This is an All Ears English podcast, episode 1596.
Is no news good news?
Find out today.
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The expression no news is good news can be really comforting.
Learn more about this expression today and find out why it's so common in the American healthcare system.
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Hey, Lindsay, how are you?
Doing great, Michelle.
How's everything going for you?
Everything is good over here.
I hear you are going to be doing some hiking.
Oh, my gosh.
Yes.
We are down in Arkansas having a little workcation and hiking in the evening.
You know, just getting in some new, a breath of fresh air, a new place, exploring the south.
Right.
Which is very foreign to me growing up in the northeast.
And you, Michelle, you grew up in the mid-Atlantic region and now you're in New York City.
So couldn't get more different than the south.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
No, I've never.
I've never.
I mean I guess I've traveled a little bit in the South, but not not really.
So I would like to do more of that in the future.
That's pretty cool.
So yeah, have a good time.
Thank you.
Yeah, I'm calling it the soupy South now because the air is just so soupy.
You know, you like that expression soupy.
It's like, what does that mean?
I think we've said that on the podcast before, actually.
I don't I'm guessing humid.
Humid.
Yeah, exactly.
It feels like a soup.
Like the air you step outside and there's so much humidity in the air.
It's so different from Colorado where you step outside and it's so dry.
It's like bone dry.
Yes.
Humidity is never that fun.
I feel like I live in the soupy north then.
Soupy north.
You could call my area soupy too.
But Lindsay, I have a question for you today.
Have you ever been waiting for news about something and knew that because you didn't hear anything like you could just kind of figure things were probably OK.
Yeah, I think situations like emergencies.
Right.
Where maybe someone's in the ER, in the hospital.
And you know, in many cases you know you won't be notified unless something goes wrong with a surgery or something, something like that.
Maybe.
What do you think, Michelle?
Yeah, yeah, definitely.
I mean, or maybe like you had to get some sort of test at the doctor's like blood worked on, or you're waiting for feedback at work?
I mean, it could be a lot of things where you kind of have this intuition that if you don't hear something it's probably a good thing.
That doesn't always work, right?
It's not always true.
Right.
We are going to teach you a super useful expression that you can use in these situations.
But before we do that, Lindsay, what do we want to tell our listeners?
Well guys, now that we have an app for both Android and iOS, you want to be listening over there.
Because why, Michelle?
What can we do over there that you can't do by just listening in Apple Podcasts or Spotify or wherever you listen?
What can we do, Michelle?
Well, I have the app and I love the app.
So cool.
You, you can listen to episodes and have transcripts going along the screen while you listen.
So it's like really like going along with you, kind of like a teleprompter, which is awesome.
And then you can get key words that are from the episode and you can have them on your personal list so that you don't lose anything, like I would.
Mm-hmm.
Like you would.
Yeah, and these are words that you choose every week, Michelle.
Based on your degree in teaching English.
We know what words will bring you to that native level guys, and we choose them based on that.
It's not every word, okay?
No.
Don't get scattered.
Don't try to learn every word you hear on the show.
Just learn the keywords that will push you to the next level.
We show you what those are and you can store them all in one place on the app.
So where can the listeners go to get those?
Go to allearsenglish.com app.
Very simple.
I love it.
So this phrase, Michelle, today, no news is good news.
All right.
Is this common?
I think so.
That's why I did.
That's why I wanted to play this episode because I feel like I hear this a lot.
Yeah.
Lindsay, what about you?
Yeah, it's common.
And I agree.
It's situations like medical tests, right?
Where if there's a medical test that you're waiting on.
Usually, if nothing comes up on the test, the doctor won't really call you right.
Exactly.
But if something does come up, they need to call you, tell you the news.
You got to go in, arrange something right.
Right, right, right.
So yeah, no news is good news.
It means that if you don't hear anything bad, things are probably okay.
I mean, like this thing with getting results from the doctors.
I mean, Lindsay, let's do a literal play just to start it off.
Okay, so all right, here we go.
So I'm waiting to hear back the results of my mono test.
Well, no news is good news.
I hope so.
Oh my God.
I've been in those situations before a few times, right?
Where you had a test done and you're like, I hope the phone doesn't ring.
I really hope the phone doesn't ring.
Yes.
Yes, yes, yes.
It's like you want to know, like, that's the thing.
We'll talk more about it.
But like doctor's offices are so busy.
They don't usually call you necessarily if everything is okay.
Right, right.
But here's another little one.
My teacher said she would contact me with feedback before my presentation, but I haven't heard from her yet and I'm worried.
Michelle, no news is good news.
She probably thought it looked good.
Yeah, you're right.
