Hello smart cookies! 

Today we are talking about describing personality again. This episode is about words and phrases for smart or clever people. Here is a list of our vocabulary for today:

on the ball
a walking encyclopedia
sharp
quick-witted ("wits" means "intelligence" or "awareness")
egghead 
smart cookies (that's YOU!) 

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See you again soon!


Informal English with Eric

Common Expressions: Describing Personality Series: Smart People

I’ve been busy lately: as busy as a bee, but don’t worry, I’m not stressed, I’m as cool as a cucumber. In fact, I’m as happy as a clam. 

You can compare someone to something by using the word “as.” We do this with an adjective between “as” twice, followed by a thing to compare to: as busy as a bee. These comparisons can be positive, neutral or negative. It should be clear from the context whether something is a good thing or a bad thing. 

Example 1: as happy as a clam 
It’s raining outside, but I have a cup of coffee, a nice book, and a warm blanket. I’m as happy as a clam.

Example 2: as quiet as a mouse
Jack has been as quiet as a mouse after he was embarrassed giving a speech at school.

Example 3: as old as the hills 
I went for a long ride on my bike yesterday. When I woke up this morning, I felt as old as the hills. 

Example 4: as strong as an bull/ox
Oliver has been working out at the gym all the time. He’s as strong as a bull now—I’m sure he could help you move your piano. 

Example 5: as cool as a cucumber 
On the roller coaster, I was so scared. I was sure my friend would be too, but when I looked, he seemed as cool as a cucumber. 

Example 6: as tough as nails 
Tina might not be very tall, but she’s as tough as nails. She runs marathons. 

Example 7: as thick as thieves 
As teenagers, Caleb and Daniel were as thick as thieves, but they grew apart in their 20’s. 

Note: 
If you've read this far, you're interested in the details. So here's a reward for your curiosity: You can drop "as" from the beginning of these expressions: You're cool as a cucumber. This is common in speech. 

Thanks for listening! 


Common Expressions: Using "as... as..." for comparisons to describe people

If you want to sound natural in English, you need to know the other meanings of common words. 

Today, we’re talking about the word “go.” You might think it is easy and simple, but it’s actually more complicated than it seems. 

“Go” is used with sound, music, and poetry. Let’s look at some examples. 

Example 1: 
Do you know the song that goes (hum the great pretender)? 

Example 2:
Yeah, the lyrics to that song go “Oh yes, I’m the great pretender…” But I can’t remember the rest of the words. 

Example 3: 
There’s a famous American poem that goes “Two roads diverged in yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both and be one traveller long I stood…” 

We also use “go” for idioms, in the same way. How does that idiom go that starts “The grass is always greener…”?

Example 4: 
The truck reversed and went BEEP BEEP BEEP. It hit a window, which went CRASH.

Example 5: 
Cats go meow, dogs go woof, birds go tweet, and cows go moo. 

Example 6: 
I was talking to the cashier at the store, when the lady waiting in the queue behind me went, “Hey, chat later, pay now. I’ve been waiting and waiting!” 

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Common Expressions you didn't know (with words you already know!): GO

Today we're discussing some vocabulary about babies, children, teenagers, and young adults. The phrases we cover are:

a bundle of joy 
the awkward stage
teenage angst 
spreading one's wings
coming of age 
making a name for yourself 
staying young at heart

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