Chatterbox #148 Bad habits

Episode Description
Everyone has a bad habit or two. And despite how unhealthy or annoying bad habits are,
they can be hard to break. In this Chatterbox episode, Harp and Andrew talk all about bad
habits. Join them for their conversation about the bad habits they had when they were kids
and some of the habits they still struggle with as adults.
Sample Dialogue
Harp:

Can you think of some other bad habits?

Andrew:

Oh, lying. What about lying, you know? Kids, some kids, not all kids, but some
kids are little liars.

Harp:

Yup. And I think its cause they just dont wanna get in trouble because theyre
always getting in trouble for things like not putting away their toys or not doing
their homework, so they start lying instead of facing consequences.

Andrew:

So it kinda snowballs. Your bad habits turn into other bad habits.

Harp:

Exactly.

Expressions Included in the Learning Materials

A bad habit
Stoked
To kick it
To pick up after yourself
All part of something
To snowball
To pick on someone
Fair enough
To be verbing away
Absent-minded
Grouchy
Hangry

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
1

Chatterbox #148 Bad habits

Note: The words and expressions that appear in bold text within the transcript are
discussed in more detail in the detailed explanations section that follows the transcript.
Transcript
Harp:

Hello everyone. This is Harp.

Andrew:

And Im Andrew. And were back with another Culips episode.

Harp:

Yes. Make sure you check out our website, Culips.com. Thats C-U-L-I-P-S.
Because there, you can sign up and become a member.

Andrew:

Yeah. And we highly recommend that you become a member. And

membership has a lot of great benefits. What are some of the things you get
with membership, Harp?

Harp:

When youre a member, you get access to all of the Learning Materials for all
of our older episodes, and we have a lot of really awesome older episodes.
And when you get the Learning Materials, they include a complete transcript,
so you can listen and read at the same time. And they have detailed
explanations for some of the key expressions that we talk about. And also,
theres a quiz to test.

Andrew:

Yeah. So you can test how much youve learnt with us.

Harp:

Exactly. So we strongly recommend you sign up and become a member.

Andrew:

And also, make sure to check us out on all of the popular social media sites,
like Facebook and Twitter.

Harp:

Yes. And you can leave us a comment or maybe a suggestion for an upcoming
episode.

Andrew:

That would be great. I love it when we get good episode suggestions.

Harp:

Ah, me too. All right. So, weve been recording for a while, Andrew. Were
almost done. What are you gonna do after were done?

Andrew:

You know, after the show, Im going to go hang out with some friends, and I
think were gonna go watch a movie.

Harp:

Ooh. That sounds like fun.

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
2

Andrew:

Yeah, I am stoked. What about you? What are you doing after the recording
session?

Harp:

I have a really good book that I wanna finish.

Andrew:

Cool. Kickin it.

Harp:

Exactly. Just relaxing and reading a book.

Andrew:

Sounds perfect.

Harp:

Yes. So today were gonna bring you a Chatterbox episode, and thats where
we chat. We pick a topic, and we talk about it, basically. So today, were gonna
talk about something pretty interesting.

Andrew:

Yeah. Bad habits.

Harp:

Yes. Bad habits. But I dont have any, remember, Andrew. Im perfect, so

Andrew:

Yeah. So this is gonna be a very short episode because Harp has no bad
habits to talk about.

Harp:

Im just joking.

Andrew:

Well luckily, I have a lot of bad habits, so Ill make up for your lack.

Harp:

All right, so were gonna break it down into talking about some of the common
bad habits that kids have. Then were gonna talk about some of our bad
habits that we had as kids.

Andrew:

And then were going to talk about bad habits that adults have.

Harp:

Yes.

Andrew:

And then well talk about some of the bad habits we have now that wed like to
get rid of.

Harp:

Yes. So lets get started.

Andrew:

Sure. So today, were talking about bad habits. And Harp, how would you
define a bad habit?

Harp:

A bad habit is basically something that someone does often, and they usually
do it without thinking, and its bad because its not the proper behaviour.

Andrew:

Mmhmm. So its just a repeated action that you do, and it feels natural to do,
but it has a negative consequence, right? It affects somebody negatively.

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
3

Harp:

Yeah. It could bother them. It could annoy them.

Andrew:

Mmhmm. But sometimes they feel good to do, so theyre hard to break.

Harp:

Yes. Agreed.

Andrew:

So, what are some of the bad habits kids have in general?

Harp:

I would say definitely not picking up after themselves.

Andrew:

Oh, yeah. This is a big one. This is something that you really have to learn how
to do.

