Lesson #246
Believe it or not, I’ve never really liked The Devil Wears Prada. I know, I know. Everyone loves this movie. And I do love Meryl Streep, obviously. So today, one of its most iconic scenes.
Our phrase #1 tough call
phrase
A tough call is a decision or choice that is difficult to make:
Choosing between a stable job and a more exciting opportunity is a tough call.
A: Should I accept the promotion or start my own business?
B: Tough call! Both options sound exciting.
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.)
Our word #2 is lumpy (clothes)
adjective
Clothes that are lumpy look badly shaped, uneven, or untidy, especially because the material does not lie smoothly on the body.
The coat was warm, but it looked lumpy and old-fashioned.
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.)
Our words #3: turquoise, lapis, cerulean
turquoise
/ˈtɜːkwɔɪz/
A blue-green color. It has a noticeable green tone.
lapis
/ˈlæp.ɪs/
Lapis is a deep, rich blue color, similar to the color of the stone lapis lazuli.
cerulean
/səˈruː.li.ən/
Cerulean is a clear, bright blue color, similar to the color of a blue sky.
Please fill in the blanks out loud with our word/phrase #1, 2, and the colors 🙂
The artist used ………… paint for the deep blue sky.
The artist used lapis paint for the deep blue sky.
The artist used …
After a few washes, the sweater became …………. and lost its shape.
After a few washes, the sweater became lumpy and lost its shape.
After a few washes, the sweater …
The artist used ………… paint for the sky.
The artist used cerulean paint for the sky.
The artist used …
For many parents, choosing the right school is ………… ………… .
For many parents, choosing the right school is a tough call.
For many parents, …
The sea looked …………. .
The sea looked turquoise.
The sea …
Time for our final clip. Watch the clips first, and then fill in the blanks out loud.
(You have to reload the page if you want to watch the clip more than once.)
Source: “Miranda Priestly Educates Andy About Her Cerulean Sweater | The Devil Wears Prada | HBO.” YouTube, Nov 29, 2024
– Where are the ………… for this dress? Why is no one ready?
– Here. It’s a …………. …………. . They’re so different.
– Something funny?
– No. No, no. Nothing. You know, it’s just that …………. …………. …………. look exactly the same to me. You know, I’m still learning about this stuff.
– This… stuff? Oh. Okay. I see. You think this has nothing to do with you? You go to your …………. and you select, I don’t know, that …………. blue sweater, for instance, because you’re trying to tell the world that you …………. yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your …………. .
But what you don’t know is that that sweater is not just blue. It’s not …………. . It’s not …………. . It’s actually …………. .
– Where are the belts for this dress? Why is no one ready?
– Here. It’s a tough call. They’re so different.
– Something funny?
– No. No, no. Nothing. You know, it’s just that both those belts look exactly the same to me. You know, I’m still learning about this stuff.
– This… stuff? Oh. Okay. I see. You think this has nothing to do with you? You go to your closet and you select, I don’t know, that lumpy blue sweater, for instance, because you’re trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back.
But what you don’t know is that that sweater is not just blue. It’s not turquoise. It’s not lapis. It’s actually cerulean.
– Where are the belts for this dress? Why is …
– Here. It’s a …
– Something …
– No. No, no. Nothing. You know, it’s just that both those belts look exactly the same to me. You know, I’m still learning …
– This… stuff? Oh. Okay. I see. You think this has nothing to do with you? You go to your closet and you select, I don’t know, that lumpy blue sweater, for instance, because you’re trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about …
But what you don’t know is that that sweater is not just blue. It’s not …
It’s not …
It’s actually …
Lesson #246 with Adam, your AI language teacher. He will help you practice the key words again, give you a short test, and discuss the topic in more detail.
Reading Guide #246 is based on an article from Vogue (Meryl Streep Reignites the Cerulean Debate in Custom J.Crew). Adam introduces 16 key words to help you read the article with confidence.
Questions for a Coffee Session:
1. Can you see the difference between turquoise, lapis, and cerulean now, or do they still look almost the same to you?
2. Is fashion important to you, or do you see it as “just clothes”?
3. Do you know anyone who is so deeply involved in a subject that they notice details other people completely miss? Do you respect this kind of expertise, even if the subject itself doesn’t interest you?
4. Do you think fashion is a way of expressing individuality, or are we all influenced more than we think?