Charm English Pod

Even if you don't follow sports, you've probably used a sports idiom without realizing it. In this episode, I break down common English idioms that come from soccer, boxing, baseball, American football, and horse racing — and show how they're used way beyond the field, court, or ring.
We cover:
Move the goalposts – changing the rules or expectations after something's already started
Drop the ball – making a careless mistake or forgetting something important
The ball is in your court – it's someone's turn to act or respond
Throw in the towel – to give up (and why it's "throw in the towel," not "throw the towel")
Saved by the bell – escaping a difficult situation at the last moment
Touch base – checking in briefly with someone
Cover all the bases – making sure every possibility is considered
Neck and neck – a very close competition
Front runner – the clear leader in a competition
Kick off – to start something
Plus a couple of British English bonus phrases: score an own goal and crack on

We also talk through real-life examples — from immigration paperwork to forgetting a friend's birthday — so you can hear exactly how English speakers drop these phrases into everyday conversation, not just sports talk.
Great episode if you want to sound more natural in work meetings, casual conversations, or just understand what's going on when your English-speaking friend says the candidates are "neck and neck".
🎧 Listen now, and let me know your favorite idiom from the episode!
Keep in mind this was recorded last week so the World Cup conversation is not up-to-date :)

Learn English vocabulary for describing food! In this lesson, we cover an extensive vocabulary list for talking about taste and texture of food (both pleasant and upleasant.)
📚 VOCABULARY COVERED:
Basic Taste Descriptors:
Sweet, Sour, Spicy, Salty, Bitter

Delicious, Yummy, Tasty, Bland, Tasteless

Rich & Heavy Foods:
Rich (NOT the same as "rico" in Spanish)

Cloying / Sickly Sweet

Heavy, Caloric, Fatty

Savory & Umami Flavors:
Savory

Umami (Japanese word for savory/meaty flavor)

Meat-forward, Earthy

Fresh & Bright Flavors:
Zesty (citrus, ginger)

Tangy (pleasant sour flavor)

Refreshing

Citric, Acidic

Strong Flavors:
Pungent (garlic, onion, blue cheese, wasabi)

Bittersweet

Pleasant Textures:
Creamy, Velvety

Silky, Smooth

Crunchy, Crispy

Fluffy, Tender

Unpleasant Textures:
Gritty (hard, rough pieces)

Mushy, Soggy

Stale (not crispy)

Rubbery (tough, chewy meat)

Negative Descriptors:
Disgusting, Nauseating

Repulsive

Rancid (rotten tasting)

Vomit-inducing

✓ "Pig out" = eat a lot
✓ "Finger-licking good" = delicious
✓ "Junk food" = unhealthy food high in fat/sugar
✓ "Hearty meal" = filling, nutritious, homemade
✓ "Rich food" ≠ "delicious food" (it's heavy & creamy)
🎯 USEFUL PHRASES:

In this class, we break down all the ways English speakers talk about mistakes, failures, and obstacles with real examples you can actually use.
Learn these phrases:✓ Drop the ball✓ Snowball✓ Out of hand✓ In a pickle✓ Hit a snag✓ At fault vs. guilty✓ And more
Plus: My microphone has its own problems (and it accidentally becomes a techno remix 😅)
Perfect for intermediate learners who want to sound more natural when things go wrong at work, with friends, or just in everyday life.

In this live English class, we explore a variety of time-related expressions to help you sound more natural and precise in conversation.
We start with different ways to say “I’m late,” including phrases like running late, behind schedule, cutting it close, and racing against the clock, along with related expressions such as setbacks and holdups. Then we look at the opposite—how to talk about being early—covering ahead of schedule, on time, and in time, with a clear explanation of the difference between on time (not late) and in time (just before something happens).
Next, we focus on describing how time feels. For time passing slowly, we cover expressions like at a snail’s pace, taking ages, time dragging, and it felt like forever. For time passing quickly, we explore time flies, in the blink of an eye, before you know it, and losing track of time, all with practical examples.
We also introduce phrases to talk about frequency, such as every now and then, once in a while, from time to time, once in a blue moon, and time and again, highlighting the difference between occasional and repeated actions.
Toward the end, we expand into everyday language, including different ways to say sorry (from my sincerest apologies to my bad) and a quick pronunciation tip on apologize vs. apologies. The session finishes with a Q&A on topics like listening skills, accent, and fluency, with practical advice on improving through comprehensible input and effective listening strategies.
This class is ideal for intermediate learners who want to build vocabulary, improve fluency, and speak more naturally about time in English.

In this episode, I’m joined again by Vitória Tamarindo, an English teacher from Brazil! If you missed Part 1, make sure to check it out first. You can follow her here: https://www.instagram.com/teachervitoriatamarindo/

In Part 2, we get into practical strategies for learning English, from how to make the most of just 15 minutes a day to finding the right balance between comfort and challenge. We also share our thoughts on AI in language learning, reading as a tool for improvement, and what really helps students move from passive understanding to active use. Plus, some fun rapid-fire questions at the end.