All Ears English Podcast - Episode 2363: "Call Dibs on This Playful Vocabulary"

Release Date: February 25, 2025
Hosts: Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan
Episode Focus: Exploring the playful English vocabulary term "dibs" and its various uses in everyday conversation.

Introduction to the Episode

In Episode 2363 of the All Ears English Podcast, hosts Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan delve into the playful American English term "dibs". This episode is particularly beneficial for intermediate to advanced ESL learners aiming to enhance their conversational skills and understand colloquial expressions used in daily American interactions.

Understanding "Dibs" and Its Usage

The episode kicks off with Aubrey Carter introducing a listener question about the term "dibs":

Aubrey Carter (03:54): "Hi, I'm an avid learner of English, and your podcasts helped me a lot. I have come to know that daily English expressions are like two different words from what we have gone through our textbook. So the textbook is different from real English, right, Aubrey?"

Michelle and Aubrey agree that "dibs" is a quintessential example of real-world English that often diverges from textbook vocabulary.

"Dibs" is primarily used to reserve something harmlessly among friends or family. Michelle explains:

Michelle Kaplan (05:23): "It's spelled D, I, B, S, and it's not like a verb on its own. Dib... so I'm not sure really where this came from. Definitely slang to call dibs or say dibs when you want something, it means you're saying something either belongs to you or is reserved for you."

Different Ways to Call "Dibs"

The hosts explore various expressions similar to "dibs" that are regionally or contextually used:

1. "Shotgun" for the Front Seat:

   • Michelle Kaplan (06:02): "I feel like with sports, like sometimes we're all, you know, either choosing a place or choosing like a paddle for pickleball. And you might call dibs on the best one."
   • Aubrey Carter (07:14): "Shotgun is really... To me, that one is specifically for the front seat of a car."

2. "Mine" for Immediate Claims:

   • Michelle Kaplan (09:02): "If someone says, 'Oh, there's only one more cookie, I call it.' That just means like, same as dibs. It's mine."
   • Aubrey Carter (13:38): Discusses how "mine" is often used in sports to prevent collisions, differentiating it from the selfish aspect of calling dibs.

3. Other Contextual Expressions:

   • "I call the blue pencil" when coloring.
   • "I call it" in named scenarios like specific markers or game pieces.

Role-Playing Scenarios

To illustrate the usage of "dibs," Michelle and Aubrey engage in role-playing:

• Scenario 1: Claiming a Cookie

  Michelle Kaplan (07:27): "Oh, there's one more cookie." Aubrey Carter (07:29): "Dibs." Michelle Kaplan (07:30): "No, this is a great example to be like, how dare you? You need to split that in half."

• Scenario 2: Reserving a Comfy Chair

  Michelle Kaplan (07:55): "Okay, but I call dibs on the comfy chair." Aubrey Carter (07:57): "Oh, fine."

These scenarios demonstrate how "dibs" can be used playfully among roommates or family members to reserve items or spaces without any legal binding.

Cultural and Social Implications

Michelle and Aubrey discuss the social dynamics surrounding the use of "dibs":

• Childish vs. Adult Usage:

  Michelle Kaplan (06:56): "There is a little bit of a feeling of immaturity to it. Like if a coworker called dibs on a chair or like a drink in the fridge or something would feel strange."

  They note that while children commonly use "dibs" in playful rivalries, adults might reserve its usage for lighthearted or informal settings to avoid seeming childish or aggressive.

• Flexibility and Personality:

  Aubrey Carter (15:06): "This is kind of one of those episodes about showcasing your personality and giving things a try and playing with them."

Using "dibs" appropriately can help convey personality and connect with others, but overuse may lead to annoyance or perceptions of selfishness.

Practical Tips for ESL Learners

1. Use Sparingly:

   • As highlighted by Michelle:

     Michelle Kaplan (19:37): "I love what we mentioned, that you don't want to overuse these. Choose one. Say it maybe once a week."

2. Context Matters:

   • Reserve "dibs" for informal, playful interactions rather than professional or formal settings.

3. Understand Alternatives:

   • Familiarize yourself with other expressions like "shotgun" and "mine" to diversify your conversational toolkit.

4. Cultural Insights:

   • Recognize that some expressions may be culturally specific. For instance, "shotgun" is widely used in American English but may not have direct equivalents in other languages.

Conclusion and Takeaways

The episode wraps up with key takeaways on using "dibs" and similar expressions to enhance conversational English:

• Playfulness:
  Use "dibs" to add a playful tone to conversations, fostering friendly interactions.

• Avoid Overuse:
  Limiting the frequency of such expressions prevents them from losing their intended lightheartedness.

• Personal Connection:
  Sharing experiences or memories related to "dibs" can strengthen personal connections and make interactions more engaging.

Aubrey Carter (20:27): "These can help you to connect with people over, you know, things about your childhood and bringing up these kinds of stories."

By understanding and appropriately using terms like "dibs," ESL learners can navigate social interactions more effectively and infuse their speech with native-like fluidity and personality.

Additional Resources

• Business English Episode:
  For listeners interested in expanding their professional vocabulary, Episode 376 titled "In Limbo at Work: How to Get Through It" is recommended.

• Podcast Community:
  Join the All Ears English community to engage with fellow learners and access a wealth of resources aimed at mastering American English.

Remember: Embrace connection over perfection as you experiment with these playful expressions to enrich your English-speaking experience!