AEE 2430: Study Up On This Impressive Vocabulary

Summary

All Ears English Podcast: Episode 2430 – "Study Up On This Impressive Vocabulary"

Release Date: June 23, 2025

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Introduction

In Episode 2430 of the All Ears English Podcast, hosts Aubrey Carter and Lindsey McMahon delve into the intricate world of English vocabulary related to studying and learning. Aimed at intermediate to advanced English learners, this episode unpacks commonly used phrases and idioms that learners often encounter in academic and professional settings. By dissecting expressions like "hit the books," "study up on," and "cram," the hosts provide listeners with a clearer understanding of when and how to use these terms effectively.

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Listener Engagement: Understanding Idiomatic Expressions

The episode kicks off with a listener question from Yget Kirkhan regarding the phrase "hit the books." Lindsey introduces the query:

[03:28] Lindsey McMahon: "The other day while I was talking to a friend from the U.S. I mentioned that I had to study a lot that night and didn't have much time. She replied, 'So you'll hit the books.' Which I find quite funny and interesting. It's a phrase I hadn't heard before."

Aubrey responds by breaking down the idiom:

[03:56] Aubrey Carter: "Yeah, he's not literally hitting a book. It means he's studying. It's a funny way to say it. It's a very idiomatic."

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Dissecting "Hit the Books"

The hosts explore the nuances of the phrase "hit the books," emphasizing its specific usage in academic contexts.

• Definition and Usage

  [04:41] Aubrey Carter: "What does it mean first? Yeah, it means studying. It's very specific to school work. Right. If you are in classes, college, high school, and you have to study for an exam, you would say, 'I'm gonna hit the books.'"

• Contextual Examples

  [05:01] Lindsey McMahon: "Yeah, okay, good stuff. I need to hit the books. I have an exam tomorrow, for example. Or again, he can't come to dinner. He's hitting the books tonight."

• Specificity to Academic Settings

  [05:40] Aubrey Carter: "Exactly. Yeah. So where I said, have you read up on anything lately? That's because I know you're not in school. If I knew you were registered, you know, if you were doing a PhD I might say, 'Have you been hitting the books lately?' But where I know you're not, I would say, 'Have you been reading up on anything?'"

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Exploring "Study Up On" vs. "Read Up On"

The conversation transitions to differentiate between "study up on" and "read up on," providing clarity on their interchangeable and distinct uses.

• "Study Up On"

  [06:16] Aubrey Carter: "Right. You're reading up on it. That might be perfect for our next phrase. Here we say 'study up on.' This is more flexible. This means we're studying or researching anything. So you are studying up on AI."

  [07:03] Aubrey Carter: "Yeah, these can be pretty synonymous, right? If you could say you're reading up on AI if you are reading a lot about it, reading articles, if you're reading the news. Right. This, if you study up on, is more for something you're really researching, diving into trying to study, study about."

• "Read Up On"

  [07:25] Lindsey McMahon: "It's a little more narrow. Right. Maybe the umbrella term is 'study up on,' which you could be reading up on it, but you also could be, I don't know, taking quizzes or something."

  [07:46] Lindsey McMahon: "I need to read up on AI. I feel like there's a lot I don't know about it. Right."

The distinctions highlight that "study up on" encompasses a broader range of learning activities, including interactive methods, whereas "read up on" is primarily about consuming written material.

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Understanding "Cram" in Academic Contexts

The episode further delves into the term "cram," exploring its implications and appropriate contexts.

• Definition and Personal Anecdotes

  [08:06] Aubrey Carter: "Yes, absolutely. I was really bad at procrastinating, and then the night before an exam, I'd be up all night long cramming."

  [08:25] Aubrey Carter: "Exactly right. This just means to study a lot at once, usually after procrastinating."

• Application Beyond School

  [08:49] Lindsey McMahon: "I think it's important, though, because cramming is just about the act of getting information into your brain. So if you're cramming to get the info in your brain to then present it, that works. But if you're exactly right, hustling on the presentation, that would be another verb."

  [09:05] Aubrey Carter: "Right. But this. If there's a bunch you have to read before you create the slides. Yes. There's a... You could cramming last minute for that."

The discussion emphasizes that "cram" is specifically associated with intense, last-minute studying, often as a result of procrastination, and is typically used within academic environments.

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Role Play: Demonstrating Usage

To solidify understanding, Aubrey and Lindsey engage in a role-play scenario that exemplifies the use of the discussed phrases.

• Scenario Overview

  [11:12] Lindsey McMahon: "A few of us are hitting the books at a study session tonight, if you want to come."

  [11:16] Aubrey Carter: "Oh, thanks. I might take you up on that. I've got some serious cramming to do."

• Discussion Post-Role Play

  [12:17] Aubrey Carter: "This implies that I am really researching. I'm studying, I'm looking at studies... I'm diving into the material more to understand something rather than just reading articles, for example."

  [13:13] Lindsey McMahon: "It's kind of like when you write a paper, like you write a master's thesis or a PhD, you do a literature review... You have to do that whole process where you review what's already been written."

The role play effectively showcases the contextual application of "hit the books" and "cram," reinforcing the earlier explanations.

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Key Insights and Takeaways

1. Context Matters: Phrases like "hit the books" and "cram" are deeply rooted in academic contexts. Using them outside these settings can lead to confusion or misinterpretation.

2. Nuanced Differences: While "study up on" and "read up on" are often used interchangeably, subtle differences exist. "Study up on" is more encompassing, referring to a broader range of learning activities, whereas "read up on" is more specific to reading.

3. