This is the Business English Podcast, Episode 42, Why Americans Work on Everything.
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Oh, hey, Michelle. All right. Hello, everyone.
Guys, we decided I was going to start this episode today and then we started it and I totally forgot, right?
That's habit for you. Yeah. Hey, Lindsay, how are you?
Hey, Michelle, I'm doing well. How are you?
I'm good. Oh, my gosh. Okay. All right. So, Lindsay, what are you working on these days?
Any personal projects? Oh, boy. I am learning Tai Chi.
That's kind of a personal project. And I'm trying my best not to quit my classes.
I don't like to quit things. It's just that I don't think I like Tai Chi.
I think it's too slow for me. You know, I've tried things like Capoeira in the past, which I liked better because it was faster.
It was more action-packed. But with Tai Chi, it's very slow.
And I don't know if I jive with it. You know what I mean?
So... How long have you been working on it?
I've been to three or four classes now. And I'm going to try to stick it out to the end.
But it's yeah, I mean, I don't like to quit things.
So I want to keep going and finish it. It's just like an eight week class or like a six week class.
It's super short. So that's my personal project.
I'm working on it. I'm working on it. You're working on it.
Good. Well, you know, it's funny that you said the phrase work on it because today we have a question from a listener about work on, right?
Yep. And this can be used in a few different situations.
And the word work can be broadened out to mean different things, which is, yeah, gosh, another one of those type of words that you can just use in different ways, right?
Yeah. Yeah, it's really interesting ways and ways you wouldn't imagine.
So we're going to show you guys that later.
Just one quick thing I want to mention, Michelle, before we keep going.
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Okay, good. Yes, yes, yes, yes. And guys, make sure that you're subscribed to our podcast on iTunes or Android, Overcast, right?
Exactly. That's really important, guys. Yes.
Okay, perfect. Okay, so let's read the question, Lindsay.
So this is one of our listeners who lives in New York.
So she is taking real English that she hears and asking us about it.
So what's the question, Lindsay? Okay. Yeah.
I mean, I love this that I love that our listener is out on the streets of New York and she's hearing things.
She's in restaurants and then she's taking it into us.
So that's so cool. The question is about you should work on it or are you still working on it or just the use of work on.
Right. So here it comes. Just right after coming to New York City, I realized that people use work on a lot in various situations.
It's really something that I've never learned from the textbooks, but it's like a magical phrase that I can use so often.
Like in restaurants, waiters ask, are you still working on it?
Or they ask, are you done with it? Then I saw so many people say, I'm still working on it.
I can use these phrases a lot too. Or in a classroom.
But work on is also used to mean spending some time and effort to improve something.
I probably knew the meaning of this, but didn't actually use it before coming to New York.
I used improve before, but now I use work on.
Are there specific differences or nuances here?
I think it can be used in different situations, but I can think of only two now.
Are there any other ways to use this phrase?
Good question. Wow. Okay. Okay, I love that.
You know, gosh, this person is taking real things that she's hearing out or she or he I don't know.
And, you know, really thinking about how to how to apply them to their own speaking, right?
Yeah, it's so good. I love this is exactly what we should be doing around in the community, listening to English, then checking in with our teachers with our podcast about that.
So good. Yeah, for sure. Okay, awesome.
So well, let's let's get started talking about this, Lindsay.
So to work on what does that mean? So really, that means to make progress, to put effort towards something in pursuit of a goal.
You know, that's what I think it means. Okay, right.
So exactly. So a question, you know, I could ask you is, what are you working on?
Right? So that's like, what projects do you have now?
Right? So that's one phrase that we could use.
What are you working on? Right? Yeah, exactly.
That could mean at your job or that could mean if you're an entrepreneur, like maybe you have some new projects or even like hobbies or things like that, like things you want to improve, right?
Right, right, right. And what's another one?
I love this one. So this is so... I've always found this really weird.
Me too. I just heard it the other day too.
It's so common. And I'm sure this is going to be a surprise for some of our listeners, guys.
So listen up. Drumroll. So when we're in a restaurant, as our listener just said, the waiter might come up to us when we're just about done with our meal and they would say, are you still working on that?
Yeah, yeah. It's so funny. What does that mean?
Yeah. Or they would say, are you still working?
Yeah, I know. Like, what is that? Like, no, I'm not working.
I'm eating. It makes me think of like, yeah, Americans just drill through their food like they're like they're getting paid for it.
Just like holding and like inhaling their food.
Are you still working? Right. Are you still working?
