Vocabulary

Learn New Words FAST with this Lesson’s Vocab Review List

Get this lesson’s key vocab, their translations and pronunciations. Sign up for your Free Lifetime Account Now and get 7 Days of Premium Access including this feature.

Or sign up using Facebook
Already a Member?

Lesson Transcript

INTRODUCTION
Michael: Idioms that Involve Animals and Colors
Michael: Hi everyone, and welcome back to CzechClass101.com. I'm Michael.
Veronika: And I'm Veronika!
Michael: This is Must-Know Czech Slang Words and Phrases, Season 1, Lesson 14. In this lesson, you'll learn idioms that involve animals and colors.
Michael: Here we see more references to animals in Czech expressions.
SLANG EXPRESSIONS
Michael: The expressions you will be learning in this lesson are:
Veronika: bílá vrána
Veronika: černá ovce
Veronika: šedá myš
Veronika: černý kůň
Michael: Veronika, what's our first expression?
Veronika: bílá vrána
Michael: literally meaning "white crow." But, when it's used as a slang expression, it means "outstanding."
Veronika: [SLOW] bílá vrána [NORMAL] bílá vrána
Michael: Listeners, please repeat.
Veronika: bílá vrána
[pause - 5 sec.]
Michael: Use this slang expression when you want to describe a person who differs significantly from most people in a positive way.
Michael : Now let's hear an example sentence.
Veronika: [NORMAL] Kuba je mezi spolužáky bílá vrána, na rozdíl od ostatních pilně studuje. [SLOW] Kuba je mezi spolužáky bílá vrána, na rozdíl od ostatních pilně studuje.
Michael: "Jacob is a white crow among his classmates, unlike others he studies hard."
Veronika: [NORMAL] Kuba je mezi spolužáky bílá vrána, na rozdíl od ostatních pilně studuje.
Michael: Okay, what's the next expression?
Veronika: černá ovce
Michael: literally meaning "black sheep." But, when it's used as a slang expression, it means "negative exception, an outsider."
Veronika: [SLOW] černá ovce [NORMAL] černá ovce
Michael: Listeners, please repeat.
Veronika: černá ovce
[pause - 5 sec.]
Michael: Use this slang expression when you want to describe a person who differs significantly from most people in a negative way.
Michael : Now let's hear an example sentence.
Veronika: [NORMAL] Strejda je černá ovce rodiny, vždy je v nějakém maléru. [SLOW] Strejda je černá ovce rodiny, vždy je v nějakém maléru.
Michael: "Uncle is the black sheep of the family, he is always in some trouble."
Veronika: [NORMAL] Strejda je černá ovce rodiny, vždy je v nějakém maléru.
Michael: Okay, what's our next expression?
Veronika: šedá myš
Michael: literally meaning "grey mouse." But, when it's used as a slang expression, it means "featureless or unimpressive person, bland-looking person."
Veronika: [SLOW] šedá myš [NORMAL] šedá myš
Michael: Listeners, please repeat.
Veronika: šedá myš
[pause - 5 sec.]
Michael: Use this slang expression when you want to describe a person who is forgettable with no distinctive features. It's usually said about women. Be careful when you use this expression, they might feel offended.
Michael : Now let's hear an example sentence.
Veronika: [NORMAL] Je to taková šedá myš, na ulici by si jí nikdo nevšimnul. [SLOW] Je to taková šedá myš, na ulici by si jí nikdo nevšimnul.
Michael: "She is very bland-looking, no one would notice her on the street."
Veronika: [NORMAL] Je to taková šedá myš, na ulici by si jí nikdo nevšimnul.
Michael: Okay, what's the last expression?
Veronika: černý kůň
Michael: literally meaning "black horse." But, when it's used as a slang expression, it means "the favorite."
Veronika: [SLOW] černý kůň [NORMAL] černý kůň
Michael: Listeners, please repeat.
Veronika: černý kůň
[pause - 5 sec.]
Michael: Use this slang expression when you want to express that someone does not have an obvious chance of winning, and yet in favorable circumstances may win.
Michael : Now let's hear an example sentence.
Veronika: [NORMAL] Tento soutěžící je můj černý kůň! [SLOW] Tento soutěžící je můj černý kůň!
Michael: "This contestant is my black horse!"
Veronika: [NORMAL] Tento soutěžící je můj černý kůň!
QUIZ
Michael: Okay listeners, are you ready to be quizzed on the expressions you just learned? I will describe four situations, and you will choose the right expression to use in your reply. Are you ready?
Michael: Your father is the only one in your family who smokes.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Veronika: černá ovce
Michael: "negative exception, an outsider"
Michael: You are the only one in your class who graduated with honors.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Veronika: bílá vrána
Michael: "outstanding"
Michael: A Czech biathlete is believed to win this year’s World Cup.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Veronika: černý kůň
Michael: "the favorite"
Michael: Your friend only wears plain clothes and doesn’t like to stand out of the crowd.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Veronika: šedá myš
Michael: "featureless or unimpressive person, bland-looking person"

Outro

Michael: There you have it; you have mastered four Czech Slang Expressions! We have more vocab lists available at CzechClass101.com so be sure to check them out. Thanks everyone, and see you next time!
Veronika: Ahoj!

Comments

Hide