BEFORE WE DIVE IN
New video
Krystallo wants you to check out her latest video on pronunciation👇
and don’t forget to subscribe!
A couple of weeks ago, I got a voice note from friend
He had taken his son to his first BJJ class and wanted my opinion.
For anyone wondering, BJJ (Brazilian JiuJitsu) is a type of martial art. Think Judo, but better.
So my friend had heard about how good it was for kids (discipline, confidence, coordination) and wanted his son to try it out.
But his message told a different story.
The gym owner, according to him, was an oddball (raro).
Certainly not someone you’d trust to train your children.
I told him I was sorry that the experience had been disappointing, and that it clearly wasn’t the place for his son.
He replied:
Both barrels.
When you give someone both barrels, you attack them with everything you’ve got.
It comes from the image of a double-barrelled shotgun (escopeta de doble cañón), firing both at once.
In other words, no holding back.
Sucks to be that gym owner.
Until next week!
No doubt my friend’s review will make other parents think twice
This week’s three tips:
SOMETHING TO AVOID 🫣
🤦🏻♀️ “It didn’t like me”
In Spanish, you say “No me gusta”, which literally translates to “It doesn’t please me.”
So the subject and object are reversed compared to English.
✅ “I didn’t like it”
In English, you are the one doing the liking.
The thing you like (or don’t like) doesn’t have an opinion.
Do you like the place?
He didn’t like the gym owner at all.
SOMETHING TO SOUND CONFIDENT 🧐
👔 Business expressions
“To bite your tongue”
If you bite your tongue, you stop yourself from saying what you really think. It’s an expression of self-control, the verbal equivalent of taking a deep breath and smiling through gritted teeth.
You don’t actually bite your tongue, but you hold back to keep the peace.
It’s what you do when you want to stay polite, or professional…or simply avoid a massive argument.
“I wanted to tell him his idea was terrible, but I bit my tongue.”
SOMETHING TO WATCH 👀
NEXT STEP ➡️
LOOKING FOR MORE?🔎
Keep learning,
The Crystal Clear English Team
Please give us your opinion about this newsletter by replying to us ✉️
and remember to follow us on social media 🫶