Welcome

Hello and welcome back to our English lesson with Passengers, where we’ll pick up some life wisdom from the bartender! This scene has got it all — slang, idioms, and even a little philosophy!

Video lesson

Learn vocabulary

This scene has several interesting vocabulary words and collocations that could be valuable for intermediate and advanced English learners. Here’s a list of simple explanations for each word and phrase to help you understand the meanings and how you might use them in real life:

“I’m screwed” - “Completely and ridiculously screwed”

Screwed means in big trouble or a very bad situation. If you forgot to study for a big test, you might say, “I’m screwed!” Screwed is informal slang term

“Every cloud has a silver lining”

This means there’s something good in every bad situation. For example, if you lose a job, it might be sad, but it could also open up new, exciting opportunities.

“Die of old age”

To live so long that you pass away naturally when you’re very old. For example, “My grandma wants to die of old age at home.”

“End up on the scrap heap”

This means to be thrown away or seen as not useful anymore. People often say this about broken things or sometimes even people who are no longer needed in a job.

“Trick of the trade”

A helpful tip or special skill for a job. For example, a cook might have a “trick of the trade” for cutting onions quickly without crying.

“Lay some bartender wisdom on me”

To lay something on someone means to give them advice or information. Bartender wisdom here means clever, simple advice that a bartender might give, like “Keep things simple.”

“I’m lost in space”

This doesn’t mean you’re actually in space! It means you feel confused or unsure of what to do, like when you’re in a new city without a map.

“Snap your fingers”

This means to do something very quickly, like magic. Imagine saying, “I wish I could snap my fingers and have my room be clean!”

“Not in the right place”

Feeling like you don’t belong or something doesn’t feel good for you. For example, “She felt she wasn’t in the right place in her job, so she changed careers.”

“Hung up on”

To keep thinking about something that bothers you. If a friend didn’t text back, you might be hung up on it, constantly checking your phone.

“Make the most of where you are”

This means to enjoy or get the best out of your situation, even if it’s not perfect. If it rains on vacation, “Make the most of it” by finding fun things to do inside.

“Take a break from worrying” and “Live a little”

Take a break from worrying means to stop thinking too much about problems, and live a little means to relax and enjoy life! If you’re working too hard, someone might say, “Live a little—let’s go out and have some fun!”