Summary
Highlights
This video is the 35th installment in the American Idiom series, presenting five new idioms from 171 to 175. The video begins by challenging viewers to guess the meanings of the idioms before providing detailed explanations and additional examples for better understanding.
The idiom 'on the house' means something given away for free by a merchant. An example illustrates this with a cousin who owns a bar and gives the speaker free drinks. Another example describes a restaurant offering free desserts due to poor service.
'Peter out' means to slowly fade in importance or significance. This is explained through the example of heavy morning rain gradually weakening in the afternoon. A second example shows how vacation money 'petered out', meaning the amount decreased, forcing an early return.
To 'pull up stakes' means to gather up your household and move somewhere else. The example used is a person being suddenly transferred to a different state by their boss, highlighting the difficulty of moving quickly. Another example shows someone deciding to move from a busy city to the country.
The idiom 'ring a bell' refers to something that seems familiar or reminds you of something. The speaker gives an example where a name like 'Jimmy Jones' rings a bell, even if the person hasn't met him. Another instance is a thief's description on the news that 'rings a bell', suggesting familiarity.
'Shake a leg' means to hurry or move faster. This is demonstrated by the need to 'shake a leg' to finish a project by a deadline. A second example involves rushing to get to an aunt's house by noon, emphasizing the need for speed.
The video concludes by thanking viewers for subscribing, encouraging them to share the video, and reminding them to keep practicing their English.