So I think that this can be kind of like a comforting expression.
Yeah, that's true.
I mean usually you're saying it when you haven't heard anything and the person is trying to make you feel better, make you feel comfortable.
Yeah, you're trying to make yourself feel better.
Somebody's trying to, yeah, it's like, that's basically the idea is you're saying it.
It's probably fine.
You know, no news is good news.
So we're going to talk about this a little bit well, a lot more after.
We wanted to say thank you to those who've reviewed us.
Right Lindsay, oh my gosh.
We love you guys when you write reviews, because we want to know what you think of the show.
I want to call out a couple special names of our reviewers for the podcast.
First of all, Manuli from Chile, Jenny H from Taiwan, Kenzo X from Japan, Fahimeh Magsoudi from Iran, Lorena Padraza from Colombia and Ahmed from Iran.
And in the Google Play Store for our new Android app.
Huge thank you to let's see.
We have Fabian RC, Valentina Rogers Mendez, Abdullah Darwish.
Let's see.
Tiago Assis, Almeles Figueroa, and Mahmoud Ghaffarinia.
Guys, thank you so much for leaving these reviews.
Michelle, these are great reviews.
The Android app is getting off to a very strong start with a lot of five-star reviews here.
Yay!
Great.
Thank you so much.
Yeah.
Thank you so much.
And if you haven't rated or reviewed us yet, definitely please do so.
Exactly.
Go over and get the app and rate and review the app so we can see what you think of All Ears English.
Excellent.
Okay, Michelle, so no news is good news.
So is it always true?
That's a good question.
I mean, I feel like we only hear about some things if there's a problem, like we were saying, with doctors, because they're so busy that you might only hear from them if something is wrong.
Like when I was pregnant, I remember they would always say, you know, we would only hear if there was something to report, right.
So like if I would get an ultrasound, like I would go and I would get the ultrasound, and that was with a tech, and so then you would kind of like meet with the doctor the next time to talk about it.
But they would, you know, in between that time, you're really nervous, like waiting and waiting.
But they said oh, you know, they'll only call you if there's something wrong before your next appointment.
But it's still, it's hard.
It's hard in those situations.
Like it can be scary sometimes.
You know when you do get a call, like you said, because we have this ingrained in our head, especially with doctors no news is good news.
But when I was writing this, it made me think about it.
I wonder, especially with the medical system.
If this is similar in other cultures and medicine, right?
With health care, I'm curious to know about those relationships with the doctors.
Yeah, I mean, in our health care system, things are so busy.
We have a lot of problems in our health care system that need to be fixed and solved pronto.
Yeah.
So, yeah, I mean...
Who knows?
Right.
I would be interested to know from you guys, you know, let us know.
Is it is that true in your culture in a medical situation when you get a test?
Is no news good news or do you always get a call no matter what your results are?
Right.
That's the question.
But then it's like sometimes you, you know, I.
I feel like, even though I know no news is good news, I still get nervous because I'm like, oh well, did they not call me because they didn't get the results yet.
Or did they not call me yet because they missed something?
So I feel like I always end up calling anyway.
Yeah, I know.
Oh, my gosh, that stuff.
Medical tests.
Scary, scary, scary.
I don't like to do that.
Me either.
Yeah.
But in general, I mean, I don't think this is always true in all situations.
I mean, someone like I said, maybe they didn't have the time to get or check something.
So I think I think.
This is a perfect expression to use to talk about the doctor.
But I generally call and ask anyway.
Yeah.
Well, it's good to be thorough with these things, especially when it's your health, and it's something very important.
Right.
Right, right, right.
But I mean, Lindsay, do you think, let's go through some other situations.
Like do you think that it works for, like waiting to hear back if you got a second interview for a job?
Yeah.
No, I think no news is bad news.
Yeah, exactly.
Like with a job.
Yeah, no news is bad news.
Obviously, right?
Obviously, we don't say that.
That's like not an expression.
That's why it was funny that Lindsay said it because she was like making up a new expression.
Right, exactly.
I mean, you know we could do another episode on this, Michelle how to follow up and check in on your application at every stage of the game, whether you've just submitted it.
Yeah, that's always tough.
Right?
Would be a good one.
Yeah?
Definitely, definitely checking in.
I mean, what about this, Lindsay?
If you're waiting to hear back from someone you went on a date with, is no news good news?
No, definitely not.
No news.
But it doesn't always mean that everyone responds on the same timeline as you.
You may be someone that would want to follow up right away the next day, say thank you.
But not everyone is like that.
Some people might go, you know, two, three, four, five days without reaching out.
And in the beginning, you know, all bets are off.
