This is an All Ears English podcast episode 2013.
I've got news for you.
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Hey, Lindsay, how are you?
I'm doing excellent, Michelle.
How's everything in your world?
Everything is good over here.
So an episode, just a few episodes ago, 2008, we talked a lot about bike riding, didn't we, Lindsay?
We did.
We did.
We talked about riding a bike and how to say something is easy.
So guys, go check out episode 2008 for sure.
But what are we talking about today?
Well, so my son is four and he's starting to.
He rode like one of the.
Do you know what a balance bike is?
Is it like a tricycle where they have the wheels on the side or the extra wheels?
No, it's actually not.
It's it's a it's basically like a regular bike, but there are no pedals.
And that's like this like new trend.
It might be more popular in other countries, but here it's like kind of like I think, just starting to be the trendy thing as a way to teach your kids to ride a bike without training wheels.
Because what you do is basically they don't have any pedals, so they're using their feet to, And it looks hilarious.
And then but then they kind of like start to not use their feet.
So they get used to this feeling of balancing.
And the idea is to avoid to avoid having training wheels.
What's wrong with training wheels?
Are they?
I'm sure there's nothing.
You know, it's one of those things where then, like you know, as a parent, you're like well, if I use training wheels, I must be a horrible parent.
So I guess I got to do this.
I'm sure it's fine.
So what's wrong?
I don't know.
I think they say like, you know, that it teaches the kids to not really ride in the correct way.
I've also like, yeah, like I so I don't know.
Also, innovation has to continue.
Right.
We're in such a market economy, the capitalistic economy.
I'm not an anti-capitalist.
Don't worry.
But I'm saying we have to kind of like things, have to always innovate to sell more things right, new things have to be invented right, so so, but because of this, he got really good at the balance bike um, and so he started saying i want a bike with pedals, i want a pedal bike.
So we did eventually get him Well, we got, like it off of Facebook Marketplace or something a bike.
And so you know we would start to teach him.
And we're going around town and you know it's not going that well.
And Dan is he keeps on saying, oh, no, I just want to like, oh, I just want to walk.
And then Dan has to carry this heavy bike around.
Oh, my gosh.
He's getting tired and it's just like it's tough.
So eventually Noah said, I'm tired.
And Dan said, no. well, I've got news for you.
I'm not carrying this.
I love that.
Way to put your foot down, Dan.
Right?
Yes, exactly.
Exactly.
So we're going to talk about this expression when somebody says well, I've got news for you, because that's kind of a fun one.
So that's the plan for today.
But what do we want to tell our listeners, Lindsay?
Well guys, I want to remind you that this episode, and Pretty much all of our episodes, are over on YouTube now, right.
Just go to YouTube, type in All Ears English Podcast, and you will find it, right?
Go ahead and hit that follow button on our channel.
And you can also, if you prefer podcasting, just hit follow right here, wherever you are currently listening.
But Michelle, the YouTube part is kind of fun, right?
Because we add the element of video, our listeners can see us.
What do you think?
Yes, it's fun if my Internet is good and your Internet is good.
Yeah, the idea.
That's the idea.
So, yes, please hit follow on our YouTube channel.
So, guys, we have other episodes for you to listen to.
We have episode 1916 was get out of here.
How to respond appropriately when someone shares news in English.
So this idea of using like an expression with a lot of personality.
So that's what this one is.
It's so fun.
And I'm so excited for our listeners to learn these expressions.
This is what brings you to that near native level, right?
That C1, C2 level.
This pushes you up to that point.
So why did Dan say that?
Michelle, let's get right into it.
Let's get into our case study for today.
Yeah.
Why did he say, well, I've got news for you?
Well, I was kind of like, oh, this is like, it's almost like, oh, this is a...
I'm sharing the harsh reality of something.
Sharing the harsh reality with a little personality, right?
With a little personality.
It's a little sarcastic.
So it's kind of fun, but he's saying like, you know, to my son, oh, well, I've got news for you.
