Oh yeah!
I'm Xenia, your RealLife English Fluency Coach, and today we're learning English with the great animated movie Rango starring Johnny Depp.
After being accidentally thrown from his family's car, a lonely pet chameleon named Rango finds himself in the desert, starting a surprising rise from lost outsider to an unexpected hero.
As we just saw.
He ends up in the Old West town of Dirt, quickly realizes he needs to blend in, to look and behave like everyone else so he doesn't attract attention.
This is like dressing like the locals when traveling abroad.
The opposite would be to stick out like a sore thumb, being obviously different from everyone else.
Imagine showing up to a formal wedding in jeans and a t-shirt.
Yeah, rango is absolutely packed with useful advanced english expressions.
If you're like me and you may forget new words an hour after you learn them, then I recommend you study blend in, stick out and all the other best expressions from today's lesson with the magic flashcards on the RealLife English app.
Now let's jump into the lesson.
You'll first watch each scene with subtitles, then we'll learn all the most important expressions, pronunciation and grammar together.
And stick around until the end, because you'll test everything you learned by watching all the clips without subtitles and answering some of his questions.
Who exactly are you?
Who am I?
I could be anyone.
What's the matter?
You missing your mommy's mangoes?
As a matter of fact, I am.
But not as much as your daddy's cooking!
Exactly where did you say you were from?
Me?
I'm from the west.
Out there, beyond the horizon.
Past the sunset.
The far west.
Rengu has a bit of an identity crisis when he arrives in dirt.
He's suddenly free to reinvent himself.
So, as we saw, he starts making up an elaborate backstory.
That's absolutely full of advanced expressions.
Let's break them down.
So, we have the same word, matter, used in two different ways.
First, Spoons notices this weird new stranger and challenges him by asking, What's the matter?
That's just a common way to ask what's wrong.
Renge courageously and quickly responds to Spoon's insult with As a matter of fact, I am.
What do you think this expression means?
Actually, now that you mention it, that's completely false.
I refuse to answer right and these phrases used to introduce a fact that clarifies, correct or emphasizes what's being said.
It can show agreement and stronger information, or signal that the speaker is about to be especially direct and truthful.
Here's another example how could you know that unless, unless you were conspiring with a bunch of known criminals?
Well, As a matter of fact, it's time I came clean about something.
Rango shoots back an insult and then continues with his absurd origin story.
The horizon is that line where the sky appears to meet the ground or sea.
It's as far as you can see.
When someone says something is beyond the horizon, they mean it's far away.
And in American history, the far west refers to the wildest and most remote areas.
Renge is trying to paint himself as coming from the roughest, toughest place imaginable.
Now, tell me, have you ever felt frustrated when native speakers talk really fast?
You see, the issue usually isn't their speed.
Instead, they use connected speech you were never taught in school.
That's how natives cut tree juice and link their words in fluent speech.
Let's check out some examples.
What's a matter?
As a matter of fact, I am.
First off, this word matter was used twice, but it wasn't pronounced as matter.
These movie characters are American, so they transformed this into a tab T, which sounds like a soft D Matter.
Matter.
In the first phrase, the is reduced to just a schwa sound, a, and all three words connect.
Instead of what's the matter, we hear matter.
What's a matter?
What's a matter?
The eh and off in the second phrase both transform into schwa's too.
And all the words link.
So as a matter of fact becomes as a matter of fact.
As a matter of fact.
Your speaking will only get better with lots of practice.
So listen again and repeat.
What's a matter?
What's a matter?
And we see another great example in the next phrase.
Usually, when we have a combination of a T or D and a TH sound, we only pronounce the second one.
So here, the T in passed is dropped at all three words combined. the sunset.
You try saying it.
The Old West was once part of Spain and Mexico, and has a lot of Spanish influence.
Just think of all these Spanish city names.
Las Vegas, San Francisco, Los Angeles and many more.
So hombres is Spanish for men or guys.
It's often used in Western movies to add that cowboy flavor.
The place I come from, we kill a man before breakfast just to work up an appetite.
To work up an appetite means doing something physical that makes you hungry, like exercising, hiking or working in the garden.
But Rengo exaggerates ridiculously, claiming that where he's from, people are so tough they commit violence just to get hungry enough for breakfast.
It's completely absurd, which is exactly what makes it funny.
A more realistic example you could hear is I went for a 5-mile run to work up an appetite before lunch.
Ok, now Rengu is going completely overboard with his story.
Let's break down the cooking terms.
To salt and pepper something means exactly what it sounds like. adding salt and pepper as seasoning.
