Learn English with English, baby!

Join for FREE!

Social_nav_masthead_logged_in
Spoken English Course Day 15

Spoken English Course Day 15

Date: Mar 10 2011

Topic: Idioms and Slang

Author: andylu2

Lesson

Hey guys,

I'm back again.....

Before I start today's lesson, I just want to say that I can't believe how much garbage there is on the internet.  It's getting more and more ridiculous everyday.  Please be careful and choose wisely what you want to study.  A lot of free stuff really isn't free because it's a waste of your time!  In English, we have a saying "time is money".  

The reason I was thinking about this is that I saw on some English website some list of idioms.  The person took a long time making a list of 100 English sayings.  Many of them were sayings that only my grandma would use.  Don't get me wrong, I love my grandma, but I certainly don't speak English the same way she does. Lol.

Someone taught the saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away".  Haha.

That was an old saying that everyone knows but no one uses anymore.  I had to laugh when I read that one.

Anyway, onto today's lesson:

You may have heard this one but I want to make sure you remember to use it because it is useful in TODAY'S world.  Trust me.

It is, "Missed the boat".

This happens to everyone from time to time.  (by the way, "from time to time" is a common way of saying "sometimes" or "every once in a while")

Anyway, if you "miss the boat" it means that you missed your chance or opportunity.  You won't get another chance either.  

Think about in real life.  If you are trying to catch a boat and you miss it, there is nothing you can do, except try to swim across the ocean.  

This phrase was obviously made before airplanes were invented.  At that time, there was probably only one boat and if you miss it, that's it.  No more chances.

An example for how to use it is:

I should have applied for that job.  It was a great opportunity but I forgot to meet the boss.  I just heard that he found some other person to take the job.  Now I have nothing.  I really missed the boat on that one.

I'm hoping to find more and more people following these lessons.  Don't be shy and write a comment.  It's good practice anyway.  

Here is a super cool course for helping your spoken English

I'd recommend at least getting the free PDF's.

Here is another day of my free spoken English course

Comments

Log in to Comment

manoj14293622

India

you are saying right i agree with this lesson now internet is easy way to serve garbag site and it will be wast your time and money so be carefully when you are using the internet.



thanks to remember me this

10:46 AM Jul 02 2013 |

lindonver

lindonver

China

Good course, I like it

09:56 AM Jul 02 2013 |

jai kumar

jai kumar

Pakistan

pakistan

06:10 AM Jul 02 2013 |

shanoo

shanoo

Pakistan

it was owsum 

07:43 AM Mar 22 2011 |

andylu2

andylu2

Canada

Thanks Blue Crystal!  I really work hard on explaining things as clearly as I can so it's nice to know it's working.<!-Session data->

09:29 AM Mar 16 2011 |

*sarah*

*sarah*

United Arab Emirates

I have heared this idiom before and I  think learning common idiom will help us to speak or even know what native speakers say ^^..

i liked the way you write the lesson and Iam sure I'll read what you post in the website .so, many thanks for your effort  ..

07:00 PM Mar 13 2011 |

Ajmira

Ajmira

Bangladesh

Thanks

 

09:46 AM Mar 12 2011 |

andylu2

andylu2

Canada

Thanks guys,

I will write another lesson today too but it will be a bit later than usual because I'm going to an internet conference in Shanghai right now to meet a lot of people doing cool stuff online.  Should be interesting.  Talk soon. 

02:50 AM Mar 12 2011 |

alpha girl

alpha girl

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

Hey Andy,

I always wait for your lessons.I don't like miss any of them.Acctualy I don't like miss the boat.Laughing

 You lessons are  great. Thank you for very much indeed.Cool

Have nice day

02:23 AM Mar 12 2011 |

accentreduction

United Kingdom

thanks for sharing your experience mate.

11:13 PM Mar 11 2011 |

kevin12345679

China

Hi andy, it's so kindl of you! You have told the truth happened on the internet.

In the past, i also met this situation, after that, I had ever thought it's impossible to get free english study stuff, especially some high level stuff.

So thank you again for giving a so good study chance.

I will try my best to study more harder!

05:28 PM Mar 11 2011 |

vik32

vik32

India

thnku so mch for sharing dat…it z really great sentence to use in  our daily life…!!!!

03:00 PM Mar 11 2011 |

along_zhai

along_zhai

China

Great!The sentence is very popular!~~

02:05 PM Mar 11 2011 |

andylu2

andylu2

Canada

Hey Trance Girl,

Thanks for sharing your story.  Hopefully I'll have another little useful surprise tomorrow. 

01:10 PM Mar 11 2011 |

TranceGirl85

Netherlands

Hey!

I logged on to ebaby about an hour ago and i saw another comments to yesterday's lesson,so i thought "what time is he gonna add a new lesson today?" and here i am.

btw..that's funny you just gave such an example to explain what "miss the boeat" means,cause this is what i wrestle/struggle with these days…to not "miss the boat" which is a new,good job!

 

Thanks Andy!

12:30 PM Mar 11 2011 |

andylu2

andylu2

Canada

Hi Criz,

I'll try to make your sentence more native.

"I logged on late to Ebaby today and I just saw your lesson now.  I hope I didn't miss the boat". 

12:17 PM Mar 11 2011 |

Madina - friendly girl

Kazakhstan

Thank you very much!!!

09:43 AM Mar 11 2011 |

lynn629

lynn629

China

great    we'd have to make good use of chances in front of us.

ur way of teaching is what i found the most interesting and valuable one

One phrase for one day, good way!

 

Thanks, andy\\ 

06:55 AM Mar 11 2011 |

Jungmi

Jungmi

South Korea

Hey Andy,

I totally agree with you.  Many people are very careless about what they teach but I do find your teachings to be quite valuable

06:42 AM Mar 11 2011 |

Likes (13):

See all >

Share this lesson:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Bebo
  • Share on Myspace
  • Share on Twitter
  • Email this to a friend
  • Share on Sina

Post Ebaby! lessons on your blog:

Ebaby! Cast