Learn English with Zootopia (2016)

Words and phrases (15)

1. eat someone alive

   B2phrase

   To hurt or win against someone very easily.

   informal

   That poor little bunny's gonna get eaten alive.

   14:29

   • Example: If you fight him, he will eat you alive.

2. elephant in the room

   B2phrase

   A big problem everyone sees but nobody talks about.

   First... we need to acknowledge the elephant in the room.

   15:04

   • Example: His drinking was the elephant in the room at dinner.

3. hustle

   B2noun

   A clever trick to take money from someone.

   informal

   It's called a hustle, sweetheart.

   23:48

   • Example: He sold tickets to a show that did not exist — it was a hustle.

4. tail between one's legs

   B2phrase

   Feeling bad and silly after losing or failing.

   till finally she has no choice but to go back home... with that cute, fuzzy-wuzzy little tail between her legs... to become...

   25:03

   • Example: He came home with his tail between his legs after the game.

5. have the guts

   B2phrase

   To be brave enough to do something hard.

   informal

   Especially not some jerk... who never had the guts to try to be anything more than a popsicle hustler.

   25:25

   • Example: He did not have the guts to tell her the truth.

6. hang in there

   B2phrase

   Keep trying when things are hard.

   informal

   Hang in there.

   25:57

   • Example: I know the job is hard, but hang in there.

7. delusion of grandeur

   C2phrase

   A wrong idea that you are very important.

   I'm going to open this door... and you're going to tell that otter you're a former meter maid... with delusions of grandeur...

   32:55

   • Example: He has delusions of grandeur and thinks he is the boss.

8. one's word against yours

   B2phrase

   Two people say different things and nobody can show who is right.

   Well, it's my word against yours.

   36:12

   • Example: Nobody else saw it, so it is my word against yours.

9. call it quits

   B2phrase

   To stop doing something and not go on.

   informal

   Because if so, there is no shame in calling it quits.

   38:37

   • Example: We were very tired, so we called it quits for the day.

10. mind like a steel trap

    B2phrase

    A very good, fast memory and quick thinking.

    Told you Nangi has a mind like a steel trap.

    39:54

    • Example: My grandma has a mind like a steel trap; she remembers every name.

11. have a memory like an elephant

    B2phrase

    To remember things very well for a long time.

    I wish I had a memory like an elephant.

    39:57

    • Example: She has a memory like an elephant and knows every birthday.

12. pay it forward

    B2phrase

    To help someone else because someone helped you.

    I will take your kindness and pay it forward.

    50:25

    • Example: He helped me for free, so I will pay it forward.

13. born ready

    B2phrase

    Always ready for something, with no need to get ready.

    informal

    Pretty much born ready.

    58:45

    • Example: "Are you ready to run?" "I was born ready!"

14. go off the rails

    B2phrase

    To start acting in a wild, very bad way.

    informal

    Because I got a dozen and a half animals here who have gone off-the-rails crazy... and you can't tell me why.

    1:07:00

    • Example: After he lost his job, he went off the rails for a year.

15. glass half-full

    B2phrase

    Looking at the good side of a bad thing.

    informal

    Which means, hey, glass half-full, we all have a lot in common.

    1:33:50

    • Example: We lost the game, but glass half-full, we had fun.