This is an All Ears English podcast, episode 1578.
One English expression to show someone you know them well.
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Hey, Michelle, how's it going today?
Happy Monday.
Thank you.
Thank you.
How are you?
How was your weekend?
It was great as always.
Weekends are good around here.
Sunshine, puppies and hiking.
Usually that's my life out here.
So things are good.
You know what, Michelle, happened to me the other day.
What?
I was at a brewery and this guy came by with a bucket of puppies.
No.
Literally.
Stop.
That is everyone's dream.
Literally, he had this deep plastic bucket of puppies.
There were like 10 puppies in there all on top of each other.
My goodness.
Wait, what kind of puppies?
Were they all the same?
They looked like little lab.
I mean, all puppies are lab mixes, right?
There's always a lab in there somehow.
But they were mutts.
They were like rescue mutts.
They were so tiny like this.
I held one and I was like, Oh, I wish my dog was still a puppy.
Was he was he trying to get people to take them?
Or just here you go.
I mean, he came with a purpose.
Yeah, he wanted I mean, it's a smart.
It's a smart idea to go to a brewery with a bucket of puppies.
Yeah, really?
Oh, my gosh, I couldn't handle that.
And one time I used to, where I used to live, like down the street every Friday they had like pet adoption.
It was just so dangerous.
I just can't.
I can't.
I mean, once I did foster for a couple of days.
Yeah, but that was it.
And yeah, I miss having dogs around.
Yeah, it's the best.
It just instantly reduces your stress.
You know what I mean?
Yeah, it's so true.
It's amazing how animals, just having them around just changes everything.
So true.
It's true.
So, all right, Lindsay, we are going to be talking about a really fun expression today.
But before we do that, we want to thank our listeners, right?
Oh, my gosh.
Lately, we've been getting a lot of new and great reviews for the podcast.
And we like to announce on the show whoever has reviewed our show and rated our show.
So, guys, go and review and rate us.
But I want to say thank you to Simona Grodny from Italy.
Rishi Mia from Iran.
Abbas Dubabi from Iran.
Ruzbeh Mouradi from Iran, a lot of people from Iran and Italy.
Guys, go and review the podcast.
Michelle, these are fantastic five star reviews.
And thanks, guys.
Yeah, we love reading these reviews, guys.
So if you love our show, if you'd like to request a topic idea, go and write a review rate and review All Ears English wherever you listen to podcasts, okay.
Awesome.
Okay, thanks so much.
So I saw an anonymous article about someone who described themselves as an outdoors person who loves dogs and entrepreneurship.
And I was like, any chance that's Lindsay?
I described you to a T.
Yeah, I've never.
I don't know about any anonymous articles I've ever written, but it does sound like we're just talking about puppies.
Exactly.
Exactly.
It definitely describes you to a T. Guys, to a T. That's what we're talking about today.
Have you heard this expression, Lindsay?
Of course.
I love this expression.
I just think this is one of those expressions guys, that if you can throw it in there, you.
I mean, it's just so natural.
It doesn't get any more natural than this, Michelle.
Oh, it definitely is.
I mean, I for sure use this and that's why I wanted to do this episode today.
I mean so many of the episodes that you know we get listener questions, but the episodes that you know, sometimes that just come to me, the ones that I plan, it's like totally from natural conversation.
I don't just like look at a list and say, oh, of like English idioms and say, okay, pick one.
I do it because I see it or I think of it naturally.
And I think, ah, we got to do this.
Yeah.
It's kind of like we like to go out into the world and we observe language.
We're like language detectives, right?
We go out into the world, we listen to what we're saying, what our family and friends are saying, and then we bring it to you guys.
I don't see any reason to go to lists, right, Michelle?
It's not necessary.
It comes out of us organically, the language.
Exactly, exactly.
So, I mean, what does it mean to say something fits someone to a T or, you know?
Exactly that.
It means that it's exact, right?
It's a very specific and clear and exactly correct definition of something.
Usually it's used when we're describing someone, right?
Right, right, right.
Yeah.
So with the example, in the beginning I said something described you to a T, So that meant that it exactly matched you.
This description, right?
Exactly.
Exactly.
Yeah, I love that.
I love that.
Yeah.
All right.
Should we do some other examples?
Sure.
Let's do it.
So here's one.
This dress is exactly what you're looking for to a tee.
You have to come and check it out.
Okay.
So your friend saw a dress.
They knew exactly what you wanted, the type of style, the color, the fit.
And they said, this is what you want to a tee.
Exactly.
Now, you could have said this dress is exactly what you're looking for.
That's fine.
But this is so much more fun.
