This is an All Ears English podcast, episode 2096.
Nothing says connection like a relevant expression.
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Nothing says New York City like a bagel and cream cheese.
Today, learn a new structure that you can use when you introduce your friend to a new city or when you want to characterize your own habits and style in English.
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Hey, Michelle, what's going on?
Hey, Lindsay, not too much.
How are you?
I'm feeling great today.
Yeah, all good.
No complaints.
What are we talking about today?
Well, Lindsay, what are some of the main characteristics of living in Denver?
Because I know recently you said that there was some video about living in Denver.
That's a funny thing, right?
Like what, what are some of the main things about living in Denver?
Yeah.
It's funny when you see memes on Tik TOK, where someone makes fun of a city and they do all the stereotypical things but they just act ridiculously.
Right.
And they just really, really indulge in that.
That's what that was.
I saw, but the characteristics of living in Denver are exactly what we're in that Tik TOK video.
Um it's hikers, active people, bike hikers bikers uh, mountain climbers and breweries and dogs everywhere.
Like a very dog-friendly city.
So active lifestyle, breweries, and dog-friendly is Denver.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Well, yeah.
For me, I mean, nothing says New York like a bagel and cream cheese.
Oh, love it.
Gotta love New York.
Gotta love New York.
Do you ever get that... Okay.
Okay. this drink, egg cream.
Is that actually a thing that New Yorkers eat or is it just in the history of New York?
I think it's more like at a diner, like an old timey thing.
I don't know.
It's not like my friends and I would go out for an egg cream, but I think it does exist places.
So I'm not really sure.
Okay.
Okay.
Because it's funny.
You look at New York culture, like look it up online and that always comes up.
But then I'm always.
I lived there for a while and I didn't really feel the need to try an egg cream, but no, I've never had.
Okay anyways, moving on from the egg cream, good question, um.
So yeah, today we are going to talk about a useful and fun construction that I just used, um.
So we'll get into that in a second.
But recently there was another fun expression we used.
It was just episode 2092 was I've created a monster, so that's one to listen to.
Yeah, we went into a lot of details, a lot of examples guys, on that episode about when to use that.
I've created a monster when not to use it.
So go check that out.
We really went pretty deep on that one.
So 2092.
Yeah, that was really fun.
Okay, so Lindsay, what is the constriction?
I used it already.
And I loved it.
It was nothing says X like Y. Okay.
What?
What does that mean?
We're going to get into it in just a minute here, Michelle.
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Definitely.
Definitely.
All right.
So nothing says X like Y. Lindsay, do you use this?
Yes.
I love this.
I love it.
I also love it when a place is so.
It's fun when you can characterize a place based on certain things.
It's just fun.
It's culture.
This is culture.
Yeah.
I think we've done episodes on that.
Oh, I'd have to dig back and find that.
But different... places in the US what they might be known for.
So, but yeah, like it's, when you use this, it's basically saying something is typical or indicative of something else.
So for example, like the bagel comment, nothing says New York like a bagel and cream cheese.
What does that saying?
Oh, it's saying that New York is.
One of the things that New York is famous for is a bagel and cream cheese.
And New York might be one of the places that is most famous for bagel and cream cheese.
Bagels are big in New York, right?
Yeah, they are.
They are big.
Figuratively and literally, they are giant bagels um, and yeah, i mean they that there's a whole new york pride over bagels like.
Oh, because something about how the water, like where the water comes from.
Everybody thinks that the bagels are better in new york and they are delicious.
So i don't know, i have to go on a bagel cross-country travel journey to actually try them out.
Put on, new york bagels are amazing um, but yeah, so if they're, They're typical in New York, right.
Like nothing says New York.
This is a key characteristic of New York.
That's a key character.
And I challenge you guys, if you're living in the US, go to every place in the US.
This is like our Connected Communicator course, right?
We really tried to do this and highlight cities, regions.
You know nothing.
Says California like Huntington Beach, surfing competitions, right.
Things like that.
We interviewed a surfer.
Go over and check out that course because that is a journey around the US.
American culture.
Allersenglishcom slash connection.
I'm going to Pittsburgh next week and I'm really excited, Michelle, because I've never been.
Have you been to Pittsburgh?
I haven't.
Or the week after next.
Yeah.
Yeah.
No, I actually haven't.
And dan always says that he wants to go to pittsburgh.
He's like oh, maybe we should do a little weekend there, and i'm always like well, i don't really know what we would do and so we never do it, but i know that pittsburgh is supposed to be great, so i would like to go.
