Hey everyone, welcome back to Catchword, the Q -Lip series where we teach you vocabulary, expressions, and idioms to make your English sound more natural and more confident.
Today, I am joined by my co -host, Indiana.
Hey, Indiana, how's it going?
Hey, Andrew, I'm doing good.
And today we have a really cool episode for our listeners, which is going to be about two expressions that you can use for when you want somebody else to adjust or change their behavior.
Yes, to adjust or change their behavior.
I think you guys are really going to love this episode.
The two expressions that we'll teach you are really, really common ones actually, and just great ones to add to your vocabulary.
So we'll get started with our lesson here in just a moment, but before we do, I want to let you know about the helpful study guide and interactive transcript that's available for this episode for all Q -Lips members.
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Indiana, as you mentioned at the top of the episode, today we are going to teach everyone two expressions that you guys can use when you want to tell someone to adjust or change their behavior.
The first key expression is to tone it down.
Tone it down. And the second expression is to get off your high horse.
So let's get started with this episode now by exploring the first expression to tone it down.
All right, guys. So our first expression for this lesson today is to tone it down, to tone it down.
And when we say it quickly, it sounds like tone it down, tone it down.
So Indiana, I'm going to throw it over to you.
Could you give us the official definition of this expression.
What does to tone it down mean?
Yes. To tone it down means to change your behavior or the way you're acting or even the volume of your voice from a high level and bring it down to a more normal, appropriate level for a situation.
So we can imagine imagine physically toning down or turning down the volume on your stereos set up, or you could imagine toning down the brightness on your TV.
And so in the same way, when you tone it down, you tone down your behavior, you are decreasing the amount of energy or aggression to something something that is more comfortable or suitable for the situation, tone it down.
So Andrew, what are some examples that you could think of for everyday life where you might use tone it down?
Yeah, that's a great question.
So I think in everyday life, you know, whenever you are asking someone to change their behavior, the way they're acting, or maybe the way that they are speaking, then you could ask them to tone it down.
So actually I remember this is an example from my real life.
How I would use this expression often was back in the day when I played in a rock band, I would rehearse with my friends who were in the band with me a couple of times each week.
And when we'd start the practice, you know, everybody would plug in their guitars and get the drum set up and sort of be warming up, but they'd be super loud, right?
Like all of the the guitar amplifiers would be really loud and the drumming would be really loud.
And then when it's time to actually start the practice, I would have to be a little bit bossy and be like, guys, tone it down a bit.
You're too loud. We need to bring the volume down with our instruments so that we can play together and not just dominate the band practice session.
So that's one example that comes to mind.
I would ask my bandmates to be quieter with their instruments.
Also, I think parents maybe would use this expression with their children often.
I could imagine maybe a mother or a father with a young kid and the kid is going a little bit wild and maybe running around everywhere, very hyper and loud and yelling.
And while that kind of playful behavior is good in some situations, maybe in other situations, it's not appropriate.
So the parent might say, hey, tone it down a little bit, be quiet, calm down.
In this kind of situation, we also very very frequently use this expression.
So those are two that popped to my mind right away.
And Indiana, I like that example that you gave of how to remember this expression.
Just think about turning the volume down on your TV.
Tone is related to sound and color.
And so for a tone, we can have a high -pitched tone, which is very shrill and annoying to listen to.
And then we can have like a lower mellower tone which is gentler and softer and easier to listen to so you could also think about yeah toning down from that like high -pitched shrilly sound to a more mellow low -pitched sound that would be toning it down and then color too you know we can have bright color tones and we can have more mellow color tones and so adjusting from a very bright color to a very mellow, darker color that would also be toning it down.
In Indiana, this expression, it's not just related to the way that somebody's acting, right?
Like, of course, you can have this erratic, hyper behavior, and you need to tone it down and act in a more civilized, calm way, right?
But also we can use it to talk about colors and decoration as well.
well. Could you give us some more information about that?
Absolutely. So, like you've just mentioned with color, you could talk about toning down the color of your outfit.
So, let's say you were going to a very serious business meeting or a funeral and you're wearing all these bright, gaudy colors.
Somebody might say, hey, I think you should tone down your outfit.
This could also work for makeup.