But of course, you'd do this to food, not a person.
To braise means to cook something slowly in liquid, usually after browning it first.
It's a legitimate cooking technique, often used for tough cuts of meat.
Ringo's describing cooking a person like they're a piece of meat, which is darkly comedic and completely ridiculous.
He also used a bit of connected speech here.
And we salt him.
And we pepper him.
Natives often drop the first sound in pronouns like him, her and them.
In this case, the agent him is dropped and connects to salt and pepper.
Salt him.
Pepper him.
Listen to Rango again and try to say those just like him.
Now let's take a quick break from the movie to hear from Johnny Depp himself about what makes Rain Goat so special.
I think there's no mistake that Rango is a character who is trying to figure out what he's supposed to be, very much like most of us in life.
And the fact that he's a lizard attempting to adapt to his surroundings assume these characters to be accepted.
It's very, very fitting.
Actually, what I love about this movie is that it's so relatable for an English learner.
It is easy to feel out of place, just like Rango when he arrives in dirt.
But Rango shows us we can fake it until we make it.
In other words, even if we don't feel confident, we can make the courageous choice to pretend to be confident until we really feel it.
Listening in to this great expression, Johnny used think there's no mistake that rango is a character who is, who is trying to figure out what he's supposed to be.
This means it's absolutely clear, it's obviously true.
For example, there's no mistake that she's the best player in the team means it's completely obvious to everyone.
You might also hear make no mistake, which means the same thing like in this example make no mistake, i love montana, but i'm doing this for our ranch.
And make no mistake, if you don't practice these advanced expressions we're learning today, you'll forget them in hours or even minutes.
Imagine you get into a conversation in English and know that one of the expressions from this lesson would be perfect to use, but it will not come to you.
Remember I told you about the flashcards on the real life app?
They will help you a lot.
And now you also have the real life AI coach to help you practice everyday expressions in real conversation.
Check it out for yourself for free.
Just click the link below.
And Johnny used some nice connected speech in this phrase.
Very much.
Like you know, most of us in life fluently connected these three words, so it sounds like most of us.
You give it a shot.
Now, something really interesting is how Rengue was produced.
Rather than just recording the script in a studio, the actors actually acted out the scenes as the character, and the animation was based off of that.
Jody calls this emotion capture.
Check it out.
Instead of motion capture, it's kind of emotion capture.
It's basically using the actors as a reference for the emotion of the characters.
I think it just gives a bunch of grown-ups an opportunity to be silly and get paid for it.
Essentially, that's my excuse.
So cool, right?
I love what Johnny said here.
I think it just gives a bunch of grown-ups an opportunity to be silly and get paid for it.
Grown-ups is an informal, playful way to say adults.
Usually, it's what children call us.
Johnny probably used it here to emphasize that the Rango cast got to be silly and act like kids.
By the way, to be silly means to be foolish.
But it isn't a bad thing.
It means letting loose and enjoying yourself without worrying about being dignified or serious.
Alright, back to the movie.
Let's finish the scene we watched before.
Regna's story gets really out of control.
Well, I see things make a grown man lose control of his glandular function.
You spend three days in a horse carcass living off your own juices.
It'll change a man.
Oh, yeah.
So, no, my Harrison's little rodent friend.
I am not from around these parts.
You might say I'm from everywhere there's trouble brewing and hell waiting to be raised.
You might say I'm what hell's already raised up.
Names.
Okay, so first off, hell as an interjection is used to add intensity to what you're saying.
You might hear someone say, hell, I don't know, meaning I really don't know.
It's informal, so I wouldn't use this at work.
A grown man simply means an adult male.
When used with make like this, it emphasizes that even someone mature and experienced would be affected by something.
Like, the movie was so scary it made a grown man cry.
Check out this other example.
Glandular functions is a fancy medical term for bodily processes controlled by glands, things like sweating, salivating or other automatic responses.
Rangel is using overly sophisticated language to sound more dramatic, which is a part of the humor.
By the way, a quick grammar note.
Did you notice how Rangel says, I seen things?
This is actually incorrect grammar.
How would you say that correctly?
I was seen things, I done seen things, I have seen things.
Right.
If you want to be absolutely correct, you should say, I've seen things.
But you'll hear native speak like this in casual speech, especially in rural dialects.
All right.
Check out the dark language Renge used in his story next.
You spend three days in a horse carcass living off your own juices.
It'll change a man.
Oh, yeah.
A carcass is the dead body of an animal.
