
How to avoid being boring when you tell stories in English
Loading summary
Michelle Kaplan
This is an All Ears English podcast, episode 2416. Long story short, make sure you don't bore your friends in English.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Welcome to the All Ears English Podcast, downloaded more than 200 million times. Are you feeling stuck with your English? We'll show you how to become fearless and fluent by focusing on connection, not perfection, with your American hosts, Lynn Lindsey McMahon, the English adventurer, and Michelle Kaplan, the New York radio girl, coming to you from Colorado and New York City, usa. And to get your transcripts delivered by email every week, go to allearsenglish.com forward/subscribe. Do you like to tell stories? The one thing that will kill a story before it even gets started started is too many irrelevant details. Listen in today to find out how to use one elegant phrase to cut out the details and build the drama.
State Farm Ad
This episode is brought to you by State Farm.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Knowing you could be saving money for.
State Farm Ad
The things you really want is a great feeling. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can choose to bundle and save with the personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer, availability, amount of discounts, and savings and eligibility vary by state.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Hello there, Michelle. How's it going today? Are you a little tired? It sounds like you were up doing laundry late last night.
Michelle Kaplan
I was up doing laundry late last night. Basically I made a mistake and I put too big of a load in the washer and that was fine. But I put it in the dryer and and I didn't realize it didn't completely dry and I didn't check on it for like a day. And I went in last night and it just was smelled rancid. It was disgusting. And so long story short, I had to kind of use vinegar and then wash everything again and figure that whole thing out. So I didn't get to sleep until late. That was late.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
All right, so you had quite a dramatic night in the laundry room last night and I heard some really great bonus words in there. Rancid. A really good one. But what I want to highlight from what you just said is the phrase long story short. I love that. What are we getting into in today's episode for our listeners?
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, we're going to be talking about this expression and storytelling. We love to talk about storytelling on this show because that is one of the super, super, super keys to connection, in my opinion.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Yes, I completely agree. And with Aubrey on Allers English, we've been doing a series recently about how to be concise in English. So. But we didn't talk about this phrase. And it's actually a key piece of how to be concise.
Michelle Kaplan
It definitely is. And we're lucky because we got a listener question about this today and it's perfect for, you know, talking about storytelling. So this is from Catherine from Belarus. Okay. And it was through a five star review. Lindsay, would you like to read it?
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Catherine, thank you so much for your wonderful review. Guys, don't forget to review the podcast. All right, so Catherine says, definitely one of my favorites. And I think she's talking about the episode that she, that she rated or when she created the. The show. Dear hosts, I want to thank you for all the things your show is covering. Listening to you is not only extremely helpful in terms of grammar and vocabulary, but also amusing and energizing. Keep airing forever. That is so wonderful to get that comment from Catherine. Here's the question. My question is, I've recently found out about a phrase, long story short, which means, as I understand it, you getting straight to the core of the questions without any details. So am I right? And what can be other options to say the same way in. To say the same in a natural way. Thank you for all the brilliant work again, Katherine from Belarus. Well, thank you. Wonderful.
Michelle Kaplan
Thank you. Yeah, this is an awesome question. I'm excited to talk about this. Everybody can kind of relate to that moment when you're telling a story and you realize there's. You're in the middle. I mean, I, There were more. Way more details in my story, but I, it's not that you're going to be interested in every single detail, and not every single detail is important. And it's kind of that moment when you have that realization.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Right, exactly.
Michelle Kaplan
Okay.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
What kind of detergent I use and what kind of vinegar I used. And yeah, it's true. You don't want to get. Once you start to get bored with your own story, that's a sign that you should drop in this expression because other people, people are possibly getting bored. I wasn't bored with your story, though, Michelle. It was like a chaotic evening over in your residence there.
