More Than English Podcast Ep. 3 - I Threw out My Back

 Learn some English expressions for health and doctors. What do you say in English if you hurt your back? What if you have to go to a doctor? How can you describe it?

I recently threw out my back. What does that mean? Basically, it means my back seized up and I was in a lot of pain and I couldn't move. I will talk about how I injured my back, what I'm doing for recovery, how I feel, and a lot more! Learn useful vocabulary and expressions to improve your NATURAL English speaking!

Look below at the expressions you will hear in today's episode. Practice and use these expressions the next time you have an English conversation. Not all of the expressions I say are about an injured back. These are expressions that can be used in many different types of situations.

If you have any examples that you'd like to try using these expressions or others, send me your examples on Facebook or Twitter.

 
VOCABULARY and EXPRESSIONS
(The words and terms are in order of when you will hear them)
 
Going around – If many people around you are getting a cold or flu, it’s going around
“Fevers and colds and flus are going around in our family.”
To have somebody in your arms – a way to describe you’re holding or hugging somebody
            “I had my son in my arms.”
Throw your back out/ Throw out your back – (Phrasal verb) You’ve injured or damaged your back (or other body part).
            “I coughed and threw my back out yesterday.”
Tightened up/ Stiffened up/ Tensed up – To become hard and solid. I wasn’t able to move my muscles.
            “The muscles on both sides of my spine tightened up, and stiffened up, and tensed up…”
Cramp (n)/ Cramp up (v) – A painful involuntary contraction of a muscle. It normally lasts a few minutes.
            “Sometimes I feel a cramp in my leg.” (n)
            “Sometimes my leg cramps up.” (v)
In fact – Fluency builder to help you sound more natural.
“It wasn’t getting better, in fact it was getting worse.”
To be stuck – To not be able to move or pass through something.
            “I couldn’t move. I was stuck there..”
To be curled up – A position where you are in a small position with your knees pulled to your chest.
            “I was curled up on the bed face down on my knees.”
… is it?  – Question tag with intonation
            “It’s not a really natural position, is it.”
The (comparison), the (comparison) – Talk mention issue that is not directly related to the rest of your message
            “The healthier you are, the better you will perform on your exam.”
 
Did you catch any other phrasal verbs or expressions you like? Write them below or on Facebook or Twitter.
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