Have you ever heard someone say, โkick the bucketโ or โpass away,โ and felt confused? They both have the meaning of โdieโโฆ but are used in different contexts.
English, like all languages, is full of phrases and expressions that donโt always make sense if you look at the words literally.
Native speakers use this kind of language all the timeโฆ in conversations, TV shows, songs, and workplaces. But for English learners, idiomatic and informal expressions can be some of the hardest parts of the language to understand.
In todayโs episode, weโre going to explore idioms, euphemisms, and slang. These are three important (and sometimes confusing) types of everyday English. Weโll talk about what they mean, why native speakers use them, and whether you should spend time learning and using them yourself.
By the end of this episode, youโll have a clearer idea of how these kinds of expressions work and how understanding them can help you sound more natural and follow native-level conversations more easily.
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Vocabulary
- Idiom (noun): A group of words whose meaning is different from the meanings of the individual words.
- The idiom โbreak the iceโ means to start a conversation or make people feel more comfortable.
- Euphemism (noun): A polite or indirect word used to avoid saying something unpleasant or rude.
- Many people use the euphemism โpassed awayโ instead of died.
- Slang (noun): Very informal words or expressions used by particular groups, often changing quickly over time.
- Young people sometimes say a party was โlitโ, meaning it was fun or exciting.
- Literal (adjective): Taking words in their most basic and exact meaning, not using imagination or symbolism.
- If you take โbreak the iceโ literally, you think about real ice, not starting a conversation.
- Figurative (adjective): Using language in a creative or symbolic way, not with its normal or literal meaning.
- Saying โtime is moneyโ is a figurative way of showing that time is valuable.
- Polite (adjective): Showing respect and good manners when speaking or behaving.
- Itโs polite to say โexcuse meโ when you need to interrupt someone.
- Informal (adjective): Relaxed and casual in style; not suitable for serious or official situations.
- โHey, whatโs up?โ is an informal way to greet a friend.
What is an Idiom?
Let’s start with idiomatic language.
Idioms are probably one of the more [00:04:00] frustrating parts of language learning. They are also a big part of the online English education and English content creation world.
There are millions of videos or podcasts online introducing lists of idioms for English learners. Some of these videos are useful, many of them are not.
But what actually is an idiom? And what do they do?
An idiom is a phrase or expression whose meaning is different from the literal meaning of the words. For example, when someone says “break the ice“, they don’t mean physically breaking ice. They mean starting a conversation or making people feel more comfortable in a social situation.
Similarly, “spill the beans” doesn’t involve beans at all. It means to reveal a secret. And if something is a “blessing in [00:05:00] disguise“, it might seem bad at first, but it actually leads to something good.
Idioms are everywhere in English and other languages too. We use them in everyday conversations, books, news, movies, and songs.
They help speakers express complex ideas in short and perhaps more emotional ways. Instead of describing every detail, an idiom gives meaning through imagery, emotion, and shared understanding.
But that’s also what makes idioms really tricky for non-native speakers and learners. They’re tricky because they are deeply connected to culture and history.
You can’t always, or really you can never, translate them word for word. They may have developed from a very specific historical or cultural origin. And if you are not familiar with that [00:06:00] history or you are not from that specific culture, it will be almost impossible to guess the meaning of an idiom.
We can clearly see this when we compare idioms with similar meanings from a variety of different languages.
For example, in English the idiom “too many cooks spoil the broth” means if too many people are involved in a task or activity, it will not be done well. In other languages, the equivalent idiom is very different.
“Many midwives… child will be lazy” in Croatian. “Many pigs make the slop sparse” in Dutch. “A child looked after by seven nannies is without one eye” in Russian.
I found these idioms from a list published by the European Day of Languages celebration. So I hope they are real idioms, but correct me if I’m wrong.
Idioms reflect how [00:07:00] people in a culture think and they change depending on what images people find natural and what metaphors they use to describe life.
This is obvious when you think about some of the differences between idioms used in different dialects of English as well.
In British English, we “take something with a pinch of salt” while in the US you “take something with a grain of salt” (both meaning to think twice before you believe it).
Or in the UK we would say “ jump the queue” when someone unfairly goes in front of us while waiting in line. Or “do the washing up”when we are washing dishes. But in US English, it isn’t really that common to use this vocabulary, so the idioms are different too. “Cut in line” or “do the dishes”.
In summary, idioms add some humor and emotion to our speech. Native [00:08:00] speakers use them to sound more expressive and natural, and as a learner, recognizing idioms can help you understand the way English speakers think and communicate.
What are Euphemisms?
Now let’s move on to euphemisms.
