This is an All Ears English podcast episode 1209.
What a steal!
How to say that you got a bargain in English.
Welcome to the All Ears English podcast downloaded more than 123 million times.
We believe in connection, not perfection.
With your American host, Lindsay McMahon, the English adventurer, and Michelle Kaplan, the New York radio girl, coming to you from Boston and New York City.
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You got a great deal on something and now you want to share your excitement.
Is it okay to do this in American culture?
What are the phrases you need to keep it fun and light?
Find out today.
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Hey, Lindsay, how are you?
Hey, Michelle, I am feeling great right about this time.
I mean, we're recording so far in advance, but so who knows what's going to happen this summer.
But if everything goes as planned right about this time, I should be settling in in L.A.
I'm going to be excited.
Making my big move across the US, reinventing things, you know, and trying LA.
I never thought I would move to LA, but I am.
Or at least we're going to try it.
We're going to see if it fits with our lifestyle and what we want.
So yeah, I will keep you guys informed.
I'm so excited.
Wow.
Wow.
Well, we are so excited to hear about it, Lindsay.
Yeah, sunshine.
West Coast sunshine.
That's right.
That's right.
Oh, my gosh.
That's awesome.
Well, so, I mean, for your big move, like, are you making any big purchases?
Oh, my gosh.
Let's see.
We had – let's see.
Purchases, I'm sure we will, but –
Not huge ones.
No, trying to kind of like take it easy until we find our place and see what we want to do here.
How about you?
Anything big that you're buying?
No, I mean, I did just recently buy some new clothes because I went to the outlets.
And actually, I did an app video about that.
Oh, very cool.
Yeah, so about the outlets.
And so I got a bunch of clothes on sale.
So that was exciting.
Oh, awesome.
Yeah.
And also, I'm considering purchasing...
I don't know.
My cousin came to visit and she had one of those fitness tracker things when you wear it around your wrist.
And I was like, oh, should I get one of those?
That's kind of cool.
And it was the first time I ever considered getting one.
But I think already now that it's been a couple of days, I'm not going to do it.
You know, like, do you ever get really excited?
And you're like, I'm gonna get that.
And like, you know, when you see somebody has it, and then you're like, Oh, wait, that's, you know, well, maybe.
Oh, that is so interesting that you said that there was actually a segment on the news a few weeks ago that talked about how those, those fitness trackers, can actually be bad for our mental health.
Um, because yeah, because what people are doing is that they're using these trackers and I do too.
I've, I do it on my phone.
I track my steps on my phone and they end up just kind of trying just moving to get the steps and kind of not enjoying movement for movement.
You know what I mean?
So it's the same thing as like when you start with an app and you have all these points you try to get but you're not actually learning.
You're just trying to get the points.
Spending time on an app uh, it's that kind of thing that's actually causing these weird effects on people.
It's so bizarre.
That's interesting.
Yeah, i i'm probably not gonna do it.
I think i already, you know, i got out of that you know phase where i was like okay, I looked at it in the store and then I got overwhelmed because there were so many choices and I didn't know the difference between all of them.
And now it's been a couple of days and I've calmed down.
So clearly it wasn't a lasting interest.
No, no, no.
But yeah, so maybe I'll wait.
Maybe if one goes on sale, I'll get it.
But we'll see.
But I mean, let's talk about this today.
Because if you get something on sale, right?
Yeah, you might want to share it with people, right?
It's like a fun connection thing when you want to talk to somebody about a good price that you've gotten right.
Yeah, for sure.
I mean, because you feel almost cool when you get something when you get a really good value.
You feel kind of cool.
You know, you feel kind of proud, kind of slick.
Yeah, kind of proud.
I am, you know, living life and I'm doing it right.
So yeah.
So definitely, it's kind of a chance to kind of brag a little bit.
And yeah, for sure.
So are we going to talk about that today, Michelle?
Is that the plan for the episode?
For sure.
That's what we're going to do.
Yeah.
Guys, we often say on sale.
You've probably heard that a lot, right?
I got it on sale, right?
But this is kind of a very basic way to do this.
And there are so many more ways to do it, right?
And guys, as we talk about all the time, at this point in your language learning, it's important to learn many new ways.
So that's what we are going to do today.
Yeah, exactly.
And guys, that's also exactly what our iOS app does.
I mean, speaking of kind of expanding our vocabulary, right, Michelle?
I mean, that's exactly what we do inside the app.
