AMERICAN IDIOMS | LESSON PART 19 | #91 - #95 | All American English

Summary

This video, part 19 of the American Idioms series, introduces and explains five common American idioms (91-95). Each idiom is presented with an example, followed by a multiple-choice question to guess its meaning, and then a thorough explanation with additional examples to ensure understanding.

Highlights

Raising the Bar (No. 91)00:00:44

This idiom means to increase the standards of something. For instance, luxury car manufacturers raise the bar annually on their new cars' qualities. Another example is a restaurant that improves its food quality to achieve better success.

Reading Between the Lines (No. 92)00:02:16

This idiom refers to trying to understand someone's unexpressed feelings or implied meanings. For example, inferring from a boss's reaction that they disliked an idea, or sensing a friend's unhappiness with a new job from the tone of their letter, even if not explicitly stated.

Throwing Someone Under the Bus (No. 93)00:04:02

This idiom means to avoid criticism by blaming someone else for something. An illustration is a manager who blames employees for departmental issues instead of taking responsibility, or a team member who blames others for their own mistakes on a project.

Getting Your Foot in the Door (No. 94)00:05:31

This idiom signifies succeeding with the first step towards a goal. An example is someone working hard to enter the publishing industry, or an individual securing an internship at a company as the initial step towards a full-time position.

A Pipe Dream (No. 95)00:06:45

This idiom describes something unlikely to happen. For example, many people dreaming of early retirement find it to be a pipe dream, or someone realizing that their childhood aspiration of becoming an astronaut might not be achievable.