Episode 233
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Follow the text while you listen, then repeat useful sentences aloud.
Hi, I’m Georgiana, your English teacher, and my mission is to help you Speak English fluently.
Ok. Let’s start!
1. money doesn't grow on trees
We use this phrase to warn someone that money is a limited resource and should not be wasted.
Example:
"When I told my five-year-old son that I couldn't buy him a toy because "money doesn't grow on trees," he told me to use my credit card instead."
2. a penny saved is a penny earned
Although many families today live on credit, it is always wise to put some money aside. We use this expression to say that saving money is a good idea.
Example:
"You should always put some money aside. My grandma used to say that a penny saved is a penny earned."
3. flat broke
And if you never save and spend all your money, you become flat broke.
Example:
"It's been two years since I lost my job. Now I'm looking for one because I've spent all my money and I'm flat broke. "
4. live from hand to mouth
This idiom means having only enough money to live on, not having money to spare or save any money.
Example:
"I have bad news. I'm afraid we will have to live from hand to mouth until the end of the year. "
5. save for a rainy day
I said before that it is always a good idea to save some money. And this English expression means to save money for when you need it.
Example:
"Last winter, the boiler broke down. Thankfully, we saved for a rainy day. "
6. daylight robbery
If you really want to save money, you should compare prices and avoid shopping where prices are too high.
This idiom means that something is costly. It can be an exorbitant fee for a product or service.
Example:
"I never buy anything from this store. The prices here are a daylight robbery."
Ok! Today we have learned six new idioms in English. Let’s listen to them one more time:
1. money doesn't grow on trees
We use this phrase to warn someone that money is a limited resource and should not be wasted.
2. a penny saved is a penny earned
We use this expression to say that saving money is a good idea.
3. flat broke
And if you never save and spend all your money, you become flat broke.
4. live from hand to mouth
Means having only enough money to live on, not having money to spare or save any money.
5. save for a rainy day
Means saving money for when you need it.
6. daylight robbery
Means that something is costly. It can be an exorbitant fee for a product or service.
Now, let’s practice.
Want more speaking practice? Continue with a complete audio course.
IMPROVE YOUR SPEAKING
Mini-Story: Speaking Practice
Answer the questions aloud with short and quick responses. Repeat the Mini-Story several times to improve your speaking and listening.
Although money does not grow on trees, Francis was so rich it seemed he was BORN WITH A SILVER SPOON IN HIS MOUTH.
Francis, do you grow money on a farm?
No. No. I don't grow money on a farm.
Does money grow on trees?
No. No. Money doesn't grow on trees.
Francis. Are you poor?
No. No. I'm rich. I'm really wealthy.
Were you born with a golden spoon in your mouth?
No. I wasn't born with a golden spoon in my mouth. Nor a silver one. It's an expression saying someone was born into a wealthy family.
His whole family members were bankers. Therefore, he didn't need to work, in other words, to BRING HOME THE BACON.
Were your family members farmers?
No. No. They weren't farmers.
Were they bankers?
Yes. My family members were bankers.
Did you need to work?
No. No. I didn't need to work or bring home the bacon. I didn't need to earn money so my family could get by.
Do you love bacon?
Yes, I love bacon. But I don't need to bring home the bacon for my family to get by.
Francis was so rich that he could buy anything without going flat broke.
Who was rich? Francis, were you rich?
Yes. I had a great deal of money. I was rich.
Could you buy anything?
Yes. I was so rich I could buy anything.
Who went flat broke? Did you go flat broke?
No. No. I didn't go flat broke. I could buy anything without going flat broke. I had enough money.
Francis did not save for a rainy day. But smoked Cuban cigars and lit them with hundred-dollar bills.
Francis, did you save any money?
No. No. I didn't save any money.
Did you save for a sunny day?
No. No. I didn't save for a sunny day or a rainy day.
Did you smoke on a rainy day?
No. No. I didn't smoke on a rainy day. I smoked Cuban cigars.
What did you use to light the cigars?
Hundred-dollar bills. I lit the cigars with hundred-dollar bills.
Francis gladly helped those who did not have enough money to live on, who lived from hand to mouth.
Did you help anybody?
Yes. I helped other people.
How did you help those who only had enough money to live on?
Gladly. I gladly helped those who only had enough money to live on.
Who lived from hand to month? Your family members?
No. No. My family members didn't live from hand to mouth. They were wealthy. We helped those who lived from hand to mouth.
During a major crisis, Fancis' banks granted loans at 0% interest to all small businesses.
Francis? Did your banks steal from people?
No. No. My banks didn't steal from anybody. We granted loans.
What kind of loans did you grant? At 50% interest?
No. No. Not at 50% interest. We granted loans at 0% interest.
To whom did you grant loans? To your friends?
No. We granted 0% interest loans to all small businesses.
Francis is an excellent example that MONEY TALKS and sometimes for a good cause. Thanks to Francis, small businesses could survive until the crisis ended.
Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode.
Review
Vocabulary
Review the most useful words and expressions before listening again.
save for a rainy day
keep money for a future emergency.
tighten your belt
spend less because money is limited.
nest egg
money saved for the future.
shop around
compare prices before buying something.
cut back
reduce the amount of money you spend.
live within your means
spend no more than you can afford.
budget
a plan for how to spend and save money.
impulse purchase
something bought suddenly without planning.
Want more speaking practice? Continue with a complete audio course.
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