Shadowing Practice: MTV's Downtown, Episode 02: Train Pain - Learn English Speaking with Video
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505 sentences
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-do -do -do -do -do -do -do -do -do -do -do -do -do -do -do -do -do -do -do -do -do -do
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One, two, three, ah.
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Ah.
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Damn staples.
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Fruity, these were like made for you.
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They'll accentuate your, um, mini package.
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Ew, I think I'm going to be sick.
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I'd sure like to show her my package.
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Bro, this magazine's from 1962.
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This lady's mad old now.
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She probably has diapers, has no keys.
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Ah, now you're making me sick.
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What do you say, Macca?
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Is this me?
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I don't think that's anybody.
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Are you here for my delightful company, or could it possibly be the air conditioning?
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Hey, it's cheaper than a movie.
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You know, you guys could be hanging out at the beach or something instead of absorbing the odor of my mothballs.
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Jen's right.
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We should hit the beach.
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How about Coney Island?
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Coney Island?
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Yeah, the Ferris wheel, bumper cars, cotton candy.
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Dong bikinis, all types of women rubbing oil all over each other.
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Oh, come on, you guys.
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It'll be so fun.
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Oh, damn.
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I forget how to get there.
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We take the B train, duh.
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You're wrong, Chaka.
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The R is fastest.
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Everybody knows that.
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What?
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Nah.
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You get the B at West Forth, and it's like, I don't know, like three stops.
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Girl, when you talk, makes sense.
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Hey, I think it all depends on what time of day it is, really.
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Who brought you into this, Matt?
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Hey, what's up your ass?
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Guys, can you, like, chill out, please?
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Easy now.
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Okay, if this is such a matter of personal pride, why not, you know, have a race, okay?
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And, you know, have a train race or something.
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Whoever loses has to walk around in one of these bathing suits I have deemed unfit for human consumption.
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Winner's choice.
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Battle of the sexes?
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Yes!
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I'm going to do you in Eddie Gordo style, baby.
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Oh, oh, oh.
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Hey, Jen, did you get the...
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Oh, hi.
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Hey, Alex, we're going to Coney Island.
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You want to come?
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Alex?
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He's afraid of jellyfish.
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And women in throwing bikinis.
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Thanks, sis.
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Anyway, I can't because, you know, I've got stuff to do.
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I was just dropping by on my way to, you know, do stuff.
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Come on, you guys.
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It's already noon.
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Okay, last ones to Nathan's or Big Herbs.
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Let's go.
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You're going down like Nina Williams.
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Let's roll, baby.
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So, did you get it?
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Ooh, baby, yeah.
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Highest quality.
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I've got connections.
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All right.
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So, can we get it on here?
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Oh, come on, are you crazy?
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And get fired?
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I'll get fired!
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There's no way I'm going to jeopardize my job for some cheap thrill.
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Sorry.
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We'll go over to your place.
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You are such a conscientious worker.
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Thank you.
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Is the R really faster?
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I don't know.
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So why'd you say it was?
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Chaka thinks she's so smart.
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You both think you're smart.
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You're both wrong, though.
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Look, right here, man, right here on the map.
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Look, the N is best right here, bro.
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Look, we sit on that, and we can't lose.
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Damn, man, you really blow me away.
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It was a year before I even knew this thing was a map.
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Sucker, here it comes.
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You can sit back and relax.
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Victory is ours.
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Damn, man, I can't wait.
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It's one of those topless chops from the 60s.
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Chaka's gonna freak.
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We should pick up a camera.
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We've been waiting like a billion years for this stupid B train to come.
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Come on, what's the problem?
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This is the fastest way, right?
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I don't know.
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Then why did you say it was?
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Fruity thinks he's so smart.
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Finally, it's about time.
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We can't take it, it's an F.
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Damn it!
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Isn't this the wrong train?
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Who cares every train is a big corny island anyway.
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Are you sure?
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Yeah
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so break it out dinosaur dentist a classic he's got all his teeth
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you first okay hey bitch you getting a root canal nate your turn okay focus focus
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i'm gonna choke i'm not i'm gonna bite your Shh, quiet.
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Yes, I am the king of the world.
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I am going to Disneyland.
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I love playing games.
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I love it.
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What would you say is your favorite game of all time?
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What's the best game?
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Pass the Orange?
