A spelling bee is a competition where children (or occasionally adults) take turns spelling until one of them misses a word and is eliminated.
In this clip from Frasier, Frasier's son Frederick won the spelling bee trophy, but the judges instead gave it to his rival, Warren, because Frasier was mouthing the spelling letters along with Frederick and the judges thought they had cheated.
Freddie: I can outspell you anytime, anyplace/
Warren: Oh, yeah? How about right now?
Warren's dad, John: A...an... Hold on, son. We don't have to prove anything.
Freddie: I can take you in five words.
Warren: Okay, you're on! For the trophy!
Warren's dad: Wai...wait... We already have the trophy. Crane, why don't you talk some sense into your boy there?
Frasier: Freddie
Freddie: Dad. I wanna spell.
Frasier: What's the matter, John. You scared?
John: For the trophy.
Tournament official: We have already selected an official winner. If you would like to brawl, take it someplace else.
John: Let's take it outside!
Frasier: To the street! [Group moves outside] Sudden death. Scripps-Howard rules.
John: Bring it on.
Niles: People! Stop, please! Look at yourselves! This is wrong. What are words, after all, but a way to communicate? To bring us together? But you! You're using them as weapons! Now we still have an opportunity to walk away from here as winners. And wouldn't that be the greatest "spellabration" of all?
Frasier: He's right, son. Let's go home.
John: Yeah. We're all winners. 'Cept for the two cheaters.
Warren: Hey, you know how to spell 'loser'? C-R-A-N-E.
John: You don't have to worry about ever seeing him again, son. Chances are he'll end up at a state school.
Niles: How...DARE you? [to Freddie] Can you take him?
Freddie: Yeah.
Niles: Then spell his ass off!
****
Vocabulary/idioms
outspell: Spell better. The prefix "out" is often used to show that one person can do something better than another. Ex: Outdo, outclass, outrun, etc.
I can take you: I can beat you. I can win.
you're on: I accept the challenge. Usu. used for bets or competitions. One person challenges, the other agrees by saying, "You're on."
If you would like to brawl, take it someplace else: This expression was used a lot in Western movies when cowboys would start to fight in saloons/bars. It's humorous to hear it used for spelling.
talk some sense into: make him see reason, keep him from doing something bad. Ex.: My mom wants to give all her money to that preacher on TV. Can you talk some sense into her?
wanna: Want to. Common in spoken English.
Sudden death: A competition rule where the first person to miss is out. In sports, it means the first person/team to score wins.
Scripps-Howard rules: Scripps-Howard is the newspaper company that sponsors US spelling bees. Their rules are used for official spelling competitions.
Bring it on: A slang way of saying, "Let's see your best." Used mostly be younger people when one challenges another. Similar to "Show me what you've got." (Also the title of a movie about a cheerleading competition.)
Spellabration: A word Niles makes up combining "spell" and "celebration.
'Cept: Except. Used sometimes in spoken conversation.
Chances are he'll end up at a state school: For intellectual snobs like the Cranes, this is an insult. It implies that Freddie will not be smart enough to get into a high-level, private Ivy League school. (In reality in the US, many state-run schools are high-quality.)
Can you take him?: Can you beat him? Can you win?
spell his ass off!: (Vulgar -- not the kind of thing you say in front of your mother-in-law or your boss!) A slang expression that here means, "Beat him at spelling." In real life, "[verb] [someone's] ass off" is a crude way to describe things that require a lot of effort, or which one person thinks he/she can do better than another.
Ex: "My boss worked my ass off today" = "My boss made me work hard."
Or: "You think you can [verb] better than me? I can [verb] your ass off."
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Landon Donovan and Bob Bradley Interview with Jon Stewart
★★★★★ VERY DIFFICULT
This is an interview between one of my favorite comedians, Jon Stewart, and US soccer player Landon Donovan and US Men's National Team soccer coach Bob Bradley. This video is long and difficult! It has a lot of mumbling, stammering, and people talking at the same time -- the way people do in real life. If you can understand this, you will do well in America!
