This is an All Ears English podcast episode 2092.
I've created a monster.
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Hey, Michelle, how's it going today?
Hey, Lindsay.
Good.
How are you?
Oh, I am feeling fantastic today.
All good.
But I have a question to start off today's episode.
Yes.
So were you afraid of monsters as a kid?
Like, were you worried there was a monster under your bed or that kind of thing when you were a kid?
I think I was afraid of monsters.
I don't know if like monsters in the specific sense of how you imagine them, but I think I was more afraid of bad guys like somebody coming to take me or something like that.
What about you?
Scary, even scarier than monsters, i mean yeah, it is well.
My first horror movie was poltergeist.
Do you remember poltergeist?
Did you ever see that?
I've never.
I've never seen it.
I don't do those movies.
Yeah, i don't know why.
I watched it as a kid.
It was very scary, totally freaked me out, and so i guess i was scared of ghosts or spirits, that kind of thing.
Oh yeah, Yeah.
Yeah.
It's interesting, you know, as as a parent now because, like my son, he'll say like oh, are there?
Are there monsters?
And you know, a lot of times I read that you should just say monsters aren't real, instead of because sometimes apparently some parents go in and say oh, I'm getting rid of any monsters.
I'm putting this potion.
They're not going to come.
And I've read just say they're not real.
And that's it.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That's a good point, actually.
Yeah, just don't entertain them.
Right, just they're not real.
But the tough part is when he asks me things like, are there any bad guys in this world?
He's like, And then I'm like, ooh.
So anyway, that's a topic for another day.
How to talk to a kid about that.
Maybe our listeners have suggestions.
It's like, you know, the innocence is starting to go away a little bit.
Oh, sad.
Yeah, that must be hard.
You just got to read up on it, Michelle.
Talk to other parents on what to do.
Exactly.
I don't know what to say.
So anyway, but today we're going to talk about monsters.
No, we're going to teach a useful yeah about a useful expression that comes up pretty often in English conversations.
And I know this because it just came up in my life.
You want to know what the expression is?
Yeah.
What is it?
Let's do it.
It's I created a monster.
Oh, love that one.
Yes.
Now, this is an example of a real monster you could create.
Right.
Where it would be a real thing. right right but what do we but what do we mean by monster like we don't like when we say monster i mean we're gonna talk more about this um but like basically we're not talking about a real monster you know yeah it means when you've allowed super common and actually interesting expression i think in english when you've allowed some someone to kind of have their way i guess You know, for example, if you allow, well, this could be like your kids.
Like if you allow your kids too much leeway, then they could get a little bit out of control.
Or if you're a boss and you allow your employees to just be whatever, do things that maybe aren't great for the business, but are great for them.
Also could be the situation you've created monsters, right?
Yeah.
What else?
What else?
Yeah.
Well, The dictionary, the free dictionary, said to instruct, encourage or instigate someone to act or behave in a certain way, only for them to do so to an excessive, often unwanted degree.
So it's basically like you started something, you created it, you gave this permission, you gave this idea, you gave whatever it was.
And then it kind of went too far and went too far.
We're going to talk about some examples today.
So this is definitely.
This is a.
This is a good expression.
I feel like it's used pretty frequently, don't you, lindsay?
Yeah, i think it's really fun too.
You know, it's a fun way to say something's gotten out of control and you've had a role in that and you don't know what to do now.
Yeah well um, another uh fun expression we recently taught on the podcast was rent.
So that was.
If you want to learn more about that, that was recently.
That was episode 2084.
Have you heard the term rent-free in English?
So now we're giving you a new cool expression.
Cool and modern.
Yeah, I love it when we cover these really modern expressions.
Guys, you can't get these in a textbook.
So Allers English is the place to get it.
So follow right here on this show.
Good stuff.
Michelle, did your friend use this the other day?
Did you have a conversation with a friend?
She did.
I can't remember.
I unfortunately can't remember the exact way that she used it.
But I remember when she used it, I said, aha, there's a podcast.
Yes, that is definitely a good one for the podcast.
It was about her son.
Something I wish I remembered what it was.
But yeah, it's definitely a good one to use about your kids.
