This is an All Ears English podcast, episode 1270 one dad phrase that you can use to show surprise in English.
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Today you'll learn how to use the phrase you don't say in English and get our opinions on how it sounds, plus a few alternatives, so that you can keep the connection going when someone shares something surprising in English.
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Hey, Lindsay, how are you?
Well, Michelle, I'm moving to Denver.
That's awesome.
I am so excited for you.
You don't say.
But I did say it.
Oh, Lindsay, that's an expression.
Oh, I messed that up because I had a genuine reaction and forgot that I had written something.
Let's do it one more time.
Okay, do it one more time.
Hey, Lindsay, how are you?
Well, Michelle, actually, I'm great.
I'm moving to Denver.
You don't say.
But I did say it just now.
Lindsay, that's an expression.
Guys, oh my gosh.
I got so excited about you moving to Denver that I forgot that I had actually written a response.
I know, because you're going to have to come out and visit me now.
That's great.
I would love that.
I would love that.
Yeah, everyone loves Denver.
Everyone loves to come out and visit in Denver, so definitely come.
Yeah, that's cool.
Oh, my gosh.
Yeah, I would love to do that.
So...
I used a little interesting phrase.
What was this phrase?
The phrase was, you don't say.
Okay.
And then what did you say?
I said, Michelle, I did say it.
Okay, so guys, that's a little joke and you'll understand it in just a second.
So this expression, you don't say, oh, this is a fun one.
And we have a listener question about this.
So I'm excited for today's episode.
Yeah, me too.
And I understand why our listener asked this question because you'll see in a minute, guys.
This is a question from a listener in Apple podcast.
Remember, guys, when you leave us a review for the podcast, you can also ask a question.
And we do read the questions over there to look for content for the show.
So ask your question.
So, Michelle, this question is from, let's see, Shizuka from Japan on August 4th, 2019.
All right.
Should I read it?
All right.
Let's do it.
All right.
So, hi, I'm Shizuka from Japan.
I listen to this podcast every morning.
It improves my listening skills a lot.
Great.
Good to hear, Shizuka.
That's awesome.
Yeah.
Can I ask you a question?
I read a book and I came across the phrase, you don't say.
I have no idea what this means.
I guess the meaning is, really?
Is my guess right?
I want to know when to use this phrase.
Sincerely, Shizuka.
Cool.
Good.
Great question, Shizuka.
Thank you.
And thanks for being honest, saying I have no IBD, all right?
I appreciate that honesty.
So this is a great question.
I love this phrase.
It's kind of awkward, though, and hard to grasp if you just hear the words you don't say.
Right.
Like Shizuka said, it's like, what?
Wait, but I said it.
That was a joke from the beginning.
That's why I made that joke, because the person just said something and you're saying you don't say.
Why are you telling them that they don't say something?
How strange.
It is strange.
And I.
I feel like we'll talk a little bit about who uses this and when and how, but I mean our listener was right.
I mean, our listener was able to infer from the context.
It does mean really, right?
And wow, it kind of means those two.
Yeah.
Right, right, right.
Pretty much just as Shizuka put it.
So I think, yeah, really good job taking a guess at that.
You are right.
So let's talk more about it in just a second.
But guys, if you head on over to episode 908, you are going to hear some like kind of similar phrases.
It's called, oh, geez, oh, man, oh, boy, why these phrases will help you connect in English.
So head on to that today to get some other ideas.
Yeah, that's a good one, guys.
And if you're listening inside the iOS app, it's so easy to find those episodes because you just go to the episode list and type in the top search bar 908.
Super easy.
Definitely, definitely.
So let's get into it.
Lindsay, do you use this?
Do you say, you don't say?
Never.
Yeah.
To be honest, when I think of this, it sounds like a dad phrase.
You know how we talk about dad jokes?
Yes, yes, yes.
You know what's funny?
I feel like my brother is starting to use dad phrases.
I mean he is a dad, but the other day when I told him I was moving to Denver, he texts back and he goes.
That's the best news I've heard all day.
And I'm like, oh my God, you sound like a dad.
That's so funny.
Oh my God, I love that.
Oh my gosh, turning into an official dad with the language too.
Because now Emery, my niece you guys know my niece Emery, she's now five, right.
So it matters what he says now.
So he's starting to sound like a dad.
It's so funny.
So I would put this word, this phrase in that category too.
Kind of a dad phrase.
Yeah, yeah, I love that.
Yeah, I mean, I think it's used in a couple of ways, this phrase.
Like one is more of like a hmm, right?
So this is a little bit different, right?
So for example, Lindsay, let's do a little role play.
All right, so, all right.
The train never comes here.
You don't say.
It seems almost suspicious to me.
Oh, wait.
No, no, no.
Hi, what's going on with me today, guys?
No, it's it's to you.
You are having turkey brain.
Yeah.
Oh, my gosh.
Yes, exactly.
Oh, my gosh.
You're in a turkey coma.
Oh, my gosh.
Okay.
Yes.
That almost seems suspicious to me.
So we'll talk about that in a second.
Why?
Let's try it again.
