Learn English with Bob the Canadian

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Learn the English Phrases "to catch a break" and "if you catch my drift" Mar 11, 2026

Show notes

Read along to practice your English and to learn the English phrases "to catch a break" and "if you catch my drift"

TRANSCRIPT:

In this English lesson, I wanted to help you learn the English phrase to catch a break. When you catch a break, it means something has gone your way. Let's imagine that you're trying to buy tickets for an Ed Sheeran concert, and you know that the tickets are gonna sell out really quick.

But then you catch a break because your cousin calls you and says, hey, I got, six tickets for the Ed Sheeran concert, and I only need three of them. Do you want to buy the other three? So when you catch a break, it means something goes your way. Something goes, in a positive way when you thought it was not going to go well.

And by the way, the past tense is caught. Like, I caught a break. My cousin got tickets for the Ed Sheeran concert for me. By the way, that's just an example. I don't have tickets for the Ed Sheeran concert. The other phrase I wanted to teach you today is the phrase, if you catch my drift.

This simply means if you understand what I'm saying, but usually kind of in a sly or funny way. If I was to say, I'm trying to think of an example here. If I was to say, I'm going to... Oh, this is rare.

I'm drawing a blank. By the way, do you know the phrase draw a blank when you can't think of an example? But I might say this. If I say to someone, I'm going to be sick tomorrow, if you catch my drift. Basically, what I'm saying is I'm not gonna be sick.

I'm just gonna take a day off work and say that I'm sick. So to review, to catch a break means to get lucky. It means to have something go your way. And if you catch my drift, means basically, if you understand what I'm saying, you see how I'm raising my eyebrows?

Like, that would be a good example, though, if a colleague said to me, I think I might be sick tomorrow if you catch my drift. They're basically saying they're not really sick, but they're gonna call in sick tomorrow. But, hey, let's look at a comment from a previous video.

This comment is from Mahenina. I don't know how to pronounce your name. Sorry. Hey, Bob, I've been watching your videos for more than five years, but I have never sent you a comment. This is my first. You really do a good job. Thanks. And my reply, thank you for watching for so long and I'm glad you finally commented.

So that's very cool, Mahenina, thank you so much for leaving a comment. I love it when people leave comments. So this is a little bit of a trick here. You might be wondering, where is Bob? He's standing in front of this farmer's field.

What will be planted here in the future. But then if I do this, if I start to turn, you will see a little bit of, a vacant lot area. And then you'll see my car, but then you'll see a subdivision.

So I am on the outskirts of town. If you are a member on my larger channel, you know that I just talked about what outskirts are. Outskirts of a town are where the town borders on farmland or nature or something like that.

But what I did want to show you is this. It says, no dumping. Let's get a little bit closer. No dumping. But then if we look on the ground, we see old cigarette packs. Even over here in the weeds.

Earlier, I saw some garbage as I was walking around. Sometimes when I make videos, people talk about how beautiful Canada is. But it isn't all beautiful. Sorry, I have to get over this way really quick, before time runs out, so you can see that there is more junk.

I'm not sure what that is. I hope I didn't set off some kind of alarm by looking out here. If you look here as well, you'll see an old tire over there, and you'll see just a whole bunch of garbage. Not very nice.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this little short English lesson. And I will see you next week with another one. And I'll figure out what that alarm is.

Bye.

Want to Think in English? Try This Daily Technique! Mar 10, 2026

Show notes

In this English lesson, I’ll share with you a simple technique that can help you start thinking in English instead of translating from your native language. Many English learners ask how they can train their brain to think directly in English, and in this lesson I explain an easy method you can practice throughout your day.

You will learn six powerful sentence starters you can use anytime and anywhere: I need, I want, I love, I hate, I feel, and I think. By using these simple sentences while you go about your daily activities, you can slowly build the habit of thinking in English and improve your fluency naturally.

This technique is easy to practice in everyday places like when you wake up in the morning, while you’re at work, or even when you stop somewhere like a gas station. With a little practice each day, these small thoughts in English can help open the door to better conversations and greater confidence.