(Yes, I am a huge soccer fan. There will be more like this. And I had to put the transcript above the video to make the coding work. Scroll to the bottom to get the video.)
Jon Stewart: My guest tonight: One of the stars of the US National Soccer Team, and the man who coaches him. They were responsible for such great moments as this one.
Game commentator: Cross, and Dempsey's denied again! And Donovan has scored! Oh, can you believe this!
Stewart: Please welcome Landon Donovan and coach Bob Bradley. (To Landon): Thank you, baby. Come up. Come on. Come on and sit. For God's sakes, welcome. (mumbles -- difficult to understand.) Listen, this is for soccer.
Donovan: That's great, man.
Stewart: This is... It's...it's like...doing a talk show in...in... Barcelona, for God's sake. I mean, this...it's...is... Are you feeling the response yet? Are you feeling...uh...uh...the power of what you guys accomplished this World Cup?
Donovan: I feel like I am. We...we came from the stock exchange today, and basically everyone on the floor was clapping, shaking hands, autographs, it was cool, man, and now this. This is sweet.
Stewart: Well, the stock exchange... [turns toward fans] Yeah. They love it. [back to Donovan.] The stock exchange actually just applauds anything that takes their minds off what's going on at the stock exchange. Uh...uh... What about in terms of the international recognition? [to Bradley] And...and I'll ask you. You've been doing this a long time. Have you seen the reputation of the United States change amongst its colleagues overseas?
Bradley: Yeah, we have...uh... Last year starting in Confederations Cup, and this year, internation press...uh... Player from other teams, coaches, have had good things to say.
Stewart: [to Donovan] I mean, look at... You're playing in the Premier League, you play also for...uh...uh...the Galaxy...
Donovan: Yeah.
Stewart: You play for Everton in the Premier League... [to Bradley] When I was growing up, we didn't have guys who went over...uh...uh...Now... How many guys now playing in these types of... Premier League, Bundesliga...?
Donovan: There's a lot. There's a lot playing all over the world, not only... The Premier League, in France, in Germany...um... It's pretty impressive now to see how many guys we have playing in the top leagues.
Stewart: [to Bradley] Now... When you and I... You are I are around the same age... You're obviously much older, but we're around the same age... you played in the same area of central Jersey...uh... Back then, obviously, the game was different, uh...we could use our hands... It was...uh...it was a better... Are you surprised at how...how quickly this has happened? Or..or...have you see the product of all the work that's gone in?
Bradley: Uh...it's...it's come over time, but...uh... it's come becuase there's been a lot of good people involved over the years who...who've made a difference.
Stewart: Right. And your son, uh, Michael, is a midfielder on the team, uh, 22 years old, scored...a...a...really a tremendous goal against Slovenia, and Landon you also scored, um... When that happens, do you say, uh, to the rest of the team, "That's my boy!" Is it...
Bradley: I wait till I get home.
Stewart: Do ya? Is it... What's it like to coach your son, y'know, is that... Are you able to separate?
Bradley: Uh...you have to. Uh...So...I mean...
Stewart: Right.
[Jon Oliver comes out and blows a whistle.]
Oliver: Half time, half time.
Stewart: We got halftime, we're just gonna have some orange slices real quick. Uh, during halftime, we're gonna watch a quick video of people reacting to Landon Donovan scoring against Algeria. This is halftime.
[video of crowd reactions.]
Oliver: Second half. Keep it clean. Let's go.
Stewart: All right, nicely done, all right. In your mind, what was the key to success to this year's team.
Donovan: There was a lot. Uh...started a long time ago. You guys probably turned on the TV and saw the last three weeks, but this has been going on for four years, uh...
Stewart: I've been watching you guys the whole time.
Donovan: I know you have. We know you have. You're one of the good ones, Jon.
Stewart: I've got a webcam.
Donovan: No, but there was a lot that went into it. There was a lot that went into it. Lotta hard work.