You'll have to let us know.
Yes, we'll have to update you, you know, on that thing.
That is typical of pittsburgh.
Yes, so fun, so fun.
But it goes beyond just states and cities and regions right right right, like let's what's?
Another example?
Well, nothing says summer like a tall glass of lemonade, and you could see yourself sitting back and drinking it and saying that.
Or in the workplace, you could say nothing says I want the job like a good thank you letter.
And when you say thank you letter, you mean a thank you for the interview letter, right?
Yes.
Yes.
Exactly.
What's another one?
Nothing says someone is into you like a ton of text messages.
Right.
That's true.
Yeah.
So you can use this to talk about people's behavior, food and drink, actions, things you do.
What else?
Yeah.
Yeah.
One more is nothing says you'll like this one, Lindsay.
Nothing says Christmas vacation like watching Love Actually.
Yes, of course.
You and I love that movie.
We do.
We do.
We do.
So this can be used in a genuine way, like nothing says summer, like a tall glass of lemonade, like a real way.
Or New York in the cream cheese.
Or it can be kind of used on a joking or sarcastic way, like nothing says someone's into you, like a ton of text messages, that kind of way.
That's a good point.
It could be sarcastic.
I don't know if we have any examples of saying the opposite of that and being sarcastic, the opposite of what's true.
Maybe that's in a follow-up episode for another day, but you can use this sarcastically.
That's the point, right?
Yes, yes, yes, definitely.
Okay, Michelle, what else?
More examples here?
More examples.
Okay, but just because there are so many ways to use it.
So here we go.
And this one is a little bit, sarcastic in a way.
It's kind of teasing.
Nothing says tourist like slow walking, a map, and an I Heart New York shirt.
But I thought I heart New York shirts were cool.
Now.
I thought they were cool.
I thought locals could get them.
Yeah, I don't really see that.
Although I do kind of sometimes I want to get them for my kids.
And I told you once when Dan and I played tourists on a date and we wore shirts.
They are fun.
Yeah, but I do have one.
So I have to do I have I want another one.
I do.
I do like the way they look.
I never wear it, but I bought it when I lived there.
And so I said, there's an exception to the rule here.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
So anyways, okay, good stuff.
But typically, yes, that is kind of the joke.
The I Heart New York shirt being very touristy, slow walking map, right?
Nowadays, probably just your eye and your phone.
Yeah.
What else?
Well, and it's also interesting how we say nothing says tourist, right?
Like, that's not really like, it's like almost like uh, you imagine a sign with the word tourist on it?
Nothing says tourist, like right right right right, yeah.
What's the next one?
We have two more.
Um, nothing says desperate like sending gifts to your doorstep.
What, what would be the scenario here If somebody really really this is like the text message, you know, just somebody is overly into someone else and they just keep on sending gifts and going overboard?
It makes me think of an episode of friends where Ross felt threatened by someone Rachel worked with and he kept on sending her gifts and showing up in the office and things like that.
That's funny.
I love that.
I love that.
And then the last one, nothing says you're not getting the job like an awkward goodbye.
Ooh.
Have you experienced that before in an interview, Rochelle?
Not that I can think of.
But like yeah, if you, if you have an awkward ending, an awkward situation you might feel, you might say oh man, I was terrible.
And, you know, nothing says you're not getting the job like an awkward goodbye.
Yeah, it's very awkward.
I love that.
I love that.
Our listeners do next.
So guys, we want you to do an exercise now, not a physical exercise, but we want you to write down.
Do a jumping jacks.
Go ahead.
Write down three of your own examples from your life.
So it could be from your life, your culture, your city, just something you've observed in society.
But write these down and have them to...
See if you can throw it out there some way.
Be prepared.
Be prepared with a way you could try this out.
And the thing is, you can even use it to joke about a person.
Now, don't be mean, but Lindsay, what's one thing you could say about me?
Nothing says Michelle like Birkenstocks and a baby stroller.
That's hilarious.
Michelle, I am going to stand up for Birkenstocks.
You know that Birkenstocks is going public on the stock exchange?
I didn't know.
And they are a very strong company.
They're like a... if you look at their stock, the hopes are high.
So they're actually cool.
They're actually cool.
Oh, I mean, do you know that I'm obsessed with Birkenstocks?
I know, but I felt like you were poking fun at yourself a little bit.
No, I'm not.
I'm not.
I mean, I guess in a way, but like, I love Birkenstocks.
Actually, I'll tell you.
