Welcome to a new episode of English Vocabulary Booster.
My name is Lara and I'm a SALSA-certified English teacher.
Learning new vocabulary usually takes a long time, but we'll do it in a way that's easy, quick and efficient.
In every episode, we'll learn how to use five new English words or expressions, so that you too can start speaking like a native.
So let's get learning!
Hello everyone, how are you?
I am pretty excited because I think I'm going to take a few days off, which is something that I normally never do.
But I'm going away for a few days.
So we'll see if I can actually leave my computer at home.
That way I'm not tempted to work.
We'll see.
We'll see.
But yeah, other than that, I'm doing okay.
I'm trying something new because I've been trying to find a routine that works for me and because I'm more productive in the morning and then I hit this like afternoon slump at around three ish.
And then I can't get that much done.
So I want to wake up earlier, say like six, 630.
But then the problem with that is that I have to sleep quite a bit to feel rested.
And so if I do wake up at six thirty, that also means I have to go to bed at like nine, which means that I practically wouldn't be spending time with my boyfriend.
I would have no time to socialize whatsoever.
So I'm trying this new thing.
So I'm waking up at around six in the morning.
Then I start work at six thirty and work with no breaks up until 3.30ish.
And then I take a nap, like a one hour, two hour nap.
And then I am ready for the evening.
So I don't know.
This also means that I'm recording this episode.
It's 10.55 right now in the morning.
And to be honest with you, I'm pretty tired.
I hope I'm not going to mess it up.
But let's see.
Today's story is about support.
Hey, Ben, want to do something fun?
Not really.
I know your idea of fun, CJ, and it's gonna get us in trouble.
Oh, come on.
We're twins.
We should be doing fun things together.
Just one less time.
It's our last year in school together.
Ugh, fine.
What do you want to do?
We should graffiti the store and then say it was the new kid who did it, Brock.
What?
What?
First of all, that's insane.
That's Mrs. Whitman's classroom.
Trust me, you don't want to see Mrs. Whitman angry.
That woman's scary.
Secondly, why would you let Brock take the fall?
Because, I don't know.
Wait, I think I know why.
That's because you're jealous.
Because you used to be the most popular guy in school before he got here, and now everybody seems to like him even more than you.
Yeah, yeah, whatever.
Here, take this and draw whatever you want.
Come on, hurry.
Wait, why me?
I don't want to get suspended.
It's going to be fine.
I got you.
You got me?
Really?
Like last time?
See, you always say you have my back.
And then when we get caught, you always let me take the blame.
But it ain't happening this time.
All right, CJ, if I go down, you're coming with me.
Fine, I don't care.
Plus I told you we'll blame it on Brock and then everybody will hate him for getting Mrs Whitman upset.
Come on, she's coming.
What should I draw?
I don't know, just something.
I'll be inside.
What in the... Who did that?
I said, who did that?
I will not tolerate this type of behavior.
Now I want to know immediately who befeated my door, or else the whole class is going to get detention.
I didn't, Mrs. Whitman.
Brock?
You did that?
Brock, what are you doing?
You didn't do it.
Taking one for the team, girl.
That's all right.
What?
All right, Brock, come with me.
Brock, you're amazing.
Oh my gosh, Brock, thank you so much.
Brock, you're the best.
Brock, you're awesome.
I guess your plan didn't exactly work the way you thought, CJ.
Okay, I don't know if you're thinking what I'm thinking, but right now I'm just wondering what in the world Did it paint on that door?
I would be so curious to know.
And I know I wrote the story, but I did not think, I didn't want to make it vulgar.
So I didn't want to say anything that would be too, ugh, Laura, why'd you put that into the story?
But, you know, let your imagination take you where it wants to.
Let's talk about today's expressions and let's begin with expression number one, take the fall.
Secondly, why would you let Brock take the fall?
If you take the fall for something, do you accept the blame or not?
If you take the fall for something, you accept the blame.
You, if you're taking the fall, you're like, yes, I did it.
It was me.
I accept full responsibility.
And if you take the fall for something, you get blamed for something you did or for something that you didn't do.
Usually when you say that you take the fall, you are saying that you're getting blamed.
You're accepting the blame for something that you didn't do.
So it's this idea of, in a way, sacrificing yourself.
So that other people won't get blamed.
So you're like, you know, I don't want everybody else to get punished.
So I'm going to take the fall.
I'm the one that's going to say I did it.
So I'm the only one who gets punished, which is a very, very nice gesture.
It's an amazing thing to do.
Was there a time when you took the fall when it wasn't your fault?
Yes.
No, I don't think there was a time when I took the fall.
I think that – and I can't really think of anything specific that I can tell you, but I'm pretty positive that if something did happen and somebody else was responsible for that, I'm not going to say I'm going to, you know say hey, it was him.
I'm not going to rat him out or rat her out.
But I don't think I would take the fall either.
I mean –
I'm sorry, guys, but I'm being honest.
I'm not that noble.
Expression number two, I got you.
It's going to be fine.
I got you.
If you tell someone I got you, does that mean that you will protect them or not?
Yes.
If you say I got you to someone that by saying that you're telling them, I will protect you.
I will defend you.
I will do whatever necessary.
It is in my power to make sure that nothing bad happens to you.
When would you tell someone I got you?
When you want to reassure them you will protect them physically or emotionally.