If you enjoy learning English with practical tips like this, don’t forget to subscribe, like the video, and leave a comment telling me where you practice thinking in English!

A Live English Question and Answer Lesson! Come And Join! Mar 09, 2026

Show notes

In this English lesson I will answer as many questions from you, the viewer, as I can in about an hours time. We'll start the English class at 10AM Eastern Standard Time, and you can submit questions to me as early as 5 minutes before.

During the lesson I'll respond live to your questions about the English language, my life, life in Canada, strategies for learning and more.

Let's Learn English! Topic: Describing People Part 2! 😢🎻🎨 Mar 08, 2026

Show notes

Welcome to part 2 of a series of English lessons about describing people. In this English class I will help you learn words we use to describe people. I'll be sure to help you learn the pronunciation of the word, its meaning, and I will give lots of example sentences that you can use in your next conversation.

In this English lesson you'll learn words like: shy, talented, unpleasant, respected, observant, quiet, outspoken, ambitious, artistic, blunt, brilliant, competent, considerate, dramatic, distant, eager, fussy, impulsive, and many more.

After watching this English lesson you'll be able to have even better English conversations as you describe people.

Learn the English Phrases "pales in comparison" and "doesn't hold a candle to" Mar 04, 2026

Show notes

In this English lesson I wanted to help you learn the English phrase pales in comparison. So when you're talking about two things and one thing is significantly bigger or better or different in a way than something else, we say that it pales in comparison.

Here would be a good example. Today is a beautiful day, but it pales in comparison to the day we had a few days ago when it was 15 degrees Celsius. So this day isn't as good as the other day. You might also use this to talk about a sports team.

You might say, this year's team is good, but it pales in comparison to the team from 10 years ago that won the championship. The other phrase I wanted to teach you today is doesn't hold a candle to. And this is also a very similar phrase to do a comparison.

If you're talking about two things and you say one thing doesn't hold a candle to the other thing, it means the first thing isn't as good as the second thing. So when people talk about sports again, they might say, you know what? Your team is good, but it doesn't hold a candle to my team, basically meaning my team is better.

So to review, if something pales in comparison, it's not as good as something else, or it's not as big, or it can even be something bad. Like that storm pales in comparison to the one we had five years ago. So. So it can also be a negative thing and then doesn't hold a candle to is very similar.

When you compare two things, it means the one thing is certainly more significant or bigger or different or worse than the other. But hey, let's look at a comment from a previous video. This comment is from Mohd Ags. Thanks for the short lesson, Bob the Canadian.

There's been a lot of talk about banning the Canadian curling team from the Olympics because they touched the stone and people were like, that'll teach them not to cheat. Oh, nice use of the phrase. But not only did they get away with it, they even won the gold medal. P.S. phrases for the future pales in comparison and doesn't hold a candle to.

Thanks for the suggestions. My response, I was a bit embarrassed about that. Not only did we double touch, we also claimed that we didn't and it was on video. Oh, well, I'm not sure it really makes a difference anyways. Maybe they should just allow double touching. Thanks for the phrases.

Yeah, thanks Mohd for that. Thanks for the phrases and thanks for the comment. So, yeah, should they just allow double touching? Should that be what they do? I'm not sure if that would be the best solution. I don't know a lot about curling. You might be wondering, though, why am I here today? So this is the gas station.

You might be able to guess why I'm here today. It's because I want to talk about gas prices. So gas prices are about to go through the roof. We're at $1.37.9 cents. I hope you can see that on the video.

Because of things that are happening in the Middle East, it looks like gas prices are about to go through the roof. That's a good phrase. But that price pales in comparison to what we were paying over a year and a half ago or two years ago. We used to have an extra tax on it, so I think it was closer to a dollar fifty.

And then I wanted to show you this bus, because someone in the last video. I forget who it was. It might have been Unsal commented on how it was cool to see the bus. The yellow bus like they normally just see in the movies. Might have been Vitor. Actually, sometimes I get people confused.

I probably shouldn't say names when I'm remembering what people have left in comments, but, yes, that is what most school buses in North America look like. I would say 80, 90% of them probably look like that. I know in some US States, they might look a little bit different, but certainly in my part of Canada, that's what a school bus looks like.

