Common English Expressions from Movies and TV Shows

I love watching movies and TV shows (of course, when I have time). They’re not just entertaining - they’re a goldmine of popular English expressions. At least, that’s how I learned to speak English. But what’s so fascinating for me is that movie phrases shape the way we speak and express ourselves. For example, a favored TV show in the 80s, “Seinfeld” popularized the phrase “yada yada yada” from the 153rd episode. That phrase shaped the way people spoke for a while, and it’s still used to this day.

I won’t drag the introduction for longer, but my point is that whether you’re a native speaker looking to understand pop culture references or a non-native speaker trying to learn English online or master more English idioms, you can find movies and TV shows that provide all that.

Use this article as a little guide to learn English with TV series and movies and start talking like a native speaker.

English Expressions From Famous TV Shows

“Regifting” - Seinfeld

Did you know that “Regifting” didn’t join the list of English idioms and phrases well before 1995? I’ve been using this phrase for such a long time that I thought it existed for many generations. Nope, turns out, “Regifting” was first used in the TV show “Seinfeld.” And by the way, I tried making this list of English expressions that come from other shows as well, but Seinfeld just influenced the English language so much that we’ll encounter it again.

The word “regifting " means giving a gift that you’ve received as a gift yourself to someone else. It's basically recycling the gift.

“Spam” - Monty Python’s Flying Circus

Did you know that a funny TV show gave us the word "spam" for unwanted emails?

If you’ve ever seen a British comedy show called Monty Python, then you’ve probably had a good laugh and have been introduced to some famous English expressions. Monty Python did a sketch about a cafe that put spam (a kind of canned meat) in every dish. In the sketch, a group of Vikings kept shouting "Spam! Spam! Spam!" over and over, making it hard for anyone else to talk.

Years later, when people started using the internet, some of them remembered this funny sketch. They thought it would be funny to copy the Vikings. So, in chat rooms and message boards, they would type "Spam" over and over again. This would fill up the whole chat, just like the Vikings filled the cafe with their shouting.

People started calling this behavior "spamming." It meant flooding a chat with the same message many times. And that’s how we got this goldmine of English expressions. See? You can absolutely learn English online from TV shows and movies.

“Friendzone” - Friends

Of all the English expressions and English idioms, “Friendzone” is the last one I thought was coming from a TV show. I thought it was a byproduct of a regular chat or a teen magazine, but turns out we have this phrase thanks to some of the favorite characters for a lot of people.

In 1994, the popular show "Friends" used this term to describe the relationship between the characters in a funny way. In one episode, Joey talks about Ross being in the "friend zone" with Rachel. This meant Ross liked Rachel, but she only saw him as a friend.

After that, everyone started using "friend zone." It became a way to talk about one-sided romantic feelings. People even turned it into a verb. You might hear someone say they got "friendzoned" if their crush only wants to be friends.

So, next time you hear "friend zone," remember – it all started with Ross and Rachel!

English Expressions From Famous Movies

“Gaslighting” - Movie, Gaslight

I’m sure you’ve heard of the term “gaslighting” before. It’s one of those popular English expressions regularly used today (even misused sometimes). Gaslighting describes the situation when someone tries to make another person question their own judgment or reality. It's a form of manipulation that a lot of psychologists discuss with their clients.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Did you know that the phrase comes from an old movie? In 1944, there was a film called "Gaslight." In this movie, a husband tries to make his wife think she's going crazy. He does things like dimming the gas lamps in their house and then telling her she's imagining it.

After the movie came out, people started using "gaslight" as a verb. It means to make someone doubt their own memories or sanity. By the 1960s, "gaslighting" was a common word.

So, next time you hear "gaslighting," you'll know it all started with a tricky husband in an old movie!

"Red Pill" and "Blue Pill" - Matrix

The phrase “red pill and blue pill” has many different meanings (that’s the appeal of some English expressions), but originally, it comes from a very famous movie, called “Matrix.” It’s not a shock, actually. Morpheus says that exact phrase to Neo in one important scene, the main character, Neo, has to make a choice. He can take a red pill to learn a difficult truth about the world, or a blue pill to stay happy but unaware.

People use these English expressions to describe all sorts of situations, not just in movies. They describe how people deal with tough truths in real life, and so on.

So, next time someone mentions red pills or blue pills, you'll know they're not talking about actual medicine but about choosing between knowledge and ignorance! Thanks to your desire to learn English online.

“My Bad” - Clueless

I’ve said “my bad” many times (after I’ve made a slight mistake). And I’m sure you’ve heard it too, whether it was in the movies (in the list of English idioms) or during your session to learn English with TV series.

"My bad" means "my mistake" or "my fault,” and It's a casual way to say sorry. But it wasn't always so common. In the 1980s, basketball players started using "my bad" on the court. It was a quick way to admit a mistake during a game. In 1989, a newspaper even had to explain what it meant!

Then, in 1995, a movie called "Clueless" came out. This movie used a lot of cool teen slang. One phrase it used was "my bad." After that, everyone started saying it!

While "Clueless" didn't invent "my bad," it helped make it popular. Many people heard it for the first time in this movie.

So, next time you say, "My bad," remember that it started on basketball courts and became famous thanks to a teen movie! There’s your proof you can learn English online and learn English with TV series.

Now, Plan a Movie Night and Learn English Expressions

Learning English expressions and English idioms never seems to be easy or enjoyable. But this is because we’re used to old-fashioned and outdated methods of education. When you combine fun with education, you can amount to more than you’ve imagined.

TV shows and movies can help! When you watch English movies online or follow a TV series, you're hearing how native speakers actually use the language. You'll catch cool phrases and English idioms you might not find in textbooks.

So, next time you’re presented with the choice to read a book or spend a relaxing hour watching your favorite series, you may want to consider watching that movie - who knows, you might learn some potential popular English expressions.