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Lesson Transcript

INTRODUCTION
John: Expressions Related to Negative Energy
John: I'm John.
Sydney: And I'm Sydney!
John: In this lesson, you'll learn expressions related to negative energy.
John: These are more everyday expressions that you might hear when someone is talking about something upsetting.
SLANG EXPRESSIONS
John: The expressions you will be learning in this lesson are:
Sydney: the blues
Sydney: backhanded compliment
Sydney: knock it off
Sydney: to cut corners
John: Sydney, what's our first expression?
Sydney: the blues
John: meaning "sadness, feelings of depression."
Sydney: [SLOW] the blues [NORMAL] the blues
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Sydney: the blues
[pause - 5 sec.]
John: "Blue" is literally a color, but if you have "the blues" or if you're "feeling blue," then you are sad.
Sydney: "The blues" are also a type of music which express sadness and loss.
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Sydney: [NORMAL] "A nap is the best cure for the blues." [SLOW] "A nap is the best cure for the blues."
Sydney: [NORMAL] "A nap is the best cure for the blues."
John: Okay, what's the next expression?
Sydney: backhanded compliment
John: meaning "a statement which is both a compliment and an insult at the same time."
Sydney: [SLOW] backhanded compliment [NORMAL] backhanded compliment
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Sydney: backhanded compliment
[pause - 5 sec.]
John: A "backhanded compliment" is a statement which at first seems like a compliment, but implies an insult. One example would be "I love how you can just wear anything and not care." While at first it seems like the person is complimenting the other person's boldness, it implies that they aren't stylish.
Sydney: This term is used by everyone and can be used in any context.
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Sydney: [NORMAL] "I can't tell if that was a compliment or a backhanded compliment." [SLOW] "I can't tell if that was a compliment or a backhanded compliment."
Sydney: [NORMAL] "I can't tell if that was a compliment or a backhanded compliment."
John: Okay, what's our next expression?
Sydney: knock it off
John: meaning "stop doing an action."
Sydney: [SLOW] knock it off [NORMAL] knock it off
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Sydney: knock it off
[pause - 5 sec.]
John: The earliest usage of "knock it off" is actually from the 1800s, when an auctioneer would "knock" his gavel to signal the end of bidding. Nowadays, it's used to tell someone to stop doing something, especially if it's annoying or unpleasant.
Sydney: For example, if your little brother is banging the pots and pans in the kitchen you can turn to him and yell, "Knock it off!"
John: Remember, this phrase can come off as a little rude, so be careful to use it only with close friends or family members.
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Sydney: [NORMAL] "Would you knock it off? I'm trying to sleep!" [SLOW] "Would you knock it off? I'm trying to sleep!"
Sydney: [NORMAL] "Would you knock it off? I'm trying to sleep!"
John: Okay, what's the last expression?
Sydney: to cut corners
John: meaning "to do something the quickest, easiest way instead of the best way."
Sydney: [SLOW] to cut corners [NORMAL] to cut corners
John: Listeners, please repeat.
Sydney: to cut corners
[pause - 5 sec.]
John: "To cut corners" means to take a shortcut. It almost always has a negative connotation.
Sydney: If you "cut corners," then you're not doing things the way they should be done or doing them in the most thorough, best way possible. Instead, you're sacrificing quality in order to make the work easier.
John: Now let's hear an example sentence.
Sydney: [NORMAL] "They cut corners and paid for it later." [SLOW] "They cut corners and paid for it later."
Sydney: [NORMAL] "They cut corners and paid for it later."
QUIZ
John: Okay listeners, are you ready to be quizzed on the expressions you just learned? I will describe four situations, and you will choose the right expression to use in your reply. Are you ready?
John: After doing well on an exam, her friend told her she didn’t expect that.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Sydney: backhanded compliment
John: "a statement which is both a compliment and an insult at the same time"
John: After a breakup, many people are sad for a while.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Sydney: the blues
John: "sadness, feelings of depression"
John: A student doesn’t work hard on a project and gets a bad grade.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Sydney: to cut corners
John: "to do something the quickest, easiest way instead of the best way"
John: A girl asks her brother to stop pinching her.
[pause - 5 sec.]
Sydney: knock it off
John: "stop doing an action"

Outro
John: There you have it; you have mastered four English Slang Expressions! We have more vocab lists available at EnglishClass101.com so be sure to check them out. Thanks everyone, and see you next time!
Sydney: Goodbye!

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