Show 864 Thursday 23 October
Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.
Hi, I’m Sarah. Welcome to The Daily English Show.
Today we’re studying a video clip from a musical called South Pacific.
South Pacific was first performed in 1949 and it was based on an American book called Tales of the South Pacific.
I’ve never seen the musical or read the book, but I’ve heard of it before and I think it’s pretty famous.
In fact in Wikipedia it says this: South Pacific is generally considered to be one of the greatest musicals in history. I don’t know if that’s true. But anyway, I think it’s pretty well known.
Watching this clip made me really miss living in a city actually – I used to really love going to the theatre. And if you’re studying English and you get a chance to go and see a play or a show - then I definitely recommend it. Even if you can’t understand all of the language or follow the story completely … I’m sure you’ll find it’s an interesting experience and you might even really enjoy it.
Actually being in a play is a really good way to study too. When I was studying French at university I joined the French club and I decided to act in one of the plays … partly just because it was fun and also as a way to study, because you have to memorize the lines so I found it a very a good way to study.
Anyway, I thought I’d talk about some of the language in this scene.
Something has happened – I don’t know what because I’ve never seen the play – but something has happened and one guy is asking another guy about it. And he says: this little stunt cost the navy six hundred thousand dollars!
And then the other guy starts laughing and he says: I was just thinking about my uncle. Remember my uncle I was telling you about. He used to tell my old man I'd never be worth a dime. Ha ha ha! Imagine me: six hundred thousand dollars.
Old man is an informal word for father. This is another random anecdote, but I still remember the first time I ever head that term. I was a kid and our neighbour came over and he was looking for my dad and he said something like: “Where’s your old man?” And I was really shocked and I said “What are you talking about? He’s not old”. And he just looked at me like “Okaaaaay”. And then later someone explained to me that it was just an expression and he wasn’t actually insulting my dad.
Back to the scene, one of the guys says: Why did you do this? What in the world would make a man do a thing like this?
In the world is part of an idiom: how in the world, why in the world, what in the world etc.
(informal) used to emphasize something and to show that you are surprised or annoyed
It’s the same as the hell or heck or on earth.
Then the guy gives his explanation and at the end of his explanation he says: if you get the picture.
Get the picture is another idiom.
(spoken) to understand a situation, especially one that somebody is describing to you.
If you get the picture is the same as saying if you know what I mean.
The Acadia Report
Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada
with Keri McCullum, Senior RA, Dennis House
What’s so great about Denis?
Um, everything, no I’m just kidding. Ah, it’s really close to meal hall and the sub and academic buildings and everything. It just takes two seconds to get everywhere. And the spirit’s really good and the community … everyone’s doors are open and you can just go talk to anyone anytime. It’s good.
What does your job as Senior RA involve?
Um, making programs for everyone and just making sure like the house is safe and that people are following the rules and everything. Yeah.
How long have you lived in Denis?
Ah, this is my second year. Yeah I was an RA here last year and so, yeah.
STICK NEWS
Kia Ora in Stick News today a New Zealand golfer is in trouble for making an inappropriate comment at Auckland International Airport.
Danny Lee is an 18-year-old golfer. Yesterday he left New Zealand to fly to a golf championship.
Apparently, at the airport he made an inappropriate comment about the contents of his bag.
The chief executive of New Zealand Golf confirmed the incident had taken place and said it was still being dealt with. He said “it was a throwaway comment, but it was said in the wrong place.”
And that was Stick News for Thursday the 23rd of October.
Kia Ora.
Word of the Day
Today’s word is throwaway.
Throwaway is an adjective which is used to describe a line, remark or comment.
something you say quickly without careful thought, sometimes in order to be funny
conversations with sarah
#536 Why did you do this?
* Watch this scene here.
* I've never seen this play and I don't know where this scene is from ... or what they are talking about ...
Step 1: Repeat x’s lines.
Step 2: Read x’s lines and talk to Luther Billis.
x Harbison here tells me this little stunt cost the navy six hundred thousand dollars!
Luther Billis Six hundred thousand dollars. Ha ha ha.
x Billis, what are you so happy about?
Luther Billis Well sir, I was just thinking about my uncle. Remember my uncle I was telling you about. He used to tell my old man I'd never be worth a dime. Ha ha ha! Imagine me: six hundred thousand dollars.
x Billis! Why did you do this? What in the world would make a man do a thing like this?
Luther Billis Well sir, a fella gets to feeling held down. He's got to take a little trip to pick up a few souvenirs. You just got to kind'a horn in on the situation. If you get the picture.
notes
dime (N. Amer) a ten-cent coin / (informal) a small amount of money
fella noun (spoken) an informal way of referring to a man
hold sb down phrasal verb to prevent somebody from having their freedom or rights
horn in on
horn in (on someone/something)
to interrupt or try to become involved when you are not welcome.
George worried that his brother would try to horn in on the company's success.
horn in on
Intrude, join without being invited.
For example, She has a rude way of horning in on our conversations.
This expression alludes to an ox or bull pushing in with its horns. [c. 1900]
links
today's news
today's STICK NEWS pictures
Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada
Study English at Acadia University
Residence Halls at Acadia University
music
show start
artist: Boom Tschak
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: More Chocolate, Please
from: Former Yugoslavia
MySpace
The Acadia Report start
artist: DJ iPep's
album: Home Mix 2007
track: Concerto
from: EVREUX, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site
WOD start
artist: DJ iPep's
album: Home Mix 2007
track: Game Toy
from: EVREUX, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site
cws start
artist: Wolfgang S.
album: Indietronic CCBit.
track: Dynamite
from: Belgrade, Serbia, Former Yugoslavia
artist site
MySpace
qa start
artist: ioeo
album: triptracks
track: triptrack2
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site
qa bgm
artist: Antony Raijekov
album: See U
track: Be Brave (feat. Norine Braun)
from: Sofia, Bulgaria
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site
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