Like this is the reality.
I'm not carrying this.
So you better write it or we're not taking it out.
Yes.
And I could imagine that can be a frustration for parents when kids get tired, but it's physically hard, right.
Right.
It's yes.
The other day he had his scooter and we were with friends and he didn't want to ride the scooter at that time.
And so then I was dragging the scooter around, and then we get back after the long walk, back to the apartment and there was no scooter because I forgot it out.
And then I didn't know which location to go to first or if it was anywhere we had to go.
It was just it was it was late in the day.
It was a whole mess.
So, yes, that that kind of thing happens a lot.
Yeah, for sure.
For sure.
So it kind of conveys the feeling of giving a harsh reality to someone, not just to kids but to adults, as fine friends, anyone.
But also with a hint of sarcasm and playfulness I would say
Right, right.
Exactly.
I love that.
I mean, Lindsay, what about the tone of voice?
So, you know, I was saying, well, I've got news for you or well, I've got news for you.
I mean, either one of those, you have to kind of make it a little bit punchy.
You can't just say well, I've got news for you right, i've got news for you, right for you.
That's emphasizing you, the other person.
Or, if you want to emphasize news well, i've got news for you, right.
You could do either.
Really depends on the meaning you want to convey guys okay right right so um yes, it's used in a, in a kind of a sarcastic way, like we said.
I mean lindsay, can it be genuine?
Could you say like, oh well, i've got news for you yes, but i would, if it were genuine, like something exciting, like i just got engaged, for example.
I think it would be more like hey, i have great news hey, i have some news.
It wouldn't be i've got news for you, because when you add in this you, you're giving that person a kind of a special warning.
Something is not quite.
Usually it's more on the negative side right, so it's a little different.
So i would not say just hey, i have news, Right.
Hey, I have news.
Right.
True, true, true.
So, you know, you can use it that way.
Oh, we've got news for you.
Like Jamie is moving to England or whatever it is.
I just say news, right?
Because I've got, you know, is it really that with the for you?
Unless that person's like really, really close.
I don't know.
I think it's just like that for you is more directed to one person.
That news about Jamie moving to England is broad.
It's about everyone.
It's news for everyone. don't you think?
Right.
Well, unless you have a very special relationship to Jamie.
Right.
Like there's something.
There's why something, some reason why it would be specifically interesting to you.
Exactly.
That's how you have to think about that.
Oh, that's interesting.
That is interesting.
Should we give some examples for our listeners?
Yes.
All right.
So, okay.
Lindsay, I just had three cups of coffee.
I'm wired.
You just had three cups of coffee.
I don't know where you are in our script, Michelle.
I can't find where you are.
Oh, you're right.
I'm wrong.
Okay, let's go.
Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.
Yeah, I was way, way down.
Let's go back.
Let's try another one.
Here we go, Michelle.
Boom.
I'm going to buy a three bedroom apartment in New York City.
Oh, that would be awesome.
But I've got news for you.
It's not cheap.
Okay.
So that's good, because I'm the only one interested in buying an apartment in New York.
So, you know, instead of saying i've got news, i've got news for you because you are considering buying the apartment.
Right, it's very specific.
Yes yes yes, yes.
And this reminds me we i can't remember which episode it was, but where it's like you know a similar idea, where you kind of it's this this would be a little bit irritating to say.
I think, like I don't know, just kind of like pushing someone down a notch like oh, back to earth, you know.
Michelle, have we not done an episode on naysayers?
I absolutely can't stand naysayers.
I hate it when someone, that was something that always triggered me when I was a kid is when I said I want to go do this.
I had these big dreams.
And then if another kid would say, you can't do that.
You won't be able to do that.
I think we've done an episode about Debbie Downer.
Debbie Downer's naysayers.
Okay, so yeah.
Yeah, it is irritating.
So this is, I feel like you should be like, well, thanks, Michelle.
Yeah, it's true.
And there are adults who are naysayers too.
