Explore the meanings of 'irony', 'flutter your eyelashes', 'willing', 'have something up your sleeve', and 'ripple'. Follow Andy and friends as they struggle to get into an exclusive nightclub, facing high prices and disappointment. Should they stay or find a better place to enjoy the night?
Irony involves unexpected contrasts between intentions and outcomes.
Fluttering eyelashes is a flirtatious gesture to attract or influence.
Being willing shows readiness and enthusiasm to cooperate or take action.
Deep dives
Contrast in Irony
Irony is defined as a contrast between expectations or intentions and actual outcomes. This concept is exemplified by the scenario of a fire chief's house burning down while he attends a fire safety conference. The irony lies in unexpected events occurring contrary to what is anticipated, like a plumber having leaky pipes in their own home.
Flirtatious Persuasion
The idiom 'flutter your eyelashes' signifies a flirtatious and persuasive gesture, especially when a woman uses it to attract or influence a man. By fluttering her eyelashes, she aims to express interest or convince someone to comply with her desires. This behavior is portrayed as a playful and charming method of seeking cooperation.
Willing Participation
The term 'willing' describes a person's inclination or readiness to engage in an action without reluctance. Being willing implies a voluntary and enthusiastic approach towards fulfilling a task or cooperating. For instance, a willing witness in court voluntarily provides evidence to support a legal case, displaying their readiness to contribute.
Secret Strategies
Having 'something up your sleeve' suggests having undisclosed plans or ideas ready for implementation. This idiom conveys the notion of strategic reserve or hidden tactics to utilize when necessary. It reflects preparedness to introduce unexpected elements or strategies for achieving specific goals, akin to a manager's strategic substitutions in a football match.
Rippling Effects
A 'ripple' pertains to the gentle waves forming on the water's surface due to a disturbance, such as a stone being tossed in. This visual phenomenon symbolizes a tranquil and captivating experience, like witnessing the calming effect of ripples in a pond. The image of ripples spreading evokes a sense of serenity amidst nature's beauty.
E330: ποΈ Welcome to The English Like a Native Podcast! I'm Anna, and you're tuning in to Week 38, Day 5 of Your English Five a Day. This series is dedicated to expanding your active vocabulary, honing your listening skills, and enhancing your overall enjoyment of the English language.
π We start today's episode off with the noun "irony". Next up, we see the idiom "flutter your eyelashes" and the adjective "willing". After that, we explore another idiom "have something up your sleeve", and finally, we finish off by delving into the noun "ripple".
πΊ Join me as we dissect these words and idioms with practical examples, pronunciation practice, and a captivating story to tie it all together. In today's story segment, Andy and his friends Brianna and Charlie struggle to get into an exclusive nightclub. Despite Charlie's flirtatious efforts, they have to wait and then pay high prices for a disappointing experience. Should they stay or cut their losses and head to another place?
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Five-a-Day Database Access all the vocabulary covered in the Five-a-Day series. This database is constantly updated. You can even make a copy and personalise it with your own example sentences. Get access now by joining my ELAN Newsletter π
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