Because the phrase as a whole always means something completely different from the individual words in that phrase.

But they're used so often in everyday speech and conversations and interaction.

So I think it's important that you become familiar with some of the more commonly used idioms.

Today, I'm going to teach you the five idioms I heard while I was watching TV last week.

So these are ones in frequent use.

Not some strange expressions in a textbook that native speakers just never use.

Get your pen and notebook ready, I'll teach the meaning of these idioms with examples.

Then there will be a quiz to practice what you have learned.

So make sure you stay until the end.

Are you ready? Let's begin.

Hi, I'm Monnie, helping you with your English language study.

Today we're learning commonly used idioms.

Number one is 'on the go.'

Someone on the go is a very busy person.

They have lots of things to do and places to be.

They have been constantly moving around, running errands and haven't stopped.

They're on the go.

It also means while traveling like,

The smartwatch lets me check my emails while I'm on the go.

And if you have something on the go, then you are in the process of doing that thing.

I've got three projects on the go at the moment, which means I'm currently working on three projects.

Number two is 'up and running.'

This usually refers to a machine or a system, and up and running means that it is now working; it's functioning when before, it wasn't.

I bought a new printer last week and I finally got it up and running.

It means that I've set it up and it's working.

My YouTube channel is now up and running after months of planning and preparation.

Number three is 'have your heart set on something.'

If your heart is set on something, this means that you want something so much, and you would be disappointed if you didn't get it.

There's something special about it and you're absolutely certain that is what you want.

I have my heart set on traveling to Japan during sakura season.

So beautiful.

Number four is 'racking your brains.'

This means to really think hard about something, sometimes because you are trying to remember something.

What can I buy for Sarah's birthday?

I've been racking my brains thinking of the best present, but I still don't know what to get her.

Number five is to 'get the hang of it.'

To get the hang of something means to slowly learn and understand how to do it.

You get the hang of it, or in the past tense, if you got the hang of it, it means you have learned it.

Riding a bike can be difficult at first, but you soon get the hang of it.

If you use that program often enough, you'll get the hang of it.

After three days of practicing my tennis serve, I finally got the hang of it.

Ok. Time for the quiz.

You will see five video clips of some action.

After each clip, pause the video and try to make a sentence about what you just saw, using an idiom in your sentence.

You can write these in your notebook or say them aloud.

At the end of the five clips, I will reveal my sentences so you can compare them with yours.

If you enjoyed this lesson, please consider subscribing to my channel.

Thanks for watching and as always, I'll see you in the next video.

Bye bye.