This week the Thinking in English Community is talking about Idioms, Slang, and Euphemisms!
In my recent episode What Are Idioms, Euphemisms, and Slang? (And Should You Learn Them?), I looked at how and why these expressions are used in English. They can be tricky, but they can also help you sound more like a native speaker and understand everyday conversations.
Do you like learning idioms and slang? Have you ever misunderstood an expression in English? This week, we’ll explore idioms, euphemisms, and slang from both English and your own language, and share stories about how these phrases are used.
Here are 10 conversation questions to get you talking about informal English!
The Thinking in English Conversation Club takes place every TUESDAY and THURSDAY at 12pm, 6pm, and 23pm UK time!
You can find more details on how to participate here – Patreon!
Conversation Questions:
- Do you like learning idioms and slang?
- Can you think of any English idioms that describe weather or nature?
- Have you ever misunderstood an idiom, euphemism, or slang word? What happened?
- Why do you think people use idioms or euphemisms instead of simple words?
- Do you think slang is important for learning English? Why or why not?
- Can you think of an idiom from your language that doesn’t translate well into English?
- Have you ever been surprised by the meaning of an English idiom? Which one?
- What slang words are popular in your country? Are they similar to English slang?
- Do you think learning idioms helps you sound more like a native speaker?
- Make your own questions!
Vocabulary
- Idioms (n): Expressions whose meanings are not literal but understood by native speakers.
- Slang (n): Informal, often trendy vocabulary used in casual conversation.
- Euphemism (n): A polite or indirect word used to avoid saying something unpleasant or embarrassing.
- Misunderstand (v): To interpret something incorrectly; to fail to understand the intended meaning.
- Translate (v): To express words or ideas in another language.
- Native speaker (n): A person who has spoken a language since early childhood.
- Popular (adj): Liked or used by many people; common and well-known.
- Surprised (adj): Feeling shocked or amazed because something was unexpected.
Conversation Club Times
12pm Conversation Club Around The World
- London, United Kingdom Tue/Thur at 12:00 GMT
- Mexico City, Mexico Tue/Thur at 06:00 CST
- Bogota, Colombia Tue/Thur at 07:00 COT
- Santiago, Chile Tue/Thur at 09:00 CLST
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Tue/Thur at 09:00 BRT
- Rome, Italy Tue/Thur at 13:00 CET
- Warsaw, Poland Tue/Thur at 13:00 CET
- Istanbul, Turkey Tue/Thur at 15:00 EEST
- Taipei, Taiwan Tue/Thur at 20:00 CST
- Tokyo, Japan Tue/Thur at 21:00 JST
18pm Conversation Club Around The World
- London, United Kingdom Tue/Thur at 18:00 GMT
- Mexico City, Mexico Tue/Thur at 12:00 CST
- Bogota, Colombia Tue/Thur at 13:00 COT
- Santiago, Chile Tue/Thur at 15:00 CLST
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Tue/Thur at 15:00 BRT
- Rome, Italy Tue/Thur at 19:00 CET
- Warsaw, Poland Tue/Thur at 19:00 CET
- Istanbul, Turkey Tue/Thur at 21:00 EEST
- Taipei, Taiwan Wed/Fri at 02:00 CST
- Tokyo, Japan Wed/Fri at 03:00 JST
23:00pm Conversation Club Around The World
- London, United Kingdom Wed/Fri at 23:00 GMT
- Mexico City, Mexico Tue/Thur at 17:00 CST
- Bogota, Colombia Tue/Thur at 18:00 COT
- Santiago, Chile Tue/Thur at 20:00 CLST
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Tue/Thur at 20:00 BRT
- Rome, Italy Wed/Fri at 00:00 CET
- Warsaw, Poland Wed, Wed/Fri at 00:00 CET
- Istanbul, Turkey Wed/Fri at 02:00 EEST
- Taipei, Taiwan Wed/Fri at 07:00 CST
- Tokyo, Japan Wed/Fri at 08:00 JST
Model Answers & Vocabulary
To help you prepare for the Thinking in English conversation club this week, I have created vocabulary lists and some model answers.
The model answers are split into intermediate, upper-intermediate, and advanced level responses. Hopefully this will give you an idea on the differences in quality between intermediate and advanced responses, and perhaps inspire your own answers to these questions!
B1 (Intermediate)
Model Answers
Vocabulary
B2 (Upper Intermediate)
Model Answers
Vocabulary
C1 (Advanced Level)
Model Answers
Vocabulary
See you all at this week’s conversation club!
How to Become a Patron?
Becoming a patron is a simple process. To join our community and access exclusive content and benefits, follow these easy steps
- Click on the “Become a Patron” button on our Patreon page.
- Select the tier that aligns with your language learning goals.
- Complete the registration process, which includes setting up your payment method.
- Once you’re a patron, you’ll gain immediate access to the benefits of your chosen tier.
Further Questions?