Euphemisms are another type of indirect or figurative language that you’ll hear all the time. A euphemism is a polite or indirect word or phrase used to replace something that might sound unpleasant, embarrassing, or offensive.
For example, instead of saying someone “died”, people often say they “passed away”. Instead of saying an employee was “fired”, a company might say they were “let go”. And rather than calling someone “old”, people might say “senior citizen” or “elderly“.
Basically, euphemisms help people talk about difficult [00:09:00] topics like death, money, sex, or politics, in a softer and more socially acceptable way. They are a way to be polite in social settings, and because politeness and sensitivity are cultural things (what is considered polite or rude differs between cultures) euphemisms reflect cultural attitudes about what is considered appropriate or respectful to say in public.
In some cultures, being too direct can sometimes sound rude or insensitive, so euphemisms are a way to avoid confrontation or embarrassment or discomfort. They can also make your language sound more professional or diplomatic, which is why they’re so common in workplaces and news reports and politics.
For example, governments and companies often [00:10:00] use euphemisms to make serious or negative things sound less harsh.
The military might say “collateral damage” instead of saying “civilian deaths“. A business, might talk about “downsizing” instead of saying “firing workers”.
These expressions can make situations sound more neutral and less emotional. They also hide for truth or make something bad seem acceptable.
That’s why it’s important for English learners to understand euphemisms and to be aware of why they are used.
Euphemisms can show kindness, respect, and sensitivity. For example, when talking about an illness someone has or a relative who has died or passed away. And euphemisms can also be used to manipulate you, mislead you, or soften reality.
When a company [00:11:00] tells you they need to downsize, they really mean they’re going to fire you.
There is also something called a dysphemism, which functions as the opposite of a euphemism. Unlike euphemisms, dysphemisms do not seek to soften the harshness of the subject, but rather to emphasize the harshness.
An example would be when someone says, “this food tastes like garbage”. Does it really taste like garbage? Probably not. But the word garbage is used to emphasize the negative feeling towards the food.
In summary, euphemisms are used as substitutes for direct or potentially offensive words. They let us be more polite and perhaps gentle in our words.
What is Slang?
Finally, let’s talk briefly about slang.
Slang is perhaps the most creative part of a language, and it’s also constantly [00:12:00] changing and evolving. This makes it annoying and confusing to teach. The slang I grew up using is now totally irrelevant.
Slang refers to very informal words and expressions that are usually used by particular groups of people. For example, young people, online communities or people in certain professions will have different slang words.
Slang is the kind of language you’ll hear used among friends or social media or in pop culture or music.
For instance, you might hear someone say a party was “lit“, meaning amazing or exciting. That someone “ghosted” them (suddenly stopped replying to messages). Or that they’re feeling “salty”, meaning bitter or angry. You might even hear “no cap”, which basically means I’m not lying or I’m [00:13:00] serious.
If I sound slightly unnatural or awkward using those slang terms, it’s because it is unnatural. I had to search online for common slang terms used today because I don’t really use much slang in my English, and I especially don’t use contemporary slang in my daily vocabulary.
What makes slang interesting and frustrating is how fast it changes. A word that’s popular today might sound completely outdated next year. Think about how words like groovy, cool or radhave come and gone over the past decades. Today’s TikTok slang might disappear just as quickly as groovy has.
Slang is connected to identity and belonging. It helps people show their part of a group. Using the same slang as your friends or your colleagues, helps you fit in and express who you [00:14:00] are.
It’s also a way to sound more casual. Sometimes slang is even used as a kind of rebellion against formal or traditional language.
For english learners, slang can be both exciting and challenging. There’s new slang all the time, especially online. Memes, music and internet culture creates and spreads new words incredibly quickly.
And slang isn’t universal. It changes depending on place. The country or even the town you are in. Your age, your social class, your hobbies.
For example, “mate” and “cheers” are common in British slang; while “dude” or “awesome” are more American; Australians might say “arvo” for afternoon or “no worries” instead of your welcome.
Because slang changes so fast, it’s important to approach it with both curiosity and some [00:15:00] caution. Understanding some slang might help you follow conversations or TV shows, but if you are thinking about using slang yourself, then you need an advanced sense of timing, context, and a lot of confidence.
Should YOU Study Idioms, Euphemisms, or Slang?
Now that we’ve talked about what idioms, euphemisms, and slang are… should english learners like you spend your valuable time learning them? And if so, how much time or energy should you invest?
The short answer is… yes, it’s probably worth spending some time studying idioms and euphemisms, maybe slang, but in no way are they the most important part of English.