So when I got married, Dan made a video where he contacted lots of important people or funny people in to to my life people that i know or don't know and he got in touch with the ceo of birkenstocks and i have a video of the ceo from birkenstocks and he's like wishing us a happy wedding and they sent white birkenstocks and my sister-in-law decorated them for me when i was getting married.
Definitely a fan okay well, oh yeah, and and you know what i liked them before?
They were cool because i would say i've been wearing them for over 10 years and my one of my lovely former roommates would say make fun of me for them.
And now look yes, they definitely had.
Maybe that's why that vibe.
Right, they had a period where they were not cool right yeah, and then somehow now they've transformed into being cool and now they're going public.
I mean it's kind of awesome.
So what can I like it?
I like it.
Nothing lights me up like a Birkenstock conversation.
Okay.
Lindsay, so why does this bring about connection?
Well, I think culture brings about connection, especially when we can use this to.
Certainly it's fun to poke fun at ourselves, to say who we are by saying like for me, I'd say nothing.
Says Lindsay like jorts and sneakers.
You know what I mean?
I love jorts.
I like, I like jean shorts.
I love them.
They're the best.
And jean shorts that I make myself, right?
That I actually cut the jeans.
Really?
I didn't know that.
Oh, I love that.
I love that style.
It's my favorite thing in the world.
So we make fun of ourselves, right?
It's not exactly fashionable, but it's fun.
But when it comes to actually talking about cities, you can show your knowledge.
The more you know, the more you can connect you know.
So, the more you travel, the more you read about.
Okay uh, in michigan there's a huge culture of going to lake michigan and being around the lake, the huge, great lakes, huge part of the life there.
I was just there two weeks ago.
Talk about it right, nothing says michigan like you know, taking a boat out on lake michigan right, it's just talking about culture gives people something to grab on to.
Yeah, i think yeah, for sure, For sure.
Yeah.
If you observe your surroundings it can bring up certain jokes or just a mutual understanding of a certain situation.
That can be really good for connection.
And Lindsay, do you think you can use it at work?
Just as a quick question.
Yeah, I think obviously you don't want to insult people.
You don't want.
You want to be careful if you're using it sarcastically, which may be another day.
We go into how to do that.
Be careful if it's like it's gonna be kind of a hard edge to what you're saying.
Yeah.
But yeah, you can totally have fun with this.
Yeah.
Because you talk about life outside of work. know at work don't we right yeah we do i just think that this is such a unique expression because it can be used completely genuinely or as a way to tease something or just yeah it's so fun it's interesting um so let's let's give one more role play even though we gave so many examples let's give it a conversation okay all right here we are talking about our friend jimmy jimmy all right jimmy all right what time does this flight get in 6 p.m wow i can't wait to see him I heard he has a lot of luggage, though.
Well, that's Jimmy.
Yep.
Nothing says Jimmy like six suitcases.
Yeah.
There's always that person.
Maybe that's you, Michelle.
Who knows?
That person that will go for like a weekend away.
They bring a full suitcase, like a full what you could get two weeks worth of clothing in.
Is that you?
Am I an overpacker?
Yeah, I'm an overpacker.
But now with the kids, it's really no option to be an overpacker.
Yeah yeah, oh yeah, it's terrible.
Um yeah, so are you an overpacker?
I yeah, but i overpack on all the wrong things, like i, i bring all the wrong things, but i do pack a lot heavy volume, wrong okay, so yeah, so yeah, here we're making fun of jimmy and you said nothing.
Says jimmy like six suitcases big overpacker.
I love it all.
Right michelle, what's our takeaway for today?
This is a great way to show that you pay attention.
You pay attention to your surroundings, but careful because it could be a little mean spirited.
However, this is a really useful construction.
So definitely do that exercise of jumping jacks.
Just kidding.
Do the exercise of writing down a few things that you think this could relate to in your life.
Maybe it's about your city.
Maybe you're poking fun at yourself whatever it is, and then try it out.
Could see this also being a really cool thing for our listeners to use if they host, if they bring a friend, like a friend visits their city, a native english-speaking friend visits your city, let's say in tokyo, you know, nothing says tokyo like.
What would you say about tokyo?
Like little sushi bars um, or the tuna market in skishy fish market right, nothing says.
They're things very specific.
So as you bring them to these places, You can say this
And it's just so cool.
It's just a feeling of experiencing life together, which brings.
Yes.
Yeah.
All right.
Love it.
This was fun, Lindsay.
And nothing says all ears English like a good goodbye.
Bye, Lindsay.
Have a good one.
I'll talk to you soon, Michelle.
Bye.
Bye.
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