It's more fun.
And what I like about this.
I think this is a real connection skill because it can show someone how well you know them.
That's true.
Oh, I like that.
I like that.
So another one you could use is this apartment ad describes what you've been looking for to a T.
Let's go see it.
Right.
So similar to the last one, not a not an outfit.
Right.
But.
You know something that somebody is looking for.
Maybe could be for a job or, in this case, an apartment.
So, yeah, you know, I like that, Lindsay.
It's true.
You're showing like I've been listening to what you are looking for.
Maybe I have an idea just because I know you so well, but it really shows that you are close with this person.
It's true.
I mean, just a few hours ago we were looking online and we found a house in Denver.
That is what we want to a T right.
It is exactly.
And we're not ready to buy a house right now.
But what we saw was the exact thing that we would want to.
A T is like the backyard for the dog, right.
The dog door, the three bedrooms, the duplex.
It's exactly the right neighborhood.
It was what we want to a T. So that's a good example.
You know, it's so great when you see stuff like that.
But I do that sometimes, too, when I just look for fun.
And I'm not moving right now.
But then when you see one that is perfect and you're like someone else is gonna get that or like I just don't, it's like you almost wish you didn't see it, but it's nice to know that you know you.
There are things that are there.
You can get inspiration or learn what you like.
Learn what you like and build your profile.
I'm a believer that if you put something out into the universe of exactly what you like and want, you'll be more likely to find that.
So in a way, it's a good exercise to say, oh, this is exactly what I want when I'm ready to buy.
This is what I'm going to want.
So I know you also make sure you're on the same page with whoever you're buying a home with, right?
Yeah.
But then sometimes.
But then sometimes, like if you know it so well, then like you could be disappointed if you don't find it.
Like, I also know what kind of houses I like.
And, and sometimes I'm like, I don't know if that's if it'll actually happen.
You know some and you know sometimes like that style isn't popular, where you're looking, or I don't know.
Yeah, yeah, that's true.
That's true.
Anyway, another example is the school has what you need to a T. You should consider applying.
Yeah, for sure.
Did you feel like your university, you went to University of Maryland?
Is that right?
Okay.
Did you feel like that fit you to a T as a school?
Oh, that's a really good question.
I love where I went to school.
I loved Maryland.
I loved my experience.
But I wouldn't necessarily say that it was, like, the, like, perfect Michelle school, right?
There are some things that...
No, I mean, I had a great time.
I can't say that.
I don't know.
What about you?
You went to William and Mary?
No, actually Mary Washington.
Mary Washington.
Similar architecture, similar kind of school, like same vibe.
Mary Washington.
Right, right, right.
What about you?
Would you... I mean...
Yeah.
I mean, I thought it did when I visited and it did, but not quite.
Yeah.
Right.
Because when I got there, I realized that it was actually more of a suitcase school, as they call it.
Right.
That a lot of people are in state.
They're from Virginia.
So a lot of them freshman year would go home.
And I was from New Hampshire.
And I look around Friday night at like eight and the dorms are empty.
And I'm like, Where did everyone go?
Oh, that's tough.
That was kind of hard, but it was beautiful.
I mean, gorgeous campus, gorgeous weather.
So there were some good things about it for sure.
Cool.
So, I mean, there are, of course, other ways to say this.
Lindsay, what's the first one?
Now, this is really good.
I feel like I hear this in British English, too.
Spot on.
That is spot on.
Supernatural, right?
We use this even more than saying to a T, I guess.
I mean, yeah, that's what I was thinking.
I'm not sure everyone would agree.
I don't know.
Yeah.
Do you think it's more broad, like it fits in a more broad set of situations, would you say?
Yeah, I would say that to a T is more about like the individual.
Okay.
Or, you know, like what you said about showing you know someone well.
Spot on is more like general or in more situations like...
Just the idea of being right, right?
So like your answer was spot on.
Why did she not give you credit, right?
So spot on.
It's a little bit different in that way.
Yeah.
Or you could say, oh, you're spot on with what you just said.
You're affirming that someone's right, that they get you.
Right.
But it's not just to describe that person and their personality.
Yeah.
Right.
So it's a little bit different.
So you've got to listen to the context here.
I mean, let's see.
Lindsay, what's another way we can use it?
Yeah, you could say that performance was spot on.
She's gonna win, I think, right?
I mean, these cooking shows, they're so good.
You know, her cooking was spot on.
Everything about it was perfect execution flavor, you know, fitting the randomizer, as they say.
Right.
Yeah.
So I think this one is more just saying something was great, exactly what was needed.
What was, you know, somebody was looking for.