And that's what a gas station looks like. So, anyways, thanks for watching. You guys are awesome. Got a little bit of a loud truck going by there.

Let's Learn English! Topic: Describing People! 🧩👑🏈 Mar 01, 2026

Show notes

In this English lesson I will help you learn words and phrases that can be used to describe people in English. These aren't easy words like short and tall, but rather more advance words we use to describe someone's personality and behaviour in English. Once you know these words, you'll be able to describe friends, family members, and colleagues with ease.

In this English lesson you'll learn words and phrases like: absentminded, awkward, clumsy, cruel, arrogant, jealous, adorable, generous, warm, impatient, aggressive, polite, calm, vulgar, lovable, violent, funny, lazy, honest, dishonest, loyal, and many more!

I hope you enjoy this free English class about describing people! Have a great day!

Learn the English Phrases "to learn something the hard way" and "That'll teach 'em!" Feb 25, 2026

Show notes

Read along to practice your English and to learn the English phrases TO LEARN SOMETHING THE HARD WAY and THAT'LL TEACH'EM!

TRANSCRIPT:

In this English lesson, I wanted to help you learn the English phrase to learn something the hard way. This is a phrase... It's kind of a funny phrase because it means someone has learned something in a very difficult way. I should just give you an example so you know what I'm talking about.

If you have the stove on and you accidentally touch the burner, you've learned something the hard way. You've learned that you shouldn't touch the burner on the stove when it's hot. When a small child first sees a candle and they all... they put their finger close to the flame and suddenly pull their finger away, they have, they've learned something the hard way.

There are many things like this. When people first walk on ice, when people move to Canada and they first walk on ice and they slip and fall, they've learned the hard way that ice is slippery. I shouldn't laugh, but it happens sometimes.

People just aren't aware of how slippery it is. The other phrase I wanted to teach you today is a little meaner. And it's the phrase that'll teach 'em, which is short for that will teach them or that will teach you or that will teach him or her. It simply means you see someone fall on the ice and in your mind you think that'll teach them, that'll teach them not to walk so quickly on the ice next time.

Again, not a very nice thing to say. Kind of mean and kind of rude. But it's when you see someone do something where you would use the phrase to learn something the hard way. And then you say if you're really mean and rude, or you think if you're less mean and rude, that'll teach them.

So to review to learn something the hard way, if you hit your thumb with a hammer, you have learned the hard way that a hammer is very hard and it will hurt you. And that if you put your thumb in a dumb spot and hit your thumb with a hammer and someone sees you, they might say, that'll teach them.

But hey, let's look at a comment from a previous video. This comment is from Tacagero, and the comment is, Incredibly clean sidewalks. I see no snow at all. Very beautiful. Spring is around the corner, I guess. And my response, we try to keep things tidy, but as things warm up, the mud will come.

Well, we've actually, thanks, Tacagero, for that comment. We've actually gone kind, of the other way here, in Ontario, Canada. Right now, as you can see, there's snow again. It's a little bit... I think it's starting to melt a little bit.

That might also just be from the road salt. But, let me check if the snow is packy. Yeah, it's packy snow. So if you wanted, you could build a snowman today. That means it's probably one degree and the snow is starting to melt a little bit.

And that makes it packy. It makes it what we call packing snow. And you can make a snowman. Maybe I should do that when I get home today. But, what were we talking about? Super clean sidewalks. Even when there is snow, the sidewalks are kept very clean.

And I'm not sure if you can see there's actually salt. That little crystal there that I'm moving around with my foot is actually a salt crystal. And we put salt on the sidewalks, to make sure they don't freeze and get slippery.

And so people who recently moved to this snowy climate don't fall. And have people say, that'll teach them, or so they don't have to learn something the hard way. I also wanted to show you this. As things start to melt, we have quite a bit of water flow in the local creek.

Sometimes this creek dries right up, but today, as you can see, it's running quite well and it will go even higher as we get more and more snow melt in the area. Anyways, thanks for watching this short English lesson. I'll see you next week with another one.

Bye.

