Viva Fluency by Christine Woodside

The longer I live in Spain, the more peculiar I realise we Brits must seem. Especially when it comes to how we speak. We rarely say what we mean and it can be charming, confusing or downright maddening depending on who’s listeing. In today’s edition of Woodside Weekly I want to take you inside that very British habit of indirectness and help you decode what’s really being said.

Learning a language isn’t just about learning words, grammar and vocabulary it’s also about the nuances and understanding what people really mean by, quite often, reading between the lines. We Brits are a peculiar bunch. We don’t generally like confrontation but we do enjoy some passive aggression! We are generally known for being terribly polite and not very good at saying what we really mean. We’re trained to be cool, pragmatic and stoic. No drama, no shouting.

We actually hate to be too direct and for some cultures that’s hard to get to grips with. We Brits tend to hide everything in a huge ball of fluff and friendly words to soften the blow but that certainly doesn’t mean we are always happy, or even friendly!

I thought today I would help you read between the lines and decipher what we say and what we really mean.

British people are very good at controlling the words they use, as a general rule, and also their tone of voice but a huge tip I can give you is that when we have something to say we like to soften the blow with words like “quite” and “slight.”

We might have a slight issue with the proposal…

Translation: This is a disaster.

That’s quite and interesting thought.

Translation: That’s the most boring idea I’ve ever heard of. What are you thinking of by even suggesting it to me?

And when we say “we’ll see.” 99% of the time means “no!” - just ask my kids!

That’s not bad - it actually means: that’s good. (I know I know!)

“I’m not sure that’s the best idea.”

Translation: That’s an absolutely ridiculous idea!

“I hear what you’re saying but…..”

Translation: I completely disagree and there is no way I will even take into consideration what you are saying!

Expression of the Week - If you hear this RUN!

With all due respect – If you hear this coming from a Brit’s mouth, I think I would run. It’s quite a formal phrase used before disagreeing with someone, often hiding criticism.

With all due respect, I think we should try a different approach.

“I don’t agree with you at all. I think you are the biggest idiot on two legs” Now, would a British person ever actually say exactly what they really mean? Possibly. But only if we’re furious. And even then, it would be via email to avoid seeing the other person face-to-face!

Vocabulary

To sugarcoat - To make something bad sound more pleasant

To soften the blow - To make something unpleasant less upsetting

Stoic - Someone who doesn’t show feelings or complain, even in hard situations

To decipher - To interpret or understand something that is not obvious

Bunch - group

To get to grips with - to understand something difficult or complex

To beat around the bush- To avoid talking directly about something

To get to grips with - to understand something difficult or complex

To avoid talking directly about something

Mini Challenge

Have you ever misunderstood what someone really meant in English? Reply and share your story!

So next time a Brit says something that sounds polite, pause for a moment, they might just be hiding a whole lot more behind those words.

That’s all for today folks! Have a great week!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit woodsideenglishonline.substack.com

If you say the word siesta to any British person they will automatically think of Spain, sunshine, and a little post-lunch nap. The word, of course, comes from Latin and we can actually use it in English too.

Where did the word “siesta” originate?

The Romans divided the day into twelve hours of daylight and twelve hours of darkness. The sexta hora  or sixth hour fell around midday. It was the hottest part of the day, and also the sleepiest. Over time, sexta became siesta, and the tradition of stopping for a rest in the early afternoon lived on.

Bonus Vocabulary

In Britain, we don’t tend to stop everything in the middle of the day for a long lunch and a nap, but don’t be fooled we love a little lie-down just as much as anyone else. We might not always call it a siesta, here are some alternative ways to say it:

To doze off

To fall asleep lightly or unintentionally - generally on the sofa in front of the telly

To nod off

To begin sleeping, often while sitting upright

Catnap / power nap

A short nap, often 10–20 minutes long

To have forty winks

An informal British phrase for a short sleep or nap

To crash out

To fall asleep quickly, often due to exhaustion

To drop off

To fall asleep gradually

To snooze

To sleep lightly or briefly

😴 Sounding Tired the British Way

If you're feeling tired, you can say so… but where’s the fun in that? Everyone knows the adjective “tired”. Let’s make your vocabulary more colourful with some alternatives!

In Britain, we like to mix it up:

Maybe you're shattered after a long week, or worn out from chasing after the kids all day. Perhaps you're knackered (very British, very informal) because your neighbours had a party and you didn't sleep a wink. You might be running on empty, just trying to make it to bedtime or you’re feeling burnt out after back-to-back meetings.

Whatever type fatigue you are suffering from, there’s a phrase for it. Now, doesn’t that make needing some sleep sound more… sophisticated?

Mini Challenge

Have you tried the “coffee siesta”? Supposedly you have a coffee before you go for a nap. After around twenty-ish minutes the caffeine kicks in and you wake up as fresh as a daisy - feeling rested and not groggy. 

To kick in - empezar a hacer efecto 

As fresh as a daisy - como una rosa 

Groggy - aturdido

❌ Common Mistake

Incorrect: “I did a siesta.”

Correct: “I had a nap.” or “I took a siesta.”

We don’t “do” a nap or siesta -  we have or take one.

Until next time  may your sofa be soft and your siesta uninterrupted!

That’s all folks! Please remember to share this publication with your friends and family! Much appreciated!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit woodsideenglishonline.substack.com

Christmas Edition! 