Michelle Kaplan
Yes, yes, exactly, exactly. So I mean, it just. Exactly. It's that moment where you realize, okay, I better, I better just wrap this up.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Get to the point. Right, get to the point. And you know, we've talked about this. We heard this in our professional English level one course. Some of the native speakers that I interviewed talked about meeting length, and that's not storytelling. But there is something about. You have people's attention, it is valuable. Right. And so keep it short. Just let them know what they need to know. And you're building the story at the beginning and the end, right? It's more about setting the scene of the story. We don't need all the details, Right?
Michelle Kaplan
Yes, exactly. So. And you know, it can be used when you, I mean, maybe you just don't have a lot of time. You don't want to go through all the details. And sometimes you might anticipate needing this phrase. Right. So you might know, okay, I'm about to tell this story. I mean, even for me, I. I'm realizing, okay, I'm gonna tell this story. This is kind of a. It's not that interesting of a story. It's just kind of chaotic. But I might know. I'm gonna cut out some details. But again, sometimes it's just in that moment. Okay, whoa, whoa, whoa. Why am I telling, you know, about the fabric softener, you know, and.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Exactly, exactly. So it can either be pre planned and you intend to use it, or you can throw it in when you start to realize, okay, you've far. It's time to rescue the story and pull it back. Right? Yeah. Do we have a role play to show some examples?
Michelle Kaplan
Well, we're going to do a couple examples actually. So here, you want to go for the first one.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Here's the first example. So there we were at the top of the hill and I could see all the beautiful trees. It was just gorgeous. Anyway, long story short, we made it down just fine and I have great pictures to keep forever.
Michelle Kaplan
Nice.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Yes.
Michelle Kaplan
I gave you a nature one.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Yeah. So here I'm probably hiking, right. And I don't need to describe all the leaves and the trees. The point is what happened at the end. It's like people want to know what happened at the end. Did I make it down? Right.
Michelle Kaplan
And I guess you did because you're telling the story. But yeah, it's just, it's almost like in this moment you're kind of seeing what you're saying, Right. So there we were at the top of the hill and I could see all the beautiful trees. It's almost like I get the sense that you're seeing them in your mind now and you're saying it was just gord gorgeous. And then you kind of have this moment of, okay, let me snap out of it. Right. You kind of get lost in your own, your own story. Does that make sense?
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Ah, that makes sense. Yeah. I like that. I like that. And it's good to get in Some ways it's good to get lost in your own story, as long as you keep your finger on the pulse of. Of who you're talking to.
Michelle Kaplan
Right, right, right. So here's another example. It wasn't a big deal. Long story short, Harper wanted the keys to the car, and I said no, and there was a fight, but it's fine.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Exactly. And then, Michelle, what. What are some other times when we might use this?
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah. I mean, because sometimes it's not even for particular stories. It's more. It could just be for sharing details, directions, results. Right. It doesn't have to. It doesn't always have to be for, oh, let me tell you the story about my laundry, or, let me tell you the story about my vacation. It can just be for something basic where, you know, there's a lot of details. So it doesn't have to be a story story. And I think that's important.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Yeah. And here are some examples. So this is not a story at all. This is about our finances. Right. It's a lot to digest. But long story short, we exceeded our goal for this quarter and can start to look ahead to next quarter. Yeah. So this is not like a storytelling campfire situation.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, right.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Right. This is probably a team meeting or a. A update, a sync, a. A daily standup or something, Right?
Michelle Kaplan
Exactly. Yes, exactly. Because it's something where there's a lot of information but you're not going to go through. It's signaling we're not going to go through all the details. Right. So. Exactly. Here's another one. So there's a few keys you need to keep track of while I'm away. Long story short, the gold. Oh, sorry. I was thinking. Yeah. That's what. I'm gonna start over. Okay.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Okay.
Michelle Kaplan
There's a few keys you need to keep track of while I'm away. Long story short, the gold ones are important, and the other ones you can leave to the side.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Okay. Nice. Yes. Okay. So giving instructions, kind of. Right. You're giving instructions to someone who's going to take care of your house when you're gone, maybe.
