Wasn't that delicious?
So good.
Your bill, ladies.
I got it.
No, I got it.
Seriously, I insist.
I insisted first.
Oh, don't be silly.
You don't be silly.
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Okay, rock, paper, scissors for it.
Rock, paper, scissors, shoot.
No!
You think you know Snap Judgment?
Yes, it's on NPR.
It's a podcast.
It's storytelling.
But Snap has gone deeper, stranger, wilder.
We've taken you places that the New York Times, the Rolling Stones, the Ambys, the Webbys, the Gracies all stood up for.
Award-winning stories, original beats, soundscapes that drop you into the heart of the story.
Find Snap Judgment from KQED every Thursday, wherever you get your podcasts.
Easy English expression rehashed.
Hello everybody, my name is Coach Shane and welcome to Easy English Expressions.
Come on, let's master English.
How you doing, everybody?
It is Saturday, fall 2025.
What is the date?
I don't even know the date.
I don't have my watch on.
My battery died.
But it's like Saturday.
I don't know.
What is it?
Maybe 13th?
Something like that?
14th?
I don't know.
It's Saturday.
Anyway, it's EQ time.
We got a great expression.
I like this expression.
It could be scary.
Anyway, check it out.
Let's go back in time.
Today's expression, very, very good.
In my clutches.
In my clutches.
C-L-U-T-C-H.
Yes, in my clutches.
If something is in my clutch, that means I am holding on to it with my hand.
In my clutches, I'm holding on to it with both hands.
So, if you look down the street and you watch people walking down the street, I'm guessing...
Most people have their cell phone in their clutch.
They're grabbing on to their cell phone.
They're not just holding it.
They're grabbing on very tightly.
If something is in your clutches, you are holding onto it very tightly.
In your clutch, one hand.
In your clutches, two hands.
Are you listening to me?
Do I have you in my clutches?
Have I grabbed you and completely am I holding on to you?
Are you completely listening to me?
To every word I say.
If you are, then you are in my clutches.
But don't worry, I'm a nice guy.
If the devil... has you in his clutches, that's not good.
If a nice guy like me has you in his clutches, it's good.
Nothing's going to happen except for you.
You're going to learn some English.
It's a great expression.
Let's check out a dialogue.
The U.S. wants Snowden in its clutches.
And then what?
He'll go to jail for a long time.
He shouldn't have done what he did.
Yeah, this is 2014.
Everybody knows Edwin Snowden, right?
Edward?
Is it Edward?
Edward Snowden.
Snowden!
He's the American guy who... He lives in Russia now.
This is December 7th.
Is it Pearl Harbor Day?
2014.
And he... lives in Russia now.
He gave up United States secrets.
All those NSA secrets.
Oh yeah, the United States is spying on everybody.
Personally, I like Snowden.
But boy, the United States government does not like him.
The U.S., The U.S. government wants Snowden in its clutches.
It wants to grab Snowden, not with one hand, but with two hands.
It wants Snowden, and then it wants to put him in jail.
Never let him go for free.
Does anybody want you in their clutches?
It sounds dangerous, doesn't it?
Yeah, it does.
Usually it has kind of a negative meaning.
My wife has me in her clutches.
That means she's holding on to me really tight.
I can't do anything.
I'm not free.
I can't breathe.
I might die.
But at the same time, it's your wife.
So you should grab her in your clutches.
Right?
I don't know.
What do I know?
What do you have in your clutches?
When you walk down the street, is your cell phone in your clutch?
What book is in your clutch these days?
In my clutch...
I have wonder.
Yeah, I'm reading wonder these days.
It's always in my clutch.
I'm always carrying the book or the audio book wherever I go.
It's great.
Now once again in my clutches, in his clutch, in your clutch, something that you are holding on to in your hand or hands very, very tightly.
It could be mentally holding on to something too.
You got it?
That's it.
Today's podcast, nice and short.
Check out the dialogue two more times.
The U.S. wants Snowden in its clutches.
And then what?
He'll go to jail for a long time.
He shouldn't have done what he did.
The U.S. wants Snowden in its clutches.
And then what?
He'll go to jail for a long time.
He shouldn't have done what he did.
Thanks so much for listening.
Make sure to check out our webpage, www.letsmasterenglish.com.
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And if you have a question please, or a comment, or maybe some criticism, then please send an email contact at letsmasterenglishcom.
I'm Coach Shane, and together, let's master English.