The other week a student of mine told the group about a typical Christmas tradition in Catalonia, Spain. Despite living here for donkey’s years, I had never heard of this tradition and funnily enough neither had the rest of the students in the group. This conversation inspired me to think about the weirdest Christmas traditions from around the world. So, ladies and gentlemen, stick around,  sit back and I hope you enjoy the episode. 

It is only right that I first talk to you about the Catalonian tradition that inspired this issue. It is called the “CAGA TíO” which translates as “Pooping bloke”. You may have seen the logs for sale if you have been to a Catalonian market during the festive period. They are quite distinctive because they wear a red barretina hat. This tradition is for the kids to enjoy and basically, it goes like this: The Caga Tío is looked after by the kids in the days leading up to Christmas.  During these days, he must be provided with everything he needs such as chocolate, mandarins, a red blanket, nuts and cookies. All of this is so that the Caga Tío is able to have a big poo on the big night; Christmas Eve. The kids sing traditional songs and hit the log with a big stick and they basically encourage him to have a big poo. The log s***s out presents for the kids so you can imagine how enthusiastic they can get! Magically, after a good pasting, the blanket covering the Caga Tío is lifted and he has magically pooped out a load of presents for the kids. They are generally little presents, probably what we would call in the UK stocking fillers, such as sweets, chocolates, and coal if the kids haven’t been that good. 

Anyway, I think it’s kind of amusing that s**t has such a prominent part in Christmas.

Japan - KFC

KFC isn’t what most of us would consider traditional Christmas food but for the Japanese it is. Yep. You heard me right.  It’s got nothin to do with sushi, ramen or Yakisoba. The vast majority of the Japanese population isn’t Christian therefore they don’t celebrate Christmas. However, to make up for the lack of  Christmas traditions,  Kurisumasu ni wa Kentakkii (Translation: Kentucky for Christmas) started in the 70s.   It all started with some nifty marketing by  KFC  and the tradition has stuck.

Millions of Japanese people order KFC on Christmas Eve. They even order their meals months in advance! The meal consists of fried chicken, cake and champagne! 

La Befana, Italy. 

In Italy, neither Father Christmas nor the Three Wise Men deliver presents. It’s La Befana. La Befana is a witch who delivers presents to children on the 5th of January. She flies from house to house on her broomstick and goes down the chimneys, just like Father Christmas. The story goes that on their journey to visit Baby Jesus, The Three Wise Men stopped to ask La Befana to accompany them but she refused. She later regretted her decision and decided to go and look for baby Jesus on her own to give him a gift. However, she never did find him. She is still looking for him and in  the process leaves presents for the good children and garlic or coal for the naughty ones.

Talking of broomsticks…

In Norway, in some regions, it is a  tradition to hide brooms. It is thought that witches and evil spirits are more active on Christmas  Eve. To prevent them from coming into homes, stealing the brooms and possibly using them to do naughty things the brooms are hidden away. 

I bet you were wondering where the “weird” British Christmas traditions were… don’t worry we have some too!!  How could we not?!

I think most British adults, as a child, were probably taken to see a pantomime or “panto”. Pantomimes take place at the theatre and they are funny performances which take place over the Christmas period. They are family-friendly shows that combine elements of fairy tales, slapstick comedy, catchy songs, and dance. Pantomimes often feature well-known stories like "Cinderella" or "Aladdin," with exaggerated characters, and cross-dressed actors, there is always a baddie and plenty of audience interaction.

If you want to find out more about a typical British Christmas, read/listen to last year’s issues here: 

A Truly British Christmas Part 1

A Truly British Christmas Part 2

A worldwide tradition!

Another “worldwide”  tradition is hearing or listening to; “All I want for  Christmas  is youuuu”

EVERYWHERE…EVERYDAY…NO MATTER WHERE  YOU GO! When you start hearing it in  November you realise that Christmas is just around the corner…You know it’s true. It was released in October  1994. It reportedly took 15 minutes to write. Mariah Carey co-wrote it with Walter Afanasieff. It’s one of the bestselling singles of all time. 

Idioms: Hell’s Bells

Bells… Jingle bells… bells are Christmassy so here are some everyday expressions with bells: 

To ring a bell  - to be familiar

His face rings a bell

This film rings a bell, I think I have seen it before.

To  give someone a bell -To telephone someone.

I’ll give you a call on Saturday.

As clear as a bell  - To be obvious

It’s as clear as a bell who committed the crime.

Yule be surprised!

Before I go today, Let me explain the title of today’s episode: 

The play on words in "Yule Be Surprised" revolves around the use of "Yule," which is a term often associated with Christmas, especially in the context of the Yuletide season. "Yule" has historical roots in ancient winter festivals and is commonly used as a synonym for Christmas.

The phrase "You'll be surprised" is a play on the traditional expression that suggests unexpected or astonishing revelations. By combining "Yule" with "You'll" 

Thanks so much for your support! Happy Christmas! Merry Christmas! Have a great one! 🎄🎅🏻🤶🏻🎁😘

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit woodsideenglishonline.substack.com

What is a phrasal verb?

A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb and a preposition or adverb. When used together they have a different meaning to the original verb when it’s alone. 

They can actually be a nightmare for English learners. Learning something that doesn’t exist in your own language can be tough! (I remember! ) and actually,  until I started teaching  English and listening to myself talking to my family and friends,  I didn’t realise just how common phrasal verbs are. 