Harp:

Yup. I can remember my mom yelling at me all the time to go put away my toys
or put away my books or make my bed or put away my clothes. It was just
everything.

Andrew:

Also, kids not doing their homework.

Harp:

Yes. Having to force kids to do their homework because they would often
rather play than do their homework.

Andrew:

OK, so some other bad habits that kids have. Can you think of any?

Harp:

Picking their nose.

Andrew:

Oh yeah. Picking their nose. This is a big one, I think.

Harp:

Yup. A really big one.

Andrew:

And it can be really bad for your health because you have so many germs on
your hands, you know? You dont want to put them in your mouth or up your
nose.

Harp:

Yeah. But kids do both. They sometimes pick their nose and then eat it.

Andrew:

Hey, yeah. Its all part of growing up, maybe.

Harp:

Yeah. What about you? Can you think of some other bad habits?

Andrew:

Oh, lying. What about lying, you know? Kids, some kids, not all kids, but some
kids are little liars.

Harp:

Yup. And I think its cause they just dont wanna get in trouble because theyre
always getting in trouble for things like not putting away their toys or not doing
their homework, so they start lying instead of facing consequences.

Andrew:

So it kinda snowballs. Your bad habits turn into other bad habits.
These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
4

Harp:

Exactly.

Andrew:

What about you? Can you think of any other bad habits?

Harp:

When I think of kids and bad habits, I think of bullying.

Andrew:

Yeah. This can be a really bad thing, right? Bullying.

Harp:

Yeah, it happens often with kids and even teenagers. And what is bullying?

Andrew:

So bullying is when you make fun of other kids, or you pick on other kids. You
dont treat them very nicely. Maybe you call them names, or you physically
beat them up.

Harp:

Yup.

Andrew:

This is bullying.

Harp:

Its really not a good habit, and kids often do it.

Andrew:

Thankfully, though, this is something that most people outgrow. And bullying
isnt as big of an issue when youre an adult.

Harp:

Yeah. Its definitely much rarer. And it becomes very noticeable when theres
an adult who bullies because, yeah, like you said, usually you grow out of it.

Andrew:

Mmhmm. Right. So these are some general bad habits that kids have. Did
you specifically have any bad habits when you were a kid?

Harp:

I already told you, Andrew, Im perfect now. I was perfect when I was a kid. I
have no bad habits.

Andrew:

OK. Fair enough. Maybe you have the lying bad habit, is that it?

Harp:

Maybe No Im just joking. I had quite a few little bad habits.

Andrew:

Yeah? Do you want to share any with us?

Harp:

Putting away my stuff. That was one of my biggest bad habits that my mom
always yelled at me about. I would leave my books everywhere. My clothes
My clothes would just pile up, and then by the end of the week they would just
be sitting there. And it would take me so much more time to put them away
rather than if I put them away every day like my mom said.

Andrew:

Mmhmm. Yeah, its true, you know? Its just so fun to play with your toys. But
its not fun to put them away.

Harp:

Nope. Not fun at all.

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
5

Andrew:

I had kind of a unique bad habit when I was a kid because Im a drummer. I
play drums. And so, when I was a kid I took drum lessons, and I really was just
a very rhythmic kid. You know, I would take my pencils and drum on my desk
at school, and just, like, really annoy everybody around me and especially my
teachers. And so this was something that I had to stop doing.

Harp:

Yeah, I can imagine that would be very annoying for students trying to
concentrate or for your poor teacher.

Andrew:

Yeah, because I would just like to practice my drum rudiments is what we call
them our exercises to get better at drums. And I just wanted to do it all the
time, so Id be tapping away instead of doing my homework or whatever.

Harp:

Oh, thats funny. How long did it take you to get out of this habit?

Andrew:

It took me a while. And you know, I still do it sometimes, but Im just more
aware when I do it now. I notice that if Im at school or in a library I shouldnt do
it. But I think its kind of a stress reflex, you know? If Im stressed out about
something, I just absent-mindedly do it. But Ive got it under control these
days.

Harp:

OK. Yup. When I was a kid, I had a bad habit of bouncing my leg, which I
think is kind of, not musical like you, but a bit of a nervous habit.

Andrew:

Yeah, for sure. I think its a little bit unnatural to put kids in a classroom all day,
every day. You know? We have so much energy when were that age.

Harp:

I agree.

Andrew:

We just wanna run.

Harp:

I wish I had that much energy now.

Andrew:

I know. Its not fair. We need to do a reversal.

Harp:

Yeah, no, I agree with you. Kids should be playing and running and exercising
and doing fun things like that more than just sitting at a desk all day.

