Shadowing Practice: Learn English with THE LION KING — Simba & Nala - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
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The End The End The End The End The End
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The End The End Boomba!
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Boomba!
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Hey!
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What's going on?
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She's gonna eat me!
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Huh?
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Whoa!
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Geez!
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Why do I always have to save your- AHHHHHHHHH!
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Watching The
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Lion King is an iconic part of almost every childhood.
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I still remember seeing it for the first time and bawling my eyes out.
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That's an expression that means to cry a lot.
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Perfect for certain scenes in this Disney classic.
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Oh, I'm laughing.
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Oh, just look at you two.
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Little seeds of romance blossoming in the savannah.
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Your parents will be thrilled.
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What with your being betrothed and all?
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Be what?
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Betrothed.
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Intended.
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Affianced.
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Meaning?
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One day you two are going to be married.
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Yuck.
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Ew.
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I can't marry her.
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She's my friend.
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Yeah, it'd be so weird.
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Oh, sorry to bust your bubble, But you two turtledoves have no choice.
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It's a tradition going back generations.
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Well, when I'm king, that'll be the first thing to go.
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Young Simba and Nala are so cute.
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First off, Zazu used a cool expression.
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Step lively.
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The sooner we get to the waterhole, the sooner we can leave.
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So what do you think Zazu means when he says step lively?
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Walk quietly so nobody hears us.
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Be careful where you step.
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Hurry up and move faster.
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That's right, it means to move quickly, pick up the pace.
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Step Lively is a bit old-fashioned and formal, which makes it perfect for Zazu's uptight, proper personality.
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You might still hear it from a strict teacher or a military sergeant.
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Now Simba and Nala have a sneaky plan, and they need to get away from their chaperone.
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So Nala asks, So where are we really going?
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In elephant graveyard?
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Wow!
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Shhh, Sasu.
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Right.
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So how are we gonna ditch the dodo?
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To ditch someone means to get rid of them or sneak away from them, usually because you don't want them around.
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It has a slightly mischievous feel to it.
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Kids do it, teenagers definitely do it, and apparently lion cubs do too.
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Listen to this example.
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So there I am being nice to Alex and she takes all my friends and ditches me.
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I'm sure they didn't ditch you, honey.
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Maybe they won't have to plan a surprise party for you.
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You might use it in other situations, like when you decide to skip something you were supposed to go to.
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I'm thinking about ditching the meeting today.
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Or if someone cancels on a friend last minute, you could say they got ditched.
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Let's see an example of this use too.
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If you ditch school, I'm telling your dad.
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Now here's where Zazu drops a bombshell, and he does it in the most theatrical way possible.
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What a
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poetic line.
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To blossom literally means when a flower opens up and blooms.
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But figuratively, which is how Zazu uses it, it describes something beautiful that is growing and developing.
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And then Zazu reveals the real surprise.
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Oh, just look at you two.
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Little seeds of romance blossoming in the savannah.
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Your parents will be thrilled.
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What with your being betrothed and all?
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Be what?
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Betrothed.
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Intended.
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Affianced.
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Okay, so Zazu uses three different words for the same thing.
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Betrothed, intended, and affianced.
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All three mean officially promised in marriage.
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In everyday conversation, you simply say engaged.
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Like, did you hear?
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They got engaged last weekend.
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And if you ever have disappointing news for a friend, you might consider using the next expression Zazu said.
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So when you say sorry to burst your bubble, you're about to tell someone something they don't want to hear.
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The bubble is that wonderful, floaty feeling of thinking something great is going to happen.
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And you're bursting it.
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Like a kid who thinks Santa Claus is coming, and then an older sibling decides it's time to have a serious conversation.
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Here's an example.
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However, we don't have alien technology to build it.
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Wait, it burst a bubble.
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Alright, fast forward.
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Simba flees the Pride Lands where he and Nala grew up, because his uncle, Scar, made him believe he was responsible for his father Mufasa's death.
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Timon and Pumbaa take Simba in.
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and he grows up in paradise, almost forgetting about his childhood.
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Until Nala shows up, that is.
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What am I doing here?
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What are you doing here?
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Hey!
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What's going on here?
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Timon, this is Nala.
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She's my best friend.
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Nala, this is Pumbaa.
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Pumbaa, Nala.
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Pleased to make your acquaintance.
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Pleasure's all mine.
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How do you do?
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Whoa, whoa!
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Time out!
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Let me get this straight.
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You know her.
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She knows you.
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But she wants to eat him.
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And everybody's okay with this?
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Did I miss something?
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Relax, Timon.
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You're alive, and that means you're the king.
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King?
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Lady, have you got your lion's cross?
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The king?
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Your majesty, I'd gravel at your feet.
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Stop it.
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It's not gravel, it's gravel.
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And don't, he's not the king.
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Are you?
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No. Sima?
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No, I'm not the king.