One of the handicaps for English learners is that phrasal verbs often have idiomatic or colloquial uses. I’m sure you have all heard the phrase “chill out” or “hang out”. Sometimes, the meaning of a phrasal verb can be more obvious and you can guess it from the context or from thinking about each individual part of the phrasal verb to try to understand it. Unfortunately, that doesn’t always work and you have to tediously learn the meanings one by one and try to incorporate them into your language (first passively (understanding them when reading and listening) and then start trying to use them actively in any language that you produce such as in speaking or writing)  

I think, from experience, learning phrasal verbs in context is one of the best ways to learn them. I would advise you to learn the common ones. If you hear them in conversation and are unsure about the meaning, don’t get too hung up on it. If you do study phrasal verbs, you’ll probably end up understanding more of them than you actually use (passive vocabulary) because they may not come as naturally to you as they would a native speaker, unless you make a real conscious effort to learn them.  

TOP TIPS!

Don’t try and learn a whole list

Choose a couple and learn them.

Learn the ones you think you will use

Try and practice them in context

Types of Phrasal Verbs 

We can divide phrasal verbs into 4 types. Stay with me here, don’t think I’m getting too technical for you, there is a reason I’m explaining this. 

Have you ever noticed that sometimes you can say: Pick the baby up or pick up the baby? Why? Why can you say to calm someone down, but not calm down someone / put up with something but not put something up with… 

Aghhh!  This is complicated:

Transitive - This phrasal verb needs an object:

I ran into my mum in the supermarket. (my mum - this is the object) 

You can’t say - I  ran into .. with nothing else - it doesn’t make sense. 

Intransitive  - This type of phrasal verb doesn’t need an object 

I get up at 7 am.  (We don’t say  - I get up myself)  

Separable - these  phrasal  verbs are  when you can separate the verb from the preposition/adverb for example:

Pick the baby up / Pick up the baby 

Take off  - take my shoes off / Take off my shoes. 

Look up - I looked some information up on the computer. 

I looked up information on the computer (no difference in meaning from the sentence above)

Inseparable - This verb is glued to the preposition/adverb

He came across a photo in his drawer. (we wouldn’t say he came  a photo across) 

Today,  we are going to talk about phrasal verbs with “put” 

COMMON PHRASAL VERBS WITH “PUT”

Listen to the audio for more explanations

CAN YOU CORRECT THESE MISTAKES?

Ok, let’s see if you are able to correct the type of common mistakes other students like you might make, especially those who haven’t listened to this audio / read this article!

1.Please, put away!

Put away is a transitive verb so it needs an object- we could say: Please put it/them away/ put the book away / put your shoes away. 

2. I don’t know how you put your brother up with!  - This verb is inseparable - meaning that we can’t put the object in the middle of the phrasal verb. Put up with someone- I don’t know how you put up with your brother. 

3. I need to put the oven on an hour before dinner.  

This one is fine. Put on the oven or put the oven on! I tricked you!

That’s all for now folks! I hope you found this article useful and that it helped you understand a little more about phrasal verbs. If you are interested in more of this type of content, let me know!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit woodsideenglishonline.substack.com

A witch is defined as being a woman with magical powers. Throughout history, they have been portrayed in many ways. At times, in the past, they have been seen in a good light, often as healers and wise women. However, through many periods of history, they have been linked to the occult, considered malicious, wicked women sorcerers who practice Black Magic. 

The image of a witch for many is an old woman with a pointy black hat, black clothes, a warty nose, long straggly grey hair, a hunched back and a wicked cackle. She sits making potions in her cauldron from her book of spells…. A pinch of bat dust, a rat’s tail and four frogs’ legs… whilst chanting, “Double bubble toil and trouble…”. (that’s from Macbeth - Shakespeare, by the way)

Witches have been represented in literature and films for as long as we can remember. I bet if I asked you to draw a witch right now, you would draw it in a very similar way to the way they are very often depicted; wearing black conical hats, black clothes, perhaps stripy tights, she’ll have a black cat and a broomstick. Did you know that the most famous witch of all time was the witch from the famous film “The Wizard Of Oz”? In the film adaptation, the witch had green skin, she didn’t originally in the book however, but the iconic image of the witch in the film has stuck and that’s why very often you see witches with green skin.

Why black? 

The association of black with witches stems from historical fears of the unknown and the perception of black as a symbol of darkness and the occult. In many cultures, black is linked to death and mourning.  

Let’s talk about why a witch’s hat is pointed and conical.

There is a lot of information floating around regarding the reason why the iconic pointed hat is associated with witches.

Some say that it has its origin in medieval times when similar hats were commonly worn by both men and women. They were originally for the higher classes, but later they spread through most of the population and were worn by most people, even the lower classes.

Over time, this ordinary headwear became linked with the image of witches, and this was because they began to be associated with the lower classes and immoral behaviour. The witches began to wear these pointed hats too, just like the rest of the population, and they were associated with mysterious and unconventional practices, such as the preparation of herbal remedies and spells.

Other sources say that it is due to the influence of “alewives”. They were women who made ale - a type of beer at their homes in Medieval times. They typically wore pointed hats so that they could be identified in a crowd by their customers. They played a crucial role in providing a significant portion of the population with a safe beverage when water was often contaminated. However, their profession was eventually stigmatized and they were associated with being loose women. Perhaps they were widows and it was the only way that they had to make money. They were known as people who made other people get drunk. For all kinds of excuses, their profession was stigmatized and they began to become associated with witchcraft due to their use of herbs in brewing. This led to accusations of dark practices.