Tone down your makeup if it's very, very bright and colorful.
It could even work for like decor, decoration in your house.
Maybe if you're shopping for a new sofa and you say, hey, what do you think about this orange one to your wife?
And she says, absolutely not.
We have to tone it down, tone down the color on that.
That will not work in our living room.
So it could work for not just behavior, but your right color color or appearance, something like that.
Absolutely, Indiana.
Those are some great examples.
And so guys, just to summarize then, when we tone it down, we're taking our behavior or our speech volume or the way that we dress or the way that we decorate our house or our makeup.
We're going from very loud and busy or colorful situation to one that is quieter, calmer, or maybe less colorful.
So very good, Indiana.
I think now that we understand what tone it down means, we can listen to some conversation examples.
So guys, let's take a listen to how we can use this expression in our everyday lives in a natural way.
And we'll do that right now.
Here we go. Can you tone it down a bit?
You're yelling at the waiter.
Oh, sorry. I didn't realize I was being that loud.
Yeah, well, it's making everyone around us a little bit uncomfortable.
Okay, okay, got it.
I'll calm down. Okay, Indiana, in that conversation example, we hear two people talking at a restaurant.
I have a feeling that maybe they are a married couple and maybe they've been married for a long time just because of the way that they're talking to each other.
seems very very comfortable and that like they're used to spending a lot of time together but who knows maybe it's a brother and sister as well but i think they have a close relationship and the guy in that example he asks the woman to tone it down he says hey can you tone it down a little bit you're yelling we're at this restaurant and you're speaking with the waiter but you're yelling at the waiter you're talking way too loud loudly and maybe everyone else in the restaurant is looking over to see what the noise is about or why this person is speaking so loudly.
And it's making him feel uncomfortable.
So he asks, hey, can you tone it down a little bit?
Meaning, can you speak more quietly, please?
And Indiana, I think this is a good point that in this example, we hear from two characters who seem like they have a close relationship with, right?
Like they they seem like they're pretty close.
And in these close relationships, I think it's okay to ask somebody to tone it down.
But do you feel like it might be rude to ask somebody to tone it down in certain situations if you're not already close with that person?
I do. I think it can sound critical and a little harsh.
So, you know, if you wanted to ask somebody to tone it down, you might, you know, you might want to do it with somebody you're close with, or if you feel comfortable with, but you could also qualify it a little bit with some words like a little or a bit, you know, hey, could you tone it down a bit?
And I think that could that could soften it and make it a little more polite.
But yeah, you're right, Andrew, I think in general, we would probably use this with somebody we're pretty comfortable with, like giving a little little bit of feedback or criticism, right?
Yeah. Yeah. In fact, guys, your tone is important when you're using this expression, tone it down.
Pardon the pun there.
But it's true, right?
Indiana, if I say to you, hey, could you tone it down a little bit?
That that would be a kind, gentle way to ask you to maybe change your behavior or change the volume of your voice.
But if I say, hey, hey, Indiana, tone it down, right?
Then I'm being a lot more straightforward and direct and that could come across as being pretty harsh.
So your tone does matter and those qualifying statements, like you mentioned, Indiana, could you tone it down a little?
Could you tone it down a bit?
Even using that could you instead of using the imperative, like tone it down, right?
Could you tone it down?
That's gonna make it a gentler expression.
expression but Indiana if you wanted to be even more gentle then what is a different expression you could say if you wanted somebody to be quiet like maybe you're at a library and the people beside you are talking really loudly and you want to study in the library you wouldn't say to them hey tone it down that would be maybe a little too rude what could you say in that situation situation.
Yeah, I think if it were me, I might add a bunch of this qualifying tentative language, you know, I might say, Excuse me, um, do you mind?
Would you mind if you could possibly keep your voices down a little bit?
I would probably add a lot of that.
But to keep it simpler.
Could you keep your voice down?
Do you mind keeping your voice down?
Something like that That would be, I think, polite enough for a stranger.
Yeah. Anyways, Indiana, let's move on to our second conversation example for this expression, and we'll take a listen to it right now.
Here we go. Hey, you know, you don't have to brag so much about winning.
It's just a friendly game.
Yeah, I know, but I'm just so excited.
I get it, but tone it down a little.
