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Spoken English Course Day 14

Spoken English Course Day 14

Date: Mar 10 2011

Topic: Idioms and Slang

Author: andylu2

Lesson

I can't believe it's already 2 weeks!  I'm actually kind of proud of myself because I usually don't keep doing anything this long before I think of some excuse.  So thanks for your "likes" and comments.  It's really keeping me going.

Today I wanted to talk about a phrase that is pretty cool.

It's "The elephant in the room"

People will often say ask something like, "so, should we talk about the elephant in the room?"

The "elephant in the room" means some awkward or embarrassing topic that everyone knows about but no one wants to be the first one to mention it.  Everyone knows and is thinking about it, but everyone is too shy or embarrassed to face the topic.

If you are at an office meeting and one of the workers is not there because they were fired, it might be "the elephant in the room".  Everyone knows the person got fired but the boss was too embarrassed to talk about it so he just pretended that nothing happened.  Of course, everyone noticed and felt weird.  

I hope this makes sense.  It's a pretty cool phrase once you know how to use it.  Check out day one of my English course

Check out my free PDF email course as well as my spoken English course

See ya tomorrow!

Comments

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Alburt

Alburt

China

I have to say that u really did a great job.

05:33 AM Mar 13 2011 |

lynn629

lynn629

China

Hi andy!

 

Actually i'm working in a city in Guangdong right now, because of my job-international trade and my major in college-english, i login in english baby and like to thinking and speaking more similar to native english speakers.

 

I think many college students in china like renren site, but i seldom to be there after graduate.

You'd better make an investigation first, to find out people's thinking in learing english well or their way of learning english, why they want to learn english…

Any more good ideas come out of my mind, i will tell u 

Thanks, andy… 

05:18 AM Mar 12 2011 |

andylu2

andylu2

Canada

I just want to point out one extra thing about "cat got your tongue". 

It is usually said when someone is too shy or nervous to speak.  It might happen in a business meeting in front of the boss.  Your brain has an answer but you just sit there and say nothing.  It can also happen to shy kids when they meet someone new and don't know what to say. 

11:51 AM Mar 11 2011 |

1 person likes this

andylu2

andylu2

Canada

Hi kokoboko,

Thanks a lot.  I really try my best to make things as clear as possible.  I know how important it is to help people truly understand something.  A good explanation really helps long term memory.  I've got around 8000 people studying the program so far and it's growing pretty well.  I really enjoy helping people if I can.  I think there are so many terrible products on the internet and I want to be one of the few people who actually care.  I really appreciate your comments.  Your English seems quite good too!

11:38 AM Mar 11 2011 |

happysmilesunny

China

Its indeed very good phrase to learn! I got another word, cat got your … can you guess what it is?

11:22 AM Mar 11 2011 |

andylu2

andylu2

Canada

Thanks Lynn.

Where are you from in China by the way?  I'm living in Shanghai but I've travelled all over the country.  I'd really like to see more Chinese people checking out these lessons.  Do you have any good ideas?  Do you use renren or some other site?  Do you have any idea how I can make these lessons more popular in China? 

11:15 AM Mar 11 2011 |

lynn629

lynn629

China

Yes  the most difficult thing that we cannot do well is continuing doing one same matters for a period of time, or even longer, and u made it, so andy continue for a longer time 

i love ur lessons… 

11:08 AM Mar 11 2011 |

andylu2

andylu2

Canada

Hi Sofree,

I hope so.  Good habits are certainly harder to keep than bad habits.  Those happen naturally.  I think I can keep going though.  I'm happy with the support I get on here. 

11:06 AM Mar 11 2011 |

sofree

sofree

China

It says if you keep doing something for 4 weeks, it'll be permanent habbit. Another 2 weeks!  :D

09:20 AM Mar 11 2011 |

andylu2

andylu2

Canada

Thanks.  I'm happy you feel that way.  Infomercials are terrible!  haha

04:42 AM Mar 11 2011 |

accentreduction

United Kingdom

thanks for sharing this..it seems to be very honest instead of an infomercial..

12:05 AM Mar 11 2011 |

 julito

julito

Argentina

  YEAP. i also know an expression:a white elefant . In Asian kingdoms  ,white elefants were considered sacred  and the king prohibeted that  people  have them helping with their tough work. .We know that elefants eat a lot , so when a  subject fell in disgrace withthe king  he received from him a white elefant to take care of. He had to feed the elefantwith no possibily to help him with his  work. of course, this was the economic ruin to the poor fellow.           

09:22 PM Mar 10 2011 |

TranceGirl85

Netherlands

Hi,

well..i've read it a first time,but i think i'll be back here more often….seems it should be every day;)

nice topic:)

thanks

08:58 PM Mar 10 2011 |

andylu2

andylu2

Canada

Thanks for liking and commenting on the lesson guys.  

I always do a google search and look for some photos.  I like the apple logo so I did a bunch of those, but then I thought it would be hilarious to mix it up and put up the elephant.  I also kind of did a little psychology experiment.  I wanted to see if more people would click on the lesson because of the different and funny picture.  I hope to help more people learn English and have a fun time doing it.

05:44 PM Mar 10 2011 |

aniv

aniv

India

Thanks for the nice slang & nice picuture

03:42 PM Mar 10 2011 |

HACCEP

HACCEP

Australia

thanx… your lessons are so helpful =) 

01:58 PM Mar 10 2011 |

Jungmi

Jungmi

South Korea

nice phrase again and cute picture of the elephantSmile

12:38 PM Mar 10 2011 |

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