7 American Idioms You Probably Never Heard of 1) “Closed mouths do not get fed” means that if you do not speak up about your needs, feelings, or boundaries, people may never know what is wrong or how to help. People are not mind readers, and silence often leaves others unaware of what you are going through. 2) “Make the hard times look good” means hiding your struggles so well that nobody realizes what you are carrying. You may be hurting, exhausted, grieving, or overwhelmed, but still appear fine on the outside, causing others to believe everything is okay. 3) “Do it again” is a warning or correction that means don’t repeat what was just said or done. It is often used to call something out in the moment and make it clear that the behavior or wording was not acceptable and should not happen again. (This expression is VERY informal and common in cities) 4) “Crying over spilled milk” means being deeply upset over something that has already happened and cannot be changed. It is a reminder that while pain and disappointment are real, staying stuck in the past will not undo the situation or help you move forward. 5) “Rip the Band Aid off” means to do something difficult or uncomfortable quickly instead of prolonging the fear, anxiety, or anticipation. It is about facing the situation directly so you can begin moving forward instead of avoiding it. 6) “Lock in” means to fully focus, commit, and give your complete attention to a goal, responsibility, or situation. It is the moment you stop letting distractions, excuses, or outside opinions interfere and decide to take yourself and your priorities seriously. 7) “The ball is in your court” means the next move or decision is up to you. It is a way of saying that responsibility, action, or control over the outcome now rests in someone else’s hands. I figured that I could share something useful for once other than personal matters. Enjoy.

Good morning. I came back from Miyagi yesterday and went straight to school, so I fell asleep because I was tired. Tomorrow is my day off, so I’m going to rest🥲

Let’s try pronouncing this together. 一起来练习发音吧! มาลองออกเสียงนี้ด้วยกันนะคะ

Mandarin for beginners: Nǐ xǐ huan píng guǒ ma? A:你 喜欢❤️ 苹果🍎 吗？ Duì, wǒ xǐ huan píng guǒ. B:对✓，我 喜欢❤️ 苹果🍎。 Nǐ xǐ huan xī guā ma? A:你 喜欢❤️ 西瓜🍉吗？ Bù wǒ bù xǐ hun xī guā. B:不❌，我 不 喜欢❤️西瓜🍉。 Nǐ xǐ huan pú táo ma? A:你 喜欢❤️ 葡萄🍇吗？ ng yì bān bān. B:嗯…一般般。 Leave your answer: What's the meaning of "一般般?"

I bought and played the latest Resident Evil game a month ago. It was really scary, but the annoying customers at work are even scarier.

I went to izakaya to eat with club members, because it was an after party for a dance event. 17 out of 25 people showed up. It was so much fun.

Now I’m doing my homework. The deadline for this is today.😭😭

Talking with Brazilians is always fun to me. There’s laughter in almost every conversation I have with one. They tend to joke around easily, match the vibe of a conversation, and bring a sense of warmth and calmness with them. They really love to laugh, and laughter is such a powerful thing. Of course, this is just based on my own experiences with Brazilian family members and especially some of my older brothers who were born and raised in Brazil. I’ve noticed certain qualities that seem deeply connected to the culture being lighthearted, expressive, easygoing, and relaxed. Growing up around both Brazilian and American influences made me notice differences in personality, habits, perspectives, and energy between cultures. Even though I spent part of my early childhood in Brazil, I was mainly raised in the United States, so naturally my personality developed differently from some of my Brazilian siblings. I think culture plays a huge role in shaping people. The environment we grow up in, the values we’re surrounded by, and the way we learn to interact with the world all influence who we become. Every culture has its own strengths and characteristics. In America, qualities like independence, individuality, ambition, and personal freedom are often emphasized. In Brazilian culture, I personally notice more emotional openness, humor, and a relaxed social energy. Of course, none of this applies to every single person. Everyone is unique, and people experience culture differently. These are simply observations from my own life and family experiences. The beauty of culture goes beyond what words can fully express. (italki took down one of my previous post, it should be back up cuz i didnt do anything or post anything against italki policy, BUT with this post I took the liberty of communicating more formal and aware because this is kinda a sensitive topic for what seems to be italki standard.)

In each episode, I show you how to give clear, well-developed answers without overcomplicating things. We look at ideas, structure, and natural language you can actually use in the test. I’m a former IELTS examiner with over 20 years of teaching experience, and the aim is simple: help you feel more confident and give better answers.