That's okay because they have their own style.
There are no expectations in the beginning.
Exactly.
Exactly.
There's a lot of playing hard to get.
Yeah, true.
And sometimes people do that as well.
Yeah.
Lindsay, what about okay, if your child is at a party and you don't hear from them?
Would you say that's no news, is good news.
Yeah, probably no news is good news.
It means your kid didn't fall down and hurt himself, or didn't get into a fight with another kid or doesn't have, you know, Play-Doh all over their face.
Yeah.
Or I would say it's the same also for like hearing, like if your kid goes to sleepaway camp and you like haven't heard, you know that's probably a good sign.
Yeah.
Or waiting to hear from a salesperson if they still have the item you want in stock.
So I guess either way, they should get back to you if they're looking for something for you.
Right.
Yeah.
So that's kind of it could mean something.
Well, I would say that it probably, well, I guess you don't know until you hear from them.
So sometimes you really might not know.
Yeah, that's true.
Do you think that this expression or this mindset is helpful?
Like, are you calm when you're waiting on some important news?
Or what do you do to keep yourself relaxed or patient?
Oh my gosh.
I try to just keep myself active, stay active physically, engage in other things.
I can always find things to do with our work, right?
To stay busy.
But yeah, if I'm waiting and not hearing and someone says that to me, no news is good news, especially about a test, a medical test then that's good.
That does make me feel better.
But in the end, there's kind of this sense of no matter what you say, you can't control the outcome.
You know what I mean?
There's this sense, I think we try to do these things that will control the outcome, but the outcome is going to be the outcome in the end.
The test results are going to be the results.
So there's that too.
Exactly.
Exactly.
I mean, yeah.
So this person, you know, if your friend is worried about something and you say no news is good news, I mean it really depends on your relationship.
Like, it's supposed to be comforting for them.
But I guess sometimes if you're like really worried and someone says that to you you know somebody depending on how you feel in that moment, you might be comforted, but you might also be like ugh, like.
Yeah, you got to know the person right and how to respond correctly based on their personality.
Some people like to be left alone.
Other people like to be asked questions.
It just depends.
Right, right.
So you have to think about it before you use it.
Like does this expression truly fit the situation?
Is no news actually most likely good news or not?
And also how nervous is the person?
Like I said, if they're totally freaked out and – maybe angry or whatever, like it's not, I don't know.
You really have to think about if it's helpful, also about what your relationship is and what you know about that person, if that's likely to calm them or to make them more upset.
Yeah, I mean, sometimes it's better to not say anything.
Michelle, you shared on the show before that when you get nervous, you don't really like to talk that much.
You get quiet.
Is that right?
Yeah, Yeah.
So maybe it wouldn't be the right thing to try to engage in conversation with you when you're waiting for that test.
Yeah.
Although I will say there's two different kinds of nervous with me.
Then I'd probably like to talk.
But like I'm quiet, like if I'm like preparing for something, like if I'm like about to make a speech or present, like that's when I'm quiet.
But if I'm like general other nerves, oh, do I like to talk?
Yeah.
Got it, got it.
Okay, so I see.
So if you're waiting for some kind of test and you're worried, you want to talk because you want to work out the scenarios.
What happens if it's positive negative, all this stuff.
And I want someone to reassure me.
You know, just like in anything you know, like any other thing I'm nervous about.
But if I'm prepping for something, or before maybe a job interview, I might you know I would be quiet.
Yes, I'm the same way.
That's funny.
Yeah.
Oh, that's really like the exact.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Because I also I kind of I can worry about things sometimes.
So I'll prepare every scenario.
If it's positive, this is what I'm going to do.
If it's negative, this is what I'm going to do.
I'm going to work it out.
I'm going to figure out all these scenarios.
But then if I do have a big presentation, I'm really in my head yeah, so i'm busy.
That's funny.
Yeah yeah, for sure.
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That's allearsenglish.com forward slash app.
So anyway, so yeah, it can be good for connection or not.
But let's go over a couple of role plays.
I mean, one thing that's very helpful is to add something after, and we're going to talk about that, you know, if we have time.
So in this first one, we're sisters, okay?
Yeah.
Okay, go ahead.
Okay.
I hope the rescue league chose me to get the dog.
I can't wait any longer.
Well, no news is good news, Michelle.
I'm sure you got it.
Okay.
So you added on that.
I'm sure you got it.
So what am I saying here?
I'm sure you got what?
I'm sure you got the dog.
Yeah.
You were approved.
I was chosen to get it.
Yeah.
Just a little cultural note for our listeners here today.
You know, it's not easy always to adopt a dog from a shelter.