It's not a pleasant word and emphasizes just how rough Ringo's claiming his experiences have been.
You spend three days in a horse carcass living off your own juices.
It'll change a man.
Oh, yeah.
Living off your own juices is a pretty gross expression.
That means surviving on Well your own bodily fluids.
Similarly to make a grown man.
When Rango says it'll change a man, he means an experience like that will transform a person, usually making them harder, tougher or more damaged.
This phrase is often used to talk about traumatic experiences.
For example, going through war will change a man.
A rodent is a type of animal that includes mice, rats and squirrels.
And her suit just means hairy.
Spoons is a mouse, so this is an accurate description.
Not from around these parts is a classic western movie phrase meaning someone is not a local.
These parts just means this area.
You might hear someone ask, are you from around these parts?
By the way, can I ask you a favor?
We depend on your feedback to make lessons you will really enjoy and that will help you speak English confidently and fluently.
So just take a moment to pause this lesson and comment one series, movie or celebrity you would love us to make a lesson with.
We in the RealLife English team read every single comment.
Here's a great advanced expression.
Trouble brewing means trouble is about to start.
Think of it like storm clouds gathering.
It comes from the idea of brewing beer or coffee.
Something is being prepared.
For example, I could tell there was trouble brewing between my colleague and my boss.
So, to raise hell means to loudly and dramatically cause chaos.
Like, when the airline lost his luggage again, he raised hell at the check-in desk.
It can also mean to have wild, rowdy fun.
We're going to raise hell at the concert tonight.
Here's another example.
I'm sure you know the proper way to introduce yourself is, my name is Rango.
However, Rango drops the my for a more tough-sounding delivery.
This abbreviated style is super common in westerns and action movies, just like James Bond.
The name is Bond.
James Bond.
You've done an incredible job with all this advanced English we've learned with Rango, but we're not done yet.
In fact, this is the most important part.
You're going to test everything you learned today by watching those clips again without subtitles and answering some quiz questions.
Hey.
Right.
Blend in.
Blend in.
If you want to blend in at a fancy dinner party, you should wear casual clothes to stand out, dress similarly to other guests and follow their behavior.
Announce loudly that you're new to these events.
Who exactly are you?
True or false?
As a matter of fact is used to disagree with someone.
False.
It's actually used to confirm or emphasize agreement, though it can have a slightly confrontational tone.
Not as much as your daddy's cooking!
Exactly where did you say you were from?
Me?
I'm from the west.
Out there, beyond the horizon.
Past the sunset.
The far west.
Yeah, that's right, hombres.
Place I come from.
We kill a man before breakfast just to... Fill in the blank.
After my long hike in the mountains, I really... for dinner.
Worked up an appetite.
Just to work up an appetite.
Then we salt him.
Then we pepper him.
Then we braise him in clarified butter.
And then we eat him.
You eat him?
That's what I said!
Hell, I seen things make a grown man lose control of his glandular functions.
You spend three days in a horse carcass living off your own juices.
It'll change a man.
Oh, yeah.
Add a few extra aces in this deck, gents.
Yes, sir.
Match each expression to its meaning.
Trouble brewing, raise hell, the horizon, stick out like a sore thumb.
You might see on what Hill's already raised up.
Name's... Rango.
I think there's no mistake that Rango is a character who is trying to figure out what he's supposed to be.
Very much like most of us in life.
And the fact that he's a lizard attempting to adapt to his surroundings, you know, assume these characters to be accepted.
It's very, very fitting.
Instead of motion capture, it's kind of emotion capture.
It's basically using the actors as a reference for the emotion of the characters.
I think it just gives a bunch of grown-ups an opportunity to be silly and get paid for it.
Essentially, that's my excuse.
How'd you do on the test?
I bet you understood a lot better than the first time, right?
Well, if you're a new year, every week we make lessons like this with your favorite movies, series and celebrities, to help you understand fast-speaking natives without getting lost, without missing the jokes and without subtitles.
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Are you sure this will work?
You're the one that said we needed a bust.
Just follow my lead, okay?
Uncasual.
Hey!
Here we go.
Hello!
This whole area is restricted.
You can't be here.
Whoa, fox and bunny.
Okay.
Yes, but proud parents first.
Mr. Inspector.
Inspector Snootley.
Inspector?
What do you do?
Ensure that nothing illegal gets smuggled here in one of these cargo containers?
That's a weird way to ask that.
Anyway, you gotta leave.
You can't be here.
Wait, wait.
He's right, gosh darn it.
You are right, sir.
I guess we should have thought this through.
Right, babe?
