This is an All Ears English Podcast, Episode 1406, How to Make Fun of Yourself in All Your Glory.
Welcome to the All Ears English podcast downloaded more than 150 million times.
Are you feeling stuck with your English?
We'll show you how to become fearless and fluent by focusing on connection, not perfection, with your American hosts, Lindsay McMahon, the English adventurer, and Michelle Kaplan, the New York radio girl coming to you from Colorado and New York City, USA.
A key connection skill is being able to make fun of yourself.
How can you use one simple English phrase to lighten the mood when something goes wrong?
Find out today Do you ever feel like your English is good but not quite where you want it to be?
Maybe you can have conversations, but you still hesitate when expressing complex ideas.
Maybe you know what you want to say. but you can't always say it naturally.
If that sounds familiar, our B2 English fluency course was designed for you.
You'll learn how to speak more naturally, express yourself with confidence and finally stop feeling stuck at the intermediate level.
This week, you can save $50 on our basic plan or save $100 on our personal coach plan.
Go to allearsenglish.com slash B2.
That's allearsenglish.com slash letter B number two.
Hey, Michelle, we are back.
How are you doing today?
Hey, Lindsay, good to be talking to you.
It's been a little while since we recorded.
I know you know our listeners never know this, but we took a little bit of a recording break, guys.
You know we always publish four episodes a week, but we haven't been on the mic recording together for quite a few weeks, maybe three weeks, maybe a month.
I
I don't know.
Definitely a few weeks for sure.
For sure.
Well, it's good to talk to you again.
You know, like we always talk over email, but it's nice to hear your voice.
And then you feel like that extra like, hey, we can actually talk.
I know it's so much better.
It's so much better.
So what are we getting into today for our listeners?
Well.
So I have a question for you, because what's really interesting is a lot of comedians have been just getting so interesting on their shows, like doing a lot of shows from home.
They have been recently.
And one that I always love is Trevor Noah.
Do you like Trevor Noah?
I like Trevor Noah.
For some reason, I don't find him as funny as let's see.
Who's the other one?
Oh, Jimmy Fallon.
I find for some reason I find Jimmy Fallon funnier, but I like Trevor Noah.
I think he's cool.
I think he's really cool.
And I love his accent.
Yeah.
Oh, yeah.
Me too.
Yeah.
He's from South Africa.
He's really cool.
And, you know, it's funny.
A lot of my students comment on him and say that they like him a lot.
So it's yeah, he has a big following and I like talking to my students about him.
And so we're going to be getting into something that a listener heard on his show.
So we're going to get into that in just a second.
But One of the things that's interesting about him is he you know he's not just jokes, you know he's very smart.
He does a lot of things on politics. you know, a lot of important issues.
And so I really think that our listeners could benefit from watching him.
Guys, if you don't watch Trevor Noah, give him a try, because you are going to get to not only laugh, but you're going to get to learn about some real things going on in the country culturally, politically and all that stuff.
And, you know, right, Lindsay?
I think he's good for that.
Yeah.
And the other thing is, I have not read his book, but I've heard really good things about it.
So the title is Trevor Noah born a crime, right about his experience growing up in South Africa.
So I can feel good about going ahead and recommending that to our listeners, because I've just heard it's really really good.
So guys, check out that book.
Definitely, definitely.
Yeah.
And another thing is that if you want to learn about these deeper cultural issues in the US, we have a special place where you can do that, because Lindsay
Took you all around the U.S. in the Connected Communicator course.
And you can really learn about these deeper issues, so that you can have conversations with people that are not just about, you know, shallow issues, but about what's really going on in the culture.
So that, along with Trevor Noah, those are two things that you can do together.
So where can they get that course, Lindsay?
Okay, guys.
So to get this course.
It's really a fluency and vocabulary course that'll get you to that level of fearlessness and fluency.
Go to allearsenglish.com slash connection.
Cool.
Perfect.
Okay.
So this question is from Sherry and she has sent us a question before that we answered about the word brace.
So we're going to answer the second part of her question today.
So Lindsay, could you read that for us?
Okay, so number two.
All right, here we go.
I've been watching Trevor, the Trevor show, Trevor Noah, right?
And a recent one is called Sweatpants of Glory.
How will you use this glory?
Can we stay?
Can we say stay at home glory, etc?
Thanks, Sherry.
So I assume this is Trevor now.