It's like the Protestant work ethic comes through even when it comes to finishing a meal.
Right, right. I know. Oh my God. That one always cracks me up.
I just heard it the other day and I'm always like, that is such a weird, such a weird way to put it.
It's so weird. It's so weird. And so just so our listeners know, if a waiter or waitress does come up to you in the States and they say, are you still working?
Or are you still working on that? They're talking about your meal.
Are you finished yet? Or are you still eating?
Right. Are you still eating? Right. So you don't have to be like, what do you mean?
I'm not working. So weird, right? Oh, my God.
I love that one. Okay. And the next one, Lindsay.
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Exclusions apply. See details online. So I like this one, too.
So to work on someone. Right. So this means to try to convince someone of something or trying to tell that to get them to tell you something.
Right. So, for example, Jim isn't thrilled about the idea of moving to Thailand, but I'm working on him.
Hmm. Wow. Yeah, right. You're basically trying to convince them to do something, right?
Yep. You got it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay.
And the next one. So, the next one is to work on, right, Lindsay?
So, what is that? Yeah. So, this is more like to improve something.
So, it's a little bit different from what are you working on, meaning like what's the project you're doing.
This is like I'm improving my backhand, right?
Your backhand is great, but you should really improve your topspin forehand.
Yeah. You should really work on your topspin forehand.
Right, right, right. Exactly. Yeah, that's a good one.
Yeah. So, guys, as you can see, this is a very versatile phrase from eating to actually trying to improve something.
I don't know. It's like we eat that one and it just gets me every time.
Are you working on that? And I promise you guys, if you're out in a restaurant in the U.S., you will hear that phrase.
Yeah, it's something that we... it's almost like it makes me feel like it's like the way that we have such big portions here and yeah we some people try to like finish everything on their plate so it's this this connotation of like you're at some point it feels like work to try to finish everything that's on your plate that's what it makes me think of you know what i mean because it's like you're in pain and i try i try to bring home half my meal now every time i go to a Do you like set it aside in the beginning?
Are you able to like... No, I don't do that.
That's a little... That could be a little obnoxious, I feel like.
But I mean, if I had to, I would do it. I just try to use self-discipline, you know?
Yeah. But it's also like as you travel to different places and you see how much... Like how smaller portions are, you stop wanting to eat as much as you do.
That's been my experience. Like when I came back from Japan, like...
My stomach had gotten a lot smaller and like I just didn't want the volume of food that we have here.
Yeah. Yeah. And the thing sometimes I get do you ever though you're eating like the most delicious meal ever and then you get full and you're like, I don't want to be full right now.
It's too good. Yeah, for sure. That happens to me, yeah.
Yeah, it's definitely something we struggle with here.
No, yeah, that sounds terrible. No, no, I've had the experience.
It's funny. It's weird. It's so weird. It happens to me with Indian food every time because Indian food is one of my favorite foods, but it's that type of food that you get full really quickly on, right?
Mm-hmm, mm-hmm. Yeah, it's heavy. Yeah, so I'm like two bites in and I'm done.
I know, I know. We'll have to do another episode on that, of like portion control and how we struggle with this in the States.
But I wouldn't say that that's a real problem.
I'm very thankful. Yeah, no, it's all relative, right?
Absolutely. Anyway, so sorry about that, guys.
Little tangent. So let's get back to working on.
So in this role play that we're about to do, we are two friends catching up over lunch at a restaurant in New York City.
Nice. Okay. Let's do it. All right, here we go.
Hey, I'm glad we could find a time to grab lunch.
How's your salad? Oh, it's good. So how's your business going?
What are you guys working on these days?
Oh, well, we have a new ideas in the pipeline.
The problem is just figuring out what to work on first.
Excuse me, are you still working on that or can I take it out of your way?
Oh, no, I'm still working. What about you?
Oh, no, you asked me. What about you? I heard you guys are thinking about moving to Long Island and getting a house on the beach.
Oh, yeah. My husband loves city life, so I still need to work on him.
But I really love the idea of living at the beach.
Hopefully, I can convince him. Okay. Hey, what are you doing on Saturday?
I'm going to go swim some laps in the pool.
Want to join me? It's a great workout. Yeah, definitely.
I've been working on my backstroke, so it would be a good chance to get some laps in.
Okay. Wow, we really got to all of them.
That's good. Seems like we're very dynamic women in this conversation.
We're doing a lot of things. We're swimming.
Moving to Long Island. Swimming. Very dynamic women.
That's funny. Yeah, that's awesome. Okay, so let's go through this, Lindsay.
