Unknown

This is an All-Ears English Podcast, episode 2654. Do you love it or hate it? Welcome to the All-Ears English Podcast, downloaded more than 200 million times. Are you feeling stuck with your English? We'll show you how to become fearless and fluent by focusing on connection, not perfection. With your American host, Michelle Kaplan, the New York Radio Girl, and Aubrey Carter, the Isles Wiz, coming to you from Arizona and New York City, USA. And to get your transcripts delivered by email every week, go to allhearsenglish.com/subscribe. [MUSIC PLAYING] On today's episode, Aubrey and Michelle, talk about the expressions I don't love it, and I don't hate it. These may not mean exactly what you think, depending on context and intonation. Learn more today so you can use these in your everyday conversations. [MUSIC PLAYING] Do you ever start speaking English and suddenly the words disappear? You pause too much, you hesitate. You know what you want to say, but only later, not in the moment when it matters. This is where your fluency is breaking down, and it's fixable. That's why we created our two-minute fluency quiz. It shows you your exact English level right now, so you know what to work on next. Are you B1, B2, or C1? Find out. Go now to allhearsenglish.com/fluencyscore and get clarity on your English level and how you can improve this year, starting today. One more time, go to allhearsenglish.com/F-L-U-E-N-C-Y-S-C-O-R-E. [MUSIC PLAYING] Hello, Michelle. How are things? Things are good, Aubrey. How are you? I'm great. Question for you. Do you allow eating in any room of your house or are some rooms off limits? [LAUGHS] Well, it's a good question. I don't think that I have an actual strict rule about it. I think Dan is better at trying to get the kids to not eat in certain places, but I have been known to eat a meal in bed. That's my favorite thing to do. Don't tell anyone, but I would never have my kids do that. No, absolutely. This is pretty strict in our home, but same as you, it's my husband, who is much more strict about it. Like, no food upstairs at all. No food, like kitchen, only kitchen, or outside. Take your popsicle out to the backyard, right? Not anywhere else, but do the kids listen? Do the kids do that? Absolutely not. They have food and snacks hidden in their rooms. They're constantly getting after them. And I don't eat in the bed very often, but every now and then I will make people-- I'll be there. It's a Jewish-- yeah, totally. Yeah, emergency. Emergency, like, I have my glass of wine next to the bed. And I'm like, yeah, that's an emergency. Fine, yes, exactly. So today we are going to talk about a fun, yet light way to say that you don't like something. And we're talking about this because I heard Dan say this in the context of what we're talking about. So the story is my kids were eating something with honey. And I forget what it was. And they were on the couch over the carpet. And he said, I don't love honey on the carpet. That is amazing. I see this a lot. And my husband does too, right? And what we really mean is you should not be eating on the carpet. You should not be eating while sitting on the couch, because what we're saying is I don't want you to get honey on the couch or on the carpet. So I don't want you to be eating honey over there. And this is how we say it. And sometimes we'll say, I don't love the idea of honey on the carpet or I don't love honey on the carpet. Yeah. And I wrote it down because it just made me laugh. And it's very natural. And it's a common way to say, you don't want something. You don't want something to happen. Don't do something. Absolutely. Yeah, so this is going to be fun. So first of all, guys, we want to remind you to hit the follow button or subscribe on YouTube. Wherever you are listening to, listening to or watching the All-Ears English podcast, so you never miss anything. And also, Aubrey, we want to say thank you so much to our listeners who have written reviews for us. Yes, exactly. We're going to shout out a couple of your names now from Apple Podcasts Annie in China and Cirque Selroestam. Thank you so much for your reviews, your ratings, everyone who leaves a review wherever that is. Spotify, Android, Apple, in the app, on YouTube. All of these comments and ratings and reviews. We love them. We read them. They really help us have the motivation to keep going to plan these great episodes for you. Absolutely. So if you have a new review, please do so. We really do read them. We send them around to each other, makes our days. So all right. So let's get into it. So this construction is, I don't love X. I don't love something. For example, I don't love staying up past 11. That's true for me, except I could say I don't love staying up past nine. Yeah. I'm tired because I'm up so early. So I'm tired really, really going up early. Yeah. Or I don't love the redecorating done in this room, right? So I don't love it. Don't say that to someone who did the redecorating. No, no, no, no. Or I don't love this combination of salty and sweet. So this is a kind of a positive spin when you're in a restaurant, for