Music is a great way to learn new expressions and idioms. It’s also a great way to practice pronunciation.

Here’s a good song full of VERY common expressions and idioms.

Below the video, you’ll see the words to the song (the lyrics),

and below that the DEFINITIONS to the expressions.

Bruno Mars – Count On Me

If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea,
I’ll sail the world to find you
If you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can’t see,
I’ll be the light to guide you

Find out what we’re made of
When we are called to help our friends in need

You can count on me like 1 2 3
I’ll be there
And I know when I need it I can count on you like 4 3 2
And you’ll be there
Cause that’s what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah

Wooooh, Wooooh
yeah Yeah

If you toss and you turn and you just can’t fall asleep
I’ll sing a song
beside you
And if you ever forget how much you really mean to me
Everyday I will
remind you

Ohh
Find out what we’re made of
When we are called to help our friends in need

You can count on me like 1 2 3
I’ll be there
And I know when I need it I can count on you like 4 3 2
You’ll be there
Cause that’s what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah

Wooooh, Wooooh
Yeah Yeah

You’ll always have my shoulder when you cry
I’ll never let go
Never say goodbye

You can count on me like 1 2 3
I’ll be there
And I know when I need it I can count on you like 4 3 2
You’ll be there
Cause that’s what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah

Wooooh, Wooooh
you can count on me cos’ I can count on you

_____________________

IDIOM DEFINITIONS:

to find out what someone is made of:   To TEST someone, to see their true character

to count on someone: to trust someone, to depend / rely on someone to do something for you

to be there for someone: to be supportive of someone, to be available to help someone

tossing and turning: when you can’t sleep, moving in your bed a lot

to mean a lot to someone: to be very important / dear to someone

a shoulder to cry on: someone to listen to you and support you when you’re sad

Has someone ever FOUND OUT WHAT YOU’RE MADE OF?

Who do you COUNT ON?

Are you THERE FOR your friends when they need you?

What makes you TOSS AND TURN at night?

Who (or what) MEANS A LOT TO YOU?

Whose SHOULDER DO YOU CRY ON?

It’s Not My Cup of Tea:

A very polite way of saying “I don’t like that.”

Sometimes used to say “It’s ok – I have no problem with it, but it’s not my taste.”

FOR EXAMPLE:

Do you like Dubstep? – > It’s not my cup of tea, but I can see why other people like it.

Have you seen the Hobbit? – > No way. Fantasy movies aren’t my cup of tea.

Here’s  a great example of the idiom being used:

Listen to the way the lady says it, and try to copy her pronunciation!

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