So I'm not sure if it's that an episode was called this or he said this, but whatever it is, we are going to dive into this of glory today because this is a really fun topic and this is a good question.
Yeah, it's a really good question.
Also, something you're never going to learn in a textbook, right, Michelle?
Oh, you are definitely... I can't imagine this being in a textbook.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So, okay, so let's get into it.
So...
The word glory, Lindsay.
It has several meanings, but the overall meaning is kind of amazing or could be famous, or it could even be used in a religious way, of course.
Yes.
Yeah.
But so it's a very diverse word used in many ways.
But today we're going to, you know, talk about this specific usage.
Yeah.
And yeah, it is.
I've heard it exactly in the religious space in you know glamour and like the movies and being famous.
It kind of connotes that kind of thing.
Yeah.
Right, right, right.
Exactly.
Yeah.
So sweatpants of glory.
Yeah.
Lindsay, I mean, do you think he was being serious?
Like, they're really amazing.
No, I really think this is true sarcasm right here.
101, right?
My guess is that he was talking about being at home, being in his sweatpants, working all the time in his sweatpants, as we all have been this spring and summer due to the pandemic of 2020.
So yeah, I think he's being sarcastic.
Right, right, right.
Yeah.
So, since glory usually means like amazing beautiful wonderful, whatever it's the sarcasm that he's using, because sweatpants are generally thought of as being for inside the home,
And not glorious.
Right.
Not glorious at all.
They're just so right.
They're just comfortable, whatever.
But a lot of people wear them on Zoom calls and you know, there's even the thing where people say, oh that people.
What is it that like pants aren't selling as much as shirts are now?
Because people don't need them?
Pants not necessary, right?
Exactly.
Can we say, Sherry was saying, can we say stay at home in glory?
Stay at home in glory.
Stay at home glory.
Yes.
Yeah.
I mean, I think it just depends on the context that we're talking about.
You could say this phrase, I'm staying at home in all my glory.
Again being sarcastic, kind of making fun of the whole situation where maybe you don't brush your hair, you wear sweatpants.
And it's completely sarcastic, guys.
For sure.
For sure.
Right.
So it is sarcastic.
So we're talking about this joking, sarcastic way of using this word today.
That's the focus.
So, I mean, the format here for this type of sarcasm would be something of glory, right?
Yeah.
This is cool.
This is a really cool kind of framework for our listeners to take on today, especially if you guys are at that really high level and you want to learn how to use this sarcasm.
This is it.
How to do it.
Very cool.
For sure.
For sure.
So an example could be here is my coffee of glory.
Right.
So, for example, like so.
This would kind of show maybe you've had a lot of coffee, right?
Like, so you're saying, oh, this is, here's my coffee of glory.
And you're being sarcastic because you have a ton of coffee.
So you're not being serious.
Or...
Maybe it isn't that good and you're joking about it.
Like maybe you're trying to learn how to make a good cup of coffee and it's terrible that you say here's my coffee of glory.
Like basically that you're trying your best, right?
Right.
Yeah.
I think we could do another episode on the evolution of the coffee market in the US.
Right.
Even because I think coffee has become elevated to a level of real, like completely fancy kind of yuppie.
Right.
You can get very yuppie and fancy coffee now.
I think Starbucks had a lot to do with that transition, honestly.
Because I feel like in the 80s, coffee was Dunkin' Donuts.
It was.
Those stands in the street in New York City, the small cups, the famous coffee cups, you know the blue and white ones.
Like for 55 cents right.
It wasn't of much value.
It wasn't a yuppie item.
But now it's really been elevated to...
You can still get the cheap coffee, but I would use this to refer to I went and I grabbed a 50 cent cup of coffee off the street in New York and it's awful.
Here's my coffee of glory.
Right, right, right.
Exactly.
Yeah, that's a really good point, Lindsay, for sure.
For sure.
I just have a regular coffee in the morning.
I am so not about fancy coffee.
I mean, maybe I should be.
Maybe I need to learn more about coffee.
Well, if you want to spend $4 every day.
Yeah, I don't.
Yeah, I go to this coffee shop and I probably, I definitely overspend on coffee because it's really it's just a coffee.
It's a drip coffee, but they overcharge you.
They charge you like three dollars a cup.
It's ridiculous.
Yeah, it's too much.
Okay, so that was a fun little tangent, but I loved it.
Okay, so here's another example.
If I could say, I could say, here's my stain of glory, right?