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That's not a game.
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It's a perversion.
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Well, it qualifies as something.
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I admit it may not have the groundbreaking graphics of Final Fantasy, but it's cheap and simple and provides opportunity for physical contact with,
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like, cute near -strangers.
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Oh, right, yeah, like, you can handle that.
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Like, when we were at that party, remember, on Beth Berger's roof, and you had to pass the orange to me?
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And then you dropped it on purpose.
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I was doing you a favor, baby.
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I could tell you had it bad for Beth.
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Damn your evil machinations.
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You did it just to torture me.
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I was simultaneously in heaven and in hell.
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So then it was inevitable that
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Beth and Brett hooked up.
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And live annoyingly ever after.
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So why did you run away like that?
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You got shy all of a sudden?
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Something like that.
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I, uh, got a, I, you know, yeah.
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Did Alex get a little boner?
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We stay on until the last stop at Stillwell Avenue, okay?
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Dermabrasion?
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That sounds like sex.
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Oh, sweat!
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Matt, Matt, look!
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I'm serious.
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I'm gonna marry that girl.
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You know, before you make a big decision like this, you might want to check out the bus.
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Hi, could you help me?
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I'm supposed to meet a friend in some place called Coney Island.
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The F train blows.
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I could walk faster.
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Quick, let's get the B.
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Crap, we are so screwed.
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Hurry, get back on the app.
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Wait!
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Hold the door, mister.
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That skirt looks good on you, but it will look better balled up in the corner of my room.
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Do you have a mirror in your pocket?
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Because I can see myself in your pants.
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Do fries come with that shake?
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Because I'm feeling greasy.
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So you're saying it's not really an island?
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They just call it Coney Island.
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It's part of Brooklyn.
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This is really messing with my reality.
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Now, Gilligan's Island, that's a real island, right?
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And Thousand Islands Dressing, what's up with that?
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Do you believe in fate?
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No. I believe I have to go.
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Hey, wait up.
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This is my stop, too.
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Come on, man.
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Come on.
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We're getting off.
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No way.
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Remember the plan.
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Don't mess up the plan.
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What's wrong with you?
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I'm missing my big chance here.
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We'll take the R or something.
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What's the difference?
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Don't flake out on me, Fruity.
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I'm not going to end up in no
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Spider -Man underage.
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Hey, we forgot to trade numbers.
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I don't think so.
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Little mama's boy.
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Damn one dog.
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We should stop and look at a map.
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The guys are going to win.
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The M train?
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What the hell's that?
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I think it goes to Mars.
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Oh, oh, oh, oh, not funny.
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It's not even supposed to be here.
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Whatever, we're getting on.
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Let the game begin
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When he eats the balls I win I have got to beat
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Cause my balls he loves to eat
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That last one doesn't count towards your total
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You were supposed to throw a pink and you threw a green
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What are you talking about?
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Give me a break
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And you've been keeping score all wrong from the beginning
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You marked yourself for a triple blast all
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When you only got a double Darian And the diagram
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Hold it, hold it
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Let's just take a step back, okay?
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What's the matter?
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What we're doing, it's not normal.
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You know what I'm saying?
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Man, you're right.
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This is pitiful.
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Yeah.
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I mean, come on, look at us.
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Just look at us.
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I know.
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Is this how normal adult human beings should be living their lives?
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No, I'm ashamed.
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We should be doing something that requires a bit more maturity.
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That's 30 points.
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Oh, do you think they'll actually make us wear one of those stupid, ugly bathing suits?
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Mecca, we're gonna win.
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This train is going like mad miles an hour.
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You saying, like, I don't know what I'm doing or something?
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No, not really.
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It's just that you know how you are.
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Sometimes you just sort of jump into things.
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Look, honey, if I didn't take a risk once in a while, we wouldn't, like, even know Matt and Frutie in the first place. So?
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I was the one dancing in the fountain in Washington Square Park that day, and looking really hot, with all the guys checking me out.
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Matt and Fruity especially.
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They were probably just trying to get the nerve -ups to talk to me or whatever, but...
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Yeah, they sure were staring at you.
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Who's the dork on the skateboard?
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Ew, and where'd his friend get that haircut, Kmart?
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I was working up some fancy moves and I guess it was my impressive skateboard technique that attracted the ladies.