It can be either.
So it can be like, hey, jump.
I got you.
Like nothing's going to happen to you.
Or it can also be like, hey, we're going to this party with your family.
I know you don't get along with them, whatever.
Don't worry.
I'm there with you.
I got you.
Meaning whatever happens, you know, You've got me.
And I think it's a really it's a really nice expression.
And when you want to make someone feel secure and feel protected.
I think it's a great.
It's a great three words that you can tell them.
Expression number three, have someone's back.
You always say you have my back.
And then when we get caught, you always let me take the blame.
If you have someone's back, does that mean you're willing to support them or not?
If you have someone's back, that means that you're willing to support them.
So in a way, it's very similar to the expression, I got you, meaning I will support you.
I will be there, your support, so don't worry about anything.
And if you have someone's back, does that mean you're willing to defend them or not?
Once again yes, because this idea of having someone's back is you're basically saying I will, if something happens, I will defend.
You say, for example, that you want to do something bad but you're afraid someone else is going to tell on you.
Then that person can reassure you by saying I got your back.
If you get caught, if I got your back, what I'm going to say is probably, no, he didn't do it.
Or no, I didn't see anything.
Anything that will support you and defend you.
Again, you have both ideas, both supporting and defending.
So I have to share some very difficult news with a friend.
I can bring someone else with me and hoping that they will have my back, meaning that will help me, they will facilitate the conversation, they will support me whatever happens.
Expression number four, if I go down, you're coming with me.
I love this one.
This is so evil, but it ain't happening this time.
All right, CJ, if I go down, you're coming with me.
If you tell someone, if I go down you're coming with me, does that mean if you were to get caught, you will protect them or not?
So if you tell them, if I go down, you're coming with me, that means that if you get caught, you will not protect them.
In fact, you are going to tell whoever caught you that this other person is responsible as well.
So you have this idea of okay, if something happens to me, I'm sorry, but I'm dragging you down with me.
I'm bringing you, you know, into this mess with me.
And I think it's a really, I don't know, it's, in a way, it's a fun expression.
Like you can say it obviously in a fun context, but I mean when you're saying that it's a pretty big threat.
When would you say, if I go down, you're coming with me?
Before or after doing something you shouldn't?
You usually say it before doing something you shouldn't, because you're warning the other person like hey listen okay, fine.
I'll accept, you know, whatever you're proposing.
I'll do it, but I'm not happy about it, and if I get caught, I'm not the only one who's going to be held responsible for this.
So in a way it's a nice gesture, I guess, because you're giving the other person you know the the choice, like do they want to be held responsible as well or not?
So Again, if you know you don't want to be the only one to get blamed and you want to do something that might have bad consequences and that someone else is doing it with you, tell them.
If I go down, you're coming with me.
Have you ever told someone, if I go down, you're coming with me?
Um.
I don't think so.
I mean, I might have said that as a joke, but not for real.
Also like, if I am going to do something that I'm not proud of, I'm gonna take full responsibility.
You know I'm not gonna um just because you know somebody else is involved, who cares?
If I'm the one involved I'm, I'm gonna take full responsibility.
So no, I don't think I've ever said this to anybody.
Expression number five take one for the team.
Brock, what are you doing?
You didn't do it.
Taking one for the team, girl.
It's all right.
If you take one for the team, does that mean you accept blame or punishment or not?
Yes, if you take one for the team, that means that you're accepting the blame or that you're accepting the punishment that's about to be given to you.
And if you take one for the team, will the other members of the group have to accept the blame or not?
No, they will not.
That's why you say taking one for the team.
Because that means that if a whole group is being accused of something and maybe they did something, the whole group is responsible for something, then one of them in order to not have too many people suffer the consequences of what they did then just one person.
One say member of the team.
It doesn't have to be a team, okay.
It can just be a group of people.
Then this one person can stand up and say, hey, I did it.
And obviously they're going to get punished, but the rest of the group won't.
So that's why they're taking one for the team.
So they're taking the punishment as opposed to having the whole group be punished.
Is taking one for the team seen as a good thing?
Oh, yeah, that's amazing.
Very much just like taking the fall.
If you're taking one for the team.
I mean, think about it when you know you're within a group and you did something bad.
You're afraid you're going to get punished.
And then this one person accepts full responsibility.
They take the blame right for the whole group, then obviously you're going to be super grateful to that person.
You're going to think they're super brave for accepting the blame and accepting the punishment not sharing the punishment with the rest of the people.
So it's seen as an amazing thing.
I mean people that do take one for the team.
They're usually seen as very, very good people.
Um, it's something that Almost like a hero.
Have you ever taken one for the team?
No, man.
I've never taken one for the team.
I think that, I don't know, maybe I've never been in that situation.
I've never been part of like something bad that that concerned multiple people.
So maybe I want to be honest here.
Maybe I've never been in that position.
But I also, I am going to be honest with you when I say I don't know if I would if I was in that, if I was in that position.
I don't know if I would take one for the team.
Maybe if the punishment wasn't terrible.
But I mean, if we're all getting punished, then maybe I would do it.
I don't know.
We would have to see.
Depends on the circumstances.
And that is it for today.
And remember, if you want to access the transcript, as well as lots of other resources, visit enboocom.
That is E-N-B-O-O-O dot com.
Have a great day.
