We’ve all been in situations where our options were limited, and we had to accept something less than what we wanted. In this episode, Andrew and Kassy explain two idiomatic expressions that you can use to describe these situations, bottom of the barrel and slim pickings.

Catch Word is the Culips vocabulary series designed for intermediate and advanced English learners. By listening to these audio lessons, you can learn idioms, expressions, and phrasal verbs that native speakers use all the time. Tune in to take your fluency to the next level!








Fun facts
Andrew mentions the expression “slim chance” in this episode. Did you know that the phrase “fat chance” means the exact same thing, even though “slim” and “fat” are opposites? English can be quite fascinating, don't you think?



Expressions included in the study guide



 	* Bottom of the barrel
 	* Slim pickings
 	* To settle for [something]
 	* To inch towards [something]
 	* Decent
 	* What can you do?



Copyright: Culips.com
For more information about this episode, visit culips.com.
Music Credit: Something Elated by Broke for Free
Image: Mauro Lima (Unsplash.com)

Catch Word #270 – Bottom of the barrel

Culips English Podcast: Practical English Learning Made Fun  Learn and Explore: Join Culips for an exciting English learning journey. Our podcast focuses on teaching English idioms, slang, and phrasal verbs through fun and engaging conversations. Each episode helps you master English for real-life situations.  Unique Learning Experience: Culips stands out by blending language skills with cultural insights. Our diverse hosts make learning relatable, covering a variety of everyday topics. You’ll pick up practical language skills and gain cultural understanding, enhancing your English fluency in an enjoyable way.  Your Path to Fluency: As your ideal learning partner, Culips provides easy-to-understand lessons on daily English usage. Learn from native speakers and immerse in different cultures, making your English learning journey rewarding and effective.

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In this Catch Word episode, Andrew and Kassy will teach you two fun expressions to make your English even better: "spruce up" and "deck out." You will learn how English speakers use these expressions to talk about making something look or work better. For example, you might spruce up your clothes for spring or deck out a game room with cool new gadgets. Get ready to "spruce up" your English and "deck out" your vocabulary with this fun and informative episode!

What You Will Learn:

 	* The meaning of "spruce up" and "deck out"
 	* How to use these expressions in real life
 	* Where these expressions come from and why we use them
 	* Tips for using "spruce up" and "deck out" in your own English conversations









How This Episode Will Help You:

 	* Learn two new expressions to make your English more natural
 	* Become more fluent by using expressions English speakers use every day
 	* Discover how people in the U.S. and Canada "deck out" their houses with lots of lights and decorations for holidays like Halloween and Christmas
 	* Practice talking about these topics with our community on Discord
 	* Use the study guide to learn even more related expressions, test your knowledge with a quiz, and practice using the new vocabulary in various contexts

The best way to learn with this lesson:

Culips members get an interactive transcript, helpful study guide, and ad-free audio for this episode. Take your English to the next level by becoming a Culips member.

Become a Culips member now: Click here.

Members can access the ad-free version here: Click here.

Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice. Click here to join. 

Catch Word #276 – Spruce it up

Episode description:
In this episode, Andrew interviews Jesús Florez, a Culips listener originally from Colombia. Jesús talks about his journey of becoming a highly proficient English speaker with an American-like accent. He discusses his background story of meeting his wife online and moving from Colombia to the United States. He tells Andrew all about the intensive work he did to improve his pronunciation and the resources he used to achieve fluency, plus he shares some valuable tips with English learners! If you want to know how to become a fluent English speaker and perfect your pronunciation, this episode is for you!

What you'll learn in this episode:

 	* Effective strategies for mastering an American-like accent.
 	* The importance of input (listening) in working on pronunciation.
 	* Helpful tips for improving pronunciation in a foreign language.
 	* Benefits of learning from both native and non-native English teachers.
 	* The importance of the visual aspect of pronunciation.









How this episode will help improve your English:

 	* Expand your vocabulary related to language learning
 	* Improve listening skills by following a natural unscripted conversation.
 	* Learn useful expressions like "get [something] off the ground" and "take precedence".
 	* Improve speaking by discussing your own language learning journey using the study guide questions.

The best way to learn with this lesson:

Culips members get an interactive transcript, helpful study guide, and ad-free audio for this episode. Take your English to the next level by becoming a Culips member.

Become a Culips member now: Click here.

Members can access the ad-free version here: Click here.

Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice. Click here to join.