example. And what you mean is, I don't like this, but you're trying to be positive. You're trying not to say something rude. This is a nicer way to say that. I don't love this. Right, right, exactly. So yeah, I mean, you answered my question. I was going to say how does that sound to you? It does sound like you're trying to be a little bit softer. You know, you're not trying to be too blunt. And you might give more details after. You might be like, I don't love it, but I've had worse. Right, exactly. Yeah, so to me, it sounds very light. And even though you may not love it, you may not hate it, right? It just depends on the context and the tone. So for example, if you didn't say this, if you did hate it, you'd say something else. You'd be like, it's not my favorite or something like that. Right, right, right, exactly. So here's an example, I don't love this color, but I think we should go with it for now. So maybe you need to make a decision for a presentation or whatever it is. And you're saying, okay, well, we need to just get this done. So I don't love it, but let's just go with it. I probably said this about the color we painted our house because we wanted to go really light, like almost white, but we had to choose from HOA colors, like pre-approved colors. And none of them were very light. And we were so frustrated and they find you if you don't choose one of their colors. So we chose the lightest one they had, which was not as light as we wanted. And we'd be like, I don't love this, but we're just gonna have to go with it 'cause we have no other option. - Right, yeah, yeah, that's a perfect example. Or Aubrey, you were talking about wine in bed. I don't love this wine with this dish, but I see why they put them together. - Oh yeah, 'cause sometimes there will be a suggested pairing and you'll be like, it's not what I would have chosen, but I can kind of get it. - Right, like I understand it, right? For me, I don't know about you, Michelle, but I'm like, every Cabernet Sauvignon, give me a cabsav. I'm gonna love it. I don't think I've ever had a cabsav I didn't like. I love that. - I like Malbec. - Oh, Malbec's good too. Yes, I mean, everyone has their favorites, but in general, I even like the $4 one at Trader Joe's. - Give me, delicious. - That's a funny. - So this could actually, though, also sound a bit more serious, or even use to reprimand someone or give rules, like down in the honey. Like I don't love honey on the carpet. Like we're not, you know, doing this. - Right. - What you really mean is don't eat honey on the carpet. - Don't do it. - Exactly. - Right, right. So I don't love where this conversation is going right now. So it's like you can tell things are maybe getting a little bit more argumentative with someone, the things are coming up, and so you might say, I don't love where this is going right now. Like maybe we should just talk about something else, right? - This is really interesting. It is a little bit loaded. If you are wanting to pivot to something else, we've talked about on the podcast, ways to do that, ways to change the subject, and this is one way to do that, but there is an implication here of criticizing the other person. You are telling them something they just said, or the way they're handling the conversation, the way they're reacting to you are not listening to you. You don't love, and so you are letting them know that in a kind way before pivoting away. And so when you say this, you're intentionally giving them that message. Like I don't like the way you've been had something about the way you've been handling this. So let's talk about something, then you're going to change the subject, but you want that message to be clear, and that's when we would say this. - Yeah, yeah, exactly. Or what's another example of it? And then you might say, "I don't love how you've been ignoring some of my emails." So this could be a co-worker that is not responding to a lot of your emails and you're trying to figure out a way to say it a little bit Playfully, but also let them know like you need to read my emails and respond Yeah, yeah, be careful with this one to a coworker, you know It would have to be like I would say this to you, Michelle Maybe exactly If someone here is somebody you're close with you can be truthful. Well, I'm playful, right? I'd be like so I shall play full with Exactly the way you're ignoring all of my emails But I also I don't even know if I wouldn't do that because I would know there's probably a reason you're super busy And they're still implied criticism there. So I would probably still be like did you happen to see my last email? Right right right exactly Because this doesn't show care really like you do need to be careful This is maybe more if you have already tried to be careful and now you need to be more clear But you're still trying to use language that is kind and polite and this would work Yeah, yeah, really interesting and you also might just hear people say I don't love it right so for example Let's do this little role play. What do you think of the new roller coaster? They added I don't love it