Of course, these types of expressions are a part of how native speakers actually communicate, so understanding them will make your listening and reading [00:16:00] comprehension much stronger.
However, using them yourself is a completely different and often unnecessary skill.
Let’s start with the difference between recognition and production.
Your first goal should be recognition. Understanding what idioms, euphemisms, and slang mean when you hear them and read them. This helps you follow real life English: TV shows, podcasts, movies, conversations.
But you need to be really careful. Idioms and slang can easily sound unnatural, outdated, or inappropriate, offensive, if you use them in the wrong situation or with the wrong people.
Of course you can practice using an idiom in a conversation, maybe one of my conversation clubs, but be careful if you are out in the real world in a business meeting and you choose to use a [00:17:00] slang term or an idiom. Because maybe it’s the wrong situation, maybe it’s the wrong context. Maybe it makes you seem strange.
When it comes to idioms, focus on comprehension first. You don’t need to memorize hundreds of idioms or try to use idioms all the time.
I don’t really use idioms that much in my English, but when I do, I do it accidentally. Like all native speakers, I use idioms naturally without thinking about it.
If you use too many idioms, it sounds strange or forced. If you are thinking about using idioms, it sounds awkward.
Start by recognizing common and widely understood idioms. Maybe like “under the weather” for meaning feeling sick.
If you do want to use idioms in your own speech, stick to the simple and universal idioms that can naturally fit into your [00:18:00] sentences.
Or maybe look for idioms or jargon terms that are often used in your industry. If you work in sales and you work with English speaking colleagues, they use a lot of strange sales idioms, business idioms, so maybe you should look those ones up specifically.
Euphemisms, on the other hand, are genuinely useful to learn. Euphemisms are important. Especially for formal or professional communication.
Understanding euphemisms will help you read the news, read company statements, or understand political speeches more critically. In workplaces, they can help you sound more polite and diplomatic.
For example, saying someone was “let go“ rather than fired, or that a company is “restructuring” instead of cutting jobs, can make your language sound more professional and [00:19:00] tactful. And in your personal life, knowing euphemisms can avoid some awkward moments. Really out of the three things I’ve talked about today, euphemisms are the most important for you to know and the most useful for you to use.
You don’t need to use slang. You don’t need to use idioms. Really, I recommend not studying them. Euphemisms should be something you learn at least to recognize. Especially if you are working in a company and you need to use English to talk to employees who work for you.
Slang is probably the trickiest thing for learners to use. It’s fun, creative, but it’s very regional, very dependent on hobby or age or social class, and it’s fast changing.
What sounds “cool” to one generation in one country might sound strange or weird in another place.
So my [00:20:00] advice is to avoid using too much slang yourself unless you are sure it fits the situation. If you are talking with friends who are your own age, a bit of slang can sound natural, but in professional or academic settings, it’s usually best to not use slang. It’s usually best to keep things more neutral.
The best way to learn idioms, euphemisms, and slang, is through context.
Don’t memorize lists. Instead, notice them in movies, podcasts, YouTube videos, conversations that you have. Pay attention to who uses them, when they are used, and how they are used.
This is why I don’t really like YouTube videos or Instagram videos that introduce idioms by themselves with no context, because it doesn’t help you know when to use them. It doesn’t help you understand [00:21:00] really anything about the idiom.
Perhaps when you hear me use an idiom in this episode or when you hear in a TV show someone use a slang term you’ve not heard before, you can make a note of it and mark whether it is used in a casual way, a polite way, a formal way. Over time, you will develop a natural sense of what’s appropriate or what’s not appropriate.
Basically understanding, comprehension, needs to come before usage. Focus on recognizing expressions first, and then as your English grows, you might start to feel comfortable using some euphemisms, some idioms, some slang yourself.
Final Thought
Just to quickly summarize…
An idiom is a phrase whose meaning isn’t literal, like “break the [00:22:00] ice” or “spill the beans“.
A euphemism is a polite or indirect way to talk about something uncomfortable, like “passed away” instead of died.
And slang is very informal, often trendy language used by specific groups, like “lit” or “ghosted“.
Each of these things makes English sound more natural and expressive, but they can also be confusing or risky to use. You don’t need to use them at all, but understanding them will help you follow real conversations, media and culture more easily.
Focus on recognizing them first, and over time you’ll naturally learn when and how to use them yourself.
Specifically, if you are going to take one thing from this episode, it’s that euphemisms are probably the most important thing to understand and learn how to use, [00:23:00] followed by some idioms, especially professional idioms used in your industry.
What do you think? Do you try to use idioms, euphemisms, or slang in your English? What are some interesting or common slang terms or idioms from your language, from your country?
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