Refined Daily Expressions and Idioms from the Script
1. [Verb] away
- Used to emphasize duration, continuity, or being absorbed in an action.
Examples:
- She’s been studying away all day. (Implies deep focus and extended time.)
- He’s just working away in there. (He’s immersed in work.)
- The kids are chatting away for hours. (Non-stop, absorbed conversation.)
- I’m just reading away the afternoon. (Can imply wasting time or total immersion, depending on tone.)
- I was munching away on chips. (Continuous snacking without much awareness.)
🧠 Tip: “Away” adds informality and a “long-duration” vibe, often with a tone of habitual or excessive activity.
2. [Verb] up a storm
- Suggests doing something enthusiastically and intensely, usually with positive vibes.
Examples:
- He’s been cooking up a storm lately. (Cooking a lot and enjoying it.)
- They were chatting up a storm all night. (Very engaged and talkative.)
- She’s studying up a storm for finals. (Working hard and intensely.)
🧠 Tip: “Up a storm” has an inherently positive tone. Don’t use it for undesirable behaviors like “eating snacks” (e.g., munching up a storm sounds off).
3. Human garbage disposal
- Self-deprecating, humorous phrase meaning someone eats leftover food that others (especially kids) don’t finish.
Example:
- I eat my kids’ leftover mac and cheese. I’m like a human garbage disposal.
4. Same old, same old
- Used to express that nothing has changed; everything is routine.
Example:
- I’ve just been working away, same old, same old.
5. Consumed by [something]
- Means something is taking over your time, energy, or life.
Example:
- The LSATs have been consuming my life lately.
Role Play Script From the Conversation
Here’s the script from the podcast episode, already formatted for practice:
Michelle: Hi, Aubrey! What’s new? Still studying away for the LSATs?
Aubrey: Yes, it’s consuming my life. I can’t wait till it’s over. What about you?
Michelle: Oh, I’ve just been working away. Same old, same old.
Aubrey: How’s Dan? Is he still into cooking?
Michelle: Oh, he’s been cooking up a storm! He’s gotten really good.
Paragraph Using All Expressions
I’ve been studying a lot lately. It feels like it’s taking over my whole life. While I study, I keep munching on snacks without even thinking. My wife has been cooking a lot, and I get to enjoy his food — lucky me! Not much else is new. I’m just working a lot, same old routine. The other night, some friends came over and we were all talking non-stop for hours.
Q and A
Q1: What does “munching on something” mean?
A1:
It means to eat something casually, usually snacks, in small bites.
예: I was munching on chips while watching TV.
Q2: Is “munching on” used for full meals?
A2:
No, it’s usually for snacks or small foods, not full meals like dinner.
✖️ I was munching on steak.
✔️ I was munching on popcorn.
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