Lesson #203
Everyone’s after the Dubai chocolate… but are we even getting the real thing? Enjoy the lesson 🙂
Our word #1 is scarcity
noun [U]
UK /ˈskeə.sə.ti/
US /ˈsker.sə.ti/
A situation in which something is in short supply:
The scarcity of clean drinking water is a major concern in many parts of the world.
Please take a look at this example and repeat it out loud:
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Our word #2 is spur
verb
UK /spɜː/
US /spɜr/
: to encourage someone or something to take action or to develop more quickly:
The government lowered interest rates to spur economic growth.
Please take a look at this example and repeat it out loud:
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“We can spur innovation and help make our economy more competitive.”
Our word #3 is dupe
noun [C], informal
UK /djuːp/
US /duːp/
A product made to closely imitate another, typically more expensive or exclusive, but usually sold at a lower price:
The market is full of designer handbag dupes.
Please take a look at this example and repeat it out loud:
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Our word #4 is copycat
noun [C], informal
UK /ˈkɒp.i.kæt/
US /ˈkɑː.pi.kæt/
A person or thing that imitates or closely replicates the behavior, appearance, or work of someone or something else, often lacking originality.
That app is just a copycat of Instagram.
Please take a look at this example and repeat it out loud:
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Our word #5 is spin-off
noun [C]
Something that develops from an existing product, idea, company, or work:
“Better Call Saul” is a spin-off of “Breaking Bad”.
Please take a look at this example and repeat it out loud:
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We’re …
And so what we’re doing is we’re transferring …
Please fill in the blanks out loud with our word #1, 2, 3, 4, or 5:
Competition among tech companies has …………. rapid innovation.
Competition among tech companies has spurred rapid innovation.
Competition among tech companies …
She’s such a …………. — she always steals my outfit ideas.
She’s such a copycat — she always steals my outfit ideas.
She’s such a …
she always …
With the original dessert only available in Dubai, local bakeries began selling …………. .
With the original dessert only available in Dubai, local bakeries began selling dupes.
With the original dessert only available in Dubai, local bakeries …
Several successful start-ups began as …………. from university research labs.
Several successful start-ups began as spin-offs from university research labs.
Several successful start-ups began as …
There is ………… of food in the region.
There is scarcity of food in the region.
There is …
Time for our final clip. Watch the clips first, and then fill in the blanks out loud.
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Source: “How The Dubai Chocolate Craze Won Over Trader Joe’s, Costco And Crumbl.” CNBC. YouTube, May 28, 2025
It first went ………….. in 2023, and since then, it’s become a global …………. .
The …………. by Fix Desserts is only sold in Dubai.
Its …………. has …………. an explosion of …………., ………….., and …………. .
You can now buy it everywhere.
It first went viral in 2023, and since then, it’s become a global phenomenon.
The original by Fix Desserts is only sold in Dubai.
Its scarcity has spurred an explosion of dupes, copycats, and spin-offs.
You can now buy it everywhere.
It first went …
and since then, it’s …
The original by Fix Desserts is only …
Its scarcity has spurred an explosion of …
You can now …
Questions for a Coffee Session:
What types of scarcity are most serious in your country or community?
What typically spurs creativity?
Have you ever bought a dupe of a product you couldn’t afford? Was it worth it?
Where do we draw the line between inspiration and being a copycat in art or design?
Can a spin-off ever be better than the original series or film? Why or why not?
Why do you think Dubai chocolate went so viral?
Do you usually trust viral food trends, or do you approach them with skepticism?
Have you ever tasted the original Dubai Chocolate from Fix Desserts? Or have you tried any of the dupes or copycats? Is it worth the hype?