Hi. I'm Rebecca from engVid. In the next few minutes you will learn to understand and use
eight idioms which are used very commonly by native English speakers. Okay? Now, of
course, there are thousands of idioms in English. And just to remind you: What are idioms?
Idioms are expressions that have a different meaning when used... When the words are used together
than when they are used separately. But even though there are thousands - don't worry.
Today our goal, our mission is for you to know eight more idioms than when you woke
up this morning. Okay? So, let's get started.
Number one. Oh, by the way, I tried to make it a little bit easier for you by choosing
four that start with "in" and four that start with "on". Okay? I hope that helps. All right,
number one: "in the loop". What does it mean to be "in the loop"? It means to be... First
of all, a "loop" is like something round, a circle. Okay? Kind of like a circle or...
Or if I take this wire and I make it go around, I will loop it around. Okay? So, "loop" is
like a circle. So, if you are "in the loop", you're part of a group of people who know
what's happening. Okay? That's what it means. So, sometimes there are in... Let's say in
a company, there are some people who are lower down, and there's some people who are a little
bit higher up, and they know exactly what's going on, they are in the loop. Okay? They
know what's happening, or part of a group of people who know what's happening.
Okay. Now: "in two minds". What does it mean to be "in two minds"? What do you think it
means? In this is one mind, this is another mind - no. Okay. So, "in two minds" means
you're not sure what to do. You feel like doing this, then you feel like doing that,
so you are in two minds. It means you're undecided or unsure. Okay?
Next, number three: "in hot water". Okay. What do you think it means: "in hot water",
to be in hot water? I don't know. Maybe you have a similar expression in your language.
Well, in English, it's not good to be in hot water. In English, if you're in hot water
it means you are in trouble. Okay? So it's not a good thing. All right.
And number four: "in no time". What does that mean: "in no time"? It means very, very quickly.
All right? "In no time" means very quickly.
Let's review. "In the loop" means you're part of a circle of people or a group of people
who know what's going on. "In hot water" means you're in trouble. "In two minds" means you're
unsure, you're undecided. And "in no time" means very fast, very quickly. Okay? Let's
go on to the next four. Are you ready? Let's go.
Number five: "on a mission". If you are on a mission, which I believe you are, it means
you are determined to do something, you are very serious about achieving something, a
goal, a target. Okay? You are on a mission.
I think you are on a mission to improve your English, that's why you're watching this video.
Okay, number six: "on my own". Now, I've written: "on my own", but you can actually write anything;
"on my own", "on your own", "on his own", "on her own", "on our own", "on their own".
Okay? But what does it mean if I say: "I'm on my own"? It means I'm alone.
Or: "I did it on my own" means I did it by myself. Okay? So, what it means is just that person alone;
not with any help or not with anyone else there. Okay?
Number seven: "on good terms". What does it mean to be on good terms with somebody? Well,
I hope you're on good terms with your boss, with your colleagues, with your neighbours.
It means you have a good relationship with them. Okay? "On good terms" means a good relationship.
And the last one, here: "on second thought", okay? So, "on second thought" means on thinking
a little bit more, when I think a little bit further, then I think this. So what this suggests
is that first you made one decision, but then after thinking some more, then on second thought
you decided something different. Okay? So, whenever you say: "on second thought", you're
going to say that that new thing is different from whatever you had decided earlier. Okay?
So, just to review: if you are alone, you could say you are "on your own". If you change
your mind and you thought something first and now you think something else, so then
what expression could you use? "On second thought", good. If you are determined to do
something and nothing's going to stop you, you could use which idiom? You could use the idiom:
"on a mission". And if you get along very well with people, you can say you are
"on good terms" with them, very nice. Let's use them now, okay?
Number one. So, the first four you have to choose from here. Okay? I'll make it easier
for you. And the last four from there. So: "Who are you going to vote for? I'm __________."
Somebody asks you. But you don't know yet, so you say: "I'm not sure. I'm...
I'm
in two minds." Okay? Let's say you're not sure whether to vote for this person or that person, then
you can say: "I'm in two minds. I'm not sure." Good. So, we'll take that out. Okay.
Number two: "The boss found out he lied. He's __________."
Okay? So, this person lied, the boss found out. Now, what is the situation of that person?
He's... Is he in the loop, is he in hot water, was he in no time? I think he's
in hot water.
Okay? He's in trouble. Good.
Number three: "I won't be long. I'll be back __________."
Very quickly. How do we say very quickly? "I'll be back
in no time." Very good.
So you probably know the last one: "Ask John what happened. He'll know. He's __________."
"in the loop", right? He's part of that group
of people who know what's going on. Okay?
Let's try the last four. Okay.
"Will someone be joining you? No, I'm __________."
Let's say you go into a restaurant, the waiter asks you: "Ma'am, will someone be joining
you?" And you say: "No, I'm"...
I'm what? How do we say I'm alone? I'm... The nice way
to say it, actually. It's much nicer than saying: "I'm alone." We can say:
"I'm on my own." All right? "I'm on my own." It means I'm by myself.
Number six: "He's __________ to change the world."
Okay? "He's __________ to change the world." He's determined, he's very serious about it.
He wants to achieve this goal. So, what can we say?
"He's on a mission to change the world."
Very nice.
Number seven: "We're __________ with our neighbours."
They're really nice. We like them, they like us. We're all
on good terms. So: "We're on good terms with our neighbours."
Good.
And the last one: "__________, I decided not to go out tonight."
After thinking some more, I decided not to go out, so:
"On second thought, I decided not to go out tonight." Okay?
I hope you understood those well. But just to make sure, we're going to do one last really
quick review, which I think you'll enjoy.
All right. So, now let's see how these idioms can be used in real life. Read with me.
"Now that you're in the loop about the meanings of these idioms, you won't be in hot water
on your next English exam." What did that mean? "Now that you're in the loop", now that
you are among the people in the world who know the meanings of these idioms, you won't
be in hot water, you won't be in trouble on your next English exam. Isn't that great?
Let's continue. "In fact, I'm sure you'll soon start using them on your own." What does
that mean? You'll soon start using them by yourself. Okay. "On second thought,
if you do a quiz at www.engvid.com
you'll learn them even faster." "On second thought" means on
thinking some more, on thinking about it some more. "And since you're on a mission to transform
your English"-since you are determined, since you have this goal in mind
-"subscribe to my YouTube channel, so you can reach your goal in no time."
"In no time", very quickly. All right? Thanks for watching.
Good luck with your English. Bye for now.