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Why are there 12 plates on your kitchen table?
Because I am cooking dinner for 12 people tonight.
12 people? And you are testing a new dessert atthe same time?
Yes, it will be a piece of cake.
Martin, I think you may have bitten off more thanyou can chew.
That sounds worrying and strangely appropriate fordinner.
It is very appropriate because today we arelearning
four food idioms that are useful far beyond thekitchen.
Welcome to Your English Toolbox. I am Martin.
And I am Julia.
This is Lesson 4 of our free idiom toolbox course,Food.
The complete course is available atYourEnglishToolbox.com.
Open the Idioms section and choose Lesson 4.
There you can study the dialogue, meanings,examples, grammar notes,
listening practice, and interactive activities.
The direct link to the free lesson will also be inthis episode description.
Let us begin with the expression I used, a pieceof cake.
If something is a piece of cake, it is very easyto do.
For example, the online form looked complicated,but it was a piece of cake.
Or, once you know the steps, this recipe is apiece of cake.
Notice the usual pattern, something is a piece ofcake.
And of course, we are not talking about real cake.
Martin, do you truly think dinner for twelve willbe easy?
The cooking will be a piece of cake.
Organizing everything may be different.
That brings us to our second idiom, bite off morethan you can chew.
It means to accept more work or responsibilitythan you can manage.
You can say, I bit off more than I could chew whenI agreed to organize two events in the same week.
Listen to that past form, bit off, not bite itoff.
Here is another example.
Be careful not to bite off more than you can chew.
So, Julia, are you saying dinner for twelve is toomuch for me?
I am saying that dinner, a new dessert, and acomplete kitchen reorganization on the same
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evening may be too much.
When you put it like that, perhaps I have bittenoff more than I can chew.
Good. Now, is the dinner a surprise?
Yes, nobody knows why we are meeting. Please donot spill the beans.
Our third idiom is spill the beans.
It means to reveal a secret, often before theright moment.
For example, who spilled the beans about thesurprise party?
Or, do not spill the beans before Friday.
You can also spill the beans about something.
He spilled the beans about their new project.
This expression is conversational and playful.
It is perfect for surprises, secret plans, andinformation that was not supposed to come out yet.
Julia, you are very good at keeping secrets,right?
Absolutely. But you have just announced yoursecret dinner to everyone listening.
Ah, I may have spilled my own beans.
Almost. We normally say spill the beans.
Now, let us finish with in a nutshell.
In a nutshell means in very few words or as ashort summary.
You can place it at the beginning.
In a nutshell, we need more time.
Or ask, can you explain the plan in a nutshell?
It is useful when a story or explanation isbecoming too long.
Julia, can you describe my evening in a nutshell?
In a nutshell, you invited too many people,promised too much food, and revealed the surprise
on a podcast.
That is accurate and efficient.
Time for a quick challenge. We will give you asituation.
Choose the best idiom.
Situation 1. The exam was much easier than youexpected.
It was a piece of cake.
Situation 2. You accepted three major projects andnow you cannot finish them.
You bit off more than you could chew.
Situation 3. A friend reveals the destination of asecret trip.
Your friend spilled the beans.
Situation 4. You want someone to explain acomplicated idea very briefly.
You say, explain it in a nutshell.
Excellent. Today we learned a piece of cake, biteoff more than you can chew, spill the beans, and
in a nutshell.
Try using one of them today in a sentence aboutyour own life.
Personal examples make new language easier toremember.
And continue with Lesson 4 in the free IdiomToolbox course at YourEnglishToolbox.com.
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The direct link is waiting for you in the episodedescription.
See you next time.
Bye for now.