Stewart: Was it quitting smoking? Was that what did it for the team? Gettin' the win?
Donovan: Uh...maybe Bob. Not me.
Stewart: [to Bradley] Did you know you had something special with this team? When you put it together?
Bradley: Um... Yeah, over time, you could tell that...uh...they were motivated to do something...uh...special, and they worked...uh...put a lot into it.
Stewart: Typically, even the World Cup teams, lotta drama. This team, no...no... no real drama, no prima donnas, everybody seemed to get along, it's... I mean, is that really... Can we compete on an international level...
Donovan: Without being dramatic? [laughs]
Stewart: Without...uh...without divas and uh...emotional drama, and, uh...this type of thing.
Donovan: We did all right.
Stewart: you thought you had a little bit?
Donovan: We did all right.
Stewart: Any fights, uh, back in the thing? Dempsey looks like he could take a couple a knocks.
Donovan: He's a tough dude.
Stewart: But where's uh...was it the Algeria gamer where somebody punched him in the face and he did one of these. [Shakes his head.] And there's like, just... There's like a four-inch gash on his face?
Donovan: I don't know what you guys saw, but it seemed like every game he was taking a few elbows and shots and kicks, and...
Stewart: Did they get you? I mean, you're not...you're...you're...a little bit larger than me. How badly did they come after you in the games?
Donovan: They tried, but I tried to get outta the way.
Stewart: So that's they key.
Donovan: Yeah.
Stewart: What happened to the Gooch. We had...uh...we had Gooch in there, he was central defense, he's runnin' people over, he's comin' off a knee injury, and then, uh, disappeared, you go with, what's it, Bornstein?
Bradley: Leftback, Bornstein.
Stewart: [stutters] By the way, from my people, really, nachus [yiddish word meaning 'pleasure'] good moment for us, but... So how do you make those decisions? You...you...you look at tactics, or is it fitness?
Bradley: Gooch had missed a lot of time. He worked, uh, incredibly hard to get back, played the first two games, um, but we went into the next game thinking that there were different challenges, that the matchups were different, and we put Carlos Bocanegra in the center, and brought Jonny Bornstein on.
Stewart: [mumbling, can't understand.] Nice tournament, everybody, and, uh, you said the midfield, U.S., was just so impressive during the entire tournament. Who do you like now that's, uh, left. Who's your, who's your pick.
Bradley: Brazil.
Stewart: So you're going out on a limb?
Bradley: Yeah. Way out.
Stewart: All right, what do you think?
Donovan: Brazil, man.
Stewart: Okay, here's... So, I was in a pool here because, I, uh, obviously you don't know this, I gamble, but, um, so here's what I did. I was doing great, I had a Spain-Brazil final, right? So we get to repick after the knockout round? You know who I go with? South Korea. You know why? I'm a [bleep] idiot, that's why. What's next? You go back now to the Galaxy, you gonna play for a little bit with the Galaxy?
Donovan: Game Sunday night, fourth of July.
Stewart: No rest, no rest.
Donovan: No. Tell my coach, maybe.
Stewart: Back, what...?
Donovan: Bruce Arena.
Stewart: Your... Arena's your coach?
Donovan: Yeah.
Stewart: The old guy from UVA, that you used to...
Bradley: I have worked for him too.
Stewart: Yeah, yeah, yeah. [to the camera.] Hey, Bruce. Let my boy just rest.
Donovan: I like that.
Stewart: Why don't you throw Bornstein in? [turns back to Donovan and Bradley.] Landon Donovan and Bob Bradley. [shakes hands.]
This is an interview between one of my favorite comedians, Jon Stewart, and US soccer player Landon Donovan and US Men's National Team soccer coach Bob Bradley. This video is long and difficult! It has a lot of mumbling, stammering, and people talking at the same time -- the way people do in real life. If you can understand this, you will do well in America!
(Yes, I am a huge soccer fan. There will be more like this. And I had to put the transcript above the video to make the coding work. Scroll to the bottom to get the video.)