Chatterbox #319 – Interview with Jesús Florez

Episode description

In this very special episode, we celebrate hitting the 100-episode milestone of the bonus series. And we do so by flipping the script. Instead of hearing Andrew share a story with you, you'll get to listen to stories sent in by Culips listeners from around the world. Tune in to hear them share funny moments, discuss their English study routines, and talk about how they've leveled up their language skills with Culips.

A huge thank you to everyone who participated in the creation of this episode. Without our amazing community, Culips wouldn't exist. We hope you enjoy this special edition of the bonus series, and here's to many more episodes to come!

 	* Study with the interactive transcript: Click here.
 	* Join the Culips Discord server:
 	* Become a Culips member:

Chapters:

 	* [00:00:00] Introduction - Andrew explains the special 100th bonus episode
 	* [00:05:51] Story from Sodam about moving to the U.S.
 	* [00:06:51] Story from Sandra about an extraordinary experience at the Musée d'Orsay
 	* [00:08:09] Story from Ray about learning English through Pokémon and practicing shadowing
 	* [00:10:04] Story from Jin about discovering Culips and using the interactive transcript
 	* [00:12:54] Story from Shun about the power of shadowing
 	* [00:17:16] Story from Mery about a trip to London with her boyfriend
 	* [00:20:44] Story from Edit about sleep talking
 	* [00:25:23] Story from Pijon about why pronunciation is important
 	* [00:27:41] Story from Navid about improving his English after immigrating to Canada
 	* [00:30:44] Story from Suhavi about being forced to listen to Culips by her mom
 	* [00:35:07] Story from WangJae about becoming a father
 	* [00:37:58] Story from Grimes about learning English with Culips
 	* [00:39:29] Story from Kalléu about improving English skills through Culips
 	* [00:39:29] Story from Dominika about a Czech tradition
 	* [00:42:53] Story from Jiwoo and Chloe about their mom's passion for Culips
 	* [00:44:33] Story from Sarah comparing school life in two different countries
 	* [00:46:50] Story from Usako about decluttering and playing table tennis
 	* [00:48:52] Story from Kelvin about his English learning journey
 	* [00:50:24] Story from Mina about returning to work after maternity leave
 	* [00:52:33] Story from Sergey about Culips in his daily routine
 	* [00:53:38] Story from Muhammed about learning with Culips
 	* [00:54:32] Story from Anthony about improving his English for business
 	* [00:58:04] Story from Zahra about finding Culips during the pandemic
 	* [00:58:56] Story from Diana about mistaking chrysanthemum tubers for ginger
 	* [01:02:51] Story from Darkhan about a blessing in disguise
 	* [01:04:19] Story from Thea Yang about learning languages every day

 

Bonus episode #100 – Your stories

Episode description:


In this Simplified Speech episode, Andrew and Kassy share their experiences attending live sporting events in various countries, including Canada, the USA, Korea, Thailand, and Taiwan. They discuss the exciting atmosphere, food options, ticket prices, and cultural differences between watching sports in different parts of the world.

By listening to this episode, you will gain a better understanding of how to talk about sports and live events in English. You'll also pick up new vocabulary words and learn about cultural differences in an engaging and easy-to-follow discussion. Join Andrew and Kassy as they share their passion for sports and help you improve your English skills along the way!

What you will learn

 	* Vocabulary related to sports and live events, such as "seeded," "concession," and "jumbotron"
 	* Insights into the sports culture and fan experiences in different countries
 	* Comparisons between the cost and availability of food and drinks at stadiums around the world
 	* Opinions on watching sports on TV versus attending live events









How you will improve your English with this episode

 	* Expand your vocabulary with sports-related terms and expressions
 	* Learn to discuss and compare cultural experiences using clear language
 	* Improve your listening skills by following a natural conversation between two native English speakers
 	* Improve your communication skills by discussing this episode with other Culips listeners on our Discord server

The best way to learn with this lesson:

Culips members get an interactive transcript, helpful study guide, and ad-free audio for this episode. Take your English to the next level by becoming a Culips member.

Become a Culips member now: Click here.

Members can access the ad-free version here: Click here.

Join our Discord community to connect with other learners and get more English practice. Click here to join. 

Simplified Speech #195 – Live sports

In this episode, Andrew talks about running a trail race in Jangsu, a small village in South Korea. He describes the challenges of running on mountain paths, the beautiful scenery he saw, and the great feeling of finishing the race. As you listen to Andrew's story, you'll learn new vocabulary about running, nature, and facing difficulties. You'll also improve your listening skills and ability to understand a story in English. 

 	* Study with the interactive transcript:
 	* Join the Culips Discord server:
 	* Get the comprehension quiz:









Catch Word #270 – Bottom of the barrel

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