Yeah, this I'm probably going to share more details because if you just stop there It's like it feels a little brusque, but then if you're like I got sick honestly We were upside down way too long. You would probably give details about why you didn't love it Exactly All right, so we are going to go over the opposite In just a minute after the break all right Have you ever walked out of a meeting thinking I kind of said that better You understood everything, but your response came out short or unclear or not quite like you Maybe your ideas are strong, but your English doesn't show it yet. You forget words You know you can't explain things naturally and fast conversations leave you quietly catching up That gap can be frustrating, but it's also very specific and very Fixable our two-minute fluency quiz helps you understand where that gap is and whether your level is B1 B2 or C1 when you know your level progress feels lighter and faster Take the quiz now at all ears English calm slash fluency score and move closer to speaking English the way you think One more time go to all ears English calm slash F-L-U-E-N-C-Y-S-C-O-R-E Okay, so Aubrey so can you say the opposite can you say I don't hate something or I don't hate it absolutely right? Well, I don't hate it. It actually means the same thing. I think if I'm like I don't love it Or I'm like right. I don't hate it. It's kind of the same for me both of them. I'm like. It wasn't the worst It is interesting. It's really interesting to me. That's how I say yeah Yeah So you could you could say oh, I don't I don't hate it Right, and it can actually be pretty positive sounding and a weird way. Yeah Let's do this role role. Oh, yeah. What do you think of the coffee? I know you're a coffee snob Let's see Hmm, hmm. I don't hate it. Okay Yeah, it's interesting. Yeah, it is interesting because if I said I don't love it it would mean more I Like it sounds worse than saying I don't hate it. That is really interesting and I guess that makes sense I don't hate it should mean a little more like I actually like it and it is like this feels more like actually I like it and we'll often say that when we're surprised like maybe we expected to not like something And then we like it. Huh, I don't hate it like I thought I would hate it, but I don't so funny But you can also use it like this. So here's an example I went to them all and they put in a new restaurant. I didn't hate it. It'll probably do well there nice And I when I say this I the intonation is interesting, right if I say like I didn't hate it That sounds like I also didn't love it, but if I say like I went to the mall and they put in a new restaurant I didn't hate it. It will probably do well there. That means I really liked it It's all about your intonation. There's intonation that can make it sound huge, right? I didn't hate it Is like I like to you can't just say this in a monotone. No, you know, you have to give us like I didn't hate it That sounds like I didn't really like it, but I didn't treat it Right, right. So if you if you are a little bit more emphatic like oh, I didn't hate it and sound a little surprised That sounds more powerful. I liked it totally. Yeah So this is tricky you could confuse someone depending on the intonation you use and the contacts, right? You need very clear intonation and also recognize that is a possibility These there are lots of different meanings depending on the intonation So anticipate that that there could be misunderstandings when you're trying to use these and then make sure to share details after that Make it clear if you're like I didn't hate it. It was actually amazing the dessert was fantastic the Andreid right the more details You share the more it's clear what you meant by that phrase Exactly exactly. I mean, or you could say something like I don't hate what they've done with the design Right, so that's more positive sounding rather than like oh, I don't hate what they've done with the design Exactly right again the more detail you share if you then share how you love the spiral staircase or yes You love whatever about the lines the motif then that's going to clue them into what you actually mean Right. Yeah, so guys again, it can be a little tricky because of contacts intonation Aubrey you also use the word loaded to talk about this earlier. There's a lot to this Like I would say I think I don't love it is a little bit more natural and easier to kind of navigate, but I don't know if you agree Yeah, I can see what you mean. I think I use I don't love it more often I use I don't hate it more with like really exaggerate or exaggerated intonation to share that I Expected to dislike something right and I'm surprised how much I loved it right if I get like a cheap ice cream That I'm like this might not be good because it was two bucks at the or whatever and then I'm like oh I don't hate this because I am also sharing that I expected to not be I pressed and then I was yes and there's on that the best. Yes, you might also say I'm pleasantly surprised right That's a good bonus or pleasantly surprised. Yes So this is a role play we are friends