CommDao Speak Easy Podcast 4

Four more years! Here’s episode four of my speaking and communication focused podcast: CommDao Speak Easy.

This show includes:

  • Opening Dialogue (Sample Conversation)
  • Key Phrases (Vocabulary from the Dialogue)
  • Take 2 (Sentence Variation)
  • Pronunciation Practice
  • Faux Pas of the Day (Explanation of Common Mistakes in Communication)

Remember: 1) You can download the audio 2) You can adjust the speed

Here are the show notes:

Opening Dialogue

John: What the hell, Nik? Thanks to you, we were one man short and had to forfeit the game.
Nik: …
John: C’mon, man. What’s with the cold shoulder? It’s not like you to no show.

Nik: You wouldn’t understand. Nobody does…
John: Cut the crap! You know that’s not true. 
Nik: Whatever.
John: Wh-whatever? Dude, I don’t know what’s going on, but that is not how you treat your friends, especially your best friend.
Nik: I’m sorry, John. You’re right. It’s just… it’s Sarah.
John: What’s up with Sarah? Wait… who the hell is Sarah?

Key Phrases

~ what the hell?: (question) 

what is your problem, what are you doing [very aggressive]

Example: What the hell? = What is wrong with you?

  • Note: don’t confuse this with “the hell”. For example: What the hell do you think you’re doing? In this case, the base question is “What do you think you’re doing” (implying the person is doing something wrong or inappropriate). By adding “the hell” it makes it more aggressive in tone. You might also hear people use “the fuck” (i.e. “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?”)

~ to give a cold shoulder: (verb)

to ignore, to be unfriendly

Example: She gave him the cold shoulder after he forgot her name. = She was unfriendly to him after he forgot her name.

  • Related phrase: “to have a chip on one’s shoulder”, which means to carry a grudge. For example: She’s had a chip on her shoulder ever since he forgot her name.

~ cut the crap: (verb)

to stop; to cut it out (more common)

Example: My roommate keeps making a mess. He needs to cut it out. = My roommate needs to stop making a mess.

  • Note: will rarely be used for 1st person. For example: “I should cut my smoking out” sounds awkward.

~ to no show: (verb)

to not show up, to skip, to be absent

Example: I was excited about my blind date, but she no showed. = My blind date didn’t come.

  • Note: very common in conversation, but not good for essays.

~ what’s up with~: (question) 

what’s the matter with ~, what problem is happening with~

  • Note: don’t confuse this with the simple “What’s up?”, which is a greeting akin to “How are you?”. If we wanted to ask a friend about another friend, we would NOT say “What’s up with Tom?” because that means “What’s the problem with Tom?”. If we wanted to ask our friend how Tom is doing, we would say “What’s new with Tom?” or “Have you heard from Tom?”

Take 2

You know that’s not true.”

  • That’s a lie!
  • You’re wrong!
  • That’s so not true.

Oh, Faux Pas

Don’t cuss.

Credits

Special thanks to:

DJi5Cream for the opening “Red Velvet – Happiness”

Kevin MacLeod for the transitions: “Schmetterling” and “Brandenburg Concerto No4”

Published by Jon Dao

Formerly, the Conversation Coach

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