You're rubbing it in.
Okay, okay. I'll try and chill out.
So in this example, we see a few people.
They're playing a game.
Maybe they're at, let's say, a bowling alley.
And one friend is just boasting and bragging and rubbing it in.
So this means like really showing off and keeps talking about that he's winning, right?
Right. And so this other friend is getting sick of this competitiveness.
And she asks him, hey, tone it down a little, you know, like, let's let's just keep it, keep it friendly and not be so competitive in this game, because that can get really irritating.
Right. So you want to enjoy the game with your friend.
You want to do some friendly bowling, not competitive bowling.
So you say, hey, could you tone it down a little?
So that would be a great way to use this expression.
And I'm sure we all know somebody who is a little too competitive like this.
Andrew, do you know anybody who sounds like the guy in this dialogue?
Yeah, I think maybe the inspiration for this conversation was my own life.
I think these days I'm not as competitive like this.
But when I was younger, I used to play video games with my friends.
And if I was winning, it was it was bad because I would really rub it in.
And I have a special talent, I think, for making people feel really annoyed when I'm winning and they're losing.
And I can frustrate people.
I'm a pretty good trash talker.
That's a good expression.
Trash talker. When you are playing sports and you're saying some comments to the other people on the other team or the other players, and you're making them angry and frustrated, that's what we call trash talking.
So I'm a pretty good trash talker, and I can get my friends to be really frustrated with with the game by rubbing it in when I would win and I'm a competitive person naturally so that just made it even worse thankfully as I've gotten older I've toned it down quite a bit I'm not like this anymore but I used to be and yeah this is like you mentioned Indiana a really classic example of when we would use this expression right somebody's being just a little bit annoying a little too boastful bragging about winning and you're like hey man your behavior is a little bit annoying?
Can you tone it down?
Can you calm down and just be a little bit normal?
We're just having fun.
We're just bowling, right?
It's not like the professional championship game or anything.
So yeah, it's kind of situation.
Okay, Andrew, let's move into the second expression for this episode.
And this one is going to be to get off your high horse, horse to get off your high horse so what does this expression mean andrew yeah to get off your high horse so if you told somebody else to get off their high horse you would be asking them to stop acting high and mighty like they're better than other people so you would be asking them essentially to stop being arrogant or to stop being very judgmental or to stop thinking that they are are better than other people.
So in English, if you are riding a high horse, or if you're on your high horse, it's almost like you're acting better than other people and you think that you are superior.
So when we're asking someone to get off their high horse, it's like, stop thinking that way, lose that mindset that you are better than someone else, or that you are superior to someone And Indiana, I like the imagery behind this expression.
I think it's actually a really simple one to visualize, but could you break down the imagery and maybe give us some insight about what the visualization is and how we could use that visualization to help us remember this expression?
Yes. So think of a nobleman or a king in the Middle Ages or medieval Europe.
They're riding around on a horse looking beautiful with the robes and getting around town in style.
But the peasants, everybody else, they're walking.
They're walking through the mud.
I'd be walking in the mud, looking up at the king.
Exactly. Exactly. So, you can put yourself in the peasant's shoes, looking up at the king or the nobleman on their big tall horse getting around comfortably.
And you're like, get off your high horse.
Like, this is not fair.
You think you're so much better than the rest of us.
you know so if you're looking up at somebody on their horse they think they're so great that's where this uh imagery i believe is coming from so that should be a good way to remember yeah and i think probably around the world there i'd be really interested to hear from our listeners actually because i think probably around the world there are similar expressions to this so guys if you do have a similar expression in your native language let me know on our discord server and and you can find the link to our Discord server in the description for this episode.
But yeah, Indiana, I think it's really easy to visualize, right, the picture of somebody who thinks they are superior and better to everyone else riding around in a medieval village on this beautiful horse while everybody else is walking around in the mud.
Okay, Indiana, I think we are ready to move on to some conversation examples now.
Guys, we've got two prepared for you.
so let's take a listen to the first one now.
Here we go. I can't believe people still eat fast food.
It's so unhealthy. Oh, come on.
Get off your high horse.
Not everyone has time to cook every meal.
I'm just saying it's gross.
