Do you like going to the doctor?
In natural English, native speakers sometimes use idioms that are related to the doctor and medical topics, even if they are not talking about the doctor.
In today’s episode, Lindsay and Michelle share four idioms that have to do with doctors but are not related to medical topics.
Listen in and doctor up your vocabulary today.
Do You Like Going To The Doctor?
Michelle asks Lindsay if she likes seeing the doctor.
Lindsay doesn’t look forward to seeing the doctor but she likes the feeling she gets after the visit.
She set as an example her trips to the dentist.
She doesn’t like going to the dentist but she feels good after her teeth get cleaned because she feels she is taking care of her health.
Being mindful of your health and making sure you’re looking after yourself feels good.
Michelle agrees with Lindsay on this.
She doesn’t like going to the doctor but she wants to make sure everything in her body is okay, especially now that she’s pregnant.
It helps put her mind at ease to know that she and the baby are healthy and doing well.
Michelle adds that going to the doctor when you’re sick is the worst.
You get worried and it is uncomfortable to be in the hospital or clinic and have several medical tests done on you.
In general, most people don’t look forward to seeing their doctors.
Despite it being something most people dread, Lindsay and Michelle say that it is often talked about in English.
In today’s episode, they share with you idioms that use the word doctor but don’t necessarily mean they are talking about the doctor.
They will also share with you how to use them properly in an English conversation.
Doctor Idioms
Native English speakers use idioms a lot and as mentioned, Lindsay and Michelle discuss four doctor idioms and what they mean.
Here are the idioms along with a short roleplay as an example to show how to use them:
“Just what the doctor ordered”
Lindsay says that this may be an old expression to say something is just what you needed.
When you are offered something at the right time, you can use this idiom.
In some way, you can take it literally.
It can really mean a doctor prescribed you to take something but it is commonly used to express that you received something you really wanted or needed.
Example:
Lindsay: Here’s your sandwich
Michelle: Ah. Just what the doctor ordered!
“An apple a day keeps the doctor away”
Lindsay asks Michelle if she thinks it’s true that if you eat an apple a day, you will be healthy.
Michelle says she doesn’t believe this because apples have a lot of sugar just like most fruits.
The idiom means you want to make healthier diet or lifestyle choices.
Lindsay also adds that you can cut idioms in half and shorten them.
This is often done to this idiom because it is very popular and people would already get what you say.
Example:
Michelle: I really need to improve my diet.
Lindsay: An apple a day keeps the doctor away!
“Spin doctor”
Lindsay is reminded of a popular 90’s band because of this idiom.
The band’s name is Spin Doctor.
The idiom pertains to someone who is presenting something that isn’t true or reverses the truth to something else.
This often is used to refer to politicians.
Example:
Lindsay: He’s a good speaker.
Michelle: Yeah but I know he’s a spin doctor. I don’t trust him.
“To doctor something”
Michelle mentions that this idiom has nothing to do with a doctor.
This idiom has a negative connotation.
Lindsay shares that this idiom means that you make an adjustment to make it misleading or false.
This is an action you take when you want to fix or cover something and you do it dishonestly.
When you say someone has “doctored” something, they’ve made a change with malicious intent.
Example:
Michelle: Wait. This is not my signature.
Lindsay: oh my goodness. These forms have been doctored!
Michelle: l will call my lawyer!
Takeaway
The English language has a lot of expressions and Lindsay and Michelle encourage you to use them to make conversations more interesting.
The idioms shared in this episode don’t necessarily pertain to a doctor.
Lindsay urges you to have fun learning English.
Elevate your vocabulary by adding colourful, vibrant and playful words and expressions.
This will help you build better connections and improve your English skills.
Sound more like a native English speaker by practicing these idioms to share your ideas and stories.
What idiom did you like in today’s episode? Share it in the comments below.