Andrew:

Yeah. So I think a lot of kids, you know, they get in trouble at school for not
being able to sit still, and we could maybe consider this a bad habit. But at the
same time, its just natural when youre that age to wanna move around.

Harp:

Yup. I agree with you 100%.

Andrew:

Cool. So should we transition into talking about bad habits that adults have?

Harp:

Yes. Lets talk about some bad habits of adults.

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
6

Andrew:

So what is the first bad habit that comes to mind? To me theres a huge,
glaring bad habit that adults have.

Harp:

I'm thinking smoking.

Andrew:

Yeah, smoking. This is the number-one bad habit, I think.

Harp:

Oh, its the worst. Everyone knows how unhealthy it is, but it seems like so
many adults just still do it.

Andrew:

Theres no positives really, right? Its just all negatives. Its expensive. It smells
bad. Its bad for your health.

Harp:

Yup. Exactly. It makes your teeth go yellow. Its just a horrible habit, but so
many adults do it.

Andrew:

Yeah. Especially in Montreal, I find. Montreal is a big smoking city.

Harp:

I agree. Coming from out west, I find it weird that so many people smoke here.

Andrew:

Youd be very hard-pressed to find smokers on the West Coast. Like, in

Victoria, where I went to university, theres not that many people that smoke.
You wont see it when you walk down the street. But in Montreal, its
everywhere.

Harp:

I agree. Even for me, growing up in Edmonton, if I try to think of how many of
my friends smoked or who smoke now none.

Andrew:

Yeah. So if youre a smoker, come to Montreal.

Harp:

Yes. This is a very bad habit that adults have, and in Montreal, there seem to
be a lot of them.

Andrew:

Right. So this is a Yeah. Like you said, its a bad habit. Can you think of any
other bad habits?

Harp:

Um I would say skipping breakfast or skipping meals.

Andrew:

Yeah, skipping meals, and this is especially common for people that work a lot
and that are very busy. Sometimes they just don't have enough time to sit
down and eat a meal.

Harp:

Yup, so skipping a meal, its really a bad habit, but it happens more often
than than we would think.

Andrew:

Yeah, yeah, but its just not good for your health, you know?

Harp:

Its really bad.

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
7

Andrew:

Another bad habit that people that are busy face is not finding the time to
exercise.

Harp:

Yes, and like we were saying, when youre a kid, you just naturally wanna run
around and play and move. But when youre an adult, it seems to be a really
bad habit that you end up just being more lazy, almost.

Andrew:

More lazy. More dormant. But I really understand this bad habit, you know?
Because Im guilty of this myself sometimes. Especially in the winter.

Harp:

You and me both.

Andrew:

What about procrastination? This is a big bad habit.

Harp:

Yup. This is a bad habit that a lot of adults have. So procrastination is basically
when you have something that you know you need to do, and you just find,
kind of, other things to do. You watch TV instead of finishing that report for
work. Or you go out with friends when you know you should be at home doing
something else.

Andrew:

Mmhmm. Yup. Because its just more fun to have fun.

Harp:

Yeah, thats true.

Andrew:

And theres one more that comes to mind, one more bad habit. And I think this
affects kids and adults equally, and thats spending too much time with
electronics.

Harp:

Yes. That is a very bad habit that both kids and adults have.

Andrew:

Mmhmm. Yeah. So out of all of these bad habits, are there any that affect
you?

Harp:

How many times do we have to talk about this, Andrew? Im perfect! No, Im
just joking. Im just joking. Im just joking. I would say I definitely dont skip
meals. I get very grouchy if I try to skip a meal, so that will never happen to
me. When someone says to me that they were too busy to eat and they forgot
about it, I cant even imagine and think of and understand that.

Andrew:

See, Im guilty of this one.

Harp:

Oh, really? OK.

Andrew:

Yeah, yeah, yeah, for sure. I think when Im busy or when Im stressed, I just
dont get hungry. So it seems unnatural for me to stop and eat. It doesnt affect
me like that.

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
8

Harp:

Oh, no. Me, I need to eat. I cannot skip a meal but

Andrew:

Except I have to throw this condition in here at night. If Im working at night,

then I get hungry. And Im like If I dont eat, then I get we call it hangry.

Harp:

Yes.

Andrew:

You get angry because youre hungry. So this is a new slang word hangry.
But in the daytime, you know, if I skip lunch, its cool.

Harp:

A bad habit that Im very guilty of is not exercising enough.

Andrew:

Yeah, yeah. I agree. I think I could put more time in. I should put more time into
exercising.