Yeah, but not everyone has the same lifestyle as you.
okay so we just heard a conversation example between two characters who are talking about fast food and one of the characters the woman in that conversation said that she thinks fast food is gross and she can't believe people are still eating it and the guy responded by telling her to get off her high horse he was like come on get off your high horse why are you acting so superior Why are you acting like you are better than other people?
Just because you think it's gross doesn't mean that it's bad for everybody else.
Like some people are really busy and maybe they don't have a lot of money and fast food is a good option for them.
So essentially the guy in this conversation, he's just telling his friends, you know, like stop being so superior.
Stop being so judgmental, chill out, calm down and just let other people live their lives.
Well, you live your life, essentially.
Good. Indiana, we've got one final conversation example for this episode, and we'll take a listen to it right now.
Here we go. You know, if I were in charge, the project would have been perfect.
Seriously? Get off your high horse.
I just know that I would have handled it better.
Maybe, but acting like you're perfect doesn't help anyone.
So in this situation, it sounds like we have in this dialogue a couple of co -workers, and it seems like maybe they were working on a project together for a while that didn't turn out so well.
And one co -worker is saying, well, if I were in charge, if I was was doing this.
If I had made the decisions, it would have been great.
And he's bragging, it's annoying.
And this, this woman, his co worker, who was also maybe working on this project, is like, hey, listen, you know, you're not better than the rest of us.
You know, we all worked on this.
Get off your high horse.
You are not that great.
You're not that smart.
You know, let's just bring it back down to earth.
Let's, let's calm down and be rational and move on with this, with our work.
So this is another situation where somebody is acting too arrogant and somebody is asking them, all right, let's take it down a notch. Get off your high horse.
So that's what we have here, Andrew.
Yeah. I like all of those expressions that you used, Indiana, that also mean kind of the same thing, right?
To come back to earth, meaning like you have this inflated ego, this huge sense of superiority, like you are better than everyone else.
No, you need to bring it back down to reality, right?
Come back to reality.
You are just the same as everyone else.
You're not so special, right?
Also to take it down a notch, meaning the same thing as tone it down.
Essentially, it's like you're turning the volume down or turning the color down, right?
You're You're bringing it back down a notch and a notch is what we call like one little step on a dial.
So if you have like a volume dial from zero to 10, you could turn it up notch by notch. I think these days we just have remote controls.
But back in the day with the old school radios and TVs, you had those dials and they would actually click when you turned it one number up or down, right?
That's called a notch. So yeah, some good other additional examples there that you guys get for free, freebies just right here at the end of the episode.
But Indiana, I think that will bring us essentially to the end for this lesson.
So guys, just to recap, we covered two expressions that are used to ask someone or to tell someone to change their behavior.
The first was to tone it down.
And when we want somebody to act in a calmer way or a quieter way, then we can say, hey, tone it down.
And the second expression was to get off your high horse.
And we just use this expression when we want someone to stop acting like they're better than other people or that they are superior.
That kind of situation is when we would ask someone to get off their high horse.
So thank you so much, everyone, for listening today and for studying English with us.
We really, really appreciate it.
And we hope you found this lesson helpful.
And Indiana, we need to remind everyone about the study guide, right?
For this episode, where can they get the study guide?
Yes. So if you are a member, you can access the study guide for this episode at gulaps .com.
And this could be really helpful to review these expressions and see even more dialogue catalogs where they're used and just check the transcript and see some of those more complicated expressions we were using, see them written.
It could help you understand even better.
So please check that study guide out at Q -Lips .com.
Alina and I work pretty hard to try to keep them simple, concise, and helpful after you listen to an episode.
So those are available for all members at our website.
Awesome. Yeah. And also we have our Discord server, which is the place where the Q -Lips community gathers to hang out, to practice our English together.
And we would love if you guys would join us there.
If you're not a member yet, you can join the Discord community absolutely for free.
It's open to everyone.
And we're going to have a discussion about this episode over there They're on the Discord community.
You can practice making some example sentences with the two expressions that you learned here today.
Or if you have any questions or comments, then that's also a great place to leave them there in Indiana.
And I will be sure to read them.
So everyone, I think that will bring us to the end for today.
Please take care and we'll catch you in the next episode.
Goodbye. See you.
