One of the best ways to learn new idiomatic expressions and vocabulary words is to read a short story. Stories that are funny, scary, surprising, silly or that in some way invoke emotions, help your brain learn and remember new information better.
Let’s take for example the idiomatic expression “it’s like pulling teeth”. It is easy enough to Google this phrase and either find a translation into your own language or find an explanation of its meaning in English. This may help you learn this phrase, and you may even remember it the next time you see it or hear it. But what is more likely is that you will forget it, and you won’t be able to use it yourself.
However, if you read a short story that contains this phrase, and if, while you are reading, you create images in your mind, then you will be more likely to remember this phrase and even put it into your own active vocabulary. This means you will be able to use it yourself in speaking or writing English.
Let’s try it.
Every morning President Obama wakes up at 5:00 a.m. He is ready and eager to start his day, but his wife, Michelle, is a night owl. She goes to bed late every night, and so trying to get her up early in the morning is like pulling teeth. In fact, it’s practically impossible! So, President Obama goes to the White House gym and exercises for 45 minutes and then returns to wake up Michelle. She is still tired and grumpy, so he lets her sleep a little longer.
He goes down to the White House kitchen to get some breakfast. He loves to eat pancakes and bacon for breakfast. However, his doctor says that he shouldn’t eat bacon. President Obama tries to convince his doctor that he is healthy enough to enjoy two pieces of bacon every morning, but the doctor doesn’t agree. The doctor thinks to himself, “It’s like pulling teeth to get this guy to conform to my dietary advice.” He is frustrated and worried for the President’s health.
Finally, Michelle comes down to join the President for breakfast. Their daughters also come to the table and they enjoy some family time together. When it is time for the girls to go to school, they both complain that they are sick and can’t go to classes today. Michelle says to them, “It’s like pulling teeth to get you girls off to school every day. Why must you always make it so difficult?” The girls moan and groan, and march off to school.
President Obama then checks his calendar for the day and realizes that he must give a speech about his new healthcare reform act, known as Obamacare. He is frustrated that the Republicans are making it so difficult for him to provide affordable healthcare to more Americans. He tells Michelle, “Getting these guys to all agree on how to provide healthcare to Americans is like pulling teeth. I am so tired of their political grandstanding. They should care more about the American people, and not just themselves.” Michelle agrees that trying to get both parties to work together on difficult political issues is like pulling teeth. It’s extremely difficult and unpleasant.
Now do you know what it means when you use the phrase “it’s like pulling teeth”?
It means that something is extremely difficult, especially when you are trying to get someone to do something that they do not want to do.
I hope you liked this short, silly story, and that it helps you remember this phrase – it’s like pulling teeth.