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Maybe I was gonna be, but that was a long time ago.
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Let me get this straight.
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You're the king and you never told us?
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Look, I'm still the same guy.
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But with power.
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So we start out with this quick chaotic moment with our favorite duo Timon and Pumbaa.
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Now Timon used the word geez.
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This is a mild exclamation, a word you say when you're surprised,
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frustrated or a little annoyed you might hear someone say it when they stub their toe or when their friend does something
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ridiculous for the hundredth time think of ross from friends constantly saying oh my god at everything oh my god well geez
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works in a very similar way just with a more desperate flavor like geez can you believe how long this line is now earlier in the
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movie timon tells pumbaa that they should make friends with simba because he could protect them from predators animals that would want to eat them and he was right get her bite her head
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see i told you he'd come in handy so when something comes in handy it turns out to be useful often in
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just the right moment think about the swiss army knife it's the ultimate come in handy object a tool with a blade a screwdriver scissors a can opener wine bottle opener you might not need all of it every day, but at some point each part comes in handy.
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Now the next line is perfect for learning how to introduce yourself in a formal situation.
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Nala, this is Pumbaa.
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Pumbaa, Nala.
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Pleased to make your acquaintance.
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Pleasure's all mine.
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What do you think Pumbaa means by pleased to make your acquaintance?
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I've heard so much about you.
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Nice to meet you.
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I hope we can be friends.
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Exactly.
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Acquaintance is a word for someone you've met.
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Not a close friend, but someone you know.
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So, making someone's acquaintance means meeting them for the first time.
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You'd mostly hear it at a fancy event, in a period drama, or coming from a character like Pumbaa trying to sound extra sophisticated.
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Listen to this example.
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I think a ball is a perfectly irrational way to gain new acquaintance.
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Pleasure to make your acquaintance.
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In real life, you're more likely to just say, nice to meet you, or even just, hey.
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And notice Nala's response.
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Pleasure's all mine.
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That's the classic, equally formal reply.
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Together, these two lines are basically the Victorian English version of, what's up, not much.
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So what's up?
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Not much.
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Then Timon completely loses mind, trying to figure out what exactly is happening.
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How do you do?
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Whoa, whoa, time out!
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Let me get this straight.
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You know her, she knows you, but she wants to eat him.
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And everybody's okay with this?
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Did I miss something?
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Two great expressions here.
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Let's take them together since Timon is using them back to back.
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Time out is what you shout when you need everything to stop for a second so you can process what's going on.
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It comes from sports, where a coach calls a time out to pause the game and regroup.
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In everyday life, you use it when a situation is moving too fast or getting too confusing, like here.
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Let me get this straight is what you say before you try to summarize something to make sure you've understood it correctly.
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Check out this example.
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And then when Nala reveals the big news about Simba being king, Timon isn't buying it.
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King.
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King?
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Lady, have you got your lions crossed?
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King.
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Your majesty, I gravel at your feet.
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This is a play on the expression to have your wires crossed.
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Have you got your lions crossed?
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When two people have their wires crossed, they've misunderstood each other.
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In rural companies, for example, people often get their wires crossed trying to figure out what time a meeting is in their time zone.
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Or, like here.
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Mr. Lewin, it's James.
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Is Emily there?
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She said she was with you.
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She said she was going to go meet you.
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Oh, yeah.
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No, I think we got our wires crossed.
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The expression comes from old telephone systems, where crossed wires would create interference and confusion on the line.
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Timon, genius that he is, swaps out wires for lions because, well, lions.
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It's a classic pun, and it perfectly captures how ridiculous the whole situation is.
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And then Pumbaa mixes up a royal expression.
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You're alive, and that means you're the king.
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King?
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Lady, have you got your lions crossed?
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King?
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Your majesty, I'd gravel at your feet.
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That just goes to show that native speakers can also get confused with the language sometimes.
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This is gravel.
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Small stones you find on driveways and garden paths.
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However, as Timon points out, Pumbaa means grovel, not gravel.
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To grovel means to act very humbly, usually because you want something or because you've done something wrong.
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So, a grovel at your feet is a very dramatic way of showing deep respect or complete surrender to someone.
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You've done awesome today with this quick lesson with one of Disney's greatest films ever.
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But you're not done yet.
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The most important part is testing everything that you learned by watching the scenes again without subtitles to see how your comprehension has improved.
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I'll also ask you some quiz questions for an added challenge.
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Zazu is shocked to learn that Simba and Nala actually ended up falling in love.
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He says, I always knew this romance would eventually blossom.
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Just look at you two little seeds of romance blossoming in the savannah your parents will be thrilled What with your being betrothed and all be one betrothed intended Affianced
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Meaning one day you two are going to be married.
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Yeah, I can't marry her.
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She's my friend Yeah, it'd be so weird if your friend is explaining a plan they're clearly very excited about, but you already know it won't work, what would you say before breaking the news?