But let's talk about some examples like why you might use them.
We're going to talk through them what this means.
Know if this originally comes from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or just that idea?
I think it's the idea of kind of Frankenstein's monster.
So guys, if you've read Frankenstein, let us know.
But I've created a monster.
You were the one to make it.
So let's give a couple examples here.
So In one situation, it could be you encouraged a friend to focus more on fashion choices.
And now that's all he or she can think about or talk about.
Right, Leslie?
Right.
So maybe before this, you had a friend that had a variety of interests.
But then you said, oh, you know, what about fashion?
Like, have a look.
And then all of a sudden they went so deep into it.
So, for example, I taught Lewis some basic fashion rules, but now he's obsessed with it.
I definitely created a monster.
Right.
So you started it.
You suggested it.
Maybe you taught him a little bit.
And now all the conversations are about fashion and everybody's sick of it.
Yeah, the person is obsessive and it's out of control.
You don't know what to do.
Um, or another situation michelle, you taught your friend some cool social media tricks and now she's always just glued to her phone making videos.
Okay, she's always got the video in the face yeah, all the time.
So, for example, i told anna how to use instagram, but now she's obsessed with it.
I created a monster yes.
Another good example it's when the person becomes obsessed with something or starts to do something too much, like you've allowed them or you've introduced something to them, and now it's going out of control.
Or your child what about this, michelle?
You teach your kid something?
Yep you, you taught your child to throw everything in the trash after eating, but now the child throws away things that are not trash.
So they're just like throwing things in the trash, um.
So, for example, i finally got frankie to clean up after himself, but now he throws everything away.
I created a monster.
Oh, that's pretty funny.
I like that.
So is this a bad thing michelle, to do this, to have created a monster?
What do you think?
Well, i think a lot of times it's said as a joke right, it's just like a funny commentary.
I mean, it could be used in a more serious way if it's about something serious like oh, i really created a monster.
But i think it generally has a playful tone to it.
What do you think?
I would say it's pretty playful.
Yeah, it's kind of like also a sense of you're kind of resigned to this, like you don't know what to do.
You need a little help, maybe in how you can redirect the attention to something else for this person.
Right, right, right, right.
Exactly, exactly.
That's so funny.
So that's definitely something that is used in everyday conversation.
Yeah.
Yeah yeah michelle, so i want to, you know, let our listeners know back to a previous episode right, that we talked about recently that i want them to go back and check out.
That was episode 2088 that came out november 1st on a different topic, but also very modern and important.
We talked about reading books guys, and the vocabulary that you need for sharing your reading style.
Right michelle, you remember that one?
Yeah exactly, and yeah, right now we already mentioned a book frankenstein right?
Yeah um, but yeah, this can be so refreshing in a world with so much technology.
Yeah, there really is.
I'm so overwhelmed with tech sometimes, so be able being able to talk about books is key.
Yeah for sure yeah yeah, definitely.
So guys, actually reading is such a great way to practice another language.
That's true, michelle.
You know, it's not always just about speaking.
We know we've interviewed language learning experts on this show.
I mean, we've been to school to study these things.
You do need to do multiple things, not just speaking.
You need reading, listening, writing.
You need all the skills involved.
Yeah.
And you know what?
I have a goal, Lindsay.
I love it.
One day, I would like to read a novel in another language.
It's a big goal and I really have to work up to it.
But it is a goal of mine for one day.
But you know, guys, that's why I'm using the stories feature on Rosetta Stone to help learn this.
They have short stories you can listen to and read.
I love that, Michelle.
It's great to have a goal and to have the tools to go ahead and go for it, right?
Yeah know, i've been checking out these stories too, a little bit, a little bit, when i have time.
Uh, for my portuguese, because our listeners know i've shared um, that i want to be able to read signs, menus and brochures on my trip, which is coming up very soon.
Michelle yes uh yeah yes definitely, it's huge when you are traveling and you can, you know, be able to read the signs, the menus, like there's so much.
I don't think we really consider reading enough, or at least i don't.
Sometimes reading is something that falls by the wayside until you need it, and so that's why i want to get myself, you know, up to a certain level where i really can read more, and you know, i love, on rosetta stone, you can even record your self-reading story.