Harp:

Yup. Sometimes I get home after work, and Im like, Oh, I should go to the
gym, or I should go for a run, or I should go do some yoga, and its just the
couch just seems so inviting.

Andrew:

I know. Its difficult. But this is an important thing.

Harp:

Its very important. But, like you said before, its tough in the winter to motivate
yourself to get outside when its freezing to do exercise.

Andrew:

Yeah, in the summer, no problem. Because maybe Ill walk to work, or Ill ride
my bike to work, or Ill go to the park after work. So I feel like I get some
exercise. But in the winter, its a different story.

Harp:

Now, you mentioned about electronics. Are you guilty of this bad habit?

Andrew:

You know, I think I am. Even when Im hanging out with my friends and stuff,
Im not constantly checking my phone, but I do do it more than I want to.

Harp:

Yup, I agree. Its like this tic that I have that I check my phone when I know no
ones calling me. Im with the people who I want to be with, but I just check my
phone to see if I missed a call or missed a message or something. Even right
now, I feel like checking my phone.

Andrew:

Yeah, I know. Its really weird.

Harp:

Ive heard of some friends that theyll put all their phones lets say, for
example, if they go out for dinner theyll put all their phones in the middle of
the table upside down, so they cant see them, and the first person who goes
to check their phone has to pay the bill.

Andrew:

Ah, OK. I like this.

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
9

Harp:

Yup.

Andrew:

Ive heard of a similar game thats a drinking game, so if you check your
phone, you have to take a drink.

Harp:

Yeah. Ive heard of that too.

Andrew:

So some sort of punishment. I like it. I think this is a good idea.

Harp:

Yup. Any other bad habits that you have?

Andrew:

Pretty much all of the ones that we talked about, except for smoking, Im guilty
of to some extent. Procrastination is a big one for me.

Harp:

Oh, yeah. Youre a procrastinator.

Andrew:

For some things, yeah, yeah, definitely. I feel like Im getting better. Its
something that Ive been working over the last few years, and I do think Ive
gotten much better. But when it comes to just doing some things that I dont
like to do, I just leave them to the last minute.

Harp:

Like what?

Andrew:

For example, I just did my taxes, and I waited, literally, till, like, 3 days before
the deadline to send my taxes in.

Harp:

Yup. I know what you mean.

Andrew:

Yeah, so things like that, I just, I cant be bothered, so I dont know. I should do
them earlier. Id be easy. And you know what? Actually, when I finished my
taxes this year, I went to my calendar, and I went to February, and I made
myself a note: Do your taxes right away next year. Itll be better for you.

Harp:

Thats a good idea. And thats actually the plus side of the electronics bad
habit, is that I put more on my calendar, so Im procrastinating less.

Andrew:

Yeah, totally. I think this is a good way to break a bad habit.

Harp:

Yeah. My bad habit is that Im often late.

Andrew:

Oh yeah? Yeah, it happened today, didnt it?

Harp:

It did happen today, and it used to happen all the time with Maura. Maura used
to have to wait for me all the time. But Im getting better, I would say.

Andrew:

Yeah, but you were only a couple of minutes late, so its not a big deal.

Harp:

Yeah. Hopefully, you dont hate me.

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
10

Andrew:

No, its all good. Cool. Well, I think thats about it for todays episode.

Harp:

Yup. We talked about some of the common bad habits that kids have, some
of the bad habits we had when we were kids, and then the same thing for
adults.

Andrew:

Exactly, so listening to Culips is not a bad habit at all. Its actually a good
habit. And it will help you with your English studies, so make sure to check out
our website, Culips.com. Take a listen to our back episodes. And also, were
on social media, so leave us a note. Leave us a comment, and tell us what you
think of the show.

Harp:

Yes, and well talk to you soon. Bye everyone.

Andrew:

Bye-bye.

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
11

Detailed Explanations
A bad habit
This episode is all about bad habits. A bad habit is something you do over and over
again even though it is bad for you or it annoys the people around you. Bad habits are
difficult to break for several reasons. You might do them without thinking when youre
nervous (like biting your nails) or they might make you feel good (like smoking). According
to researchers, the average amount of time it takes to reverse a bad habit is 66 days.
Here is a list of some bad habits:
Buying things you cant afford
Smoking
Procrastination
Nail-biting
Drinking too much
Fidgeting
Spending too much time watching TV or using the Internet
Skipping meals
Eating unhealthy food
Lying
Here is a list of verbs that go with (or collocate with) the expression a bad habit:
Expression

Example

To have a bad habit

Do you have any bad habits?

To acquire a bad habit

I acquired some bad habits when I was young.