Lindsay, the train never comes here.
You don't say.
So what you were trying the note that you wrote for yourself, which you actually read out loud was that you wanted to sound suspicious, right?
Yeah, right.
It seems...
I wrote myself this note and then I just said it okay yeah it yeah, but that's true.
It seems kind of suspicious to me, like almost like I don't believe you Lindsay, or like maybe it's a bit sarcastic right, so it can be used for something you know as well, like oh, you don't say I know all about that Yeah, exactly.
Or here's another context kind of different.
I love hiking.
You don't say.
So that's what I was talking about.
That one's kind of sarcastic.
Like, I know, Lindsay, I know you love hiking.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly.
Or there's another way, right?
And that would be what, Michelle?
Well, this is kind of the genuine way that I want to focus on today.
The way where it is more like really, wow, the dad way, I guess.
Yeah, more conversational.
And really the only way I could imagine our listeners using it, right?
Yeah.
Yeah, I think that this is the best way to do it.
So here we go.
Lindsay, I used to live in Denver.
You don't say.
I never knew that.
You'll have to give me some tips.
Wait, that's not true, right?
No, it's not true.
That would be something I totally left out.
But yeah, you're surprised.
You're basically saying, really?
Wow.
Oh, wow.
Right?
For sure.
So what does this do?
I mean, what is the connection here when we use this?
I think that it kind of helps us connect because it's more unique than just saying really, right?
And guys, we're at that level where we can do this.
This fosters connection.
It shows that you're really interested and surprised about what you're hearing.
So instead of just saying, oh, really, right?
We're more intense and animated with this phrase and more dad-like.
And more dad-like.
But moms, of course, can say it too.
Anyone can say it if you want to.
It's just for me, it's not really.
I don't know.
It doesn't feel like it's in my personality to say it.
It's a little cheesy, I think, to be honest.
Do you know what I mean?
Like it's a little, it's just not, I don't know.
But I agree that really is too generic.
So when we do say something a little more different, a little different from really, it becomes more interesting.
Right, right, right.
Exactly.
And guys, that's the goal.
And we talk about this all the time on the show, right?
Just varying your vocabulary, adding new phrases all the time.
That's what you're here for, right?
To be more interesting and to connect more.
100% Michelle.
So then, if our listeners decide it's too cheesy for them too and they don't want to sound like a dad, then what else could they say?
There's got to be a few, a few things.
So that you don't miss any important All Ears English bonus episodes.
Go ahead and hit subscribe now.
Thanks guys.
Yeah, well, I like this one.
Get out of here.
My dad used to say this all the time.
Oh no, am I talking like a dad too?
For example, I'm coming to New York next month.
Get out of here.
When?
No, but this one's better.
I like this one better.
It's, I don't know.
It feels like historical.
It feels like it's been in a couple movies.
I don't know.
It's a fun one.
It feels historical.
Yeah, it feels historical.
But notice, guys, we didn't say get out of here.
What did we say, Lindsay?
Get out of here.
Get out of here.
Oh, okay.
Maybe I'm thinking of forget about it.
Yeah, forget about it.
No, that's a New York phrase, guys.
I think we did actually do an episode on that one too.
So you can find that in our blog.
Definitely.
Definitely.
Yeah.
So that's one you could say when you're like surprised.
Really?
Wow.
Get out of here.
What's another thing?
Tell me more.
Right.
Or you could say like, do tell.
Okay, that's interesting.
So that one, do tell, sounds like something a woman would say.
Sounds very feminine to me.
That is interesting.
Yeah, that's true.
Kind of a gossip, a woman who's interested in gossip.
Do tell.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So like, okay, if I said, Lindsay, oh my gosh, I ate the best pasta of my life over the weekend.
Ooh, do tell.
Where did you go?
Like, where are you getting this great pasta?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So that's a fun thing.
And then this one I think is really natural.
I feel like I would use this the most.
What is it?
Me too, yeah.
I'm going to Paris tomorrow.
No way.
Have a great time.
Yeah.
So I agree with you, Michelle.
This is the one that I use for these scenarios.
But it's good if you guys know different things to say depending on your personality, depending on who you want to be in English, because you can reinvent yourself.
I think that you know, a lot of times we do use cheesy phrases or like kind of things said in a humorous way.
Like with do tell like I might not be like ooh, do tell like in a serious, you know like, but I might joke around.
I'd be like, oh.
Do tell.
I mean.
Well, I just said it in the exact same way, but you get.
What I mean is that in some ways, you want to like it's playful.
Okay.
There's a layer of sarcasm there, right?
You're not wholeheartedly using the phrase in the way it's usually used.
You're using it in your own way a little bit.
Right, right, right.
And you know, one thing I realized it's funny how a lot of these expressions like get out of here.
No way.
They're negative, like get out of here.
No way to show disbelief, but they're actually like a positive sounding phrase.
Yeah, get out of here, right?
I don't believe you.
That's impossible, right?
Get out of here.
That's a fun one.
I do like that one.
That is fun.
I love it.
I'm sure that that's a good opportunity to hear accents too.