So Yeah, it's reading, but all the skills of learning are really mixed together here.
Yeah, that is huge.
That's going to create a more well-rounded practice.
So guys, we recommend Rosetta Stone.
You can try Rosetta Stone out for yourself and you can get an exclusive deal that we've arranged because of our partnership.
All Ears English has a partnership with Rosetta Stone.
Right, Michelle?
Yeah.
Yeah, guys.
And for a limited time, you can get lifetime access to 25 different languages with Rosetta Stone.
I love this.
It's such a good deal.
So that's 40 off of this lifetime membership 179 dollars for life.
You know lifetime access is amazing.
I know a lot of our listeners do worry about expiration dates because they're busy professionals Michelle, so that's why I think this lifetime access deal is going to be great for them.
Yeah definitely, and this gives you the opportunity to practice languages of your choice, Right?
And you can practice speaking, reading, pronunciation, vocab and more.
So, you know, one day I'm working up to it.
I will read that novel in French.
You'll get there.
I know you will.
I'm feeling good.
We're going to check back in with you on that soon, though.
So guys go over to Rosetta Stone dot com, slash a e e to get this special deal and use coupon code a e e.
And check out that stories feature that we've been talking about to really go deeper with your reading.
Good stuff.
Definitely.
And guys, this is only good for a limited time.
So get over and do that today.
So that's R-O-S-E-T-T-A-S-T-O-N-E dot com slash A-E-E.
So go on and get started today.
Get to it.
Yeah, and guys, write into us, right?
Once you have actually tried Rosetta Stone, come over, send us an email, let us know how it went.
Ask us an extension question and maybe we can make another episode about how to really maximize this program, the app Rosetta Stone, and how to go deeper and deeper using Rosetta Stone.
So good.
So send your questions to lindsay at allearsenglish.com.
Good stuff.
All right, Michelle.
All right.
Yeah.
So getting back to monsters, right?
Creating monsters.
Yeah.
What are some other ways that would mean the same thing?
Other ways to say it?
Well, it's interesting because I've heard you say this a couple times already on the episode.
So I know it's natural.
The first one is it got out of control.
Something gets out of control.
Um, does that feel natural to you?
Oh yeah, i have said it a few times.
That's exactly the first thing that came to mind.
I wanted my friend to text me more, but it got out of control.
She texts me like 30 times a day.
Michelle, do you have any friends that text like that, that amount of texting?
I do have one, oh no, how.
Sometimes i'm busy and i don't respond and it's just yeah, and then i feel bad.
I yeah, so I do, but she's very sweet.
Oh, I'm sure.
Yeah.
Intense.
What else?
And what's the last one?
Well, when something backfires.
So this kind of is exactly the same thing.
And I was just listening to a daily episode, the daily from the New York times, and they use this expression backfiring.
They're thinking about a new uh legislation in california we can go into that another day and they're worried about bills backfiring legislative bills backfiring in certain ways.
So it backfired.
I recommended he looked for a new job, but it backfired on me.
He spends all day and night networking and job hunting right, so people go go very heavily into their you know tunnel vision.
Yeah yeah yeah yeah, definitely yeah, so that's another time you could use it.
So guys, We have I created a monster.
It got out of control and it backfired.
So those are really good ones to use when you started something.
I mean the other expressions you can use in slightly different ways at other times.
We can do follow-ups on them.
But the main idea of what we're trying to get across is to use them in ways that are.
You started something and now you're kind of kicking yourself over it.
Like, oh, now this is all that can happen.
I let this get out of control.
I should have known, right?
When I got this person into this, I should have known this would happen, but I didn't.
And so now I don't know what to do.
Right, right.
All right.
And I think kids are a great example, right?
Because as a parent, you set the rules, right?
You show them what to do, how to navigate through the world.
And then kids have their own minds and take things in their own way.
Don't they, Michelle?
They sure do.
So let's do a role play so you guys can see how this could all feel. fit together.
And Lindsay, I've been working on choosing more interesting names for my role.
I don't know if you've noticed it recently.
Chloe, I mean, I was hoping you would notice I didn't.