To fall into a bad habit

I fell into this bad habit when I was in high school.

To form a bad habit

He formed the bad habit of smoking when he was still in

elementary school.

To become a bad habit

I didnt used to drink very much, but alcohol became a bad

habit once I started working at a bar.

To break a bad habit

What do I have to do to break a bad habit?

To kick a bad habit

I know smoking is bad for me. I really need to kick this bad
habit.

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
12

Stoked
When you feel excited, you are stoked. In this episode, Andrew says that he is stoked to
meet up with his friends and watch a movie. In other words, he is excited to watch a movie
with his friends.
This is a very informal expression and should be avoided in formal contexts.
The word stoked was made popular by American surfers in the 1960s. Even today, it is
mainly used by teenagers, especially ones who like to skateboard, surf, and snowboard.
So, if you feel stoked, you feel excited or enthusiastic about doing something.
Here are a couple more examples with stoked:
Colleen:

Happy birthday!

John:

Thanks so much.

Colleen:

What are you doing to celebrate?

John:

My girlfriend bought us tickets to go see a concert tonight.

Colleen:

Sounds fun.

John:

Yup, Im stoked. It should be a good time.

Gustav:

We leave tomorrow for our fishing trip. Are you stoked or what?

Glenn:

You bet. I bought a new fishing rod last week. I cant wait to try it out.

Gustav:

Just make sure to share some of what you catch with me.

Glenn:

Of course!

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
13

To kick it
When you kick it, you spend time relaxing -- either with friends or alone. In this episode,
Harp says shes going to kick it at home with a good book after she is finished recording
the episode.
Experts are uncertain, but this expression might originate from people taking off their
shoes when they relax. A synonym for to take off your shoes is to kick off your shoes. So
we might use to kick it to mean to relax because it is more comfortable to hang out
barefoot. Whether this is the actual origin of the expression remains unknown, but it might
help you to remember the expression. So, when we kick it, we relax and spend time with
our friends or just alone.
This expression has a very casual tone and is usually only used by younger people. Like
any slang expression, it shouldnt be used in formal contexts.
Here are a couple more examples with to kick it:
Claire:

What are you doing this weekend?

Taylor:

I dont have any plans. Ill probably just kick it with some friends or watch a
movie or something.

Claire:

Oh, thats cool. I was thinking of heading to the park on Sunday. If you wanna
come with me, just send me a text.

Taylor:

Sounds fun. Ill probably do that.

Claire:

Cool.

Ben:

I should get going. I have to work early tomorrow

Jason:

Really? Its only 8:30pm. What time do you start work?

Ben:

Well, I really dont start work until 9:00am, but I like to have an hour or two in the
morning to just kick it by myself and read the newspaper.

Jason:

OK, fair enough. Ill catch you later.

Ben:

See ya.

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
14

To pick up after yourself

The phrasal verb to pick up after yourself means to clean up the mess you made. In this
episode, Harp says that she hated to pick up after herself when she was a kid. In other
words, she didnt like cleaning up her room or putting away her toys. It was her bad habit.
So, when you tidy or clean up a mess after you make it, you pick up after yourself.
This expression is most commonly heard in the USA and Canada. In other parts of the
English-speaking world, to tidy up after yourself is preferred.
Here are a couple more examples with to pick up after yourself:
Heesun:

How are things going with your new roommate?

Matias:

Not very well.

Heesun:

Why?

Matias:

He is super dirty. He leaves dirty dishes all over the kitchen and he never
picks up after himself.

Heesun:

Thats super frustrating. I once had a roommate exactly like that.

Matias:

Oh yeah? How did you deal with it?

Heesun:

I actually just ended up moving out to live by myself. I learned that I dont get
along very well with roommates.

Matias:

Yeah, if the situation doesnt change soon, I might consider moving out too.

Mom:

Its time for dinner in 10 minutes. Can you put your toys away?

Daughter:

I dont want to!

Mom:

If you dont pick up after yourself, then you cant have any
dessert.

Daughter:

Whats for dessert?

Mom:

Chocolate cake.

Daughter:

OK Mommy, Ill clean up right now.

Mom:

Good girl.

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
15

All part of something

In this episode, Andrew says that picking your nose is all part of growing up. This means
that it is normal for children to pick their noses that is it something almost all children do
when they are growing up.
So, when something is typical, normal, or to be expected of an activity or position, we can
use the expression all part of something.
For example, if a class of students complained to their teacher about having too much
homework, the teacher might say, Come on guys, homework is all part of being a
student. In other words, homework is to be expected when you are a student. It is a
normal part of attending school.
So, when something can be expected or is normal, it is all part of something.
Here are a couple more examples with all part of something:
Greg:

Did you have a good day at school today?