Yeah, exactly.
Exactly.
So what else, Michelle?
Do we have a role play or what are we going to do today?
All right.
Should we go straight to the role play?
Yeah, but was there something else you wanted to tell our listeners first?
Oh, no, we missed it.
On the nose.
Okay, I wasn't sure if we were skipping it or not.
Sorry, go ahead.
Teach our listeners that one.
Yes, on the nose, right?
So that's basically saying exactly.
So you could say, you were right.
There are 30 people here on the nose.
I mean, it doesn't literally mean on the nose, right?
Yeah.
Right.
Not literally on your nose.
Right.
But for example, that fortune teller was totally on the nose with what she told me.
I really did get my job after three more months.
Nice.
Yeah.
So this one I tend to say on the dot or actually on the dot is more for time, isn't it?
Yeah, that's true.
Three o'clock on the dot.
Right.
Yeah.
I guess, I don't know.
On the nose isn't used quite as frequently, but it's fun.
And that's how I would use it.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So all those things.
That's personally how I would use it.
Yeah, I like that.
So little bonus on the dot, but on the nose is good.
I like it.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
So guys, there are nuances to these, like slight differences, but we gave you this basic idea today.
I mean, this is way more personality than saying something is exact or perfect or something like that.
I mean, these are fun and useful and very natural sounding.
Totally.
Let's show our listeners how we use them, Michelle.
I mean, here we are looking at shoes in the shoe store.
All right.
All right.
So here we go.
Do you like these ones?
They're OK, but these ones look like your style to a T. Definitely.
They're my style, but I think I want to change it up a bit.
OK, that's fair. but these look perfect for you.
Wow, Lindsay, you're spot on.
I love them.
Good.
I knew I was on the nose with that suggestion.
Nice.
All right.
That's good when someone knows you so well that they know exactly what you would like.
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
And then there are people that you know so well, and you still don't know what they like, right?
Like do you have any family members that you're like I don't know what to buy this person for their birthday?
Totally, totally.
So it's funny how it can be.
Even if you don't know someone that well, you might have a better idea of what they would like than someone you know super well.
Oh, my God.
I definitely have moments of panic around the holidays and birthdays.
Like, oh, my gosh, what do I do?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
So, yeah.
Um, so let's go through it.
So I said that these ones, these shoes, right, look like your style to a T, right?
So they're exactly for you, basically your style, exactly your style.
Yeah.
And then you said, or I said, wow, Lindsay, wait, you said, you said, all right.
Wow.
Lindsay, you're spot on is what you said, Michelle.
You're spot on.
Like you get, you get it.
Yeah, that's exactly right.
Yes.
Right.
And then you said, I knew I was on the nose with that suggestion.
So you knew you were like kind of perfect.
Exactly.
So good.
So Michelle, do you think that it's important to know what you want to a T in life?
Do you have to have everything mapped out and figured out?
I think it's pretty impossible.
I think it's good to have some goals, but I don't.
Have you ever heard that expression, man plans and God laughs?
Yeah, I love that expression.
Yeah, it's true.
It's like I mean with anything in life, I mean you can plan and plan and plan and then things change.
So I think if you get, You want to have goals, but I think if you only are kind of stuck that this is what will make you happy, then you number one.
You miss out on opportunities.
Yeah, you know, and and you're gonna be unhappy.
I don't know.
What do you think?
Yeah, I think you have to have a mix of you know, some goals, some vision of what you know makes you happy.
So you try to move towards that.
But then there's also has to be a lot of wiggle room.
I like that expression, wiggle room.
Wiggle room for serendipity, right?
Serendipity and surprise, right?
Flexibility.
Yeah, for sure.
I mean, guys...
Be flexible in life, right?
That's what I've learned.
So, all right, Lindsay, the takeaway for today.
These expressions are super useful.
Guys, try them out today.
They are much better than just saying something is exactly right or perfect.
They are more interesting.
They have more personality.
They're not textbook.
Yeah, they're not textbook at all.
And they're going to instantly build your connection, right?
Michelle, connection, not perfection.
That's why we're here.
And the way they're going to do that is that if you use these phrases to affirm what someone said or show them that you know them so well,
It's amazing the connection that you could build with someone, right?
That is like going to move you forward with that person, whoever they are a colleague, a partner, a friend.
It's amazing the power of these if they're placed correctly.
Exactly.
Oh, I love that.
I love that, Lindsay.
Well, this was so much fun.
And thank you again to our listeners for reviewing us.
And guys, have a great day.
All right.
Sounds good, Michelle.
Talk to you soon.
Bye.
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