Like I bet in New York, you hear some interesting accents with that phrase.
Get out of here.
Yeah.
Also in Boston, of course.
But we'll talk about that another day.
That's another topic.
So should we do a role play, Michelle?
Let's do it.
Okay.
So Lindsay, you were telling me about your new place in Denver.
Okay.
Oh, I found a place.
Ooh, tell me more.
Well, it's downtown and it has two bedrooms.
They each have a fireplace.
Get out of here.
That's amazing.
Yeah, it will be so nice on those chilly days in Colorado.
Lindsay, you know what?
I don't even know how to use a fireplace.
No way, Michelle.
I'll teach you if you come to Colorado.
We can also get some apple cider at the coffee shop right below my place.
It's considered the best coffee shop in Denver.
You don't say.
I would love to try it.
Sounds like you'll have a great setup.
Thanks.
Yay.
I'm excited about my new apartment.
It's going to be great.
It's going to be great.
That's great.
Okay.
Do you live above a coffee shop?
Is it the best coffee shop in Denver?
No, that's definitely, that's not true.
But I have a little home office.
It's going to be great.
And we have a lot of light in the apartment. especially in the morning.
It's like flooded with light, which is so important, I realized, when you go apartment hunting.
You need light.
Yeah.
Do you get good light in your apartment?
Yes.
I'm looking out the window right now.
There's good light.
There's good light.
I could always be better, because I guess the thing with an apartment is, unless it's a corner unit, you're only getting the light from.
Yeah, that's right.
You know, one side.
So it's not quite as bright as maybe if it was like a full house.
Like a house.
Yeah, exactly.
But we do certain things in exchange for location, right?
It's all about for me, location is so important.
I want to be able to walk to my place.
I want to be able to walk to a coffee shop.
It's getting more and to me honestly, in my life, it's getting more and more important that like, I don't give up this lifestyle.
Oh my gosh, that's so funny.
Yeah, no, it's like a big, it's a big deal right now.
It's like I don't ever want to give up.
Interesting yeah, it's good to hear that too, because that's a concern I have as I get a little bit older, maybe have a family I'm.
I don't want to give that up either.
I don't want to be in the typical American suburb where you have to drive to go everywhere and it's isolated.
All the houses look the same.
I don't want that.
I don't want it either.
And I'm like trying to make sure that that doesn't happen.
Are you getting some resistance from Dan?
No, no, no.
Actually, we both feel the same way.
But it's more like how to make it work, you know, with the family and, you know, things like that.
So, you know, we but we really love this lifestyle.
So we'll see.
All right.
Well, I hope you can hang on to it, Michelle.
I'll be hoping for you and I'll be struggling the same way in a few years, I'm sure.
All right.
Let's go through this role play.
I almost forgot we did it.
Got so distracted from our conversation.
All right.
So you said I found a place and I said, ooh, tell me more.
And then you said, I said, oh, they each each room has a fireplace.
You said, get out of here.
That's amazing.
Yeah, that is amazing.
And then I said, I don't know how to use a fireplace.
And you said, no way, Michelle.
Yeah.
And I said, I'll teach you if you come to Colorado.
And then you said it's considered the best coffee.
I said it's considered the best coffee shop in Denver.
You said you don't say.
And that was our core phrase from today.
And I realized that I laughed in the role play when I said it.
And I think I laughed because it did sound so cheesy to me.
It sounded dad-like.
But, you know, again, guys, choose the words that fit with your personality.
Exactly.
That is the key.
And so what's the takeaway for today, Michelle?
Guys, these phrases are great for connecting and showing disbelief in a funny or usually positive way.
I mean, about the fireplace, you're saying, no way, Michelle.
I mean you're being friendly about it, but it's almost like I can't believe.
You don't know how to do that, but you're being nice about it.
Yeah.
But these are so much more interesting than saying really or wow, right?
So choose the ones that fit with your personality and use them today.
Exactly.
It's so important how we react when someone shares something with us, right?
This is such a connection piece because what you say and your tone and how interesting it is is going to determine the level of connection of the next conversation.
What happens in the rest of the conversation.
So we want you guys to have these skills.
All right, go for it.
And also Michelle.
I want to remind our listeners to go over and check out Instagram because hey, we're right around Thanksgiving.
I'm sure we're going to be sharing some really cool things over there.
You did a video recently in the car.
Oh, yeah.
What were you teaching over there?
What was that?
I was teaching the size of, right?
So I had a huge cup of coffee and it was like so big.
I got out of the shop because Dan picked it up for me and I was like, yeah, I'll have a large.
And then I normally don't drink.
I try not to drink that much coffee and it was huge.
And so I said it was the size of my head.
Yeah, I love that.
That's so good.
So guys, if you're over on Instagram, well, go find us, All Ears English.
Look for the yellow.
You'll find our channel.
You get to see another side of All Ears English.
You get to see us in our daily lives, teaching you things from our daily lives.
It's super fun.
So go check it out.
Yeah, definitely.
Oh, man, this has been fun, guys.
And thanks for that question to our listener.
All right, Michelle, have a good one.
Bye.
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