But now I'm noticing you have to you brought it to my attention.
And I appreciate it.
Shelby, Chloe, I'm liking it.
I'm liking it.
Keep on thinking of some good names.
All right.
So here we are talking about our friends habits.
We are friends.
All right, here we go.
Shelby is really obsessed with her looks all of a sudden.
I know it's my fault.
I taught her about makeup.
Well, you created a monster, Michelle.
I mean, I know it got out of control.
It totally backfired on you.
I like how this episode has three key phrases, right?
Very straightforward.
Our listeners can write these down, guys.
You can use all of them.
So good.
All right.
So, Michelle, let's go through this role play.
Okay, so we're talking about somebody being obsessed with her looks.
And I'm the one who taught her about makeup.
And you actually said, well, you created a monster.
So it can be used about somebody else to like to talk to somebody else or to give them a little jab.
You were the one that did it, right?
Yeah, that's interesting.
Because that was the first time in the episode we had seen.
Yeah, yo yo me saying to you, to someone else, someone saying to someone else that they had.
But you can totally do that.
Right?
I think I hear it more. about something like if I say it, I've done this, right?
I've created a monster.
That's the most common way.
But certainly you can turn it back around and say, you did this.
Teasing.
Right.
Yeah, exactly.
This would be teasing.
And then I said, I know it got out of control.
And then I say, it totally backfired on you.
Another great expression where something essentially comes back to hurt you or harm you in some way.
That can be used in a more serious way too, as I said about that episode that I listen to in the daily, but we use it for teasing as well, right?
Right, right, right, right.
All right, so what's the takeaway for today, Lindsay?
Guys, this is useful.
I mean, first of all, it's fun, right?
It's fun language.
Created a monster.
I don't think this exists.
I mean, maybe this does exist in other languages, but- Yeah, let us know.
Yeah, let us know if it does exist in your language.
If it doesn't, let's add some color to our English here and our connections.
That's what it does, Michelle.
What do you think?
Yeah.
Yeah.
I think it's super fun.
I think it's, it's just always, it always, you know what?
I feel like when everybody says, whenever anybody says this, it kind of makes the other person laugh.
Like in a way it's just, it's just, it's just a fun one.
I don't know, but it's very common.
It's very useful.
And you'll start to in your head when you are in certain situations.
See if you think to yourself now that, Is there any?
Has this happened to you?
And is there any time where you could practice this expression dealing with that?
Maybe you're realized.
Oh wait, I did teach my, my wife, that I did teach my.
You know, I did encourage someone to do this and now it's too much.
And so think, you know, maybe there's some situation now where you can realize oh, actually I can use that about this.
That's a good way to apply what we learned today to your everyday life.
Yeah.
And just one final thought here.
I wonder if it could be used sarcastically.
I guess it could.
Right.
So I'm thinking about, like tennis parents.
You know your parents push you into tennis, but then you become like a champion.
Could that parent use that sarcastically?
Like, congratulations, your son won the New England championships.
I know we've created a monster here.
Could it would you would you say that or what do you think?
Would you stick to more honest situations where yeah, actually is not the best thing that I've just created?
That's a good question.
I think it's more frequently towards that, but I think it could be used about a positive thing.
Maybe you encouraged your child to do community service and then they started up a whole you know nonprofit or something like that.
Right, that's what I mean.
Like one day as they grew up.
Yeah, and you could say, yep, we created a monster.
Yeah, I think if they're doing something good.
I think you could.
Yeah, I think you could.
Or like you're saying, if your son loves languages, you took him to Paris, right?
And now he wants to learn German and all these other languages.
He's all excited about it.
I guess that could be like a positive thing as long as you use the right tone of voice.
But the more common usage is definitely... oh, I created a problem and I don't know what to do.
Right.
Yeah, I think so.
I think you that is a good point Lindsay, because especially I'm thinking about with my son, I would probably I could say something like that as a joke.
Yeah, it's a joke.
I love it.
So good.
So good.
Super interesting today, Michelle.
Thanks for bringing this scary expression and bringing the monster English, and you have a good rest of your day.
You too, Lindsay.
Have a good day.
Take care.
Bye.
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