But the difference between the podcast and the app is over there.
In the app you get to listen to the podcast, but you get to save your key vocabulary words that you want to remember.
Right.
Yeah.
It's really cool.
So you have your personalized powerful word list over there.
That's been curated, that you've curated for yourself, right.
And no one's list is the same.
And that's the cool thing.
That's how we really get better with our vocabulary.
That's right.
That is awesome.
I'm so excited about that, Lindsay.
How cool.
Yeah, guys.
So go over.
If you have an iOS device, you can download the app right now.
Go to allearsenglish.com forward slash bonuses.
And if you're on Android, guys, we are going to be looking to build the Android version this fall.
So hang in there.
Just keep listening to the show.
Awesome.
All right.
So, guys, so we have, you know, we've talked about shopping before.
So if you want to head over to episode 1063, it's is it a good buy?
How to weigh your shopping options in English.
So that one.
Kind of has some similar themes to today, but today we're really just focusing on how to say yeah, we got a good sale, right.
We got it on sale in a unique way, right?
Yeah, that's so fun.
It's good to connect with people over things that make you happy, like a shared excitement.
Right.
And I think, yeah, like we talked about, people like talking about their purchases.
If they made a good purchase, if they got a good value.
But you don't want to sound like you're bragging too much, right?
So read the situation.
Like if, for example, like if I recently bought something and then you bought it and you got a better price and you're like, oh my gosh, I got such a good deal.
That might be annoying.
I know.
Or like if you're sitting on an airplane and you turn to the guy next to you like I can't believe how good of a deal I got on this seat.
Right.
I paid X amount.
And then the guy next to you paid twice what you paid.
That would be kind of awful for that person.
Weren't we just talking about this?
Maybe.
I think we were.
I feel like, yeah.
Or was I having this conversation with somebody else?
Maybe we both were at this in parallel having different conversations with people about this topic.
But it's true, because when you book a flight, I mean you can book them in so many places, in so many ways that no one's paying the same amount right.
Usually.
Right.
Yeah, exactly.
Exactly.
Yeah.
And who knows what this maybe it's cultural as to whether or not people discuss like what they paid for something.
That's kind of interesting.
I've never thought about that.
But maybe it is different.
Yeah.
That's a good point Michelle, because I guess if we did another episode I mean we've done episodes on big taboos and we would probably list one of them ironically, as being price right.
Price, another taboo, religion at the dinner table, right?
Talking about sex at the dinner table.
Things like that are taboo in American culture, but we're showing you guys the nuances behind that.
It's not always taboo if you do it in the right way.
Guys, who do you know that also wants to learn English for Connection?
Share the show with one person that you think would benefit from us.
Let's grow the All Ears English community and help friends and family increase their English levels too.
Thanks, guys.
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That's right.
That's right.
All right.
Awesome.
Yeah.
So what can you say in this situation?
You got a really good value on something, Lindsay.
So what's something you could say?
All right.
Nice pants, Michelle.
How cute.
Oh, well, what's the phrase?
Oh, sorry.
Just going to throw you guys right into the conversation.
And now everybody will be going, nice pants, Michelle.
How cute.
That's not the one, guys.
That's not an idiom.
All right.
Here's the phrase.
The phrase is, I got a great deal.
Okay.
Awesome.
All right.
Let's start again.
All right.
Starting over.
Nice pants, Michelle.
How cute.
Thanks, Lindsay.
Oh, I got a great deal on them too.
They were 15 bucks.
Wow.
Okay.
15 bucks for a nice pair of pants.
That's crazy cheap.
Wow.
Okay.
Yeah, definitely.
I know.
I know.
All right.
The next one.
This is fun.
It was a steal.
Yeah, this is fun.
I like this one too.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
All right.
So I can't believe you got a new car, Lindsay.
It's so nice.
Thanks.
You'll never believe it.
It was a steal.
It was only $5,000.
Wow, you are so lucky.
Oh, wow.
Yeah, that's a good deal for a car too.
Depending on what kind of car you get, of course.
Right, right, right.
Exactly.
Yeah.
So it was a steal.
It's like, I think you say, I think we say that because it's like almost, it was so cheap.
It's almost like that you were stealing it, right?
And that's how cheap it was.
I think that's where it comes from.
Yes.
Okay.
I like the next one.
It costs next to nothing.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
All right, how would we use this?
Okay, parking in the city is so expensive.
