Saturday Morning Lesson #100
SML #100 🙂 Maybe that is why I chose such a philosophical topic today? Should we strive for perfection or should we settle for what we already have at some point in life? Enjoy!
Our word #1 is brick
noun [C or U]
: a rectangular block of hard material used for building walls and houses:
The chimney was made of bricks.
He was so embarrassed – his face went brick-red.
The discussions in Brussels hit a brick wall.
Reference: Definition of brick from the Cambridge Advanced Learner’s Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press, Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
Please take a look at this example and repeat it out loud:
(You have to reload the page if you want to watch the clip more than once.)
“Of course it’s real brick. It’s not fake.”
Reference: “Ask Jamie” | Random | Jamie Oliver. YouTube, Aug 1, 2021, https://youtu.be/wmLhFZGJ6G8
Of course it’s …
Our phrase #2 is to settle for something
: to accept or agree to something, or to decide to have something, although it is not exactly what you want or it is not the best:
He wants a full refund and he won’t settle for anything less.
Reference: Definition of settle for sth from the Cambridge Business English Dictionary © Cambridge University Press
Please take a look at this example and repeat it out loud:
(You have to reload the page if you want to watch the clip more than once.)
“Keep exploring. Keep dreaming. Keep asking why. Don’t settle for what you already know.”
Reference: “President Obama Hosts the 2015 White House Science Fair.” The Obama White House. YouTube, Mar 23, 2015, https://youtu.be/m2LSXc-fBbg
Keep …
Keep …
Keep …
Don’t …
Our word #3 is to roll on
: to pass by in time, especially very quickly:
I can’t believe it’s nearly Easter already! The days just seem to roll on faster and faster lately.
Reference: Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
Please take a look at this example and repeat it out loud:
(You have to reload the page if you want to watch the clip more than once.)
“And then, as time passed and the years rolled on, it was eventually forgotten about altogether.”
Reference: “Newgrange: Ireland’s Ancient Masterpiece.” Geographics. YouTube, May 11, 2020, https://youtu.be/E90jKAmvsZk
And then, as time passed and the years …
Please fill in the blanks out loud with our word/phrase #1, 2, or 3:
And so, the years ………….. …………. . One year merging into another… and another.
And so, the years rolled on. One year merging into another… and another.
Reference: Reverso Technologies Inc.
And so, the years …
One year merging into …
After that my career just seemed to hit a …………. wall.
After that my career just seemed to hit a brick wall.
Reference: Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
After that …
England will have to ………… …………. third or fourth place.
England will have to settle for third or fourth place.
Reference: COBUILD Advanced English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers
England will have to …
Now it’s time for our final clip. Watch it first, and then fill in the blanks out loud. One blank – one word.
(You have to reload the page if you want to watch the clip more than once.)
Reference: “Jacinda Ardern resigns as prime minister of New Zealand in shock announcement.” Guardian News. YouTube, https://youtu.be/MWmecuK8M-8. Accessed 20 January 2023.
“Sometimes life is gonna hit you in the …………. with a ………….. . Don’t …………. faith. I’m …………. that the only thing that kept me …………. was that I ………… what I did. You’ve ………… to find what you love. And that is as true for your work ………… it is for your lovers. Your work is gonna …………. a large part of your life, and the only way to be ………… satisfied is to do what you …………. is great work. And the only way to …………. great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t ………….. it yet, …………. looking. And don’t ……….. . As with all …………. of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just ………….. better and better as the years ………….. on. So ………….. looking. Don’t …………… .”
“Sometimes life is gonna hit you in the head with a brick. Don’t lose faith. I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved what I did. You’ve got to find what you love. And that is as true for your work as it is for your lovers. Your work is gonna fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. And don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking. Don’t settle.”
Sometimes life is gonna hit you …
Don’t lose …
I’m convinced that the only thing that kept me going was that I loved …
You’ve got to find what …
And that is as true for your work as it is for …
Your work is gonna fill …
and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is …
And the only way to do great work is to love …
If you haven’t found it yet, keep …
And don’t …
As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when …
And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years …
That’s all for today, I hope you liked the lesson. If you have any questions or suggestions regarding the lesson, or if you just want to say “hello”, please write to me (info@english-outloud.com).
See you on Saturday,
Ela Augustyniak