TOPIC: 영어 공부 - 관용구 | Common English Idioms Series 1

영어 관용구: 시리즈 1: In this series, you will learn a range of common English idioms & expressions you can use to sound more fluent. 다양한 관용구를 배워봅시다.

In this series of English idioms and expressions we will use images, video, example sentences, and mnemonics to help you learn some of the most useful and fun idiomatic expressions in the English language.

As you will see, we have included short definitions in Korean to help you understand the English words and expressions, but, as always, try not to just memorize the Korean translations, instead, try to apply the English meanings to each of the example sentences to help you fully understand how the idioms and expressions can be used.

관용구 시리즈에서는 이미지와 예문, 암기법을 사용해서 효과적으로 관용구를 익힐 수 있게 도와드립니다.

단어의 한국말 뜻만 외우시면 안 됩니다. 반드시 각 예문에서 관용구가 어떻게 쓰였는지를 확인해서 어떤 상황에서 어떤 방식으로 사용되는지를 완벽히 이해하세요.

Note: Mnemonic devices are simple techniques (e.g. word association, rhyme, and storytelling) people can use to help them improve their ability to remember things. In this series we will provide you with thinking points to help you recall the meanings of the idioms and expressions presented. We call these mnemonics - Tips to help you remember.

암기법은 라임이나 연상법 등을 이용한 간단한 테크닉입니다. 이 강의에는 여러분이 관용구 및 표현을 보다 쉽게 외울 수 있는 팁이 포함되어 있습니다.

Don’t forget to come back and check out the forum on a regular basis – or, if you want more great lessons that have been designed specifically for Korean students over the age of 16, then why not buy a membership ? Our research-based English lessons are fun, informative, relevant, and effective.

포럼 업데이트를 주기적으로 확인하며 함께 공부해요. 열여섯 살 이상의 학생 혹은 성인이시라면, 회원으로 가입해 보는 건 어떠세요? 오이스터카페의 즐겁고, 유익하고, 주제에 꼭 맞는 효율적 영어 강의를 체험해 보세요.

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Face the music (idiom / 영어 관용구): be confronted with the unpleasant consequences of one's actions; attempt to do something you have been preparing for (e.g. taking a test at school)

Tip to help you remember: Think of a conductor looking at the orchestra as it plays music – he/she is facing (looking at) the music.



Examples

1. Situation: A business person getting ready to have a meeting with their boss.
Kane: Well, I guess it’s time to face the music.
Abel: Huh? What do you mean?
Kane: I have a meeting with the boss this morning about my poor performance.

2. Situation: A child got caught stealing from their father.
Father (in the kitchen): Can you please come here so we can talk about my cake.
Son (in his bedroom): What? (Ha ha) It wasn’t me. And I’m playing Fortnite.
Father: Come on. It’s time to face the music for eating my slice of chocolate cake.

3. Situation: A student has not studied for their exam today.
Petra: I am so nervous; I didn’t get time to study for today’s test.
YuJin: Too late now; it’s time to face the music. Good luck!

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Hold your horses (idiom / 영어 관용구): slow down; wait; said to tell someone not to start something yet

Tip to help you remember: A jockey pulls on a horse’s reins to stop it moving.



Examples

1. Situation: A child is running on the wet ground near the swimming pool.
Child: (Running towards the pool) I’m going to jump in first.
Father: Hold your horses; you don’t need to rush. And it’s dangerous to run on wet ground.

2. Situation: A guy is warning his friend not to date a girl his friend has just met.
Carl: I just met this girl called Sally. She’s a model and I think I want to date her.
MinSu: Hold your horses there, Carl. You do know she is dating Billy?

3. Situation: Advising someone not to waste their money on something.
Yemi: I think I’m going to buy this food processor.
Ken: Whoa! Hold your horses. Do you even need it?

Communication Tip: I think...
You can use 'I think...' when you are pretty sure you are going to do what you said you 'think' you will do. 'I think...' is another way of saying 'I probably will...'

* I think I will see a movie tonight.
* I think he will ask her on a date.
* I think I will hit the gym tonight.

Check out the video explanation on Instagram!

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Check out a sample of our lesson on YouTube!

Hush money (n.): money paid to someone to keep a secret (usually about something immoral or illegal); money paid to prevent someone revealing something embarrassing or bad about someone

Tip to help you remember: Hush (v.): make someone be quiet or stop talking; to be quiet



Examples

1. Situation: Big business trying to pay off a government employee.
Business owner: I’ll give you $1,000,000 if you don’t report this to the tax office.
Government employee: Well, you will need more hush money than that. I could lose my job.

2. Situation: A brother and sister making a deal.
Brother: Oh no! I broke mom’s favorite vase.
Sister: Give me your chocolate bar and I won’t tell her.
Brother: What? You want my chocolate bar as hush money?

3. Situation: Friends talking about something they are ashamed of.
Steve: I’ll give you some hush money if you don’t tell my wife I bought a video game.
Stewie: (Ha ha): You are such a coward; just tell her you bought it. She won’t care.

Grammar Tip: Conditional Sentence (I will 'A' if you do 'B')
Use 'if/will' and 'will/if' conditionals when trying to make a deal with someone.

* If you wash the car, I will do the ironing.
* I will do the ironing, if you wash the car.
* I won't tell mom you ate her chocolate, if you don't tell her I broke the vase.
" If you don't tell mom I broke her vase, I won't tell her you ate her chocolate.

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Play games with someone/something (idiom): deal with someone or something in a way that lacks due seriousness or respect; try to manipulate someone’s emotions or mental state; deliberately attempt to evade, deceive, or misinform someone (about something) in order to achieve some desired outcome.

Tip to help you remember: When people play games (e.g. poker, monopoly, chess) they often try to win. The idiom “playing games” is similar; the person playing games is trying to win a mind game.



Examples

1. Situation: Two people are talking about relationships.
Lisa: Do you think Bill really loves Jill?
Will: No. I think he’s just playing games with her.

2. Situation: A business owner is trying to rip off a staff member.
Employer: Well, I can keep you on, but I can’t pay you much. More qualified people want your job.
Employee: Look, I know I’m the best in my field at what I do, so stop playing games with me and just offer me a fair salary.

Learn more: To learn the function of the word ‘look’ in the above dialogue you should check out Lesson 1 on the Best Slang Words and Expressions in English forum.

3. Situation: Two friends talking about their friend who has a bad reputation for playing mind games with people and trying to manipulate them.
Zoe: Why does Joey always play games with people?
Jim: Good question. That’s why I don’t hang around with her very often.

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Under the table (idiom / 영어 관용구): to pay someone illegally or without declaring the payment to the tax office; (sometimes) used to say something should remain secret or not be revealed (usually related to payments or activities)

Tip to help you remember: You pay money under the table so no one can see you do it.



Examples

1. Situation: Getting paid illegally in a casual job.
Rod: Why do you work at that café? The pay is terrible!
Lara: Honestly, they pay me under the table so I don’t pay tax. Shh, it’s our secret.
Rod: (Ha ha) You’re going to have to give me some hush money not to report you.

2. Situation: Bribery
Zoe: I heard the company you work for tried to pay off some government officials.
YuJin: Yeah. Apparently they were paying most of their staff under the table and not paying tax. Then they tried to cover it up by offering to pay some hush money. It didn’t work.

3. Situation: Two people having a meeting to discuss a risky business strategy.
Jim: I must say this is a risky strategy to try and block out the competition.
Nelly: It is, but as long as we keep everything under the table it should be fine.

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