Michelle Kaplan
Right, right, right. So it's like I. I'm imagining I have this thing of keys and there's a bunch of them on there. And I, I, Yeah, I could go over it and say, oh, the silver one is for this. Right, right.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
And all these other things, but you don't need that information. Right, right.
Michelle Kaplan
So. And sometimes people say long story short, but sometimes they might say the full version. Which is what, Lindsay?
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
The full version of this Phrase is to make a long story short. And I also hear sometimes. Do you ever hear take off the two, make a long story short, blah, blah, blah. I, I feel like I do, but I think it's much more common to just say long story short.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, that's. To me, I don't, I don't hear the. That other way necessarily, but I might hear to make a long story short maybe at the end. Right. So. And blah, blah, blah, blah. Yeah. To make a long story short.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Interesting.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, like that. It's like, it's kind of. Okay, you, you've said this. You realize you left out some details, so you might just say, yeah, and, and I'm just really tired today. To make a long story short.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Right, right.
Michelle Kaplan
But you wouldn't. Yeah. The other one is more for introducing it. Long story short. Da da da da da.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Love it.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
And there's no rule against putting at the end of your story as, as Michelle said. So we can be creative with this and we just want to remember the point. It's, it's about the connection skill here. And the connection skill is shortening your story so you don't bore people. And again, guys, check out our series on how to be concise in English. The three part series Aubry and I are doing right now. All right, we'll take a quick break and then we'll get back with some other alternatives. Michelle. All right. Okay, close your eyes.
Michelle Kaplan
Exhale. Feel your body relax and let go of whatever you're carrying today. Well, I'm letting go of the worry that I wouldn't get my new contacts in time for this class. I got them delivered free from 1-800-contacts. Oh my gosh, they're so fast. And breathe. Oh, sorry. I almost couldn't breathe when I saw the discount they gave me on my first order. Oh, sorry. Namaste.
State Farm Ad
Visit 1-800-contacts.com today to save on your first order.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
1-800-Contacts.
Michelle Kaplan
Contacts.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Okay, we are back. So there are other ways we can say this. If we're telling a story and we're noticing, maybe we're getting bored. Maybe we're giving too many details. Yeah. Or the audience is getting bored. What could we say, Michelle?
Michelle Kaplan
Okay, so the first one you could say is I'll get to the point. Right. So the thunder was crazy and I couldn't see where I was going. But I'll get to the point. We made a home safe, but our clothes are soaked.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Nice. I like it. But I don't like it as much as long story short.
Michelle Kaplan
Right, right. Exactly. Yeah. These are. These are all. So what about this one, Lindsay? How about. How do you like this one?
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
This next one.
Michelle Kaplan
Okay. What is it?
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
This one. I'll cut to the chase. I would give this an okay rating. It's okay. I don't mind it. So. Ah, I don't mind it. Here we go. Here's a sample sentence. I know there's a lot to learn here, but I'll cut to the chase. I will always be here for you to ask questions, and I completely know what to do here, so don't worry. Okay. Whoa. We're doing something. Maybe operating heavy machinery or something. Sounds like a serious thing going on. Right?
Michelle Kaplan
So cut to the chase means get to the most important part. Yes. Or then there's. In a nutshell, which I believe we've talked about a little bit before, but let's mention this one. So in a nutshell, she made it to school, but she doesn't have her school project with her, and we need to drop it off. So I'm. You imagine it was a crazy morning and everything was nuts, but everything was fine. So I'm not gonna go over the details.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Yes, exactly. And I hear this more. I hear this a lot. In a nutshell. It's so funny. You think of a little nuts, like a shell, right? Like, what is it, like a walnut shell or something covering the walnut.
Michelle Kaplan
And I think of a peanut. I don't know, that's just in my peanut.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Okay. So like this, meaning the. The skin of the peanut. That kind of the shell.