We were able to use a lot of these phrases with working on.
So here we go. What was the first one? Yeah.
So I said, how's your business going? What are you guys working on these days?
I like this phrase, working on. What are you working on?
Because it's so broad. Really, you can answer that in any way you want.
It's not like, oh, what new projects do you have?
Like the expectation that you should have a project or what new goals do you have?
It's much more broad than that, but it also shows interest.
So it's kind of nice. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, definitely.
So yeah, it doesn't have to be about a business.
Definitely. Like, for sure. Right? Yeah, sure.
I like this phrase that we use then. Well, I used it.
I said, Oh, we have new ideas in the pipeline.
What is that? Hmm. I bet this one's new for our listeners.
So it just kind of means in the plan, just like down the road, like being prepared.
Yeah. Right, right, right. Exactly. So guys, that's a new one.
And then the waiter came in. Yeah, the waiter came in.
Waitress, I guess. I used a really high voice.
Excuse me. Yeah, I liked your waitress voice, Lindsay.
Did you like that? I liked it. Yeah. Okay.
And you said, are you still working on that?
Or can I take it out of your way? Right?
So common, right? Or I could have said, excuse me, are you still working?
Right? Just stop. Are you still working or can I take it out of your way?
Right. That's another. We could take out on that, which I find very strange.
That was funny. And then I think I said, oh, no, I'm still working.
You said that. Okay. So I wouldn't say that, but I feel like it's more common for waitresses and waiters to say it rather than the clients.
But maybe clients would say it too or customers in a restaurant.
No, I just said it because it was here. But I'm trying to think if I would actually...
No, I'm still working. I might say I'm still working on it.
You might say it. I've heard I've heard people say it in restaurants.
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I think I think I would say it.
So weird. Yeah. It's still weird. Every time I think about it.
Yeah. Okay. Anyway, um, and then we started talking about moving to Long Island.
And what did you say? I said, my husband loves city life, so I still need to work on him.
Now, this is, again, what we talked about before when we want to convince someone of something.
Work on the person. I'm working on him. Less common, I think a little less common, but still good to use.
Right, right, right. Exactly, exactly. And then we started talking about the pool.
And you said, I've been working on my backstroke, right?
So you're trying to improve something. Exactly.
I've been working on, again, that's the improvement one.
So I love how these are all different ways to use work on it.
It is quite dynamic, isn't it? Oh, for sure.
I mean, you hear it all the time in different ways.
Yeah. I mean, look, in this conversation, and I didn't even think, you know, sometimes when we try and fit things in, it just seems like, you know, oh, we say, oh, it wouldn't actually be used that way.
You wouldn't say it that many times. We're just giving you examples.
But in this situation, I actually think that it could be used this way.
Yeah. Yeah. That's true. So very dynamic word.
Right, right, right. Absolutely. So what's the takeaway here, Lindsay?
Well, the takeaway is we want you guys to be flexible about how you use a word, right?
And a good example is the word work. So the concept of work is so embedded in our culture here.
It makes sense that this word is so widespread and can be applied in different situations, even eating, as you guys have seen, which again is bizarre.
So listen to natives, identify the chunks they use and use them.
Don't just focus on using the word work as the one verb of, you know, to work to work, to go to work, that sort of thing that you've seen in your, in your classes, just expand it, start to expand it out, be flexible, right?
Be flexible with it. Okay. Right, right, right.
For sure. Yeah. I love it. Yeah. Well, this was a great, great question.
And I mean, something that really brought about a whole lot, we had a lot to say about it because we hear it so often, like really in real English and what you guys are going to hear when you guys are, you know, going out to restaurants or when you're talking about improving just so many different things, right?
Lindsay. Yeah, this is real English. This is about as real as it gets, guys.
So listen again, take notes, then go out there and practice.
So good. And one other thing, don't forget to sign up or subscribe rather to the IELTS Energy podcast if you're taking the IELTS exam.
And if you want to see the role play from today, because it was kind of long and it was kind of detailed, you do want to get the transcript so you can follow every word we say on the show and practice.
So go to allearsenglish.com forward slash subscribe.
Okay. Awesome, Lindsay. Well, thanks for hanging out and thanks to our listener for that great question.
This has been fun as always, Michelle. Thanks for hanging out today.
I always enjoy recording with you. It's always fun.
Same here. All right, Lindsay, have a good one.
Okay. Take care. Bye. Thank you for listening to Business English, a podcast just for you, the high achieving global professional.
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