952 - Chew Out - Phrasal Verbs in a Minute | Happy English

952 - Chew Out - Phrasal Verbs in a Minute | Happy English

Author: Michael DiGiacomo Happy English December 19, 2025 Duration: 1:51
Hey there! It’s Michael here, and welcome back to Phrasal Verbs in a Minute from Happy English.
I’m here every Friday with a quick one-point lesson to help you learn a new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak. By the way, if you want to see the video version of this lesson, just look for Happy English Podcast on YouTube.

Today’s phrasal verb is chew out. When you chew someone out, it means you scold them strongly - usually because they did something wrong or made a big mistake. It’s a very informal, very American way to say “tell someone off.”
  • Like yesterday in the office, my manager chewed out the team because the report wasn’t finished on time.
  • And my friend Olivia got chewed out by her mom for coming home too late.
  • Even I got chewed out once - I forgot to reply to an important email, and the client was not happy.

Here’s a pronunciation tip: chew out sounds like choo-wout. The W sound in chew links with out.

So how about you? Has anyone ever chewed you out - or maybe you had to chew someone out?
Let me know in the comments, and remember to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s Phrasal Verbs in a Minute.
 
Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts
Build Vocabulary With My Free Vocabulary Workshop: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/vocabulary-workshop-signup


The Happy English Podcast
Helping people speak English better since 2014
Over 1,000 episodes • 8 million downloads

📘 Build your vocabulary with my free Vocabulary Workshop
https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/vocabulary-workshop-signup

🎥 Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube
https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcasts

🌐 Learn more about my English lessons and courses
https://www.myhappyenglish.com

Ever feel like you're missing a piece of the puzzle when you hear native English speakers chat? That's where Happy English Podcast comes in, hosted by Michael DiGiacomo. This isn't about dry textbook rules; it's about the living, breathing language you actually encounter. Each episode feels like a friendly conversation, breaking down the nuances that can trip you up. You'll find yourself understanding the subtle differences between confusing words, getting a handle on those tricky phrasal verbs that seem to change meaning constantly, and even picking up the rhythm and pronunciation of everyday American English. The focus is always on practical use, whether it's mastering common idioms that add color to your speech or clarifying grammar points in a way that sticks. Designed for learners at any stage, the podcast turns complicated topics into manageable, even enjoyable, lessons. The goal is to build your confidence so you can express yourself more naturally and understand more of the world around you. Tune in and discover how approachable learning a language can be, one clear and helpful episode at a time.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Happy English Podcast
Podcast Episodes
957 - Luck Out - Phrasal Verbs in a Minute | Happy English [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:45
Today’s phrasal verb is luck out. When you luck out, it means you have really good luck - usually by chance. Something goes much better than you expected, and you didn’t have to do anything special. It just happened.For…
955 - Went, Gone, or Been - What’s the Real Difference? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:04
Have you ever gone somewhere… and then realized you should’ve been somewhere else? Or maybe you went somewhere, and now you’re trying to explain that… but the grammar just won’t come out right. Don’t worry - this happens…
954 - The Tiny W - Speak Naturally in a Minute | Happy English [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:02
Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to Speak Naturally in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every Sunday with a quick one-point lesson to help you improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation. And i…
951 - Does "I hear you" mean "I can hear you?" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:36
Have you ever been in this situation? You’re venting to a friend about having a long and tough day, and your friend’s response is something like, Yeah, I hear you.” That little phrase - "I hear you"- has nothing to do wi…
949 - Sure Enough - English Tips in a Minute | Happy English [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:52
Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to English Tips in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every Saturday with a short, simple tip to help you speak English more naturally and confidently. And by the way, i…
948 - Bang Out -  Phrasal Verbs in a Minute | Happy English [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:54
Hey there! It’s Michael here, and welcome back to Phrasal Verbs in a Minute from Happy English. I’m here every Friday with a quick one-point lesson to help you learn a new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you spe…
947 - Verb + To Do Patterns With Special Meanings [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:56
You know, English is funny sometimes. We’ve got a ton of verbs that go with “to + verb” - like want to do, like to do, plan to do - and most of them just talk about an action, right? I want to go. I like to cook. I plan…