Summary
Highlights
This video is the 71st in a series on American idioms, presenting five new idioms from number 351 to 355. Viewers are encouraged to pause the video to guess the meaning of each idiom before the answer and an additional example are provided.
The idiom 'take to something' means to start doing something often. An example given is: 'Now that my wife has quit her job, she has recently taken to cooking,' meaning she started cooking frequently. Another example is a grandfather taking to painting after retirement.
'A hot bed' refers to a place full of something or where something is likely to multiply. For instance, 'At one time that part of the city was elegant and safe, but now it's a hot bed of crime,' indicating a significant increase in crime. Silicon Valley is also cited as a hot bed of technology and innovation.
To 'ply one's trade' means to engage in one's normal business or employment. The example highlights drug dealers 'plying their trade' in a park. Another instance is street vendors plying their trade on a street every weekend.
'To have an eye for something' signifies being good at noticing or judging something. A cousin who 'has always had an eye for a bargain,' especially with cars, is used as an example. The speaker also mentions his wife's 'eye for small details' that makes her good at editing videos.
To 'strongarm' means to coerce someone into doing something, often through physical force. An example is a gang strong-arming business owners into paying protection money, which is described as extortion. Another example shows a company hiring security to strongarm protesters during a strike.
The video concludes by thanking viewers for their support and encouraging them to keep practicing their English.