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Cause I swear man, right then, I saw Chaka and Mecca just scheming at me all out.
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Forget it.
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She's really flat man, like an ironing boy.
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You never know, some girls start late.
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But man, I'm in a hurry.
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Impressive skateboard techniques.
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You got a warped memory man.
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I got another one
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My antenna's messed up
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No excuses I got six pollen pellets
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How many do you have?
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Shut up Do you have any?
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Shut up Whoa Did I touch a nerve?
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Guess so She had a gorgeous face, man Symmetrical Everything corresponded with her body
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And I lost out because of your precious plan, Professor X You should loosen up, bro Hey, if it wasn't for me
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Your horny ass would get us into all sorts of trouble
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You got to keep a cool head and get by in the city, man.
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Did I tell you about the other day when I was on the D going downtown?
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All right, look, some guy is pushing through as the doors are closing.
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Get out.
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He must have been in some kind of rush.
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He's yanking himself through the door, you know, pushing everybody out the way.
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And his gun falls out of his jacket.
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Falls right there on the floor, man, in front of everybody.
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Get out of here.
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Yeah, man, look, everybody runs out the car into the next one.
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And I'm there by myself, man, because I didn't know what to do.
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I was like, whoa, right?
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And then, like, I don't know.
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He has this, he's coming right at me.
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He has this, like, weird look in his face, you know, like, and I'm scared, man, because he looked crazy.
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He sits down next to me.
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I can feel his knee against mine.
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I can smell his breath.
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It's bad breath, man, right?
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I'm thinking, be cool, be cool, man.
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Don't let on that you're free.
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You know, because I was pretty scared, man.
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Yeah.
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And he looks at me, and he says, Wanna buy a gun?
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Yeah, man, so I was like, you know, trying to be smooth, but I was like, yeah, man, I just bought one on the A train.
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Damn, Matty, you're one lucky boy.
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I hope it's catching here.
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Come here, let me rub your belly for good luck.
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Get off my belly, man.
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Don't touch my belly.
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That's Buddha's belly you're supposed to rub, not mine.
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Damn.
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New to construction.
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Avenue U will be the last stop on this entry.
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End of the line.
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Everybody off.
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Man, your plan really sucks.
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I can't wait to see Fruity hanging in the breeze.
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Hey, wait a minute.
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Isn't that that loser who wouldn't hold the door for us?
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Oh, yeah.
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What are you doing?
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Chaka?
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Hands up, ladies.
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Oh, my God.
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What?
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Isn't this the train Fruity said to take in the first place?
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Um, no. Mecca, the thing with guys is, alright, they're gonna walk all over you if you don't, like, take a stand for yourself.
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You know, even when you're wrong.
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Are you kidding me girl, especially when you're wrong you don't look vulnerable in front of anybody sure I guess
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that makes some kind of weird warped chock -a -world sense
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You gotta like train a guy a guy isn't a dog
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True that when you cut off a dog's nuts.
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They call you socially responsible
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Wow, we're really moving maybe we will win after all Okay.
363
Why are we at Prince Street?
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What do you mean?
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Oh, I can't believe it!
366
We're in Manhattan!
367
Oh, damn!
368
We went the wrong way!
369
Oh!
370
Ah!
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You never leave a man behind.
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I'm going in.
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Cover me.
374
Watch it!
375
Hey, you did that on purpose.
376
And what if I did?
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But you're a big cheater.
378
Cheater, you can't stand to lose, can you?
379
You are so serious.
380
Oh, my God, I didn't follow the rules.
381
It's the end of the world.
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Oh, now I'm seeing the real Jen, the sneaky, conniving bitch.
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I was enjoying myself until you turned into the Rudy Giuliani of board games.
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God, you're difficult.
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No wonder you don't have a boyfriend.
386
Yeah?
387
What about you?
388
What girl in their right mind would go out with a tight -ass control freak?
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Take that back or I'm leaving.
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A guy who needs to check the rule book before he takes a piss.
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I checked the book once.
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A guy who takes a Polaroid of a Monopoly board when he leaves the room just to keep things honest.
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Oh, so now you're against honesty.
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You wonder the only woman in your life has missed July.
395
And when was the last time you went on a normal date, huh?
396
No wonder you're hiding out here playing kiddie games all weekend.
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Loser.
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Oh, you're the loser.
