What does it mean if make it snappy? Or you get a move on? Or something gets into you? Or you join the club? We have these and lots more useful English
phrases for you. And you’ll learn how we use them in action. We’re so glad you’re enjoying this series
of videos. They’re going to help your English sound
more natural and conversational. We have some new conversations for you today
that are full of common English phrases. So let’s get started. I hate this COVID lock down. Tell me about it. And it’s bad for my credit card bills. How come? I get so bored I go shopping online. Join the club. I spent $300 on shoes last week. Only $300? Yes, why? What did you buy? A racehorse. A racehorse? What on earth are you going to do with a racehorse? The first phrase to look at here is ‘tell
me about it’. V: Sometimes it’s a request or invitation
to talk. I’ve found a great show on Netflix. Oh tell me about it
V: So there it just meant describe it for me. But it’s interesting because this phrase
has another meaning. You heard it in the conversation. I hate this COVID lock down. Tell me about it. So there it meant I understand and I’ve
have had the same experience. So you can say it when something bad has happened
to someone, that’s happened to you as well. We heard another phrase that’s very similar. When I get bored, I go shopping online and
spend too much money. Join the club. Again this means I’ve been in the same situation
as you. And in American English we also say ‘welcome
to the club’ My credit card bill was so high this month,
I couldn’t afford the interest. Welcome to the club. So here’s one more phrase you heard. What on earth are you going to do with a racehorse? We use 'on earth' when we're surprised or
angry. It adds emphasis. You can add it to WH questions. Why on earth did she spend $300 on shoes? What on earth was she thinking? How on earth can Jay afford a racehorse? And where on earth is he going to keep it? We can also use it after negative nouns, when
we mean nothing at all. And again it adds emphasis. There's no reason on earth why I shouldn't
own a racehorse. Well nothing on earth would persuade me to
buy one. OK, let’s watch another conversation. Morning! Humph! I already pressed it. Oh right. So what's with that? With what? I already called the elevator so why did you
press it again? The light was on. You think I don't know how to call an elevator? Of course not. What's got into you today? Nothing. No seriously. What’s your problem? I don't have a problem. I don’t call elevators when other people
have already called them. So? Well, what are you waiting for? I'll take the next one. OK, let’s start with things we say when
someone’s behaving strangely. If they’re being unreasonable, you could
say this: What’s your problem? It suggests that their behavior is a problem
and it’s very direct. So it’s quite rude and threatening. Here’s a more polite way to say it. What’s got into you today? It shows surprise because you think they’re
behaving differently from normal. It’s a nicer question. And we can use it to talk about ANY behavior
that’s unusual. It could be bad behavior, but it could also
be pleasant behavior. I don’t know what’s got into Jay today. He’s been cleaning the house all morning
and he never cleans it normally. You missed a bit
OK, here’s a similar phrase : What’s with…? You can use it to ask about people, things
and situations. So what's with that? With what? I already called the elevator so why did you
press it again? We ask this when something’s wrong and we
want to know the reason. What’s with this mouse? It keeps disappearing. It needs new batteries. In British English we’re more likely to
say ‘what’s up with this?’ It means the same thing. And we can say that in American English too
What’s up with this design? It looks funny. Oh I see! That’s better. Now be careful because there’s another phrase
that looks very similar, but it has a very different meaning: what with. So not what’s with – what with. Here’s an example. We wanted to go to Spain this year. J: But what with COVID, the shutdowns, and
all the travel restrictions, we couldn’t. Maybe next year. So when we have a list of different reasons
for something, we start the list with ‘what with’. I haven’t been able to exercise this week,
what with my bad back and bad leg. And the fact that you were feeling lazy. Well yes, that too, of course. OK, there was one more phrase that we need
to look at. Let’s see it. So? Well, what are you waiting for? We say this when we want someone to hurry
up. 50% off. 60% off. 70% off. Our President’s Day sale has started at
Acme Motors so what are you waiting for? It’s an instruction to do something immediately
–now rather than later. Hey Vick. This mixer’s really dirty. Then what are you waiting for? Clean it! What now? Yeah. Jump to it. Jump to it means start right away. We have LOTS of expressions we use when we
want people to hurry. Let’s watch another conversation and see
if you can spot some more. Haven’t you left yet? No and I have to be there by two. Well you’d better get a move on. I can’t find my suit. Oh your brown suit? Yes. I sent that to the cleaners yesterday. Now you tell me. Just choose something else. But make it snappy. You haven’t got all day. Get that for me. Hi Kathy (It’s your boss) No, he hasn’t
left yet. He says he doesn’t know what to wear. OK, I’ll tell him. She says be there by two, or else. Oh no! Come on, chop-chop. OK so did you spot the ‘hurry up’ phrases? The first one was this. You’d better get a move on. It’s an informal way to tell someone to
be quick. And here’s another. Make it snappy. And one of our viewers suggested this one. You’re going to be late. Chop-chop. Chop chop comes from Chinese Pidgin or Cantonese
pidgin to be specific. It’s a fun phrase. Thanks Ricardo. And one more. You haven’t got all day. This simply means there isn’t much time. You can change the person so ‘I haven’t
got all day’ ‘We haven’t got all day’. We can say it when we’re impatient. J: OK. There was another useful phrase in the conversation. Oh, your brown suit? Yes. I sent it to the cleaners yesterday. Now you tell me! This means you should have told me before. We say it when we’re annoyed. Notice we stress the word ‘now’. Something smells good. I’m cooking a WONDERFUL meal for us tonight. Oh well I’m going out bowling with the guys. See ya. Now you tell me! OK, and we have one more phrase from to look
at: or else. Ah yes. Now we can use the word ‘else’ to talk
about other possibilities. You sent my brown suit to the cleaners? Yeah, just choose something else. But what? You had other possibilities in your wardrobe! She means in my closet. It’s another British and American difference. But you also heard the phrase ‘or else’. Kathy says be there by two, or else. (jay pulls face)
That was a threat. Kathy was really angry with me. It’s an interesting threat because it doesn’t
say exactly what she’s going to do. We have to imagine it. Do what I say or else! You were scary there! Yeah, I can be very scary. And subscribe to our Simple English Videos
channel, or else. So you’d better subscribe right now. Go on, chop chop. And if you’ve enjoyed this video, tell your
friends to subscribe as well, or else. This is the fourth video in this series, so
if you want to learn some more colloquial phrases, check out the others. I’ll put the links below. Bye-bye everyone. Bye!