at a hot sauce store Trying samples Michelle. I have to tell you Because hot sauce has come up here. Have you seen the TV show? I know what it's called corporate retreat. How many retreats Aubrey we have so many We'll talk about this later. Yes, so guys. Michelle exactly what I was thinking about when I Michelle when so we were going to speak more about this off the air But I just want to share with all of you listening if you haven't seen it You've got to watch it. I loved it so much. You need to first watch jury duty That was the first season incredible which was incredible James Marzen is amazing in it And the the whole setup is that there's one person who doesn't realize their On a TV show that there it's like candid camera where they don't realize everyone else is an actor Everyone's an actor except one person who's just a normal person like me or Michelle or anybody out there listening And they're but they're filming everything because they're like oh we're filming for a documentary whatever So they know there are cameras So there may be on the little bit on better behavior because they know their cameras But they don't know that everyone else is an actor and these actors are doing Creasingly crazy stuff to see how this regular person reacts and it is so funny. I laugh so hard So watch your review the first one. It's like and it's also so good because there's such short episodes like it's not like they go by and they're not Yeah, it's awesome. So go watch it. I'm glad you read the name of it because I was calling it corporate retreat But it's company retreat company company retreat. Yes guys go watch it. Yeah, leave a comment for us on YouTube to see if you liked it As much as Michelle and I did and then we'll talk about it more later I'm obsessed. Yeah, I think it's so fun. I love it too. I love it too Um, all right, so here we are Okay, this one is called hot hot hot Okay, I'll try it I don't love it. Yeah, I mean I don't love when there's a fruity taste to a hot sauce if it's sweet Yeah, same. All right next one hotter than the sun. Okay, here goes Hmm, I don't hate it Yeah, it's not bad nice, right? And so there when I say I don't hate it. I mean, I really like this Mm-hmm. Interesting. So good Yeah, so first I said I'm trying and I said hmm, I don't love it. So this definitely sounds like I'm not a huge fan Exactly like I don't hate it, but I certainly wouldn't like order it and put it on my barbecue sandwich, right? I don't like it. And then I said yeah, I don't love when there's a fruity taste in our barbecue sauce. We'll often use it this way. I'm saying it means the exact same thing as I don't like when there's blah blah blah blah But we say it this way as well. I don't love when it's like this Yeah, and then um, I said okay, next one. So we're going to the next sample. I say I said, "How do the sun and you said, "Okay, here goes." And then you said, "Mm, I don't hate it." Which means you're pleasantly surprised. - Exactly. - You thought that you, you didn't have high hopes based on the laughter of this other fruity one. I'm like, "These are all gonna be gross." And then this one, I love. So I'm like, "Okay, I don't hate it." Meaning I don't really like this one. But again, if the intonation were different, if I was just like, "I don't hate it, I don't hate it." That would mean like, it's okay. So it really depends on your intonation here. So go back and listen, pay attention to the intonation we're using. It is sort of over-exaggerated. If you're wanting to say, "I love this." I don't hate this. It's pretty extreme intonation. Yeah. So guys, if you haven't already, go back a few episodes. We did, that was 2648 of the Ollie's English podcast. That was tough love for your English. So I'll rate takeaways for today. I mean, this is just so interesting. There's so much about context. Intonation, really paying attention here and considering how you wanna use these phrases, but they are very natural. Absolutely. And variety of vocabulary, you don't wanna say, I like this, I like that. I don't like this, I don't like that. That's so boring. These are way more interesting ways to say that. Oh my gosh. When you guys are ready for the-- You are preparing for the IELTS exam. You know we have another podcast, IELTS energy. But if you're listening to Ollie's English, which you should be as well, to learn vocabulary and strategies and improve your listening skills, this is a great IELTS strategy to avoid vocabulary. This is high scoring vocabulary that pushes you to use high scoring pronunciation, just instead of saying, I like this and I like that, I didn't hate that. I didn't love that. Use this on IELTS speaking exam. Uh huh, exactly. All right, I'll read this has been so much fun. And guys, we'll see you on the next episode. See you next time. Bye. [MUSIC PLAYING] Thanks for listening to All Ears English. Would you like to know your English level? Take our two-minute quiz. Go to allearsenglish.com/fluencyscore. And if you believe in connection, not perfection, then hit subscribe now to make sure you don't miss anything. See you next time. [MUSIC PLAYING]