So as the witch hunts intensified during the 16th and the 17th centuries, many alewives were targeted and they were accused of witchcraft which contributed to their demise and the decline of their profession.

Another possible origin of these pointy hats is, their connection to a religious movement in England - The Quakers who appeared around the mid-17th century.

In the mid-17th century, women of all social classes were wearing pointy hats and that coincided with the Quaker movement. Now, the Quakers wore black pointy hats. So

The Quakers were considered to be too radical by the Church of England and by the monarchy. Both of those bodies felt threatened by the Quakers because they began to preach that women and men were on a spiritual par, meaning that they were spiritually equal, they allowed women to preach. The preaching Quaker women wore black pointy hats, aprons and high-heeled shoes. These women were eventually persecuted by the Church of England and by the supporters of the monarchy.

On a more practical side, the conical hat's significance may also lie in its portrayal as a tool for channelling magical energy. In various cultural beliefs, the cone-shaped hat is associated with the idea of drawing power from the heavens down into the practitioner or the person performing the magic.

The pointed hat could be seen as a representation of a witch's connection to the spiritual realm and her ability to harness mystical forces.

Witches have been persecuted throughout history. Despite the varied origins, a pointed hat has become an enduring symbol of witches in popular culture.

In contemporary times the witch's hat remains an essential part of the imagery surrounding witches and its silhouette is instantly recognisable and often utilised as a symbol of magic and mystery.

VOCABULARY

IDIOMS

A witch hunt -  this describes a situation where someone or a group of people are looking for another person or group of people to punish them or reprimand them. 

The boss is so angry about the drop in sales he’s on a witch hunt… he’s calling us all into his office one by one…

The witching hour - refers to a  time past midnight when supernatural events are supposed to happen and when witches are at their most productive.

A witch’s brew - This is to refer to a mixture of elements just like a mixture of what a witch would make in her cauldron. It’s often used in a metaphorical way to describe a chaotic or confusing situation. 

Which Witch? (make sure you listen to the audio)

Pronunciation: 

Which witch whispered wonderful wisdom?

Here are a couple of confusing sentences for practice:

"Which witch brewed the potion that made the cat twitch?"

"The question is, which witch cast the spell that made the broom switch?"

And finally a silly joke…

What is a witch’s favourite food?

Sandwitches!!!

❤️❤️❤️

That’s all for today! I hope you enjoyed today’s episode! Happy Halloween!

Thanks so much for your support.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit woodsideenglishonline.substack.com

Body art is a way to stand out from the crowd and although it might seem like a modern thing, it’s actually been around for donkey’s years, we are going to be talking about tattoos. 

The word Tattoo comes from the Samoan word “tatau” which imitates the sound of the tools when doing a tattoo on someone.  

Tattoos throughout history have been used to mark and identify social status, rank, skills,  association with a tribe and even to gain protection from spirits! 

The oldest tattoo in the world was found on a mummy in the Italian Alps dating back to 3270 BC.  According to historians, there is also evidence that tattoos were done on women by women as far back as 2000 BC in Ancient Egypt and they were used to mark their fertility. 

So how did Tattoos travel through time and end up becoming so popular? Well, it has a lot to do with Captain James Cooke. On his voyage to Polynesia in 1769, he was intrigued by all these “drawings” on people’s bodies. Tattoos were a prominent part of Polynesian people’s lives and “painted people” were everywhere. 

QUICK FACT: 

Have you ever thought about how tattoos were done in ancient times? Pieces of bone were used to chisel into the skin - making a wound. Black soot was then rubbed into the wounds,  leaving a permanent mark. 

Let’s get back to Captain James…

Once his voyage in Polynesia was over, Captain James Cooke decided to take a tattoo-covered Tahitian man called Omai back to Europe with him. Now, of course, people were intrigued by Omai, to say the least, and he did in fact become quite a celebrity in London!  It was the beginning of the European tattoo era. 

Tattoos became increasingly popular in the beginning with sailors as they used them to document their voyages, their achievements or to bring them luck and protection on their voyages. 

Tattoos are a way to be individual and different. In the 1960s and 70s, they were associated with being rebellious and pushing boundaries. Nowadays, I think things have moved on and they have become a prominent part of mainstream society.  Rather than being about rebellion, nowadays they are a way for people to express their creativity and individuality.

The styles of tattoos have evolved over the years. You can have anything from a tribal tattoo to a watercolour tattoo of your granny. Just make sure you are very sure about what you have tattooed, we certainly don’t want any tattoo regret. 

Tattoo Regret

Do you know the top reasons people regret the tattoos they have? 

* Changing tastes - perhaps what you like when you are younger isn’t the same as when you are older. 

* Social stigma - in some professions there is still some social stigma associated with tattoos.

* Impulse - Getting a tattoo might have seemed like a great idea when you were three sheets to the wind last Saturday night but on sober reflection…

* “I love Mandy” -  here today, gone tomorrow. You loved Mandy once, but it wasn’t meant to be. However, she’s left her mark on you. Forever!