Alexandra:

It was OK. The students were pretty loud and they didnt behave very well.

Greg:

Some days are like that. Its all part of being a teacher, isnt it? There are
good days and bad days.

Alexandra:

Yeah, youre right. Tomorrow will be better.

Greg:

Yeah, I think so. Youre a great teacher and your students love you.

Alexandra:

Thanks for saying so. It means a lot.

Greg:

No problem.

Kortnay:

Did you see that play?

Jack:

I cant believe it. What a shot! Kobe Bryant hit that three-pointer with only 0.2
seconds left of the clock!

Kortnay:

The score is tied now, right? I guess that means were going to overtime.

Jack:

I cant handle the excitement! Its too tense!

Kortnay:

Ah, its all part of the game.

Jack:

I know, but if we lose, Ill be crushed.

Kortnay:

Just think positively!

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
16

To snowball
If a problem, activity, situation, or issue gets bigger and bigger, it snowballs. In this
episode, Andrew says that bad habits can snowball. One bad habit can cause other bad
habits to form. The initial bad habit can snowball and get bigger and more severe.
This expression is easy to visualize. Imagine a person rolling a small snowball over the
side of a hill. By the time the snowball reaches the bottom of the hill it will be huge
because it picked up more and more snow as it rolled down the hill. Just like a snowball
grows in size, when an issue, problem, or activity snowballs, it gets bigger, more serious,
or more important.
We can use this expression for both positive and negative situations. For example, if your
debt snowballs, you will find yourself in a very bad situation. On the other hand, if an idea
you present at a business meeting snowballs, you might end up making more sales in the
future.
Here are a couple more examples with the expression to snowball:
Michael:

Hey, I hate to ask you this but do you think I could borrow a few bucks?

Todd:

I dont feel comfortable doing that. Why do you need the money?

Michael:

I owe a lot of money on my credit cards this month because I went on a bit of a
shopping spree recently. Im worried now because if I cant pay my debt back
soon, it will just snowball and get bigger and bigger.

Todd:

Instead of borrowing money from me, can you take back some of the things?

Michael:

Thats a good idea. Im going to see if I can return some stuff for a refund.

David:

Im going to the parade on Saturday.

Elexa:

Theres a parade on Saturday?

David:

Yes, to celebrate the Potato Festival.

Elexa:

Wow, I had no idea that the Potato Festival included a parade. Last time I went
to the festival it was just a little celebration.

David:

Its really grown in the past few years. Its popularity has snowballed. Its now a
pretty big festival with a fair, games, and even a parade.

Elexa:

Wow, sounds great. Im going to have to check it out!

David:

Its pretty fun. The French fries at the festival are some of the best Ive ever had.

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
17

To pick on someone
When you pick on someone, you choose one individual and treat them badly by making
fun of them, criticizing them, or being unfair to them. In this episode, Harp and Andrew talk
about bullying. Bullying occurs when someone picks on somebody else.
The phrasal verb to pick on someone is usually used to talk about kids behaviour. If a
kid makes fun of or teases another child, then that kid is picking on the child. We can also
use this expression to describe unfair treatment by adults. For example, if one of your coworkers was overly critical of an idea you presented at a brainstorming meeting, you might
feel like that co-worker was picking on you.
So, when a person picks on someone, they treat that person badly for no good reason.
Here are a couple more examples with to pick on someone:
Sean:

Im worried about my son. Some of the kids at school pick on him.

Kim:

Thats horrible. Nothing makes me angrier than bullying.

Sean:

Yeah, I dont know what to do about the problem.

Kim:

You have to tell his teacher and principal right away. Most schools have a zerotolerance bullying policy. They should be able to deal with the issue.

Sean:

Thats great advice. Ill talk to his teacher this afternoon when I pick him up from
school.

Ellington:

My 10-year high school reunion is next month but Im not sure Im going to go.

Lindsay:

Really? Why wouldnt you want to go?

Ellington:

I wasnt very popular and some of the other students picked on me.

Lindsay:

Oh. Im sorry to hear that. Maybe theyve changed now that theyre older and
more mature?

Ellington:

Its possible but Im not sure I want to take the chance. It would be nice to
reconnect with some of the friends I did have, though.

Lindsay:

Yeah. If I were you, I would go.

Ellington:

Im thinking about it. Well see!

