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ToddOK, Meg, let's talk about idioms related to the body.

MegOoh!

ToddSo we have lots of idioms in English that we use for specific meanings, so to learn these idioms, we'll just talk about them by asking each other questions.

MegOK.

ToddOK, the first one is about dating, so should a man always foot the bill on a date?

MegWell, I think I'm a little bit of an traditionalist in that maybe at the beginning or the first date the man should foot the bill, but after that, if you're in a relationship, it doesn't really seem fair for the man to pay all the time. Do you agree?

ToddYeah, I agree, I mean on a date I feel awkward if I don't pay the bill, so yeah. The man should foot the bill on the first date.

MegHmm!

ToddSo the next one related to feet is when you dance, do you have two left feet?

MegYes, I definitely have two left feet. I'm not a good dancer by any means and I don't really enjoy it so I think I look a little awkward when I'm dancing. What about you?

ToddYeah, I definitely have two left feet. Yeah, I just look like a mess on the dance floor, so and I don't enjoy it, and I think because I'm nervous I want to get out of there, so yeah.

MegRight. I understand your feeling.

ToddNot my ... Alright so also related to feet is the leg, so in your city, what costs an arm and a leg?

MegIn my city where I live right now, I feel like fruit costs an arm and a leg. It can be quite expensive, especially if you want fruit that's out of season, but in my hometown, in America, you can usually get fruit very cheap, so it feels like it costs an arm and a leg here. What about for you?

ToddYeah, the city I live in now is in Japan, and it's also very expensive. Taxis cost an arm and a leg, so to take a taxi ride is so expensive. In America where I'm from, I would say healthcare costs an arm and a leg. It's so expensive - crazy expensive.

MegRight, much more ...

Todd: You never want to get sick.

MegYes.

ToddEven health insurance costs an arm and a leg. It's very, very costly.

MegI agree with that.

ToddAlright, let's now talk about feelings. So, is it OK to give people the cold shoulder sometimes?

MegHmm, well ...

ToddNobody likes the cold shoulder.

MegRight, nobody likes the cold shoulder. I don't think we should give people the cold shoulder, however, I have to admit that I have sometimes given a friend or a family member the cold shoulder when I've been upset about something.

ToddYeah, the whole thing about the cold shoulder, is actually you do want them to talk to you. You just want them to feel bad.

MegRight. Yes.

ToddRight?

MegYeah, it's kind of passive aggressive.

ToddExactly, like I'm mad at you, but I really just want you to see that I'm mad at you and give me attention and I'm happy.

MegRight, yes, you want to make it clear that you're mad ...

ToddYeah, exactly

Megby giving the cold shoulder.

ToddRight.

MegHave you ever given someone the cold shoulder?

ToddOh, yeah, I can be very moody, so I've definitely given people the cold shoulder. And then I'm embarrassed sometimes afterwards, like why did I do that? That's so bad.

MegYeah, you feel a little guilty later.

ToddYeah, so we're both teachers. Do you ever give students the cold shoulder?

MegNo, I don't think I would ever give a student the cold shoulder because if they have questions or need help, I want to be able to assist them, so that's a little different I think. What about you?

ToddYeah, no totally. Like the students give me the cold shoulder, right?

MegAh, yes.

ToddSo you know that something's wrong, but yeah teachers can't give students the cold shoulder.

MegNo, you can't.

ToddIt's impossible. Or it shouldn't be done.

MegMmm.

ToddAlright, those were some interesting points.

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ToddSo Meg, in the last one we were talking about idioms, but we didn't cover them all. Let's go over some more idioms.

MegOK.

ToddAlright so the first one is what activity is in your blood?

MegHmm, I would say anything with nature in my blood, so hiking or especially kayaking. I love going kayaking, and so it's hard for me to resist if I'm in a place with beautiful nature, I need to go outside.

ToddSo what about baking? Isn't baking sort of just natural for you. Don't you just love to bake? Isn't it in your blood?

MegI do also love to bake. Yeah. I guess hiking and baking are both in my blood together, kind of two different activities. So baking especially when I can make very creative and decorative desserts, to share with people, so I don't like to bake for myself, but sharing with others, it's quite enjoyable for me. Do you have any activities or things that are in your blood?

ToddWell, I think one is just teaching. I love teaching. I just want to teach all the time. Even if I won the lottery, I would be a teacher. I just like thinking of lessons, thinking of new ideas for lessons, trying technology with lessons, so even on my free time, I like thinking about it. And another thing is jogging. Even though, most people are surprised because I'm a little fat. I'm about 20 pounds overweight, but I run almost every day.

MegI think I've seen you running before.

ToddYeah, I literally run every day. Like if I don't run, I feel terrible, like it's the most relaxing thing for me.

MegYeah.

ToddI can't go two or three days - two days maybe - but I can't go three or four days without running.

MegSo jogging is really in your blood?

ToddYeah, and I started when I was a kid. You know the movie Forest Gump, where he just starts running.

MegRight, yes, yes.

ToddThat was me as a kid.

MegRun Forest Run!

ToddI would just run out of my driveway, also in the country, and just go running for an hour

MegWow!

ToddJust to run, I thought it was fun.

MegWell, that's great.

ToddYeah, it's definitely in my blood.

ToddOK, so we'll talk a little about feelings. So when you get criticized, do you take it to heart?

MegI think my first reaction, is to take it to heart, so sometimes I might be a little oversensitive when I first get criticized, but after some time passes and I'm able to think about it, usually I can see how that criticism can be useful, and I can try to make a change or improve something. Or I can decide that I don't care about that person's opinion. What about you? What do you do? How do you respond?

ToddYeah, I used to take things to heart a lot, but as I've gotten older, as many people do, now a lot of it just rolls off my back, as we say, like water off a duck's back, so it doesn't bother me at all

MegYeah.

ToddYeah, I just realize everybody has different opinions and don't worry about it.

MegYeah, I think that's a good attitude to have.

ToddYeah, OK, so the next one also about feelings and opinions. So are you more likely to bite your lip, or speak your mind when you disagree with somebody?

MegI think it depends on the situation, so if I feel like someone else is being treated unfairly or there are some rules that are there for a reason that should be followed, I am ore likely to speak my mind, but if it's something personal, or just related to me I might bite my lip to try to keep the peace. What would you do, bite your lip or speak your mind?

ToddWell, I have a big mouth, so no, I always speak my mind. So I have a really big mouth. I just never keep it inside. Yeah, it's really hard for me to bite my lip.

MegHmm.

ToddYeah, so. That can be a bad thing.

MegBut sometimes good.

ToddYeah, say it like it is, as they say.