This is an All Ears English podcast, episode 2453, Double Your Connection by Doing a Thing.
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In today's episode, we show you how to share a piece of news that's big and strengthen the connection at the same time.
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Hey there, Michelle.
How are you today? I'm good.
Lindsay, how are you?
Hey, Michelle, don't you have an anniversary coming up soon?
I do. I do. It's actually in the beginning of September is my 10th anniversary.
Amazing. What are you going to do to celebrate Michelle?
Well, I will Lindsay.
I did a thing. Um, Dan, he, he doesn't really, you know, know, we're trying to save money and so we don't want to, we don't want to go out too much. And so we're just kind of trying to hold back a little bit, but I did a thing and I booked his favorite restaurant.
It's a, it's a little bit, uh, a pricier and only for super special occasions, but yeah.
So I, I made a reservation.
I love it, Michelle.
I think you can never, you know, you can never do the wrong thing when it comes to anniversaries.
This is your life partner.
it's okay I love that yeah exactly so today guys we are going to talk about a fun very trendy way you can introduce what you've done when you've done something exciting or new or maybe a little risque that you want to share and Lindsay I used this expression what is it I know I'm so excited the expression is I did a thing right there's a little intonation that goes along with that too and I do we're gonna get deep into this today I'm super excited I love the show our listeners the trendiest most current most relevant phrases that native speakers are using right now but before we get into it guys
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All right. Yeah. So, Michelle, this phrase, I did a thing, do you find yourself using it a lot?
I don't think this is something that you use.
You have to reserve this for something you know really special if you saying this for everything like I did a thing I I ate lunch today you know it doesn't make her for the kids like no that's not it's not no no no yeah no so this is not one of those that you can or should overuse this is reserved for something special unique a little out of the ordinary yeah and it's it's cool so it's unique out of the ordinary sometimes it is something that's a little risque but it could also just be something that's risque for you or for you and the person that you're going to be participating in this thing with right
yes it doesn't just because something is maybe not risque for the person you're talking to if it's risqué for you you're saying it in the context of your experiences and your life but we'll get into more examples right Michelle yeah yeah definitely i mean so when in this context i did a thing it's so funny.
None of those words really mean anything, right?
When you put it, I did a thing, what?
But what is thing in this context?
I mean, what does it, I did a thing.
What is a thing? The thing is the action that you took.
In your case, you got a reservation at the fanciest restaurant in town, or maybe you registered for a French class and you never go to classes or something that's out of the ordinary for you, right?
Right, right. So when you say the thing, it's kind of like saying something X.
Right. You're you might be doing a little being a little secretive right at the beginning.
Right. So it's like, you know, it could be a little modest sounding even.
Right. You get this like this cute intonation.
So I did a thing. And right.
It's a good question.
Why do we start like for it?
Well, let's just give this example.
I did a thing. I registered for French classes.
Now, why didn't you just say, hey, I registered for French classes?
is like why do we even add the i did a thing right yeah it's something that you might feel a little pro i mean i mean not always pro well in general would you say that you are saying this about something you're proud of or could it be about something bad i would say it's generally something good i think it's signifying that you're a little on the edge right you're living on the edge for you whether that's getting a tattoo whether that's getting a piercing registering for a French class, making an expensive restaurant reservation, whatever it is, you're on the edge, living on the edge a little bit.
And you want to say that kind of, don't you think?
Right. I mean, like in the French class example, imagine that you've been talking to your friend for years about how much you love French culture and all this.
Right. So but you've never actually learned French or maybe you've wanted to visit France or even live there.
And so you're saying you, you know, they have all this history about you, right?
You could also be used to kind of signify that that person is close to you.
You wouldn't, I don't know that I would say this.
That's a good. Just to a random person, like in line for coffee, you know?
Yeah, no, that's such a good point, Michelle.
This is so contextual.
So for certain things that you're saying that you did, you may say it to someone.
So I may say you and I have been talking about French classes for years and I may say, Michelle, I did a thing I registered for for French but then when I tell my partner I might just say hey I signed up for French classes because maybe they don't know what that's about for me right right right right right exactly so very interesting in that way or here's another example so I did a thing and then you show someone your engagement ring yeah so basically you you get um like you're putting out your hand And so you don't even need to say what it is.