I may have mentioned this last week, but I'm trying to get my dad to adopt a dog because I think it would be good for my parents to have a dog at home.
Yeah.
And my dad's always wanted a dog, but my mom was bitten by a dog when she was a kid.
So she's always been afraid of dogs.
So we're trying to find one that would be small enough, that wouldn't scare my mom and would keep you know, just companionship of a pet.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Oh, well, I hope they get them.
Yeah.
Well, they.
Because they've never owned a dog before.
So that's the thing.
I hope that they can actually get one.
I think depending on the shelter you go to, it can be tricky.
Yeah, it's not that easy.
So yeah, you might want to use that.
You know, that expression.
I mean, maybe in this situation, like if you knew there were a lot of people up for getting the dog and you said no news is good news, they might be like.
Well, I don't know if that's true.
But in this situation, it sounds almost like maybe they're just reviewing your application.
And, you know, so in that sense, it could be good.
Yeah.
And here you could also interchange.
I'm sure you got him or her too, right?
Because you're talking about an animal.
That's true.
I know.
I feel like I always say it.
Yeah, it's a him or her.
Yes, exactly.
How about this one?
So this is we're co-workers.
So here we go.
The boss told me he needs to talk to me, but I haven't heard anything since yesterday.
No news is good news, Lindsay.
I'm sure it's nothing.
Yeah, that's probably true.
And that would probably make me feel better, you know.
And again, this is connection, right, Michelle?
Like you said, this is building a connection skill, because there are a lot of moments where we could really get in our head and we can get nervous.
And it's nice if you can comfort a coworker.
You can lean over into their cubicle or wherever you're working and just say, hey, it's okay.
You know, you haven't heard yet.
Probably okay.
I'm sure it's nothing.
Right, right, right.
Exactly.
Because maybe the boss just got distracted.
Like if it was really important, they would definitely like make time for it, you know?
Yes, completely.
Okay, here's another one.
And this one, this is about your daughter, I guess, is at her first sleepover.
Okay, here we go.
Oh, I hope she's okay.
This is her first sleepover.
She said she would text me if she's okay.
Oh, Lindsay, no news is good news.
I'm sure she's having so much fun.
She is way too busy to call.
I'm sure that's how a lot of parents feel when their kids go on their first sleepover, right?
Yeah, probably, probably.
And guys notice, you know, when we're using this extra thing, after no news is good news, we're saying I'm sure, I'm sure you got it.
I'm sure it's nothing.
I'm sure she's having so much fun, right?
So that's a good thing to add on.
Yeah, totally.
Okay, last one.
Last one.
Here we go.
All right.
We had a great time on the date.
Why hasn't he called?
I texted him yesterday.
Oh, Michelle, no news is good news.
I'm not sure about that answer.
I'm not sure about that either.
Yeah, exactly.
I wanted to give you one that's like, I don't know.
I would avoid that one.
Right.
Because that's not true.
Usually.
I mean, again, like I said, people have their different styles.
Some people wait a while, especially if it's a first date, but...
I don't think no news is good news in dating.
Do you ever like text somebody?
I mean, it could be anyone and you don't hear back for a little while and you're like well, maybe like they just didn't get it.
And it's like, when is that ever true?
They got it.
They always get it.
I'm sure there've been a lot of memes on this, right?
Yeah, exactly.
Oh, maybe they just, you know, the phone.
I don't know.
Who knows?
Nah.
Yeah, they got it.
Lindsay, what's the takeaway for today?
All right.
So guys, this is a useful expression.
No news is good news.
It's useful in the right scenarios.
Make sure you're using it in the right situations with the right person, though.
And we also want to know if this is the same idea in your culture, like at the doctor's office.
Is it true that they tend not to reach out when you have a negative test and everything's okay?
Right, Michelle?
What else?
Exactly.
Yeah.
I mean... you know, think carefully about when to use it.
Is it going to relax the person or is it going to make them more nervous?
And is it really true?
Like in that last scenario, like that sounded a little bit ridiculous.
Like, you know, you want to think about other things to say.
So really think about if it's true.
You want to use it only if it's probably true.
Yeah, it kind of makes me think about connection a little bit.
A lot of our listeners say they want to improve their vocabulary.
But it's not just getting the right words, guys.
It's the right words at the right moment with the right person and context, person and words.
Yeah, exactly.
Very important to think about.
This was fun.
Thanks, guys, for listening.
Remember, get our app at allearsenglish.com slash app and rate and review the app.
And thank you again to those who have done so.
All right.
Awesome, Michelle.
Talk to you soon.
Take care.
Bye.
Bye.
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