Hamsters are as cute as they are clever! In this BBC video we will see a little hamster having an exciting experience while hunting for food. The narrator, Sir David Attenborough, is an icon of English language. This short and easy lesson has useful everyday English expressions for when you need to talk about being stealthy and sneaking around!
9 Useful words and expressions
Grasslands
A wild, large open area covered with grass, especially used to feed animals.
The shepherd took his sheep to eat in the wild grasslands.
The coast looks clear
A phrase that means that there isn’t anyone around to see you doing something.
Another meaning is that it is safe to continue with a plan.
We wanted to eat chocolate before dinner, so I asked my brother to see if my parents were in the kitchen. He told me the coast looked clear, so I ran and stole the sweets from the cupboard!
Best not take any chances
The original phrase is “[It is] best not [to] take any chances.” It means that you should not do anything risky or dangerous.
I know I can cross the street before the light turned green, but best not take any chances.
Trick
A smart action made to achieve something or deceive someone.
The magician uses many tricks to make people believe he has supernatural powers.
To be caught
To be discovered doing something wrong or illegal.
The police caught the burglar entering the house.
Wax
a sticky yellowish substance made by honeybees as the material of a honeycomb.
Another meaning is any material that looks like beeswax.
These days, candles are made of paraffin wax, but some can also be made of plants such as palm and soybeans.
Mouthful
a quantity of food or drink that fills or can be put in the mouth.
He bit a mouthful of bread and swallowed with some difficulty.
Oh, dear (UK)
An expression used when someone is surprised, upset or worried.
Anthony: I’m afraid I have some bad news for you…
Peter: Oh, dear.
Bottleneck
The opening or the area just below the opening of a bottle.
The hamster got stuck in the narrow bottleneck of the candle container.