Michelle Kaplan
You know, when it's in the shell and you have to, like, break it open.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Of course. Of course. Yeah. Except at the ball games. Baseball games. Exactly. Yeah. The traditions. We love it. All right. And then some people sometimes might say other things. For example, they might say, I won't bore you with all the details. Right. But here are some details.
Michelle Kaplan
Right, right, right, right, right. So I won't bore you with all the details of my trip, but I do have pictures to show you.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Lindsay, we've talked about this before on the show. Michelle, should you break out pictures?
Michelle Kaplan
You know, do you like looking at other people's pictures from their trips?
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
A very limited number. Give me three max. You know, I think we had this conversation years ago on the podcast. Yeah. What are the cues? When, you know, you should maybe break out the album or put it away. You got to be careful there, for sure.
Michelle Kaplan
Yes, yes, yes, exactly. So. But yeah, this is all just so huge for connection. It signals what you're about to say or that you're kind of wrapping something up. So it. It lets the listener know what's coming up. And it also, to me, it shows that you're kind of emotionally intelligent. You're thinking about what can be cut out to keep things short. You're thinking. You're respecting the other person's time. You're showing that you want to hear from them as well. You're not just gonna occupy the whole conversation. So there's so much here.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Yeah. I mean, a conversation should be like ping pong back and forth or tennis.
Michelle Kaplan
Right?
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Back and forth and back and forth. It shouldn't be one person doing a monologue. That is so incredible. But unfortunately, some people do. They go off and go off, and they're very long winded, which is a word we learned on the other episode in the series. So, Michelle, let's go into a role play. Are you ready?
Michelle Kaplan
All right, let's do it. So we're not going to use all of these, but we'll. We'll give you an idea. So here we go. I went on vacation, and I'm telling you about it.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Okay, here we go.
Michelle Kaplan
All right. It was incredible. Lindsay, you know, I won't bore you with all the details, but I can show you my album. Sure.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
That's great.
Michelle Kaplan
Okay. So here we are on our hike. It was so beautiful. The leaves were turning brown and. But then it got crazy. Long story short, we totally got rained on.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Oh, no. What did you do?
Michelle Kaplan
Well, we had to go back to the hotel. The staff was so friendly and helpful, but our bags were lost.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
No.
Michelle Kaplan
Yes. Anyway, I'll cut to the chase in a nutshell. The hotel ordered us clothes to wear for the day. They were incredible.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Oh, wow. Lucky you. Great hotel. All right, so you had a story. You had photos, right? The photos came out.
Michelle Kaplan
Yes. And.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
But you did do some important things to kind of keep me engaged. Right. It was really a back and forth. It wasn't a monologue about your trip, right?
Michelle Kaplan
Yes, exactly. So the first thing I said was, I won't bore you with all the details, but I can show you my album.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Yes, exactly. I won't bore you with all the details. And then you break out the album. And then you said, okay, so here we are in our hike. It was so beautiful. The leaves were turning brown. But then it got crazy. Long story short, we totally got rained on.
Michelle Kaplan
Yep.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
You could have said more things. You could have said, oh, and we saw the clouds approaching, but we didn't think it was gonna rain because the forecast had said it wouldn't rain. You could have gone on and on and on. Right, right, right.
Michelle Kaplan
Oh, and I had checked the weather. I had checked it and I thought. So I. Yeah, yeah.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
That's the part that you cut out and that's where long story short comes in so beautifully. Right?
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah. And then I said, anyway, oh, and then we have this fun moment which is pretty common in conversations, right. Where you say no and I say.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Yes, yes, we, and we've talked about this before on the podcast, but maybe it's time to revisit that on another episode, Michelle, that would be kind of. Yeah, I think.
Michelle Kaplan
Yes, exactly. And then I said, anyway, I'll cut to the chase.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Yeah.
