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English Lessons in Listening: What do these Idioms Mean?

Studying grammar and reading are important but taking English lessons in Listening is a very practical skill.  Practice here for free!

Before you listen, you should read the meaning of the idioms.  Then make a picture in your mind, or invent a story that uses the idiom.  

Now you are ready to practice listening.  Start the story and listen all the way to the end.  Imagine how your images fit with the story.  Think about the meaning of the story.  Change your images if you need to.

By listening and imagining with color and sound, you can build your English vocabulary fast.  Listen many times because you don't want to forget.

New Business


1. down in the mouth:  miserable or depressed
2. in the red:               in debt, overdrawn
3. teething troubles:    problems or difficulties which occur at the start of something.
4. get (something) off the ground: to get something started and operating successfully
5. go to the wall:          to fail, to be financially unsuccessful, to go bankrupt

Bruce


to listen the slower version, click below.


Nasrin and her mother are starting a new textile business.  Right now they are down in the mouth a bit, since their business is in the red.  It has been having teething troubles over the past three months as the weather has been particularly bad, and they cannot get their product delivered on time.  Nasrin is willing to go to the wall on this one because she knows it will be a learning experience.  But somehow she is sure that she can get it off the ground before her creditors start calling.  Even now she is on the phone discussing new arrangements for shipping that do not depend on the weather very much. She is still optimistic.



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