* Untalented tattoo artists - They are not all at the same level. You go into the shop asking for a tattoo of your name in Chinese and come out of the shop with “Chicken Noodle Soup” written on you. Forever. The Chinese people laughing at you FOREVER. And what about those who ask for a picture of Marilyn Monroe and come out of the tattoo shop with a picture of Marilyn Manson…?

Idioms 

For donkey’s years - For a long time

To be three sheets to the wind - to be drunk

* A blank canvas: Something or someone that is ready for creativity or transformation.

I’m really excited about this new project, I have a blank canvas to work on as long as I respect the product branding.

* Tattooed on my memory: This expression emphasizes that something is unforgettable. You can use it when discussing significant life events commemorated with tattoos. For instance,

"The day I graduated from college is tattooed on my memory forever."

* Leave a mark: This phrase means to make a lasting impression. It can be used when talking about the impact of tattoos on a person's life. For example,

"Her tattoo left a mark on her life, reminding her of her journey."

Grammar Clinic

The Passive Structure of "Having Something Done":

This passive structure is used when someone else does an action for you, typically by a professional. What's intriguing is that we often don't specify who performs the action explicitly because the structure itself implies it.

Let's compare it to the more active "to do" structure:

* "To do a tattoo" implies that you, the speaker, are the one drawing the tattoo on someone.

* "To have a tattoo done" shifts the focus to a professional drawing the tattoo on you, with the performer often left implicit.

For instance, many years ago, when I walked into the classroom with a fresh haircut, my students would say, "Christine, you've cut your hair." My response would be, "Um, no, I didn't cut it myself, but I have had my hair cut. I went to the hairdresser's and paid to have it cut."

So, when I say to you, "I'm going to have a tattoo done".

Who is going to do the tattoo? Do I do it myself, or do I got to a professional?

I go to a professional.

We also use "to get something done." This phrase often implies that you played a role in organizing or arranging for something to be done, not necessarily performing the action itself.

Examples:

* "She got the mechanic to look at her car."

* "I got my new driving license issued."

That’s all folks! Thanks for reading / listening! Enjoy your weekend. Please remember to like and share!

Happy Englishing!

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit woodsideenglishonline.substack.com

When we compare modern-day life with the past I think we can almost certainly say that we've become more image-conscious than ever before. This is probably thanks to shifts in society and the excessive use of social media and our constant access to photos, both taking and scrutinising them.  We all want to look our best, and that desire has set the bar quite high.

Some folks spend countless hours at the gym, munching on broccoli, and sipping water, even hesitating to enjoy themselves. Looking after ourselves is undoubtedly important, but for some, it's taken to the extreme.

Then there's the other extreme—the ones who wake up one late June morning, realizing they're far from 'beach body ready' and desperately search for a quick fix.

So that’s where the world of 'crash diets’ enters into the equation promising miraculous weight loss like shedding 5 kilos in just 3 days. But, realistically, we all know how that usually ends.

This week, I’m going to be talking to you about the history of dieting and rapid weight loss. You might be surprised by what I've uncovered."

USEFUL VOCABULARY

To set the bar high  -  To establish very high standards or expectations for something, often implying a challenging or demanding level of performance or achievement.

To shed - to get rid of - lose something, often referring to the act of losing weight or disposing of unnecessary items. It can also mean to cast off or discard, such as shedding old skin or clothes.

A quick fix - A quick solution

Going back in time

It seems to be wired into our brains that we should look a certain way and people through the ages have come up with ways to adapt their bodies to certain fashions. 

Throughout history, there have been times when being thin was fashionable and also being on the more plump side of the spectrum - what a relief that must have been!!  😂

If we go back as far as the Egyptians, they believed that certain foods held the key to the perfect body. One of their things was mixing honey and vinegar to help shed the pounds and be in tip-top condition.

In Ancient Greece, Pythagoras fully advocated a vegetarian diet - which to some extent is still a valid contribution to modern-day diets. 

The Renaissance is the period in history where there was a huge shift in the concept of beauty. Pale pink skin and plump bodies were all the rage. It was fashionable to be chubby. However, in order to get the perfect skin colour, people often resorted to taking toxic substances in the name of vanity. 

The 20th Century was when a huge amount of fad diets were cropping up everywhere. Some of them are totally absurd and to even think that some people have done them makes me question the future of humankind!

USEFUL VOCABULARY

To be all the rage - to be extremely popular or fashionable at a particular time, often used to describe trends, styles, or activities

To crop up - To appear or occur unexpectedly or suddenly, often referring to something that was not previously anticipated or 

Find two synonyms for the word fat: Plump and chubby.

Let’s go on to talk about the craziness of 20th-century diets! 

If you take a look back you will find all kinds of miraculous diets but here I am going to highlight the ones that surprised me the most. 

The Tapeworm Diet 

This diet dates back to the early 20th century and it is where people would swallow a live tapeworm larvae which would hatch out in their stomachs. The tapeworm would then consume the food in their stomachs and they would lose weight, become malnourished and probably get some serious infections. Do not try this at home, folks! Luckily, it is no longer a thing. 

To swallow - To move food or liquid from your mouth to your stomach by using your throat muscles. It's a basic function of eating and drinking.

To hatch - To emerge or come out of an egg, typically referring to the process by which young birds or reptiles break through the shell and enter the world.

