Wait just a minute. What are these new phrases that we call idioms? Idioms are parts of speech that are generally used in certain geographic locations, and are not usually literal but are understood nonetheless. In this episode, Gabby talks about the idiom “Lesson Learned.”

Normally, you would learn a lesson from a textbook or a teacher but in this case, a lesson learned is usually something learned from life experience. For instance, if you make a mistake, or do something foolish or embarrassing, you will probably have learned not to do that particular thing again. You don’t want to experience that same embarrassment a second time.  You might hear someone say, “I drove downtown during rush hour and it took me an hour to go two miles.” In this case, the lesson learned is that rush hour is a bad time to drive downtown.

Visit Go Natural English and learn more about idioms and phrases that will help you learn to sound like a native English speaker faster and better. And as always, create opportunities to talk to native English speakers. You will be glad you did.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eF-_2UjSb2E

Episode transcript below:

Hey there! What’s up?

Welcome to Go Natural English.

I’m Gabby Wallace and this is my friend, Robert Foster.

What up? What’s up?

Well, I think we have an idiom to share today.

Of course.

A really common, great idiom – was it something about lessons, something about learning?

Yes, lesson learned.

A lesson learned.

A lesson learned.

Is this about studying English like you learn your lessons from the books?

No, it’s more life lessons.

Life lessons.

Experience.

We all have those.

Yeah.

I learned just the other day when I went to the bank that I have to be very careful when I’m filling out my paperwork because I made a mistake and it cost me money and it cost me time, and that was a lesson learned, that I have to be very detail-oriented and careful when I fill out paperwork. Because the way I like to fill out paperwork – I was like scribbling and oh yeah ...

Scribbling and like hurry up.

It’ll be OK, right. Get it done.

Yeah, yeah.

Nope.

I know one of mine, one of my many – one was, I was about 100 feet from a restaurant I was supposed to meet some friends for a restaurant in Tokyo and I didn’t want to ask somebody for help because they sent me the pindrop for my phone wouldn’t work.

Oh no.

So, I figured I’d just follow it around – well, they told me, “look over here, look over there.” I walked around for 30 minutes ...

30 minutes?

... 30 minutes to a place that was 100 feet away, and all I had to do was ask somebody for directions. So, that was my lesson learned. Just ask the question if you don’t know where you are, ask, and you can cut out a lot of time.

That’s a good ...

I missed a lot of time there.

... That’s a good lesson learned.

So now I ask all the time if I’m lost.

Mmmmm. Well, I hope that you have a lesson learned that you should always watch Go Natural English because there’s such helpful idioms and fun times.

Yes, they and will help you with everything.

Yes. If you want to learn more, come visit me at gonaturalenglish.com. You can grab a free eBook and you can find out about the premium course. Sound good?

Sounds good.

Alright. See you later.

Take care.

Thank you.

The post A Lesson Learned – Use this Common American English Idiom and Speak Fluently like a Native appeared first on Go Natural English.