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
18

Fair enough
When you accept or understand something that someone has told you, you can respond
by saying fair enough. This expression is often used in response to a refusal. For
example, if you propose an activity to someone but they cant do it, you can say fair
enough to show that you understand and accept that they cant do the activity with you.
We can also use fair enough to show that we accept a statement that someone has
made. In this episode, Harp jokes with Andrew about being perfect. Harp tells Andrew that
she has no bad habits and Andrew accepts this joke by saying fair enough. In other
words, he politely acknowledges Harps statement as being true even though he knows it
is a joke.
So there are two main ways we use the expression fair enough. The first is to show that
we acknowledge a refusal and the second is to politely accept the truth or validity of a
statement.
Here are a couple more examples with fair enough:
Rae:

Wanna see a movie this weekend?

Lesley:

Im not feeling very well. I think Im just going to get some rest at home.

Rae:

Fair enough. Maybe some other time. I hope you feel better soon.

Lesley:

Thanks. Yeah, lets go see a movie when Im back to normal.

Rae:

Great!

Emily:

What are you going to bring to the work potluck?

Jill:

I was thinking about just bringing a salad.

Emily:

Dont you think you should bring something a little more substantial than a salad?

Jill:

I have three kids at home to take care of and almost zero free time. I really dont
have the option of bringing anything fancy.

Emily:

Fair enough. What do you think I should bring?

Jill:

Devilled eggs are always a hit.

Emily:

Great idea! Thats what Ill bring.

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
19

To be verbing away
We can use the phrasal verb construction to be verbing away when someone is very
involved and occupied with doing an activity. For example, if someone is singing away,
they are singing with great focus and are ignoring the world around them.
In this episode, Andrew talks about a bad habit he had when he was a kid: drumming with
his pencils at school. He says he would be tapping away on his desk, annoying his
teacher and classmates. In other words, when Andrew did his desk drumming, he became
lost in the activity. He would focus on the drumming and ignore his surroundings.
So when someone is verbing away at an activity, they are very focused on that activity
and are unaware of other things that are going on around them.
Here are a couple more examples with to be verbing away:
Erin:

Were you able to get in touch with Dan?

Shannon:

Yes, but it took me quite a while.

Erin:

Oh yeah?

Shannon:

I called him a few times but he didnt pick up. Finally I just decided to go down
to his office. He was there working away on the computer with his
headphones on listening to music.

Erin:

Ah, that explains why he didnt hear his phone ringing.

Shannon:

Yup. I told him from now on he has to make sure he has his ringer volume up.
If an emergency ever happens and I need to get in touch with him, I need to
make sure he can hear my calls.

Erin:

Yes, thats important.

Emma:

Look at our kids out there in the backyard just playing away.

Dawn:

Theyre so cute.

Emma:

I love how they can be so happy just playing like that.

Dawn:

Yeah, they just love being outside, dont they?

Emma:

Yup. All they need is some nice weather and their imaginations and they have
the best time.

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
20

Absent-minded
When someone is absent-minded, they forget things often. This could be because they
are distracted by something else or because they have a health issue that is preventing
them from remembering information.
When we use the adverb form of this expression, the meaning changes slightly. When
someone does something absent-mindedly, they do that thing without thinking about it.
In this episode, Andrew says that he used to absent-mindedly tap on his desk with his
pencils when he was a student. In other words, Andrew would forget this was annoying to
other people and would tap his pencils without thinking about the consequences.
So when someone is distracted or zoned out, they might do something absent-mindedly,
without thinking about the thing they are doing or the consequences that action might
have.
Here are a couple more examples with the adjective absent-minded:
Rick:

Did you remember to hand in the report this morning?

Jamie:

Oh shoot! I totally forgot.

Rick:

Are you serious?

Jamie:

Yes. Im so sorry. Ill hand it in right away. Ive had a lot on my mind recently and
Ive been a little bit absent-minded. Im sorry. It wont happen again.

Rick:

Thats OK. Just make sure to go get that report in to the boss right now.

Jamie:

Yup, for sure.

Leah:

How are your grandparents doing these days?

Evan:

Thanks for asking. My grandmother is doing great but Im a little worried about
my grandfather. Lately hes been quite absent-minded.

Leah:

It could be stress related or it might be the early signs of dementia. I recommend

that he sees a doctor to see whats up.

Evan:

Yes, I thought so too. He has a doctors appointment booked for next week so
well be able to find out more information then.

Leah:

I hope everything is OK.

Evan:

Yes, me too!