Michelle Kaplan
And then I used, in a nutshell, the hotel ordered us close. So I don't need to, I didn't need to use both of those, but sprinkled it in.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Yeah, you, you may have cut out details of. Oh, we filled out a form with the hotel and they used our, our security deposit to buy us. No, we don't care about all that. The hotel ordered us close. Right. That's all there was to it. Yes.
Michelle Kaplan
Love it. Exactly. Perfect. So, yeah. Lindsay, what's another episode that our listeners could check out to learn more fun things?
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Well, I've mentioned a couple times the three part series on being concise that we did just in the past few weeks. So go check out those episodes. And then episode 2376, how to pick the preposition during, since or for, would be a great one because in any time, at any time you're telling stories, you're going to be using prepositions, right, Michelle?
Michelle Kaplan
Exactly. So go over there to review and learn those. So takeaway for today, Lindsay? Yeah, yeah. I think to me it's have your own ears open when you're telling a story. Right. Don't just be spitting it out. Listen to yourself and consider the flow of the conversation.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Yeah, I mean, stories, connection is built around stories, right? That's when we learn about people's quirks, about their lifestyle, about how they handle crazy situations, scary, different kinds of situations. But they don't need all the details. Okay? So monitor your audience, monitor yourself and drop in this phrase, long story short, to, you know, let your listeners go on with their day, let your audience kind of go on and then let them. And then make it more of a back and forth. They can ask you follow up questions. That's ideal, right? That's better.
Michelle Kaplan
That's a good point. That's a good point. I'm glad you brought that up. So let them ask you. Right. And make, make it a little bit mysterious. Oh, and then. Right. So. And then you'll know what they're really interested in. So you're not going to bore them. All right, Lindsay. All right, Michelle, long story short, I think it's time that we go.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
That sounds good, Michelle. You have a good day. I'll talk to soon.
Michelle Kaplan
All right. Bye.
Lynn Lindsey McMahon
Bye. Thanks for listening to Allears English. Would you like to know your English level? Take our two minute quiz. Go to allearsenglish.com forward/fluencyscore and if you believe in connection, not perfection, then hit subscribe now to make sure you don't miss anything. See you next time.
State Farm Ad
We all know that owning a small business means you wear many hats, but sometimes you really need an extra pair of hands. Upwork is how good companies find great and trusted freelance talent with more than two decades of experience with the simple and ambitious goal of pioneering a better way of working, companies at every stage turn to upwork to get things done and find more flexibility in staffing key projects and initiatives. They access a global marketplace filled with top talent in it, web, dev marketing and more. Posting a job on upwork is easy with no cost. To join, you can register, browse freelancer profiles and get help drafting a job post or even book a consultation. From there, you connect with freelancers that get you and can easily hire them and take your business to the next level. Visit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free. That's Upwork.com to post your job for free and connect with top talent ready to help your business grow. That's up w o r k.com upwork.com.
All Ears English Podcast: Episode 2416 – "Long Story Short! Make Sure You Don't Bore Your Friends in English"
Release Date: May 28, 2025
In Episode 2416 of the All Ears English Podcast, hosts Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan delve into effective storytelling techniques in English, focusing on how to keep conversations engaging and avoid boring listeners with unnecessary details. This episode, titled "Long Story Short! Make Sure You Don't Bore Your Friends in English," is particularly beneficial for intermediate to advanced English learners aiming to enhance their conversational skills and build meaningful connections.
The episode kicks off with Michelle Kaplan sharing a personal anecdote about a laundry mishap, highlighting the natural tendency to include excessive details in stories:
Michelle Kaplan [01:47]: "I was up doing laundry late last night... it just was smelled rancid. It was disgusting."
Lindsay McMahon emphasizes the importance of being concise to maintain listeners' interest:
Lindsay McMahon [05:04]: "Right, exactly, exactly. So it can either be pre-planned... or you can throw it in when you start to realize, okay, you've gone too far."