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No, you're a loser.
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You know you're a loser.
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Loser.
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I don't even have to bother screaming.
403
Loser.
404
Loser.
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I know you're a favorite loser.
406
Loser.
407
Ugh.
408
How about a round of Tiny, Tiny Tadpole?
409
You're on!
410
Watch it.
411
Damn!
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Great.
413
That really adds to the day.
414
God, we are some poor -ass suckers, man.
415
Well, at least we're in the right borough.
416
How could a train line just end like that in the middle of nowhere?
417
We'll never beat the girls now.
418
I better get ready to walk down the beach in spandex panties I'll be there too, you know Yeah, damn right,
419
because if we had switched when I wanted to Not only would we be there by now,
420
but I could have gotten with that cutie on the train
421
Oh no, not again, mind overboard I would have worked her, and she would have been all over me, it would have been fat
422
And on Saturday night, I'd go out with this hot gal on my arm
423
And because I'd be with such a beautiful looking woman
424
All the other women would want to be with me, me alone And it would go on and on and on in an escalating manner Really?
425
Yeah.
426
And I'd be going, there's plenty of me to go around, girls.
427
And getting my freak on with them on the dance floor.
428
But of course, though, when it's time to decide who to go home with, I will carefully consider the possibilities.
429
You know, I'm a poppy chulone.
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You know, you gotta sort them out right.
431
You know, choosing one or two or maybe even three of the finest.
432
I can't be greedy.
433
Bro, I think I can see your head growing.
434
Damn!
435
That's when it was getting good.
436
Listen, Captain Suave.
437
We're not gonna let ourselves be emasculated.
438
No way.
439
What?
440
It's kind of like castrated, but not as bad.
441
If it's anything like castrated, it's bad enough.
442
Look, we can do this, man.
443
We're guys.
444
We're strong.
445
We're determined.
446
We're wearing cross trainers.
447
Yeah!
448
Come on.
449
It's only 20 more blocks.
450
Let's run.
451
Let's bounce, cowboy.
452
Girl, I like the way you spin.
453
Oh, thank you.
454
Well, I've never been with a guy who rolls doubles the way you can, over and over.
455
Well, you know I saved that for you, right?
456
I know.
457
It was unbelievable.
458
You think you could do it again, big boy?
459
I don't know.
460
Can you handle it?
461
I think so.
462
Are you ready?
463
You ready for some more?
464
I could really go for some Uncle Wiggly.
465
I think I need ten minutes.
466
No problem.
467
I'm hungry.
468
What's up?
469
Yeah, alright, what's up?
470
Shake your money makeup.
471
We won, we won.
472
Damn!
473
I'm gonna be masculated.
474
That's a bomb, yo.
475
You wanna congratulate each other?
476
You won't believe what happened to us.
477
I don't care.
478
You lost.
479
But there were extenuating circumstances.
480
Hold up.
481
Let me say it again.
482
You lost.
483
i should have waxed man i feel the fool my manhood's spinning
484
and what's with your tag on my shirt minus oh no
485
you two again are you following me wait i mean what the first
486
you're in the subway station then you moon me on the train then you nearly run me down in that taxi
487
Over by the cyclone.
488
Ah, you took a taxi.
489
I think you are fatly mistaken, sir.
490
Oh, yeah?
491
Well, then am I mistaken about the birthmark on your left cheek?
492
She doesn't have a birthmark.
493
Not that cheek.
494
Oh.
495
Why, you no account, no rent, backstabbing front ass cab, taking foul ass chicken heads.
496
Oh, you big, fat, dumb guy.
497
You don't even have a brain in your head to deal with.
498
I didn't punk ass.
499
She had the idea.
500
Yes, whatever.
501
They were probably eating a fruit lube!
502
Why are you so interested in my name, huh?
503
You like to eat some?
504
Buy me a hot dog.
505
We'll be right back.
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Vocabulary and speaking notes for this lesson
This speaking lesson is built on the video “MTV's Downtown, Episode 02: Train Pain”. This video has 505 sentences and 3047 words to shadow. The speech runs for 21:22. The speaker talks at a steady 143 words per minute, a comfortable pace for shadowing. 82% of the words are among the 3,000 most common in English; the rest is worth studying before you start. 90 of its 505 sentences are questions, so it is good practice for question intonation and short answers.
