Tag: learn english podcast

Taking its Toll

Listen to the most recent episode of my podcast: #754 Taking its Toll https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/joseph-mc42/episodes/754-Taking-its-Toll-e2jd650

English learning phrase of the day: to take its toll, Britain’s obesity crisis,
Very large croissants and
Britain’s Airports E-Gates crash.

The idiom “to take its toll” means to be damaging or harmful, cause loss or destruction. It is often used to describe the negative effects of something over time, such as the civil war taking its toll on both sides. The phrase is derived from the taking of toll, a tribute or tax for other costs. It can also be used to describe the negative effects of stress on people, such as the constant stress taking its toll on emergency room worker

Getting Nowhere Meaning (from Today’s Podcast)

The expression “getting nowhere” is used to describe a situation where no progress is being made or when someone is not achieving any success despite their efforts. It suggests that despite the time, energy, or resources invested in trying to accomplish something, the outcome remains unchanged or the goal remains unattained. This phrase can be used in various contexts, from personal endeavors like trying to learn a new skill without seeing improvement, to professional scenarios where efforts to complete a project or achieve a target are proving fruitless. It conveys a sense of frustration or stagnation, where actions do not lead to any significant advancement or positive results.

  1. In a professional context: Despite the team’s overtime and weekend work, the project’s completion date seems no closer. The manager sighed and admitted, “We’re getting nowhere with this approach; it’s time to rethink our strategy.”
  2. Learning a new language: After months of trying to learn Japanese on her own, Maria felt she was still unable to hold a basic conversation. She expressed her frustration to a friend, saying, “I’ve been studying every day, but I feel like I’m getting nowhere.”
  3. In personal fitness: Kevin had been going to the gym regularly for the past year but saw little change in his physique. Disheartened, he told his trainer, “I’ve been consistent with my workouts, but it seems like I’m getting nowhere with my fitness goals.”
  4. In a relationship: Emma and Alex had been attending couples therapy to work on their communication issues. However, after several sessions with little improvement, Emma reflected, “We’ve been trying to work through our problems, but it feels like we’re getting nowhere. Maybe it’s time to reconsider our approach.”