Sometimes it can just be you're showing somebody something or like, or maybe you got a new short haircut and you're, you're saying, so I did a thing.
And then you walk into the room, right?
Yep. And I think there's also an element of understating the thing.
The thing is probably pretty big for you.
Yeah. And by saying I did a thing, it kind of makes it sound like it's smaller.
It's understating what's, what's happened a little bit.
I think. Right, right, right, right.
Right. Exactly. Or even just making a purchase, making a big change in your life.
Guess what? I did a thing.
I bought a Peloton, right?
Yes. I love that. Yes.
Oh my gosh. So for me, I'm thinking of maybe booking my next trip to Norway.
That's what I'm looking at.
So maybe if I do that, I would say to you, Michelle, I did a thing.
I booked my trip, but we'll see.
We'll see if I get those tickets.
Right. Yeah, exactly.
I mean, for me, I guess I I could have used it to reveal that I was moving when I moved.
Also, I forgot to say this at the beginning.
Yeah, I've been doing open mic.
Oh, yeah, that's a good one.
That's what I should have said.
That is a good one.
Yeah. Yeah. So I've been, so like, yeah, I could say this to you because, you know, for years I've been talking about singing and being in a band and all of these things.
And so do I. I mean, our listeners might know that, too, if they listen to the show enough.
And it's been years since I've gotten into it.
And so now I've started with my friend Ian, we've been doing open Mike.
So I could say to you, I mean, we've done a couple of them now, but for the first one I could say, Lindsay, I did a thing.
I did an open Mike again.
That is perfect. I love that.
That's where the context comes in the relationship between you and the person you're speaking with.
It adds power, like not power, but it adds connection.
It doubles up on your connection because you're referring back to someone.
And by the way, if our listeners are in B2 English fluency, they know Ian, right?
We've mentioned this before they know him from that course so check out b2english fluency yeah yeah what are the topics that you're going into on open my is it just remind me again is it comedy no no no not for comedy singing i'm singing and yeah we're doing music yeah okay okay okay no because i did comedy too but no no no i'm back into doing music and so yeah i love it too so see that's something that i'm proud of that i'm back into it's a little bit of a surprise because you've known this about me for a while yeah so yeah definitely i like what you said about kind of it's you're doubling up
on your connection because not only am i sharing something i feel proud of i'm showing you that i feel close to you by like saying it in that way because you know my history you know about this so it's it really it's so interesting to dive into these that is really Really?
These are connection hacks, right?
I love it. All right.
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But you could also use it as a surprise, right?
Maybe you're talking to somebody, say, guess what?
I did a thing. I'm going to tell you the details tonight, right?
You're it could be a way to tell them about a little surprise yeah so you're building mystery a little bit leaving some breadcrumbs right yeah a trial all right michelle so what are some other ways that we might express this same idea i mean this is very unique right it's one of those special phrases that it's powerful because it is there's only one way to kind of say this but there are other things you could say like guess what i did right as you you know you said earlier or guess what?
Guess what I did? I took the LSATs.
No. It's not for me.
Yeah. Or you could say it also in the same kind of, I think the intonation makes a big difference, right?
So you could say, guess what I did?
I took the LSATs. Or you could say, guess what I did?
Right? So and that kind of make can make the difference a little bit in the meaning.
Or another one is I have news or I have big news.
So I have news the Australia trip is happening.
happening yeah that's good too that's good too or get ready for this one and this intonation requires a bit of a hanging I don't know yeah yeah like a little dot dot right get ready for this one Silvia got into NYU nice yeah or this last one this is another really good one sometimes people before they're gonna big give big news Lindsay you hear people say are you sitting down down or you should be sitting down for this.
Like as if somebody is just going to be just basically going to fall over when they hear.
Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.
And you would say this only if you can't see the person, right?
I mean, are you sitting down?
If you're with the person, you could say you should be sitting down.
Yeah. Yeah. Or maybe you have a seat or something, but yeah, you wouldn't want to say, are you sitting down if you're sitting right, standing right in front of them and seeing them that would be strange too uh it's like no i'm not um are you sitting down no um so for example are you sitting down i'm moving to spain yes i love that oh exciting right so michelle why are these useful i mean it comes back to the connection right yeah it does and you know what it also prepares the person right we always talk about this kind of prepping the other person okay i'm about to okay i gotta perk my ears up
and really listen here because something interesting is about to come right oh totally there you know when there are milestone moments in your life big decisions you don't want to just say oh by the way i'm getting married no you want to warm the person up build a stage for yourself in a sense and like honor the connection between the two of you the conversations you've had before before.