Jon Stewart: My guest tonight: One of the stars of the US National Soccer Team, and the man who coaches him. They were responsible for such great moments as this one.
Game commentator: Cross, and Dempsey's denied again! And Donovan has scored! Oh, can you believe this!
Stewart: Please welcome Landon Donovan and coach Bob Bradley. (To Landon): Thank you, baby. Come up. Come on. Come on and sit. For God's sakes, welcome. (mumbles -- difficult to understand.) Listen, this is for soccer.
Donovan: That's great, man.
Stewart: This is... It's...it's like...doing a talk show in...in... Barcelona, for God's sake. I mean, this...it's...is... Are you feeling the response yet? Are you feeling...uh...uh...the power of what you guys accomplished this World Cup?
Donovan: I feel like I am. We...we came from the stock exchange today, and basically everyone on the floor was clapping, shaking hands, autographs, it was cool, man, and now this. This is sweet.
Stewart: Well, the stock exchange... [turns toward fans] Yeah. They love it. [back to Donovan.] The stock exchange actually just applauds anything that takes their minds off what's going on at the stock exchange. Uh...uh... What about in terms of the international recognition? [to Bradley] And...and I'll ask you. You've been doing this a long time. Have you seen the reputation of the United States change amongst its colleagues overseas?
Bradley: Yeah, we have...uh... Last year starting in Confederations Cup, and this year, internation press...uh... Player from other teams, coaches, have had good things to say.
Stewart: [to Donovan] I mean, look at... You're playing in the Premier League, you play also for...uh...uh...the Galaxy...
Donovan: Yeah.
Stewart: You play for Everton in the Premier League... [to Bradley] When I was growing up, we didn't have guys who went over...uh...uh...Now... How many guys now playing in these types of... Premier League, Bundesliga...?
Donovan: There's a lot. There's a lot playing all over the world, not only... The Premier League, in France, in Germany...um... It's pretty impressive now to see how many guys we have playing in the top leagues.
Stewart: [to Bradley] Now... When you and I... You are I are around the same age... You're obviously much older, but we're around the same age... you played in the same area of central Jersey...uh... Back then, obviously, the game was different, uh...we could use our hands... It was...uh...it was a better... Are you surprised at how...how quickly this has happened? Or..or...have you see the product of all the work that's gone in?
Bradley: Uh...it's...it's come over time, but...uh... it's come becuase there's been a lot of good people involved over the years who...who've made a difference.
Stewart: Right. And your son, uh, Michael, is a midfielder on the team, uh, 22 years old, scored...a...a...really a tremendous goal against Slovenia, and Landon you also scored, um... When that happens, do you say, uh, to the rest of the team, "That's my boy!" Is it...
Bradley: I wait till I get home.
Stewart: Do ya? Is it... What's it like to coach your son, y'know, is that... Are you able to separate?
Bradley: Uh...you have to. Uh...So...I mean...
Stewart: Right.
[Jon Oliver comes out and blows a whistle.]
Oliver: Half time, half time.
Stewart: We got halftime, we're just gonna have some orange slices real quick. Uh, during halftime, we're gonna watch a quick video of people reacting to Landon Donovan scoring against Algeria. This is halftime.
[video of crowd reactions.]
Oliver: Second half. Keep it clean. Let's go.
Stewart: All right, nicely done, all right. In your mind, what was the key to success to this year's team.
Donovan: There was a lot. Uh...started a long time ago. You guys probably turned on the TV and saw the last three weeks, but this has been going on for four years, uh...
Stewart: I've been watching you guys the whole time.
Donovan: I know you have. We know you have. You're one of the good ones, Jon.
Stewart: I've got a webcam.
Donovan: No, but there was a lot that went into it. There was a lot that went into it. Lotta hard work.
Stewart: Was it quitting smoking? Was that what did it for the team? Gettin' the win?
Donovan: Uh...maybe Bob. Not me.
Stewart: [to Bradley] Did you know you had something special with this team? When you put it together?
