Welcome
Hi everyone! 👋 Today, we’re learning English with Elliott, who’s spending her last summer at home before heading off to college, and Chad, a charming and mysterious guy who works on her family farm. Ready for another fun ride into real-life English with everyday phrases you can actually use? Let’s watch and learn!
Video lesson
Vocabulary & phrases
“How long have you been here for?” This is a polite way to ask someone how much time they’ve spent in a place. For example, if you meet a friend sitting at a café, you might ask, “How long have you been here for?” It’s a great way to start a conversation when you’re curious about their plans or just catching up.
“weird stuff” This phrase is used to describe something strange or unusual that catches your attention. Imagine walking into your room and finding your dog sitting in your chair like a human. You might say, “That’s some weird stuff!” It’s casual and often used to react to surprising or odd situations.
“Zero visibility” This describes a situation where you can’t see anything, usually because of weather like fog or heavy rain. For example, if you’re driving in thick fog, you could say, “There’s zero visibility. We should slow down.” It’s often used to talk about safety or challenging conditions.
“Subway sandwich length” This is a fun way to measure something by comparing it to the size of a footlong sandwich. This phrase compares the length of something to a sandwich from the fast-food chain Subway. Subway is famous for its sandwiches, which are sold in two standard sizes: 6 inches (about 15 cm) and 12 inches (about 30 cm), also called a “footlong”. So, if someone says “Subway sandwich length,” they’re usually referring to something around 12 inches long. It’s informal and adds some humor to descriptions.
“I had such a fun first day.” People say this to express excitement about a positive first experience, like starting a new job or attending a new class. Imagine starting a new school and making friends right away — you’d probably say, “I had such a fun first day!” It’s a cheerful way to share good news.
“Did you know that a cranberry has four pockets of air?” This is an example of sharing an interesting or surprising fact during a conversation. It’s something you might say to grab someone’s attention or just make small talk. For instance, at a family dinner, you could say, “Did you know octopuses have three hearts?”
“You got the exact same face.” This means someone looks just like another person, often a family member or close relative. For example, if you meet someone’s brother and they look identical, you might say, “Wow, you’ve got the exact same face!” It’s a friendly way to point out similarities.
“Is that short for anything?” People ask this when they’re curious if a name is a nickname or a shorter version of a longer name. For example, if someone introduces themselves as “Sam”, you might ask, “Is that short for Samuel or Samantha?” It’s a polite way to learn more about someone.
“Peeping Tom”. This phrase refers to someone who secretly watches others, especially in private moments. It’s not a nice thing to do, and calling someone a “Peeping Tom” means you’re accusing them of spying. For example, if someone is peeking through your window, you might say, “Hey, don’t be a Peeping Tom!”
“I barely know you.” This is used when you want to express that you don’t know someone very well. Imagine a stranger asks you for a big favor, like borrowing money. You might say, “I’m sorry, but I barely know you,” to explain why you’re uncomfortable.
“A tiny bit broken”. This phrase means that something is slightly damaged but still works. For example, if your laptop has a cracked screen but it still turns on, you could say, “It’s just a tiny bit broken, nothing too serious.”
“pliers”. a small tool with two handles for holding or pulling small things like nails, or for cutting wire.
“zero desire”. When you say you have “zero desire,” it means you have absolutely no interest in doing something. For example, if your friends invite you to a karaoke night and you hate singing, you might say, “I have zero desire to get on that stage!”
“take over the farm”. This means to become responsible for running a farm, often when it’s passed down in a family. It’s like saying, “Take control of the farm’s daily work.” For example, if your parents retire, you might decide to take over the family business instead of pursuing another career.
“some sort of big aspiration”. This phrase refers to having a major goal or dream in life. For example, if someone wants to become a famous artist or start their own company, you might say, “They have some sort of big aspiration to achieve something amazing.”
“put to bed”. This means to finish or resolve something completely. For example, if you and a friend have a misunderstanding, you could say, “Let’s put this argument to bed and move on,” meaning you want to settle the issue and forget about it.
Chad is a multilingual character. He speaks French, which added depth and humor to the dialogue. He said, (IN FRENCH) “J’ai réparé votre bateau” - “I fixed your boat”, and, “On peut faire un petit tour?” - “Can we take a little ride?”
“smarter than I look”. This phrase is used humorously to suggest you’re more intelligent than people might assume based on appearances. For example, if you surprise someone by solving a tricky problem, you could laugh and say, “Guess I’m smarter than I look!”
“Stop being so nice!”. People say this in a playful way when someone is being overly kind or generous. For example, if a friend keeps buying you gifts, you might joke, “Stop being so nice! You’re spoiling me!”
You did such a fantastic job learning these phrases - keep it up! Your support really helps this channel grow. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe. Keep practicing and have fun with English. See you next lesson! Bye.