So I'm imagining here you have a stain on your shirt or your couch or whatever that you want to joke about.
And you could say, here's my stain of glory, right?
Yeah, that makes sense.
Okay.
So again, you're not proud of it.
It's just the opposite.
You're trying, you know, and maybe this is kind of a nice way.
Sometimes, when someone notices something that we're actually embarrassed about, it's better not to get embarrassed, not try to hide it.
Just emphasize it by being sarcastic.
Oh my gosh, for sure.
That is so key.
Yeah, we could do a whole other episode on that, actually, because there's a lot with that.
That would be fun.
That'd be fun.
And what's another example, Lindsay?
Hey guys, today you're learning a fun phrase and how to use it with native speakers.
You can get more of these when you listen to native interviews and learn vocab straight from these interviews.
This is what we do in Connected Communicator online course.
Go to allairsenglishcom slash connection to learn more.
Allearsenglishcom forward slash c-o-n-n-e-c-t-i-o-n.
Don't you hate it when you're trying to buy something online and when you finally make all of your selections and get ready to check out, your credit card is nowhere to be found.
When this happens, I love seeing the purple pay button at the top of the checkout, because I know I won't have to dig for my card.
This simple purple button is one of the best features in all of the online shopping world and can make a huge difference in sales for your online business.
Shopify is the e-commerce platform behind millions of businesses around the world and 10 of all e-commerce in the US.
From household names like Skims and Thrive Cosmetics to brands just getting started.
Get the word out like you have a marketing team behind you.
Easily create email and social media campaigns wherever your customers are scrolling or strolling.
Best yet.
Shopify is your e-commerce expert, with world-class expertise in everything from managing inventory to international shipping, to processing returns and beyond.
See fewer carts go abandoned and more sales go... with Shopify and their Shop Pay button.
Sign up for your $1 per month trial today at Shopify.com slash A-E-E.
Go to Shopify.com slash A-E-E.
That's S-H-O-P-I-F-Y.com slash A-E-E.
All right.
So I'm listening to her 30 minute speech of glory.
Now we're teasing someone here, teasing the person who's giving the speech.
What kind of speech do you envision this being, Michelle?
Well, either it could be just like a really boring lecture, or I'm thinking even that it's not boring even a speech.
It's just that someone's talking a lot, you know what I mean?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Okay, so probably just giving like more of a rant, like a soapbox rant.
Yeah, maybe a rant.
So they're saying like, oh, this is the speech, you know, like calling it a speech.
Yes.
Yeah.
Hello, Michelle.
Are you there?
Yeah, I'm here.
Okay, good.
I agree with you.
I think that term soapbox is pretty cool.
We could do another episode on that too, right?
Just like you're ranting, you're in your soapbox and I'm listening to you.
It's your 30 minute speech of glory.
Very cool.
Love it.
Love it.
Okay.
I mean, but I do think how Trevor Noah used it.
And again, oh my gosh, could you imagine if it wasn't Trevor Noah?
We're just going on and on about Trevor Noah.
So let's hope.
But I do think that is used a lot for clothing.
Like, my sweatpants of glory or something with appearance.
But let's talk about what does this do using this kind of phrase.
And Lindsay, this kind of goes into what you were just saying is, I think that it really connects you through this self-deprecation, this sarcastic humor, because it takes away formalities and it makes other people laugh.
Yeah, this is a really useful strategy of conversation guys, of connection, because you're making fun of yourself.
I could see this also being used.
If your hair is kind of a mess and you walk out, you have like knots in your hair.
It's my hairstyle of glory.
Yeah, I love it.
Yeah, for sure.
So let's talk a little bit more about, you know, how you could say it.
So you could also say in all my glory, right?
Like amazing, looking great.
And I've actually heard this phrase.
Being used to say that you are not wearing clothes.
Oh, interesting.
I've never heard that, but I could see that.
I could see that.
I could see that.
Yeah.
Right.
So I mean, this is where maybe Sherry's example about staying at home you could say like oh, I'm staying at home in all my glory.
Maybe that's a sarcastic way.
Sorry, this is not the naked example.
No.
Okay.
I'm saying maybe that's just a sarcastic way to say things are boring or something like that.
Okay.
So it could also be about circumstances in general, not just about like hair or clothes, but about your scenario.
Yeah.
Yeah.
So what's another thing you could say?
All right.
I've been waiting on the phone for 30 minutes.
