Lesson 2.2 — Idioms & everyday slang (Spoken English B1)

Listen first

Two coworkers chat about a decision over coffee. Count the idioms — there are four. Notice that "my bad" and "I'm swamped" would never appear in a formal report; they're spoken register only.

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New vocabulary — tap to hear

It's not rocket science./nɑt ˈrɑkɪt ˈsaɪəns/ · it's not that hard, mildly teasing 🔊

I'm swamped./aɪm swɑmpt/ · extremely busy; common at work 🔊

Let's touch base./lɛts tʌtʃ beɪs/ · check in briefly; office slang 🔊

My bad./maɪ bæd/ · casual "my mistake, sorry" 🔊

It's a no-brainer./ə ˈnoʊ ˌbreɪnər/ · an obvious, easy decision 🔊

I'm on the fence./ɑn ðə fɛns/ · undecided between two options 🔊

Now say it

Tap the phrase to hear it, then press the mic and repeat — we score your pronunciation for real (Chrome/Edge).

« My bad — I've been totally swamped, let's touch base tomorrow. » 🔊

Keep "my bad" quick and light, not heavy with guilt. Stress "swamped" for effect, and let "touch base" glide as one smooth unit.

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Pronunciation

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Read the dialogue

Tap any line to hear it. Grammar appears in context, never as a dry rule.

Did you send the invite yet? We said Monday. 🔊Casual check on a task

Oh — my bad, I forgot. I've been totally swamped this week. 🔊Owns the slip and explains with an idiom

No worries. Honestly, picking the venue's a no-brainer — the usual place. 🔊Reassures, then calls the choice obvious

I'm still on the fence, actually. Let's touch base tomorrow. 🔊Stays undecided and proposes a check-in

Grammar in focus · idioms are fixed — don't translate them

Idioms don't bend to normal grammar rules: it's "my bad," never "my bads," and "touch base," never "touch bases." The biggest trap is translating one from your first language word-for-word — English listeners won't get it. Learn each as a single fixed chunk, and keep them for speech, not formal writing.

Full lesson: using idioms naturally

Write it yourself

Write a 3-line text to a friend using two idioms from this lesson to explain why you missed their message.

Your answer

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Tip for this task
Match the idiom to the channel — "my bad" is perfect in a text, but leave it out of a formal email to a manager, where "apologies for the delay" fits better.

Quick check

An adaptive quiz confirms you've got it and schedules the right words for review.

1. A colleague says "I'm swamped this week." They mean they are…

2. "It's a no-brainer" describes a decision that is…

3. Where does "My bad" fit best?

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