Bradley: Um... Yeah, over time, you could tell that...uh...they were motivated to do something...uh...special, and they worked...uh...put a lot into it.
Stewart: Typically, even the World Cup teams, lotta drama. This team, no...no... no real drama, no prima donnas, everybody seemed to get along, it's... I mean, is that really... Can we compete on an international level...
Donovan: Without being dramatic? [laughs]
Stewart: Without...uh...without divas and uh...emotional drama, and, uh...this type of thing.
Donovan: We did all right.
Stewart: you thought you had a little bit?
Donovan: We did all right.
Stewart: Any fights, uh, back in the thing? Dempsey looks like he could take a couple a knocks.
Donovan: He's a tough dude.
Stewart: But where's uh...was it the Algeria gamer where somebody punched him in the face and he did one of these. [Shakes his head.] And there's like, just... There's like a four-inch gash on his face?
Donovan: I don't know what you guys saw, but it seemed like every game he was taking a few elbows and shots and kicks, and...
Stewart: Did they get you? I mean, you're not...you're...you're...a little bit larger than me. How badly did they come after you in the games?
Donovan: They tried, but I tried to get outta the way.
Stewart: So that's they key.
Donovan: Yeah.
Stewart: What happened to the Gooch. We had...uh...we had Gooch in there, he was central defense, he's runnin' people over, he's comin' off a knee injury, and then, uh, disappeared, you go with, what's it, Bornstein?
Bradley: Leftback, Bornstein.
Stewart: [stutters] By the way, from my people, really, nachus [yiddish word meaning 'pleasure'] good moment for us, but... So how do you make those decisions? You...you...you look at tactics, or is it fitness?
Bradley: Gooch had missed a lot of time. He worked, uh, incredibly hard to get back, played the first two games, um, but we went into the next game thinking that there were different challenges, that the matchups were different, and we put Carlos Bocanegra in the center, and brought Jonny Bornstein on.
Stewart: [mumbling, can't understand.] Nice tournament, everybody, and, uh, you said the midfield, U.S., was just so impressive during the entire tournament. Who do you like now that's, uh, left. Who's your, who's your pick.
Bradley: Brazil.
Stewart: So you're going out on a limb?
Bradley: Yeah. Way out.
Stewart: All right, what do you think?
Donovan: Brazil, man.
Stewart: Okay, here's... So, I was in a pool here because, I, uh, obviously you don't know this, I gamble, but, um, so here's what I did. I was doing great, I had a Spain-Brazil final, right? So we get to repick after the knockout round? You know who I go with? South Korea. You know why? I'm a [bleep] idiot, that's why. What's next? You go back now to the Galaxy, you gonna play for a little bit with the Galaxy?
Donovan: Game Sunday night, fourth of July.
Stewart: No rest, no rest.
Donovan: No. Tell my coach, maybe.
Stewart: Back, what...?
Donovan: Bruce Arena.
Stewart: Your... Arena's your coach?
Donovan: Yeah.
Stewart: The old guy from UVA, that you used to...
Bradley: I have worked for him too.
Stewart: Yeah, yeah, yeah. [to the camera.] Hey, Bruce. Let my boy just rest.
Donovan: I like that.
Stewart: Why don't you throw Bornstein in? [turns back to Donovan and Bradley.] Landon Donovan and Bob Bradley. [shakes hands.]
Frasier: Niles Learns to be a Good Parent
Let's go with Frasier again today, because Frasier is my favorite TV show. (Apologies about the ad in the beginning.)
In this clip, Niles carries a flour sack with him to learn about the responsibilities of being a parent. This is sometimes done in American schools to teach kids about the work involved with babies. It's an activity some schools use to try to prevent teenage pregnancy.
Frasier: Hello, Niles.
Niles: Hello Frasier.
Martin: What're you doing with that thing?
Niles: I'm forging a parent-child bond that will last forever.
Martin: That's a relief. I was afraid it might be something stupid.
Niles: If it makes you feel any better, I don't wear this in public. I just wanted to get a complete picture of parenthood.
