't feel right.
There doing that thing, then you could say I'm a fish out of water here, I need to be
doing something else.
For example, if I asked you to stand on stage and sing a song, most of you would feel like
a fish out of water.
Because it's quite a scary thing to do to stand up and sing in front of people, especially
if it's unplanned.
Number six.
"To be in hot water".
If you are in hot water, then you are in trouble.
In real trouble.
If you're in deep water is very similar.
But hot water definitely denotes that someone's angry with you or that you are facing criticism,
for example.
So, if I am supposed to be home early, because it's my anniversary, and I forget and I stay
out really late.
And I'm going to be in hot water when I get home.
I'm going to be in big trouble with my partner.
Number seven.
"To be like water off a duck's back."
If something is like water off a duck's back, then it means that you're unaffected by it.
It's... it's not going to have any impact on you.
And we're usually talking about criticism or insults, or anything that should impact
you, but doesn't.
Just imagine water that you pour on a duck's back.
Their feathers are kind of waterproof, so the water just flows off their back.
No problem, the duck doesn't care.
So, if I criticize you, and you say, I don't care, then my criticism is like water off
a duck's back.
Eight.
"To be wet behind the ears".
"To be wet behind the ears" means to be naive, which is when you don't know very much.
You have a lot to learn.
Often we make silly decisions when we have no experience and we don't know what to expect.
So, you might be a little bit behind the years.
If You're young, particularly.
Number nine.
"Blood is thicker than water".
This means that family is more important than anyone else, or anything else.
Blood is thicker than water.
Number ten.
"Don’t make waves"
This advice means don't disturb the calm.
Don't make trouble.
Don't do something that's unusual that will stir things up.
Just do what everyone else does.
Don't make waves.
I need more fingers.
Number eleven.
"To be up the creek without a paddle".
Now there are a few variations of this but basically to be up the creek without a paddle
means that you're in a difficult or hopeless situation.
Just like if you're sat in a little canoe paddling up the creek, and then you lose your
paddle.
Now you can't steer that or accelerate the boat anywhere you are just being taken by
the water wherever the water wants you to go.
So, you are up the creek without a paddle in a difficult and hopeless situation.
Number twelve.
"To be like a drowned rat".
If you are like a drowned rat, then you basically are soaking wet like soaked wet through and
you look all bedraggled.
I call caught in the rain, like a drowned rat.
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are enjoying this content, and I can make more.
And now let's move on to the short story which includes, I think, all of the phrases we've
just covered, but you'll have to find out by ticking them off the list.
So, listen out for them.
Here we go.
A long time ago, in a small coastal town called Freenook, a young man named Jack told his
mother that he was quitting his job as a postman and setting out to sea.
He had always dreamed of becoming a professional sailor and spent all of his savings on buying
a boat.
His mother gave him a disapproving look.
“You don’t know the first thing about sailing” she said.
These words were like water off a duck’s back.
“I many be a little wet behind the ears, but I’m a sailor at heart and nothing is
going to stand in my way” he replied.
His Father did not approve.
The family had been struggling financially for many years, and were just about able to
keep their heads above water.
But without Jack’s contributions they would not be able to survive.
Jack reassured them that he would be able to make a good living at sea and that everything
would be fine.
At first, everything seemed to be going smoothly and, to his family’s surprise, Jack was
even making a splash in the sailing community.
But one day as he ventured further out to sea, a huge storm hit and Jack found himself
in deep water.
His little boat were tossed around mercilessly by the waves and Jack felt certain that he
was going to drown.
Eventually, with the impact of an enormous wave, his boat was smashed to pieces and Jack
was thrown into the sea.
Miraculously, Jack survived and was washed up on the beach, looking like a drowned rat.
Many fellow sailors were, metaphorically, in the same boat, caught out by the storm
and now left boat-less.
He returned to his family and his job delivering the post, despite feeling like a fish out
of water as this wasn’t were he belonged.
His adventure had put him in hot water with his family, who had been worried sick about
him.
Regardless of their criticism he kept quiet, not wanting to make waves, and it wasn’t
long before he was planning his return to the sea, because he realised that he could
achieve anything he set his mind to.
He had been up the creek without a paddle, but he had always found a way to navigate
through the toughest of times.
When he left home for a second time, he felt sure that his family would never forgive him,
but they did, after all, blood is thicker than water.
And Jack lived happily ever after, at sea.
Did you spot all the idioms?
I hope so.
Do let me know in the comments if you enjoyed this lesson and let me know which was your
favourite idiom.
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of hanging out again together in the future and until next time, take care!
Bye bye.