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
21

Grouchy
A person who is grouchy is grumpy and in a bad mood. A grouchy person has little
patience and often snaps or gets angry at other people. In this episode, Harp admits that if
she skips a meal, she becomes grouchy. Shell be in a bad mood and will feel irritated
until she gets something to eat.
So, a person who complains a lot, is unpleasant to be around, and is in a bad mood is a
person who is grouchy.
You might be familiar with the character Oscar the Grouch from the children's TV show
Sesame Street. This character acts grouchy and is always grumpy and in a bad mood
(except when hes around kids).
Here are a couple more examples with grouchy:
Brooke:

Can you shut up? I cant concentrate!

Stephanie:

Im not even making any noise!

Brooke:

Yes you are. Youre clicking your mouse too loudly.

Stephanie:

Are you serious? How can you click your mouse too loudly? Why are you so
grouchy? Is something wrong?

Brooke:

Youre right, Im sorry. Im just stressed out about the presentation I need to
make tomorrow.

Stephanie:

Here is an extra pair of ear plugs that I have. I use them when I need to
concentrate. Why dont you try them out? Maybe theyll help.

Brooke:

OK, cool. Thanks a lot!

Ray:

How was work today?

Ross:

It was so-so. My boss was in a bad mood and was really grouchy all day.

Ray:

Bummer.

Ross:

Yeah, but hes always in a bad mood and grouchy, so it was nothing unusual.
How was your day?

Ray:

It was good! My boss was in a good mood and left me alone all day, so I was
pretty happy.

Ross:

Lucky!

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
22

Hangry
In this episode, Andrew talks about a new slang expression, hangry. This is a
portmanteau or blended word. It combines the words angry and hungry. When someone is
hangry, they are in a bad, grumpy, angry mood because they are hungry.
Harp says she becomes hangry when she skips meals. So she always makes sure to eat
at every meal time. On the other hand, Andrew can skip meals during the day, when he is
focused on other activities, but if he misses a meal at night, hell become hangry.
This is a very informal, casual expression and should be avoided in formal contexts. Its
only been in use for the last couple of years so it might still be unknown even to some
native English speakers.
So, when you are hungry and because of this you find yourself becoming frustrated easily,
grumpy, or in a bad mood, youre hangry.
Here are a couple more examples with hangry:
Mariah:

What time is it?

Esther:

Quarter past five.

Mariah:

Oh no! Ive gotta run.

Esther:

Already? You just got here.

Mariah:

My boys get home from school around 6:00 and if I dont have dinner ready for
them right away, they get hangry.

Esther:

Cant they cook their own dinner?

Mariah:

I guess they could but theyre only 14 and 15. After theyve had a long day of
school I like to cook dinner for them so they can relax for a little bit before they
have to do their homework. Anyway, I better go. See you some other time.

Esther:

OK, see you later.

Nick:

Man, Im starting to get hangry. I need to get some food into me right away!

Peter:

Yeah. Im starving too. There is a burger joint just down the road. Wanna stop
there?

Nick:

Yeah, lets do it.

Peter:

OK, lets go. Ill drive.

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
23

Quiz
1. When you pick up after yourself, what do you do?
a) meet a friend and give him a ride
b) clean up a mess youve made
c) feel better after being sick
d) make a huge mess
2. If youre hangry, how do you feel?
a) hungry and sad
b) hungry and happy
c) hungry and elated
d) hungry and grumpy
3. What do you do when you kick it?
a) hang out and relax
b) play soccer
c) remove your shoes
d) work hard to meet a tight deadline
4. Which of the following is NOT a bad habit?
a) fidgeting
b) being punctual
c) nail biting
d) procrastinating
5. How do you feel if youre stoked?
a) excited
b) depressed
c) stressed
d) serious
6. True or false? If youre working away, you are paying close attention to your
surroundings.
a) true
b) false

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
24

7. If you do something absent-mindedly, you are what?

a) focused
b) distracted
c) intense
d) forgiving
8. What happens to a problem when it snowballs?
a) it is solved
b) it gets less serious
c) it gets more serious
d) it disappears
9. Which of the following would be all part of the job for a police officer?
a) studying grammar
b) making arrests
c) cleaning up
d) organizing files

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
25

Quiz Answers
1.b

2.d

3.a

4.b

5.a

6.b

7.b

8.c

9.b

Episode Credits
Hosts:

Andrew Bates and Harp Brar

Episode preparation/research:

Andrew Bates

Audio editor:

Andrew Bates

Transcription:
Learning Materials writer:
Transcript and Learning Materials editor:

Nancy Miller
Andrew Bates
Jessica Cox

Webmaster:

Hussain Mohammed

Business manager:

Tsuyoshi Kaneshima

Project managers:

Harp Brar and Maura Smith

These materials are created by the Culips team. Copyright Culips (2015) Culips.com
26