Two of the Nicest English Phrases You Need to Know Feb 24, 2026

Show notes

In this English lesson, I’ll help you learn two of the nicest phrases you can use in everyday English conversations. These simple phrases help you sound friendly, polite, and natural when you finish talking with someone you know well. Whether you meet an old friend at the grocery store, run into a coworker in town, or catch up with family you haven’t seen in a while, these expressions will help you leave a great impression.

You’ll learn how to use phrases like “it was nice seeing you.” “It was great to see you." and “It was nice talking with you.” along with when and why native English speakers use them.

I hope this lesson helps you take another step forward in your English learning journey. Thanks for watching, and I’ll see you in the next English lesson!

Let's Learn English! Topic: Science! 🥼🔬🧪 Feb 22, 2026

Show notes

I'm not a Science expert, but I know enough to be able to teach an English lesson about it. Join me for an in depth look at the words and phrases we use when talking about Science in English!

In this English lesson you'll learn words and phrases like: experiment, microscope, test tube, lab coat, telescope, magnifying glass, petri dish, goggles, bunsen burner, and many more!

I hope you enjoy this free English class about Science!

Learn the English Phrases "to play dumb" and "dumb luck" Feb 18, 2026

Show notes

Read along to practice your English and to learn the English phrases TO PLAY DUMB and DUMB LUCK.

TRANSCRIPT:

In this English lesson, I wanted to help you learn the English phrase to play dumb. In English, when you play dumb, it means you pretend you don't know something when you actually do. The most common example would be when someone does something they're not supposed to, and then when asked about it, they might play dumb.

If you watch a TV show and the cops arrest the criminal, the criminal might play dumb and say, I don't know what you're talking about. I didn't steal that car. As a teacher, sometimes I'll catch students doing something, and then when I ask them what they were doing, they play dumb.

They pretend that they didn't do what I saw them do. The other phrase I wanted to teach you today is dumb luck. Dumb luck simply means that something happens to you that's good and it's not because of anything that you've done to make it happen.

So a great example of this would be you suddenly, let me see. I'm trying to think. A good example of dumb luck would be you're driving along and you lose control of car in the snow, but you don't go in the ditch. But it has nothing to do with you steering properly or anything.

It's just dumb luck. You didn't go in the ditch because of dumb luck. So to review. To play dumb means to pretend you don't know something when you actually do, usually when someone's accusing you of doing something wrong. And dumb luck simply means to be extremely lucky.

And you had no... not because of anything that you did. Sorry, I'm a little distracted with all the traffic this morning. I'm doing this during morning rush hour in my town. But, hey, let's look at a comment from a previous video. This comment is from Tammy.

Yes, my son likes to use the expression, oh, shoot from time to time. Thank you. And my response is it's better than the alternative, which is kind of a minor, vulgar, word. And then Tammy says, you can say that again. Great use of the phrase. You can say that again, Tammy.

And thanks for the comment. So, yes, I am here in my local town. You can see behind me. Let me get you guys a little further away so you can see a bit more. You can see behind me that, well, there's a school bus over there because kids are getting picked up for school.

As you know, I teach in the afternoon now, so I'm here in the morning shooting my video. Yes, I did leave my tripod all by itself over there on the sidewalk. We're hoping no one takes it. And this is what I look like.

There I am in the window, shooting my video on a nice quiet morning here in town. I do have to admit a couple of things. One, in spite of the fact that I love winter, I do find it way easier to make videos when the weather's a bit warmer.

You can see that I'm just wearing a jacket right now. Actually, these... These windows really do help. You can see I'm just wearing a light jacket right now. You can see that people are out and about, just wearing a ball cap instead of a winter hat.

There's even just people standing, checking their phones. Like, even just last week or a week and a half ago, that would not have been happening. It was far too cold for people to be outside and being somewhat leisure or to be moving at a slower pace.

So in spite of the fact that I love winter, I must admit, it is much nicer being out here today. I am putting my hand in my pocket occasionally, though, just to warm it up a little bit. But, yeah, this is just much nicer than it was.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this little English lesson, and I'll, see you next week with another one. Bye.

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