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Let me get this straight.
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Time out.
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Sorry to burst your bubble.
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Oh, sorry to bust your bubble, but you two turtledoves have no choice.
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It's a tradition going back generations.
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Well, when I'm king, that'll be the first thing to go.
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AHHHHH!
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AHH!
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AHH!
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Boomba, Boomba!
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Hey!
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What's going on?
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She's gonna eat me!
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Huh?
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Whoa!
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Geez!
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Why do I always have to save your...
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AHHHHH!
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AHHHHH!
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AHHHHH!
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Don't worry, buddy.
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I'm here for you.
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Everything's gonna be okay.
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Get her!
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Bite her head!
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Bite her head!
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Don't be mejacular!
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Mejacular!
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See, I told you you'd come in handy.
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Nala?
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Is it really you?
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Who are you?
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It's me, Simba.
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Simba?
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How did you come from?
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This is great to see you.
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Hey, what's going on here?
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What are you doing here?
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What do you mean?
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What am I doing here?
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What are you doing here?
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Hey, what's going on here?
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Timon, this is Nala.
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She's my best friend.
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Nala, this is Pumbaa.
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Pumbaa, Nala.
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Pleased to make your acquaintance.
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Pleasure's all mine.
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Match the expression to its meaning.
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this did i miss something relax tomorrow you're alive and that means
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you're the king king lady have you got your lions crossed your majesty
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i gravel at your feet boomba says i gravel at your feet but the correct expression is i grovel at your feet what does it actually mean to grovel at someone's feet,
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to throw small rocks at them as a sign of celebration, to bow your head slightly as a greeting, to lower yourself in a show of deep respect or submission.
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That was a long time ago.
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Let me get this straight.
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You're the king and you never told us?
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Look, I'm still the same guy.
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But with power.
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I hope you really enjoyed learning English with the Lion King.
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Isn't it so much better when learning is actually fun and it's not something boring that you have to study?
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Well, every single week, we help you to understand fast-speaking natives without getting lost, without missing the jokes, and without subtitles with your favorite TV series, movies, celebrities, and so much more.
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So join over 11 million learners who are doing this by hitting that subscribe button and bell down below.
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And that way you won't miss a single new lesson.
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And if you're really ready to level up your English, the best way is by learning with these lessons on the RealLife app.
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So you can try that for free right now with a link in the description.
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And if you're staying on YouTube, you might want to check out this lesson next.
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You came here in that?
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Uh, yeah.
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In a house?
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A floating?
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House?
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That's the darndest thing I've ever seen.
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You're not after my bird, are you?
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But if you need to borrow a cup of sugar, I'd be happy to oblige you!
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Well, this is all a misunderstanding.
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My dogs made a mistake.
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Wait, are you?
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Why Practice Speaking with This Video?
Practicing your English speaking skills using snippets from popular movies like The Lion King adds a layer of fun to your learning journey. The dynamic interactions between characters like Simba, Nala, and Zazu provide authentic conversational contexts that are invaluable for language learners. Each character showcases different English speaking styles, tones, and emotions, making it easier for you to tap into diverse speaking scenarios.
This video not only entertains but also reinforces your ability to engage in real-life dialogues. By mimicking the characters through shadow speak, you can refine your pronunciation, intonation, and pace while absorbing natural expressions and vocabulary relevant for your everyday conversations. Practicing through immersion with such iconic scenes will undoubtedly enhance your IELTS speaking practice and boost your confidence during conversations.
Grammar & Expressions in Context
- Step lively: Zazu uses this phrase to encourage others to hurry up. Understanding such expressions is essential for grasping formal and informal directives in English.
- Ditch someone: This colloquial expression means to get rid of someone or sneak away, commonly used among friends. It's a playful way to understand the nuances of the language and its informal aspects.
- Betrothed, intended, affianced: Zazu's use of these terms for being engaged illustrates the richness of English vocabulary. These words can enhance your understanding of relationships and formal dialogues.
- Sorry to burst your bubble: This expression conveys delivering disappointing news. Recognizing idioms is crucial for grasping the emotional undertone of conversations.
Common Pronunciation Traps
While watching the video, pay close attention to the pronunciation of certain words and phrases that may be tricky:
- The phrase “Step lively” can be challenging due to its rhythmic flow. Practice this by breaking it down into syllables.
- Words like “betrothed” and “affianced” might seem daunting, but breaking them into smaller parts can help improve clarity.
- Emphasizing the correct stress on the word “grovel” is essential since incorrect pronunciation can change the listener's perception.
- Listening carefully to dialogues will help you tackle regional accents that may appear in different animated films, aiding in your overall improve English pronunciation.
By utilizing these engaging expressions and pronunciation practices from The Lion King, you can significantly enhance your English speaking skills. Make sure to incorporate these lessons into your daily language practice and watch your confidence soar!
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.
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