I know, but I got this app that helps you find cheap parking.
The last time I parked in the city, it cost next to nothing.
Yeah, exactly.
It cost next to nothing.
That's a great phrase right there, next to nothing.
Right, because it's not nothing, but it's almost nothing.
It's right next to it.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And I think that phrase next to nothing can be taken out of the context of just prices and used in other ways, right?
Like he said, next to nothing.
You could say that, right?
Yeah, so this is a really good chunk, guys, to know that natives use all the time.
Yeah, it's good stuff.
Yeah.
Um, so another one is I got a bargain.
Yeah.
Or you could even say, what a bargain.
What a bargain.
Yeah.
So for example, Lindsay, I got a subscription to People Magazine for one buck a month.
What a bargain.
Yeah.
Yeah, that's good.
That's good.
Yeah, they're offering lots of magazines now for a very low price, like actual subscriptions to be delivered to your house, because everyone's reading online.
Oh, that's right.
Yeah, it's so cool.
Oh, I love this next one, Dirt Cheap.
Yeah, I thought you would like this one, Lindsay.
I don't know.
It's like a fun sounding one.
I thought you'd be into it.
All right.
So, dirt cheap.
Describing something as dirt cheap.
Let's give it a go.
Yeah.
Rochelle, can you believe these earrings were only $12.50?
Wow.
I know.
Dirt cheap, right?
Yeah.
I definitely say that one.
I like that phrase.
I don't know why.
Okay.
I just like it.
I know.
I like it too.
So I don't know.
I feel like you know, after whatever, over a thousand episodes together, I had a feeling you would like it.
Yeah, right.
We're getting to know each other.
By now we know each other pretty well, I think.
I think so too.
And then is there a bonus phrase for today, Michelle, if our listeners, you know, want a few more?
One more?
Yeah, guys.
So if you are somebody who is like, really conscious about looking for deals right, you can call yourself a bargain hunter.
Would you say you're a bargain hunter?
I would say that I really like to get things for a good price, but I wouldn't say that I spend too much time looking for it.
What about you?
Oh, no, I don't.
I'm a little lazy sometimes when it comes to bargain shopping.
You know what I mean?
Like, I'd rather spend the time just doing something else.
And then just pay a little more.
But if it's a big deal, like you're buying a car or a house.
Or your flights, Lindsay, we were just talking about.
Or what?
Sorry.
Your flights.
Or my flights.
Yeah, but that's not a good trade, right?
To literally be up all night.
That's not a good trade.
I'm not doing that again.
I'm not doing it again.
Yeah.
No, you're not going to do it again.
I guarantee you, in like six months from now, you'll be like I took the rat eye and I'm going to say Lindsay, remember episode 1205.
I always say I'm not going to do it and then I keep doing it.
It's awful.
I don't know.
I don't know what to do.
Yeah.
Oh, my gosh.
Well, okay.
Well guys, I think the thing that we want to remember for today is it's fun to talk about our purchases, that we make and prices, and if you get a good deal right.
But you got to read the situation.
Is it okay to talk about this, right?
Is it kind of maybe like you're bragging?
And what is this like culturally, right?
But these are the phrases that you would use in addition to something like it was on sale, right?
Because they're kind of fun and unique.
And yeah, that's what I think.
What else, Lindsay?
Anything else you want to add?
Yeah, I think this comes down to we know.
So like we said before, sometimes talking about price in American culture is a taboo.
But we've shown you a situation where it's not.
But the key here guys, is kind of like having our eyes open to whether or not it's okay to talk about these things.
It's kind of like, do you feel that sense of camaraderie?
Is the person in on the conversation with you?
Are they curious?
Are they sharing their bargains that they got?
Then it's okay to talk about that.
But if it's coming out of the blue and they kind of are kind of cold in the way they're receiving it, then we don't want to talk about price, right?
It's a real balance we have to strike when it comes to talking about money in this culture, for sure, for sure.
Um well lindsey, this has been a lot of fun, and and it's episode 1209.
I'm sorry.
I said i was gonna tell you 1205, but if i did that i wouldn't be able to find it, so 1209.
Okay remember, right now, no more red eyes, all right.
All right, i will do my best.
I gotta get smart.
I gotta get smart here.
All right Michelle, thanks for hanging out and talking about getting a bargain.
It's been fun.
All right.
All right, Lindsay.
Take care.
Bye.
Bye.
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