Learn
Watch & LearnLearning Paths
English for Daily LifeEnglish for Social ConnectionEnglish for WorkVOA English
Words and Their StoriesRelationships & Dating
Learn 5 English idioms with Michael from MyHappyEnglish.com
Vanessa interviews Michael from Happy English about five idioms used in everyday conversation. The lesson places each expression in a concrete situation and discusses its tone, so learners can understand not just a dictionary definition but also when the phrase sounds natural. The five featured idioms are “in a New York minute,” “a pain in the neck,” “a cup of joe,” “lazy bones,” and “time to kill” (also used as “kill time”).
“In a New York minute” means very quickly. Michael connects it to the fast pace he associates with New York City; it is an idiom rather than a literal measurement. “A pain in the neck” describes an annoying or troublesome person, task, or process. Michael uses the long, multi-step driver’s-license renewal process as an example. Because it is a complaint, the phrase can be mildly critical, especially when it refers to a person. “A cup of joe” is casual American slang for a cup of coffee. The speakers also contrast it with “not my cup of tea,” a familiar way to say that something is not your personal preference.
“Lazy bones” is a playful, teasing label for someone who is being lazy; the joking tone matters, since a serious delivery could sound insulting. “Time to kill” describes unoccupied time before the next plan, such as arriving at a café thirty minutes early. It does not refer to violence. Michael and Vanessa show how these expressions can connect naturally in conversation: someone waiting for an appointment might kill time with a podcast or social media and have a cup of joe while they wait.
The interview also gives learners a method for remembering idioms: build an example from your own life, write it down, and say it aloud. For instance, describe a task that was a pain in the neck, a hobby that is not your cup of tea, or how you usually spend time when you have a few minutes to kill. The discussion briefly includes additional conversational language such as “cut down a little on” a habit, “get it over with” for finishing an unwanted task, and “all sorts of fun stuff” as a casual way to refer to many different enjoyable things. These examples show how idioms and phrasal expressions often appear alongside ordinary spoken English. Try matching each expression to the situation and relationship before using it; a playful phrase that works with a close friend may not suit a formal conversation.
0 qualified plays 0 unique learners 0.0 hours watched 0 completed
Only playback on RealTalkBridge counts. A random first-party identifier deduplicates returning visitors; no IP address is stored. Country labels appear only when at least five distinct learners are represented.
Select an expression for its meaning · 0:00
Introducing conversational idioms through an interview
hi I'm Vanessa from SpeakEnglishWithVanessa.com today I have a special guest to introduce you to he's Michael from myapp english.com today he's going to help you to learn five idioms that we use in Daily conversation let's get
Try it: Choose one expression from this section and make a true sentence about a time you experienced something similar.
Phrase cheat sheet
Review each expression, hear it, save it, or jump to where it appears in the video.
Introducing conversational idioms through an interview · expression
Many different enjoyable or interesting things; stuff is an informal, broad noun.
Tone and use: Casual and upbeat. Use it in relaxed conversation when listing a variety of activities or things.
May not fit: Stuff is vague; name the items when the listener needs specific information.
Example“The festival has all sorts of fun stuff for families.”
Introducing conversational idioms through an interview · expression
Face-to-face at a physical location rather than through an online connection.
Tone and use: Neutral and widely used. Use it to describe a meeting or lesson attended physically.
May not fit: For remote meetings, say online or by video instead.
Example“The doctor can meet you in person or speak with you online.”
Introducing conversational idioms through an interview · expression
Very quickly; the idiom reflects the fast pace Michael associates with New York City.
Tone and use: Informal, vivid, and often humorous. Use it to say something can happen or be done very quickly.
May not fit: It is figurative, not a precise measure of one minute; for a deadline, give an exact time.
Example“I can pack for a weekend trip in a New York minute.”
Using in a New York minute for speed and pain in the neck for frustration · expression
A person, task, or situation that is very annoying or troublesome.
Tone and use: Informal and mildly negative; less rude than stronger alternatives. Use it for a frustrating chore, process, or person: “Renewing the license was a pain in the neck.”
May not fit: It is a complaint and can sound insulting when used about a person directly.
Example“The paperwork was a pain in the neck, but we finished it.”
Using in a New York minute for speed and pain in the neck for frustration · expression
Wait in a queue; this is a regional American expression associated with New York, while “wait in line” is common elsewhere.
Tone and use: Informal and regionally marked. Use it when describing standing in a queue, especially in New York-area speech.
May not fit: For a broadly understood or international form, say “wait in line.”
Example“We had to wait on line to renew our driver’s licenses.”
Using in a New York minute for speed and pain in the neck for frustration · expression
Finish an unpleasant or inconvenient task so you no longer have to deal with it.
Tone and use: Informal and often conveys reluctance. Use it for a task you want to complete and put behind you.
May not fit: It may sound impatient; use a neutral phrase such as “finish the task” in formal contexts.
Example“Let’s get the paperwork over with before lunch.”
Using in a New York minute for speed and pain in the neck for frustration · expression
A cup of coffee; joe is casual American slang for coffee.
Tone and use: Informal and distinctly conversational. Use it casually when ordering or talking about coffee.
May not fit: It may be unfamiliar outside North America; say “a cup of coffee” when clarity matters.
Example“I usually have a cup of joe before my morning commute.”
Using in a New York minute for speed and pain in the neck for frustration · expression
Not something you like, enjoy, or prefer.
Tone and use: Polite, casual, and often a gentle way to express dislike. Use it after a noun or activity: “Horror movies aren’t my cup of tea.”
May not fit: It means personal preference, not that the item is objectively bad.
Example“Camping is fun for my friends, but it’s not my cup of tea.”
Talking about coffee, personal preferences, and casual American expressions · expression
A teasing name for someone who is being lazy or avoiding activity.
Tone and use: Playful and informal; can sound critical if said seriously. Use it jokingly with someone you know well, often to encourage them to get moving.
May not fit: Avoid it with someone you do not know well or when the person may feel judged.
Example“Come on, lazy bones, let’s go for a walk.”
Talking about coffee, personal preferences, and casual American expressions · expression
Reduce the amount or frequency of something, often a habit.
Tone and use: Conversational and practical. Use cut down on + a noun or activity; an adverb can come between cut down and on.
May not fit: It means reduce, not necessarily stop completely.
Example“I’m trying to cut down a little on sugary drinks.”
Using lazy bones playfully and time to kill while waiting · expression
Free time between planned activities that you need or want to fill.
Tone and use: Informal and common. Use “have time to kill” when you arrive early or are waiting before the next event.
May not fit: It does not imply harming anyone; kill here means pass or use up time.
Example“We have an hour to kill before the train leaves.”
Knowledge check
What it means · “in a New York minute”