It means that they haven't allowed themselves to dream.
They're too afraid to dream themselves.
So they have to push everyone else down and say, you won't be able to do that.
I just walk away from those people and I like to dream.
Right.
Yeah.
So that's good, Lindsay.
I love it.
So but yeah, you can you don't always have to say, well, all right, I've got news for you.
Right.
You can just say I've got news for you.
And then, you know, we've we've, you know, talked about here.
Well, let's do this little role play.
So, Lindsay, what's up?
Well, I've got news for you.
I'm getting a dog.
Oh, that's a good piece of news, right? that's good yeah so right so but we talked about this if it's good news but maybe i'm saying that specifically because i've been talking about it with you and yes you know like so i so it is specifically interesting to you because if i just said well i've got news but let's say we've been you know i've been sharing with you my dreams of getting a dog for years and you know yeah it's kind of a really interesting way for listeners to build connection right here by adding that you especially if you've been having maybe you've been my coach of getting i'm doing this for my dad right now he really wants to get a dog actually uh and i'm giving him all like here's the book to read here's the cage to get here's you know here's what you need um and so he could come to me say hey i've got news for you right uh that would make sense to us Yeah, yeah, I agree.
Okay, so now we are back.
Snarky.
Yes.
Okay, so here's so this is where we were guys.
So Lindsay, I just had three cups of coffee.
I'm wired.
Well, I've got news for you, Michelle, you're gonna be up all night.
I think you already know that physically in your body that you're gonna be up all night.
You don't need to hear that from me.
Kind of rude, snarky.
Yeah right, it's a little bit snarky, a little bit annoying, a little annoying, yeah.
And here's the next one tracy isn't coming wow well, i've got news for her.
If she flakes one more time, i'm not making any more plans.
Well, that's interesting.
So now we're saying i've got news for her yeah, so someone else, right?
So yeah, what about that?
Just it's again.
You're it's.
You've got a little attitude in here right, because you're a little annoyed.
I'm a little annoyed.
Right.
Right.
I'm definitely a little annoyed.
She's flaked out multiple times.
And, you know, that I'm just tired of it.
So I'm saying, you know that kind of I've come to this new realization, or this is my new plan, or like I'm changing something, like I'm not taking this anymore.
Right right, i've got news for her.
Things are going to change around here right, things are going to change around here.
I feel like that should be a movie quote or something, i don't know.
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah um so yeah, i think that we've gone through a lot of the uses here, but the basic idea is that you're using it in a potentially snarky way right, alerting some one that something will change.
Like also, dan with the bike.
It's like maybe he was carrying the bike before and now he's like no no, i've got news for you.
Like, i'm done with this.
Yeah, that's a great one.
That's we're not, we're not doing this anymore.
Yeah, that's where i got the idea for this episode.
That's one of those natural, it just came out of nowhere and i said sometimes i'll just, it'll just come up and i'll just make a note on my phone and then i save it because it's real, Real life.
Real English, yeah.
And then there's the other piece that I wanna pull out that we mentioned.
This is a way to come full circle with someone, right?
With my dad and me, we're talking about him getting a dog and he's getting all this advice from me.
And then if I come back from Egypt next month and he says, oh, I've got news for you.
I've got news for you.
I'm getting a dog.
That news is for me more than anything, right?
And he could say, I've got news, yes, but it makes it more personal and more connection worthy.
If he says I've got news for you, because he's referring to all the times we talked about what he needs to prepare to have that dog.
So that's a connection skill.
That's good.
That's good.
Yeah, I love that.
Well, I hope your dad gets an adorable dog.
I know.
I'm a little worried.
He's never had a dog before.
He doesn't know how to train a dog.
He'll be okay.
Yeah, he'll be okay.
Dogs are great.
So fun, fun.
They are.
They are.
All right, Michelle.
Thanks for hanging out today.
Thank you.
And guys, we'll see you on the next episode.
Take care.
Bye.
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