It’s no longer a thing - It’s no longer popular or fashionable 

The Air Diet

I am actually chuckling to myself while thinking about this. This is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. Apparently, this diet is based on the idea that humans can solely sunlight with sunlight and air.  It even has a name - it’s called Breatharianism. I’m not a vegan or a vegetarian, I am a breatharian! Breatharians absorb, apparently, all the nutrients they need from the air. Call me sceptical, but I don’t know how that can be possible in this day and age with so much pollution! I think this diet’s days are numbered! 

To chuckle: To emit a soft laugh, usually in response to something mildly funny or amusing. A chuckle is a quieter and less intense form of laughter.

Something’s days are numbered: Refers to something having a limited amount of time left before it ends. 

The Cigarette Diet

Did you know that in the early 1930s, the cigarette companies latched on to the marketing idea that cigarettes were an appetite suppressant and therefore were brilliant for keeping hunger at bay  - Don’t worry about your lungs being destroyed, as long as you were thin… 

To latch on to - to adopt an attitude to gain benefit.

To keep something at bay - To prevent or hold off something undesirable or harmful from approaching, affecting, or harming you.

The Sleeping Beauty Diet

This may be Brad Pitt’s perfect diet ( he loves sleeping, in case you didn’t know). This diet involves taking sleeping pills in order to sleep for a long period of time. The theory behind it is that if you are sleeping for long periods of time, you can’t be eating and therefore you will lose weight! The potential health risks of being constantly sedated were obviously not taken into account when this diet was thought up. 

The Cotton Ball diet

Yes, people have even gone to the extreme of swallowing cotton wool balls in order to lose weight. Absolute madness! It doesn’t matter that cotton wool balls are not meant for consumption, just dip them in a liquid such as juice and swallow them. Your hunger will automatically be suppressed! 

To not be meant for - are not intended for / not designed for

To swallow (see above - tapeworm diet) 

The Cabbage Soup Diet (1980s)

This one consists of making a watery grey cabbage soup and consuming nothing else for days on end. What a sad existence! It does apparently lead to weight loss but it is no wonder if you aren’t taking in any nutrients. 

The Baby Food Diet

And of course, last but not least… The baby food diet. This has started to come about again and it is just as the title suggests. You only eat jars of baby food and you shed pounds. It’s no wonder you lose weight as you consume very few calories.

It’s no wonder - It’s no surprise 

Which of these diets do you find the most absurd? Can you believe people actually tried some of these bizarre approaches to weight loss? If you know of any other crazy diets from the last century or have any dieting stories to share, I'd love to hear from you.

It's clear that throughout history, people have been willing to go to extreme lengths to achieve their ideal bodies. While some of these diets may seem comical now, they serve as a reminder of the importance of approaching weight loss and health with balance and a focus on sustainable practices.

In future articles, we'll explore modern-day dieting trends until then, remember that when it comes to diet and health, the most effective and lasting changes often involve a combination of informed choices, balanced eating, and regular physical activity. 

Common mistake: 

“To do a diet” - In English, you can’t do a diet 

The correct way:

* You follow a diet 

* You go on a diet 

* We can say “to be on a diet” 

Jokes!

* I’m on the seafood diet - I see food and eat it!

* I keep trying to lose weight but it keeps finding me.

That’s all folks! Thanks for listening! Please like and share.❤️

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Heads up challenge!

Listen or read the article and find all the ways I use to refer to “having a sleep”. There are quite a few.

Here's the scenario: It's lunchtime, and you've just powered through a string of never-ending meetings. You've been crushing it this morning, ticking off tasks left, right and centre. It’s finally lunchtime! You devour your meal…

Before we begin, here’s a little quiz to get you thinking…

* Think of 3 verbs: things you can do with money.

* Do you think money is important? Why?

* Think of all the adjectives you can associate with money/people.

* What books and songs do you know whose common theme is money? 

Money. It powers our daily lives, it’s woven into the fabric of our society. For many people, it is why they get up in the morning - to go and earn their daily bread. Why? Because sadly, as the saying goes, money doesn’t grow on trees.  Most of us work to live, Because without money, we can’t live, or at least not very well.  As The Verve sang in their very famous hit Bittersweet symphony: “You’re a slave to the money then you die”. Not the most optimistic of lyrics perhaps.

The theme of money is reflected in our language, literature and music. We see the topic in books like The Great Gatsby and Oliver Twist, in Songs by ABBA, Dire Straits and The Beatles, just to name a few. 

Many of us dream of a lottery jackpot. The grass is always greener, isn’t it? ABBA said that “Money, money, money must be funny in a rich man’s world”, but is it? I mean, money can buy you all the material things you can dream of, it can buy you experiences but is there such a thing as too much money? The vast majority of people would give up work and be able to please themselves all day long. But, I have to ask…wouldn’t the monotony get to you in the end? Once you’ve got the big house, and the fancy car and have been on a few luxurious holidays…what’s next? There’s a Spanish saying that, when directly translated into English says, that; the richest is not he who has the most but he who needs the least. Leo Rosten wryly observed that “Money can’t buy you happiness but neither can poverty.” However, a lot of us think that money can’t buy you happiness but it certainly helps. I think there’s a happy medium- neither too rich nor too poor.  Where do you stand? 

The Beatles said the best things in life are free and they weren’t wrong. Although, love, friends, health and laughter sadly they don’t foot the bills. 

These days, we carry less money on us than we used to some years ago and of late, we keep hearing all about a cashless society. That doesn’t mean that we will no longer use money, but we will no longer use physical cash. It will all go electronic. Are you in favour of that? How do you feel about it? But, all of this hearing cashless society, perhaps, you know, we could think about a society that doesn't have money at all.