The hosts address a listener question from Catherine in Belarus, who inquires about the phrase "long story short" and seeks alternative expressions. This leads to an in-depth discussion on the significance of concise storytelling:
Catherine [03:19]: "I've recently found out about a phrase, long story short, which means... you getting straight to the core of the questions without any details."
Michelle Kaplan elaborates on the moments when one might realize the need to shorten a story:
Michelle Kaplan [04:14]: "Everybody can relate to that moment when you're telling a story and you realize there's... you're going to be interested in every single detail, and not every single detail is important."
To illustrate the use of "long story short," Lindsay and Michelle engage in role-plays, showcasing how to trim down narratives without losing essential information.
Example 1: Hiking Story
Lindsay McMahon [06:35]: "Here's the first example... It was just gorgeous. Anyway, long story short, we made it down just fine and I have great pictures to keep forever."
Michelle Kaplan reflects on maintaining engagement by focusing on the story's conclusion rather than its buildup:
Michelle Kaplan [07:09]: "It's almost like in this moment you're kind of seeing what you're saying... you get lost in your own story."
Example 2: Minor Conflict with a Friend
Michelle Kaplan [07:54]: "It wasn't a big deal. Long story short, Harper wanted the keys to the car, and I said no, and there was a fight, but it's fine."
Beyond "long story short," the hosts introduce alternative expressions that serve the same purpose of brevity:
"I'll get to the point."
Michelle Kaplan [11:53]: "So the thunder was crazy and I couldn't see where I was going. But I'll get to the point..."
"I'll cut to the chase."
Lindsay McMahon [12:16]: "I'll cut to the chase. I will always be here for you to ask questions..."
"In a nutshell."
Michelle Kaplan [12:43]: "In a nutshell, she made it to school, but she doesn't have her school project with her..."
These alternatives help diversify language use and keep conversations dynamic.
Lindsay and Michelle underscore that being concise isn't just about saving time; it's a crucial connection skill. By avoiding unnecessary details, speakers show respect for their listeners' time and maintain mutual interest:
Michelle Kaplan [14:06]: "It lets the listener know what's coming up. And it also... shows that you're respecting the other person's time."
Lindsay McMahon [14:52]: "A conversation should be like ping pong back and forth or tennis. It shouldn't be one person doing a monologue."
To cement the concepts discussed, Lindsay and Michelle perform a role-play where they narrate a vacation story using the techniques of brevity:
Michelle Kaplan [15:22]: "I went on vacation, and I'm telling you about it... I won't bore you with all the details, but I can show you my album."
Lindsay McMahon [16:44]: "You could have said more things... that's the part that you cut out and that's where 'long story short' comes in so beautifully."
This exercise highlights how to balance storytelling with conciseness effectively.
As the episode wraps up, Lindsay and Michelle offer actionable advice for listeners:
Listen to Yourself: Be mindful of how you're telling stories and adjust accordingly.
Michelle Kaplan [18:42]: "Have your ears open when you're telling a story. Don't just be spitting it out."
Monitor Your Audience: Pay attention to listeners' reactions to gauge if you need to shorten your narrative.
Lindsay McMahon [19:15]: "Monitor your audience and make it more of a back and forth. They can ask you follow-up questions."
Explore Further Learning: They recommend previous episodes, such as the three-part series on being concise and episode 2376 on prepositions, to deepen understanding.
Episode 2416 of the All Ears English Podcast provides valuable insights into the art of concise storytelling in English. By utilizing phrases like "long story short" and its alternatives, learners can enhance their conversational skills, ensuring their stories are engaging and respectful of their listeners' attention. Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan adeptly combine theory with practical examples, making this episode a must-listen for anyone looking to improve their English communication and build stronger connections.
Additional Resources:
Three-Part Series on Being Concise in English: Enhance your ability to communicate effectively without unnecessary verbosity.
Episode 2376 – "How to Pick the Right Preposition": A deep dive into using prepositions accurately during storytelling.
Remember: Connection, not perfection, is the key to fluent and engaging English conversations!