Key vocabulary in this video
15 words from the video worth learning, with pronunciation and meaning:
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| loser noun | /luzɚ/ | A person who loses; one who fails to win or thrive. |
| belly noun | /ˈbɛli/ | The abdomen (especially a fat one). |
| impressive adjective | /ɪmˈpɹɛsɪv/ | Making, or tending to make, a positive impression; having power to impress. |
| package noun | /ˈpæk.ɪd͡ʒ/ | Something which is packed, a parcel, a box, an envelope. |
| bath noun | /bɑːθ/ | A tub or pool which is used for bathing: bathtub. |
| alright | /ɔlˈɹaɪt/ | Used to indicate acknowledgement or acceptance; OK. |
| spin verb | /spɪn/ | To rotate, revolve, gyrate (usually quickly); to partially or completely rotate to face another direction. |
| shake verb | /ˈʃeɪk/ | To cause (something) to move rapidly in opposite directions alternatingly. |
| nerve noun | /nɝv/ | A bundle of neurons with their connective tissue sheaths, blood vessels and lymphatics. |
| taxi noun | /ˈtæksi/ | A vehicle that may be hired for single journeys by members of the public, particularly one with an automated meter to calculate the fare. |
| hurry verb | /ˈhʌ.ɹi/ | To do things quickly. |
| cheek noun | /t͡ʃiːk/ | The soft skin on each side of the face, below the eyes; the outer surface of the sides of the oral cavity. |
| whoa | /woʊ/ | Stop (especially when commanding a horse or imitative thereof); calm down; slow down. |
| bikini noun | /bɪˈki.ni/ | A brief, often minimalistic two-piece bathing suit worn by women, especially one that exposes the midriff and navel. |
| warp noun | /ˈwɔːp/ | The state, quality, or condition of being physically bent or twisted out of shape. |
Phrasal verbs you will hear
| Word | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| get off verb | To move from being on top of (something) to not being on top of it. | |
| mess up verb | To make a mess of; to untidy, disorder, soil, or muss. | |
| shut up | /ʃʌt ʌp/ | Stop talking (usually in the form of making annoying, irrelevant, or false comments, during a period of peace and quiet, or when one is not allowed to talk)… |
| check out verb | To record the departure or withdrawal of someone or something (such as guests, employees, books, etc.). | |
| cut off verb | /ˌkʌt ˈɔf/ [ˌkɐɾ ˈɔf] | To remove by cutting. |
| get out verb | To leave or escape. | |
| get out of verb | To leave, exit or escape from; to become free of. | |
| go around verb | To move or spread from person to person. |
Sentences worth repeating
Short, complete lines from the video that you can reuse in everyday conversation:
- Guys, can you, like, chill out, please?
- Then why did you say it was?
- You got shy all of a sudden?
- You know what I'm saying?
- Cheater, you can't stand to lose, can you?
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect continuous have/has been + -ing — an action that started earlier and is still going on | We've been waiting · you've been keeping |
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | have deemed · has missed · I've never been |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | guy who needs · guy who takes · guy who rolls |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | be emasculated · be masculated |
Pronunciation to watch
The speaker uses 133 contractions and reduced forms, such as I'm, you're, don't. Say them the short way, as you hear them.
- The “th” sounds: bath /bɑːθ/, smooth /smuːð/, bother /ˈbɑðɚ/, thrill /θɹɪl/, birthmark /ˈbɝθˌmɑɹk/
- The “sh” and “zh” sounds: shake /ˈʃeɪk/, rush /ɹʌʃ/, consumption /kənˈsʌmp.ʃən/, ashamed /əˈʃeɪmd/, socially /ˈsoʊʃəli/
- Long words — get the stress right: simultaneously /ˌsaɪmlˈteɪnɪəsli/, inevitable /ɪˈnɛvɪtəbəl/, unbelievable /ˌʌnbɪˈliːvəbl̩/, maturity /məˈtjʊəɹɪti/, congratulate /kənˈɡɹæd͡ʒ.ʊˌleɪt/
How to practise with this video
- Listen to the whole video once without speaking and note the words you do not know.
- Shadow it sentence by sentence at normal speed, repeating each one until your rhythm matches the speaker.
- Record yourself and compare with the original, paying attention to words like loser, belly, impressive.
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.