What would a world without money be like? Do you think it would be a better place? Do you think it would be a better place? Would it be better or worse to not use money?We'd probably have to go back to the days of bartering (which is still used in many countries throughout the world) if you are not sure what bartering is, it is when goods and services are exchanged for other goods and services negotiate the price with the shop assistant or shop owner. Is there such a thing as having too much money? And would a society with no money be the answer? Would bartering be better or worse than using money? There’s food for thought there. 

Authentic English

There are many slang words for money in the UK such as: 

Moolah 

Dough 

Dosh

Don’t Google it! Work it out!

Very often we can understand what things mean through context. We don’t actually need to look everything up on Google or in a dictionary. Imagine you are in the UK and you hear a conversation like this (very common, by the way) 

- How much is that? 

- It’s 10 quid.

What do you think “quid” means? 

Don’t be surprised if you hear the word “quid”  instead of “pounds”. 

- Oh that’s a pity, I’ve only got a fiver. 

Fiver? = A five-pound note, 

A tenner is a ten-pound note. 

Although funnily enough, we don’t say a “twentier” for a twenty-pound note and there isn’t a short form either for fifty-pound note. 

Take note that there is no ‘s’ on pound when we say a five-pound note because it is  an adjective, not a noun but we would say “That doll is five pounds.“

Take note that pence is often shortened to ‘p’. 

That ice cream is on offer, it’s 99p. 

Where do you keep your money?

Most people keep it in a wallet or a purse. 

Kids tend to save their pocket money and put it in a money box. 

If you are very rich, I guess you put your cash in a safe. 

And finally some idioms…

To splash out on - to spend a lot of money on 

She splashed out on a new pair of boots for the winter

To fork out - to have to spend money on something - it’s something we don’t normally want to spend money on. 

I bumped my car the other week and I had to fork out for the repairs. The insurance didn’t cover it.  

To run up debts - to owe money - to accumulate debts 

She had about 5  different credit cards and ran up debts on them all. In the end, she ended up owing a  lot of money. 

To save up for a rainy day -  to save money for the  future (for  unexpected things/occurrences) 

My granny is saving money for a rainy day. 

To put money aside - to save  money for something 

Every month, Jason puts money aside to pay his taxes. 

Sign up to a conversation club!

That’s all for today folks! Thanks for listening! If you are interested in practising your spoken English and putting what you learn here into practice there are limited places available for the next academic year in my weekly conversation clubs.

Send an email for more information to [email protected]

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit woodsideenglishonline.substack.com

Last week, we looked into how habits are formed and how to substitute bad habits for good ones. We got an insight into habit loops and how they form and the 4 part process that leads to making a habit and repeating it day in and day out on autopilot.  Today, I wanted to delve into the world of sticking to the good habits you make and acquiring good ones, and motivating yourself to create new ones. This may be of use to you particularly if you want to acquire a new habit of working on your English more frequently. After all, consistency is king! Stay tuned to find out how you can become the habit-making king/queen. 

You can’t just wake up one morning and think, “Oh! I know, I’m going to start a new habit” and suddenly Kachinga! Boom! New habit acquired. It doesn’t work like that. This is where many people go wrong when they make New Year’s resolutions on the 1st of January. They start all guns blazing, only to find by day 14 they’ve given up and gone back to their old ways and they didn’t create that new habit they so desperately wanted. 

How can we make a new habit tempting, tantalizing, and motivating? Think about starting a new habit of working on your English a few days a week, let’s say, more frequently than now.  We all have the “I haven’t got any more time.” /  “There aren’t enough hours in the day”- feeling. But, there are various things we can do. Listen to the next part to find out what it is that you can do to build good habits. 

Building Good Habits

Habit stacking

Trying to automatically put a new habit into your routine doesn’t work. You need to link it to something you are already doing.  This is why habit stacking is so powerful and gives you such a sense of achievement. Let’s start from the beginning because you are probably wondering what on Earth habit stacking is. Firstly,  the meaning of “stack”. It can be a noun or a verb. To stack is to place things one on top of another. You may stack books on a shelf so that they are all on top of each other in a pile. People stack plates in their cupboards and put them on top of each other. There can be a stack of books under the coffee table if you are an avid reader. 

If we combine habits and stacking we get “habit stacking” and that is when you identify a habit you already have, a good one of course, and stack or add your new behaviour on top. Join the two actions together. By doing this you will link your new activity with one that is already established and bingo! Bob’s your uncle.  In no time you will be doing these 2 or 3 things automatically.

When you begin to habit stack you shouldn’t be overambitious. Let’s imagine, you want to start moving more.  How can you incorporate more movement into your day if you have limited time? Imagine you make a coffee twice in the morning, you could use the time it takes for your coffee to heat up or brew to get some extra steps in, to do some squats or some stretches or push-ups. Five minutes in what might be otherwise “wasted” time scrolling on your phone various times a day can really build up.

Perhaps you want to get into the habit of drinking more water, you probably won’t remember every few minutes to drink a glass of water. Why not habit stack and as soon as you wake up in the morning and go to the bathroom, make sure to drink a glass of water? One extra glass more than normal and in no time you will be doing it automatically and it can really work wonders for your health.

