Daily English Pod

For checking the transcript: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2379282
Keep sb in the dark
means to deliberately not tell someone about something or to keep them uninformed, especially about important or relevant information.
Examples:
1- She felt hurt when her friends kept her in the dark about their weekend plans.
2- The government was accused of keeping the public in the dark about changes to the law.

For checking the transcript: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2379282
Frugal
means spending money carefully and not wasting it. It’s not about being cheap—it’s about being smart with your resources.
Examples:
1- Sarah is so frugal that she always checks for coupons before she shops online.
2- After losing his job, Tom started living a frugal lifestyle—he sold his car and began using public transportation.

For checking the transcript: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2379282
In the driver's sit
means being in control of a situation or having authority. It’s like being the driver of a car, where you decide where to go and how to get there.

Examples:
1- After months of hard work, John finally got his startup off the ground and was now in the driver's seat, calling the shots.
2- Ever since I bought a new gaming console, my younger brother has been in the driver's seat of our living room, controlling the TV remote and the game time!

For checking the transcript: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2379282
Act up
means to behave badly or cause problems. It can refer to both people (especially when they misbehave) and things like machines or devices that stop working properly.
Examples:
1- At the party, Sarah’s dog started acting up, running around and knocking over the drinks!
2- During a concert, Adele’s microphone started acting up, causing some audio issues, and she had to pause for a couple of minutes to fix it.

For checking the transcript: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2379282
Bummer
is a situation or event that is disappointing, frustrating, or unpleasant. It's an informal word, often used in casual conversations to express sympathy or shared frustration.

Examples:
1- Sarah found out the concert was canceled just as she arrived at the venue. Total bummer!
2- Imagine getting to a party and realizing you forgot your gift at home. That would be a bummer, wouldn’t it?

For checking the transcript: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2379282
In the nick of time
means at the very last moment before something bad happens. It’s like a race against time where you succeed just before it's too late.

Examples:
1- I got to the train station in the nick of time—just as the doors were closing, I jumped in and everyone applauded!
2- During the Oscars, the host realized they had mixed up the envelopes, but they corrected the mistake in the nick of time before announcing the wrong winner.

For checking the transcript: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2379282
Raise eyebrows (Vocabulary through stories)
To cause surprise, shock, or mild disapproval because something is unusual or unexpected.
Examples:
1- Michael Jackson traveling with a chimpanzee raised a lot of eyebrows—it wasn’t something people saw every day!
2- When the company promoted a new intern to the manager after just two weeks, it raised eyebrows among the other employees.

For checking the transcript: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2379282
Monumental
very important, significant
Examples:
1- The invention of the internet was a monumental development that transformed the way the world communicates.
2- Driving rights for women was a monumental achievement.

For checking the transcript: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2379282
Wrap one’s head around sth
means to understand or comprehend something, especially when it's complicated or challenging.
Examples:
1- Imagine trying to wrap your head around how they filmed those special effects in movies. It’s so cool, but so mind-boggling!
2- When the pop star announced she was taking a break from her career to study astrophysics, fans needed some time to wrap their heads around the surprising news.

For checking the transcript: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2379282
Take sth with a grain of salt
means to view information with some skepticism or not fully believe it without proof. It’s used when something might be exaggerated or unreliable.

Examples:
1- In a recent interview, a politician promised free college for everyone. I'd take that with a grain of salt, promises like these don't go exactly as planned  
2- A magazine claimed that Elon Musk was planning to buy an entire city to house his company employees. Many people took it with a grain of salt, as his ideas can be far fetched.