Okay. And these phrases that allow you to do that.
Yes, yes, exactly. So we're not going to use all of the ones that we taught today, but we're going to do a role play now.
This is going to be fun.
So in this role play, you and I, we haven't seen each other in a long time, but we are good friends.
Okay. And I walk into the restaurant and I'm about to reveal something.
Oh, I'm ready. Okay, right, here we go.
Lindsay! Michelle, how are you?
Oh, good, good. So, I did a thing, and now I'm revealing my new tattoo.
Oh my gosh, Michelle, that is awesome.
I love it. Thanks, and get ready for this one.
I'm sticking out my foot for you to look.
Another tattoo. Wow, you really went for it.
They look awesome. Oh, thank you, thank you.
So, how are you? I'm good, but you should be sitting down for this.
I sold the house. Your childhood house?
Wow. I can't believe it.
I know. I know. It's so hard and get ready for this one.
I'm moving. Oh, there's a lot of emotion in this role play, isn't there?
Yeah, exactly. Yeah.
So it really is winding up, warming someone up for what's coming and honoring that connection.
I love it. So, getting a tattoo is a good example, especially if you're someone that doesn't already have a lot of tattoos, right?
If you already have a lot of tattoos, it might not be that much of a thing to get another.
But if it's your first tattoo, it's definitely a thing.
Right. Yeah, exactly.
So, yeah, I said, so I did a thing.
And again, you don't always need to say, like, if I'm holding up my arm to you, you don't need to say i got a tattoo right sometimes you can just like stick out your arm whatever whatever you got the tattoo exactly sometimes that's better right we don't need to add too many words to things and then you said thanks and get ready for this one and now you're going to show me another one on your foot you got two tattoos right i got two tattoos um and then you said you should be sitting down for this I sold the house and the fact that I said the house we all know which house it is right yeah so well
yeah we and we both probably spent a lot of time right we're good friends in that house maybe we're friends from childhood right yes and then you said and get ready for this one which I put in there twice accidentally but that's okay you said I get ready for this one I'm moving mm -hmm yep winding up preparing the person and you know there are other ways we could cover in another day another episode to you know to share big news but these are some trendy good ones I think especially I do the thing I love it yeah yeah exactly yeah these are these are very very useful for these surprising things
in life to share and I really do think that they build the connection because if you're just saying the thing that's i mean that's fine too but this just adds a little something special a little drama a little it does it gives you a little bit of a platform right for someone's ears to perk up and they're going to listen and tune in to you people are so distracted they might be thinking about someone if you just say oh i'm getting married i mean they might be thinking about something else entirely and not hear you i mean who knows right Right.
Right. And so this is definitely a good thing to say to make sure that person is going to say, wait a second, what?
Yes. Now, Michelle, what's another episode our listeners could check out?
Yeah. On a Saturday episode on All Ears English, we did find your happy place in this episode.
So, yeah, this one kind of reminded me of it because it's also like an emotional thing.
We've been talking about emotions recently.
So check that one out.
Love it. And guys, don't forget to hit that follow button right now on All Ears English so you don't miss a single episode of our show.
Where should we leave our listeners today, Michelle?
What's the final takeaway?
This is a really fun one to talk about and very, just very, very useful.
It's for those special things that you're going to share.
And you are really I still it goes back to what you said for me that you said, you're kind of doubling the connection.
Yeah, I think this is really powerful.
Again, you're not going to use it for everything.
thing. I did a thing.
I ate a sandwich. You know, I mean, unless you're a person who hates sandwiches and you're famous for that, and then you want us to tell that you do.
It's very personal.
It's very personal.
Totally. So if you have a fear of something and maybe you're afraid of snakes and you held a snake, I mean, that would make sense in that context.
And that person knows that about you.
So that's why, as you said, Michelle, it's about doubling the connection.
I love it. Yes. Yes.
Love it. Oh my gosh, Lindsay, this was so fun.
And yeah, let us know when you book that trip to Norway.
All right. I will, Michelle.
Sounds good. We'll talk to you soon.
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