Habit stacking and English

I can’t help it, I’m an English teacher. I had to link this article with learning English in some way. Many people say they don’t have time to do anything because in their mind “learning english” is “studying English” and that means sitting down at a desk and doing exercises from textbooks.  I’m sorry to tell you, but whilst that is one way to improve your English, habit stacking is the way to go, little and often and consistency. 

We need to identify habits we already have and find pockets of time where we can. Pockets of time are everywhere. It’s a question of identifying them, organising them and making English proactive a priority. 

How can you habit stack and take advantage of these pockets of time to improve your English? 

Let’s take an example. Imagine you want to expand your English vocabulary. You don’t have to sit there for hours and hours studying lists. Think of ways you can do that using the habit stacking method. 

Set yourself up for success. The night before, make sure you have a list of words/phrases you want to learn. Prepare the list while you are relaxing on the sofa, instead of half-watching the TV and/or scrolling mindlessly on your phone. Don’t overthink or overcomplicate things. By preparing a short list you have already made the process easier for yourself. 

When you are waiting for your coffee to heat up for your mid-morning coffee, you can take that time to revise the words. Take a look at them, repeat them / write sentences using the words… There really are so many micro exercises you can do that will lead you to your main goal of expanding your vocabulary. ( By the way, If you want ideas about micro-exercises, let me know!)

If you want to start reading more in English, pick a time of day - maybe in the evening before you sit down to watch TV, pick up a book or a magazine, or read an article. Do it on a commute to work on the train. 10 minutes a day can really add up. Then, in the evening (as mentioned in the previous point) take 5 minutes to write 5 or 8 new words or expressions from what you read and make a list for the next day. 

If you love going out for a walk or exercising in the gym, listen to an audiobook/podcast connect the two activities together.

Imagine you want to improve your writing. Practice makes perfect as I always say and remember DONE is better than perfect and better than doing nothing at all. Get the idea of perfection out of your head. If you are travelling by bus or train - spend 10 mins of the journey writing a journal in English - Make it a daily thing. Get on the bus, take out your notebook and write. If you work remotely and you don’t commute, have a notebook by the side of the bed and write a few sentences before you go to sleep. Brain dump, write what happened to you that day. Maybe when you make your coffee in the morning (haha - I’m milking this example!) you could write a few sentences then!

It’s simple!

Connecting a new behaviour you want to acquire onto another already established one is extremely powerful and so much more achievable than getting to the end of your day and thinking that you have to “study” or “should” study English, not doing it and feeling terribly, terribly guilty.

Write your intentions

With this next point, I’m not going to lie, I used to think this was a load of rubbish but actually, I was wrong. Before criticizing it, I have tried it and I was wrong. Writing down your intentions is powerful. Very powerful. You are so much more likely to complete them. 

It can be as simple as this: 

Tomorrow I am going to: 

1.Read for 10 minutes in English (morning)    

2. Make a note of 5 new words

3. Prepare my list to revise tomorrow morning while making my coffee or while sitting on the sofa in the evening. 

Write down 3 achievable tasks you want to get done. 

Track your progress

Track your progress day by day. Week by week and you will actually see the progress you are making. There are loads of habit tracker apps online or you can use a pdf one.  Making a new habit fit into your already established routine doesn’t have to be a mammoth task. It’s not set in stone, and you can adapt your new habits to your day to day. If your new habit stacking method isn’t working then mix it up. Adapt it to you. If it isn’t working over a long period of time then something has gone wrong. It should really be an easy transition from one habit to the other. Tracking allows you to see how far you have come.

What’s the point?

I used to think, what is the point of doing whatever for 5 minutes because by the time I had started, it would be time to finish. I was also mistaken. You can do a lot more than you think in 5 minutes.  Try it. Set your alarm on your phone and focus on something for 5 minutes, like having a little tidy up of your living room or kitchen. If you do this several times a day, 5 minutes bursts of activity, it will make a huge difference. You can do this with your English too. As I said before, all those 5 minutes build up over the course of a day, week, month, year.

 Imagine you want to start writing more in English, sit down and write for 5 minutes. You’ll probably end up writing a paragraph or 5 or 6 sentences! A paragraph per day makes a lot of paragraphs in a month! That’s a hell of a lot of practice!

I suggest you should set yourself some mini-goals. Sit down with a coffee for 10 minutes and think about things you want to achieve and how you can habit stack. Become the habit-stacking king or queen of your life. Go and habit stack one thing this week to help you with your English and one to help you with your health! Go. 

Bingo!  I’ve just come up with it... Listen to this audio while you are out on a short walk.

EXTRA Idioms about habits

Old habits die hard - a habit that is really difficult to get rid of

"Even though he's trying to quit smoking, old habits die hard."

To be set in your ways - to be resistant to change and prefer to continue with established habits or routines.

Example: "Grandma is set in her ways and refuses to try new foods."

Creature of habit - Someone who follows a fixed routine or has a strong preference for familiar habits.

Example: "John always orders the same dish at the restaurant. He's a creature of habit."

Can't teach an old dog new tricks - Suggesting that it is difficult to change or teach new habits or skills to someone who is set in their ways.

Example: "My grandfather refuses to use a smartphone. You can't teach an old dog new tricks."

That’s all for today folks! Thanks for taking the time to read/ listen to this week’s issue. Please like and share to all and sundry!

Happy Englishing and have a great week.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit woodsideenglishonline.substack.com