Frasier: And...?
Niles: It's driving me batty. Oh, the feedings every two hours, the constant monitoring where he is... I can see how parents can be obsessed with worry. Last night, I actually had a dream my flour sack was abducted and the kidnappers started sending me muffins in the mail. Well, on the plus side, I've learned a lot. I think if I ever am to go through the real thing, I'll make quite a wonderful parent.
Frasier: Niles, what has happened to your child?
Niles: I was practicing my tai chi exercises this morning and I accidentally kicked him into the reflecting pool. That's when I brought him inside and left him by the hearth to dry.
Frasier: He caught on fire?
Niles: It was not as careless as you make it seem. After all, a real child would have cried before it burst into flames.
VOCABULARY/IDIOMS
What're: What are
bond: A connection between people. "Bonding" is often used lightly/humorously. "Rick and Mike went camping to do some male bonding."
in public: Out of the house, around other people. Opposite of "in private" which means "at home."
driving me batty: Making me feel crazy. "Batty" is slightly old-fashioned. Most people would say, "It's driving me crazy," "It's driving me insane." Maybe "It's driving me nuts."
on the plus side: a good thing, a positive thing. Can also say, "On the positive side." Usage Example: "On the plus side, I made five dollars. On the minus side, the bus fare cost six."
tai chi A Chinese martial art.
reflecting pool A calm, shallow pool. In a home it is usually a sign of wealth. The writers use the combination of tai chi and a home with a reflecting pool to show that Niles is wealthy and a bit pretentious.
Questions? Videos you'd like to see translated? (Best length is 1-5 minutes.) Email me at VideoEnglishTeacher@gmail.com
In this clip, Niles carries a flour sack with him to learn about the responsibilities of being a parent. This is sometimes done in American schools to teach kids about the work involved with babies. It's an activity some schools use to try to prevent teenage pregnancy.
Frasier: Hello, Niles.
Niles: Hello Frasier.
Martin: What're you doing with that thing?
Niles: I'm forging a parent-child bond that will last forever.
Martin: That's a relief. I was afraid it might be something stupid.
Niles: If it makes you feel any better, I don't wear this in public. I just wanted to get a complete picture of parenthood.
Frasier: And...?
Niles: It's driving me batty. Oh, the feedings every two hours, the constant monitoring where he is... I can see how parents can be obsessed with worry. Last night, I actually had a dream my flour sack was abducted and the kidnappers started sending me muffins in the mail. Well, on the plus side, I've learned a lot. I think if I ever am to go through the real thing, I'll make quite a wonderful parent.
Frasier: Niles, what has happened to your child?
Niles: I was practicing my tai chi exercises this morning and I accidentally kicked him into the reflecting pool. That's when I brought him inside and left him by the hearth to dry.
Frasier: He caught on fire?
Niles: It was not as careless as you make it seem. After all, a real child would have cried before it burst into flames.
VOCABULARY/IDIOMS
What're: What are
bond: A connection between people. "Bonding" is often used lightly/humorously. "Rick and Mike went camping to do some male bonding."
in public: Out of the house, around other people. Opposite of "in private" which means "at home."
driving me batty: Making me feel crazy. "Batty" is slightly old-fashioned. Most people would say, "It's driving me crazy," "It's driving me insane." Maybe "It's driving me nuts."
on the plus side: a good thing, a positive thing. Can also say, "On the positive side." Usage Example: "On the plus side, I made five dollars. On the minus side, the bus fare cost six."
tai chi A Chinese martial art.
reflecting pool A calm, shallow pool. In a home it is usually a sign of wealth. The writers use the combination of tai chi and a home with a reflecting pool to show that Niles is wealthy and a bit pretentious.
Questions? Videos you'd like to see translated? (Best length is 1-5 minutes.) Email me at VideoEnglishTeacher@gmail.com
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Frasier
Frasier: I am NOT leaving!
[AFTER HE LEFT]
Martin: What're you still doing with that? I thought you were gonna return it.