I'm still waiting here in all my glory.
I like this.
I feel like I'm learning something new today.
Good.
That's good.
Or I'm out in the rain in all my glory.
I'm soaked.
Oh, yeah.
Now that I've said that other example of the other possible meaning, now that sounds terrible.
In this way, it's not think about the context, guys.
No, but this is good.
I mean, who hasn't had the experience of?
Maybe you get caught in the rain and maybe you were dressed up for a date or you're going to do a presentation?
God forbid right.
A public speaking event.
And you show up and you make a comment when you start off your speech.
Here I am soaked in all my glory.
Right.
You have to be able to do that.
Otherwise, how do you stand up and give a presentation when you're soaked?
Right.
Right.
You have to draw attention to it because everybody's thinking about it and it's just awkward if you just pretend that it's not.
Yes, name it, right?
Name it and make fun of it.
So that might be like the title of today's episode, something like that.
Name it and make fun of it.
Name it and make fun of it.
Okay, so let's talk about, just before we go, a couple other ways that you can kind of get this point across.
What's the first one?
All right?
So you should see me.
I look great today.
You should see me.
You should.
Yeah.
So interesting.
Yeah, I like that.
You should see me like.
OK, I see.
Say that intonation one more time.
OK, I would say I would say like this.
I would say you should see me.
So for the example, I might say, oh, I look great today.
You should see me.
Yeah, I love that.
OK, just like making fun of myself.
Yeah.
Or some kind of sarcastic word, any sarcastic word where you mean the opposite of what you're saying, like amazing, gorgeous.
These sweatpants are amazing.
When they're actually just ratty, they have holes in them.
They're dirty.
Right, right, right.
Exactly.
So just taking a word and, you know, turning it on its head.
Yeah.
Yeah.
What else?
You could also say, I've reached my low point.
So you could say, oh man, today I've reached my low point.
My clothes are all mismatched.
Yeah.
Okay.
So that's another good phrase, my low point.
I like that.
And then rock bottom, right?
I'm at rock bottom right now.
My house is a mess.
Such a good term.
Yeah.
Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. that's a good one.
So guys, these are all great ways to kind of make fun of yourself or just acknowledge that something isn't right, to name it like Lindsay was saying.
So they're not always necessarily sarcastic, but that's what we were focusing on today.
Like.
So some of these other phrases have different ways of being used, but we're focusing on the sarcastic part, kind of self-deprecating use today.
Yeah.
So what should we leave our listeners with today?
I mean, what do they need to remember about this episode?
I feel like this is a real strategy.
Oh, yeah.
Well, it's all about self-deprecation.
And self-deprecation can actually help connect people, which sounds so silly, but it's true.
It kind of shows those vulnerabilities that we all have um, and it calls them out right, and we can feel okay, not everyone is feeling perfect all the time right yeah um, so we gave you some ways to do this today and we discussed sarcasm um, but you know, be sure to use sarcasm appropriately, like we can always do follow-ups, but basically don't use it to put yourself down when you need to be putting forth your best self.
That's what I would say is like, if you are, if you overuse this and you like I wouldn't really do this on a job interview, right?
Yeah.
Maybe not.
Yeah.
Unless again, you do show up soaking wet and you have to say something that could show an intelligence of a sense of humor.
But yeah, I think you need a nice balance in order to use this.
You need to be confident elsewhere, like in other ways, generally feeling confident and strong.
And then you do throw out that self-deprecating phrase or expression.
That's funny.
That becomes funny.
Right?
Right, right, right.
Yeah, that's a great point.
So, you guys, also let us know, is this kind of humor, you know, used frequently in your culture?
Would you use a phrase like this?
I'm curious to know.
Yeah.
Awesome.
So guys, go over and get the Connected Communicator.
Go to allearsenglishcom slash connection to build that fearlessness and that fluency that you want guys.
All right.
Very cool.
Okay, Michelle, this has been fun.
That's right.
That's right.
I don't know what I'm... That's right.
That's right.
I'm here in all my glory about to end this episode.
And then I say something like that.
All right.
Anyway, gotta go.
All right.
Take care, Michelle.
Bye.
Thanks for listening to All Ears English.
If you are taking IELTS this year, get your estimated band score with our two minute quiz.
Go to allearsenglish.com slash my score.
And if you believe in connection, not perfection, then hit subscribe now to make sure you don't miss anything.
See you next time.
