Learn English meaning of ‘hit the hay’

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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• retro
• little sister
• hit the hay
• unusual

• be into something
• live through
• decade
• flapper

• neon
• get to the bottom of something

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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Each day can be a great day! You get up in the morning, feeling good. Then, you might exercise, put on some cool retro fashion, and go to work. Living through work can be difficult, but it should also make you happy. At the end of the day, you might eat dinner with your little sister or a good friend and then do some activities. Wow! Doing all of these things will make you tired. After a nice, full day, it’s time to hit the hay.

The expression hit the hay means go to bed or fall asleep. It comes from decades in the past when beds were made of hay, or strong grass. Hit the hay would mean put your body into bed. Today, beds are not often made with grass, but we still use this old expression. You might hear a friend say, “It’s time for me to hit the hay. Goodnight!”

Andy is trying to help Kelsey remember her dream. Learn what she was doing before she hit the hay in today’s English video.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Andy_H

Kelsey

Dominique

Sheila

Andy_H:  So, the trick is to think of anything unusual that you may have done, or seen, or talked about before you hit the hay, and that should help you remember your dream.

Kelsey:  Yesterday was such a long day. Oh! I know! I was talking with Dominique and Sheila yesterday….

Dominique:  So, it’s my little sister’s birthday next week, and I can’t think of what to get her.

Sheila:  What’s she into? Does she like movies or music?

Dominique:  She is into the 1990s right now. She thinks it’s retro and cool.

Sheila:  Really? I’ve really never been into the 90s.

Dominique:  Yeah, me neither. She actually told me last week that she wishes she were born in the 80s so she could have lived through the 90s.

Kelsey:  Seems like kind-of a boring decade to be interested in.

Dominique:  Yeah, that’s what I think, but not my sister.

Sheila:  I mean, I guess it could be worse. If she were into the 70s, then she would be trapped in Andy’s cop dream that he had… That fashion!

Kelsey:  Right?!

Dominique:  No, thank you! I like the fashion in the 1920s… flapper skirts, jewelry…

Sheila:  That is really fun! I love the fashion of the 60s. Oh my gosh, put flowers in my hair any day.

Kelsey:  I think I’d pick the 80s. I like all the colors. Neon and fun! Plus, I like all the dance music of the 80s.

Kelsey:  And we talked about that for a little while.

Andy_H:  OK, great! Did that help you remember your dream?

Kelsey:  No, not really, but it was a fun conversation.

Andy_H:  OK. Well, did anything else happen before you hit the hay?

Kelsey:  That was about it. I went home and read a little while and then fell asleep.

Andy_H:  So, maybe it has to do with the 80s?

Kelsey:  It could, but I just don’t remember.

Andy_H:  We’ve got to get to the bottom of this!

TO BE CONTINUED

 

Grammar Point

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