Learn about the expression 'to hit rock bottom' in American English. Discover how hitting rock bottom can lead to resilience and transformation, with examples from famous figures like Walt Disney and Oprah Winfrey. Explore the pronunciation of the glottal stop vs. the T sound in English for better comprehension.
Hitting rock bottom signifies reaching the lowest point in life, often leading to positive transformations.
Reduplications in different languages showcase playful and poetic language forms based on listener responses.
Deep dives
Introducing the Lesson Structure and Future Topics
The podcast episode introduces a two-part lesson plan focusing on different topics. Part one includes a joke, pronunciation exercises, and an explanation of the common expression 'to hit rock bottom.' Part two will delve into using the Titanic story for teaching irregular verbs.
Discussion on Reduplications Across Different Languages
The podcast reflects on the presence of reduplications in various languages based on listener responses. The host shares examples like 'Krim's Krams' in German and 'god-kash-mat-ka' in Polish, highlighting playful and poetic language forms.
Exploring the Expression 'To Hit Rock Bottom'
The episode explains the expression 'to hit rock bottom,' breaking down the meanings of 'hit,' 'rock,' and 'bottom.' It symbolizes reaching the lowest point in life or a situation, where further decline seems impossible. Real-life examples, like Walt Disney's setbacks, Oprah Winfrey's challenges, and the host's personal struggles, illustrate how hitting rock bottom can lead to positive transformations.
Life can't possibly get worse! You've lost your job, you have no money, and then to top it off, your dog dies. You've hit rock bottom; you've reached the lowest possible point in your life.
To hit rock bottom is a common expression in American English, and in today's lesson you'll learn exactly how to use it. In addition to learning how to use this idiom, you'll hear a joke, we'll hear comments from the audience, and we'll go through a pronunciation exercise!
Premium Content:
Season 4 (Episodes 150 - 200) = Each episode includes a quiz, the PDF transcript (the text of the audio) with definitions of challenging words and the mp3 file.