This English lesson focuses on real-life language (upper intermediate vocabulary). We'll analyze how characters talk and what motivates them, explore humorous nuances and jokes. You learn some American and British cultural aspects, and practice listening and speaking English. The scene from “Upgraded” is used.
Part 1
In today's lesson:
- “wring out”. — What does it mean?
- “gave it away”. — Why does he say that?
- “get points back”. — What do you think this phrase means?
Today, we’ll learn English by watching a funny scene from “Upgraded”. Ana, who works as an auction house assistant, is lucky and gets a first class seat on a plane. She meets Will, a rich guy from London. Will thinks Ana is important, a big boss. They talk and have fun, but Ana doesn’t tell him the truth. Let's watch and learn.
“suede” is a type of leather that has a soft, fuzzy surface. It's often used to make shoes, bags, and jackets because it feels comfortable and looks nice.
In the sentence “Care for a champagne to start?”, the word “care” means “would you like” or “are you interested in”. It's a polite way of offering something to someone. In the clip, the flight attendant is asking if she would like to have a champagne to start?
"bruv" is a slang term used in British English, especially among young people. It's a shorter way of saying 'brother', which is a friendly greeting between friends.
"stomping around" means walking very loudly and forcefully, often in a way that is angry or annoyed. It's like walking with heavy steps, making a lot of noise.
'lounge' means a room in a hotel, airport, theatre, etc. where people can relax or wait.
In the phrase "face is glued to her phone", the word "glued" means "stuck" or "attached very tightly". It's a metaphor to show how focused the person is on their phone, as if their face were physically attached to it.
"Bloody Mary" is an alcoholic drink made of vodka and tomato juice.
'wring out' means to twist a cloth or piece of clothing with your hands to remove water from it. For example, if you wring out a wet towel, you are twisting it to get rid of the water. In the clip, Will is joking about the situation and using sarcasm. He suggests wringing out his jacket to get a Bloody Mary. It is a sarcastic way of saying that his jacket is so extremely wet with the Ana's spilled drink that it could be used to create a cocktail.
The sentence, "I smell like I'm wearing a cologne by V8", is a humorous and sarcastic statement. V8 is a brand primarily known for its vegetable juice, not perfumes or colognes. Imagine a very strong smelly drink being spilled on your clothes. It would smell terrible, right? Will is exaggerating the bad smell by comparing it to a cologne made from vegetables.
"by the way" is a phrase used to introduce a new topic or idea in a conversation. It's like saying, "Oh, and another thing..." or "Speaking of that..."
"What brings you to London?" is a common question used to ask someone why they are visiting a particular place. It's a way to start a conversation and learn more about someone's reason for being there.
So, the sentence is basically asking, "Why are you here in London?" or "What is the purpose of your visit to London?"
"give away" can mean a few different things depending on the context:
1. to give something to someone without asking for payment.
2. to tell people something secret, often without intending to.
3. to allow an opponent to score a goal or win a game by making a mistake.
3. to allow an opponent to score a goal or win a game by making a mistake.
In the clip, Will wants to know what clue or hint indicated that he is from London, what revealed the secret?
'sophisticated' means having or showing a high level of knowledge, experience, and understanding of the world. So, you are not easily fooled, and you understand people and ideas without making them seem simple.
'charm' is a personal quality that makes someone attractive or likeable. It can be a friendly smile, a kind way of speaking, or a sense of humor.
Putting it together: "sophisticated English charm". This means someone who is smart, experienced, and attractive, and who acts in a way that is typical of British people.
Will probably said this ironically, saying that he's not at all polite or well-spoken.
"You get points back for that" is a playful way of saying that someone has done something good or impressive. It's like giving someone points in a game for a positive action. Ana is basically saying that Will was annoying before, but now she thinks he's better because of what he said recently.
[to be continued …]
Part 2
[in the process of creating …]
In today's lesson:
“bring and bring over”. — What is the difference?
“save the day”. — What does it mean?
[it's not finished …]