Frasier: They wouldn't take it back. All I got was attitude and a cheap glass of wine. Loire Valley my ass.
Martin: What are you gonna do now?
Frasier: Well, they forced my hand. I'm gonna call the police.
Martin: Five-five-five Three-thousand.
Frasier: Thanks, dad. Try to mess with Dr. Frasier Crane, I'll teach them. [Into phone] Hello, yes, uh... Oh, just a second. Dad, who do I ask for?
Martin: Have 'em put you through to the Fine Arts Forgery Department.
Frasier: Right. [Into phone.] Hello, yes, uh, the Fine Arts Forgery Department, please. [To Martin] Dad, they're laughing at me.
****
VOCAB NOTES:
What're: "What are." Very common in spoken English, not in formal writing.
What're you still doing with that: Why do you still have that?
gonna: "Going to." Very common in spoken English.
attitude: idiom, short for "bad attitude," in this case poor service at a store. Usage Example: Mom to teen: "Don't give me attitude!"
my ass: Vulgar. "That's not how it really is." Often used at the end of a phrase when something is the opposite of what it claims to be. Here he's saying that the store was lying about the wine being from the Loire Valley. (Don't use this phrase in front of your mother-in-law.)
forced my hand: idiom that comes from the card game poker. It means he was forced to act.
Five-five-five Three-thousand: In the US, phone numbers are stated with either 7 or 10 digits. If 7, the first three are usually divided from the last four. If ten, the first three are the Area Code, and the number is divided 3-3-4. (Two-oh-six, five-five-five, three-thousand.) In TV shows, most numbers start with 555 because the prefix is not used in real phone systems.
mess with: idiom for bother, annoy, make angry
I'll teach them: idiom, a threat shortened from "I'll teach them not to do that."
just a second: idiom used when asking someone to wait. "Just a minute" is also used frequently. It is used for any short period of time -- not for a literal minute or second. Sometimes you'll hear "sec" for second: "Just a sec," or an even shorter/quicker "Jus' sec."
'em: Them. Common in spoken English.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Cosby Show -- Rudy's Vegetables
Rudy: No
Mom: I'm gonna get this.* Mrs. Davis will be here at any moment. Cliff, don't let Rudy get up from that table till she's cleaned her plate.
Rudy: I'm not eating them
Dad: All right. Then just sit here.
Rudy: For how long?
Dad: For how long? Until you eat them. All I can say is, I remember a little girl, and she wouldn't eat her vegetables and her parents said, "Well, you're just gonna sit there until you eat them." And, uh, she saw her friends growing up, people were going to college... She was still sitting there. In the same clothes she had on when she was five years old. (Laughs.) Now are you gonna eat 'em?
Rudy: No
Dad: All right, then just sit there, all right? And don't try to hide 'em because if you try to hide 'em, I'm coming back and I'm going to...
Dad and Rudy: Check...my...teeth.
Dad: Right
*************
*I can't tell if she's saying, "I'm gonna get this," or "I'd better get this." Yes, even native English speakers have a hard time understanding sometimes!
Vocabulary used often in spoken English
Gonna -- Used a lot in spoken English. Short for going to.
Don't -- contraction for do not
Till -- Until. Used a lot in spoken English. If you use it in writing, be sure to spell with two LLs. Till, not til.
she's -- she has. (She's can also be a contraction for "she is.")
I'm -- contraction for I am
wouldn't -- contraction for would not
Well** -- used a lot at the beginning of sentences. A "filler word" with no real meaning
Uh** – Also a "filler word." No real meaning. It usually fills time while people are thinking. Um is the same. Very common in spoken English.
'em -- short for them. Very common in spoken English.
all right? -- same as "okay?" Similar meaning to "do you understand?"
**Filler words:
Words like Um, well, uh, so, y’know
When they are used as fillers, they don’t have any real meaning. They are just used to fill pauses.
“Well, I think I am going.”
“Um, maybe not.”
“So, what do you think?”
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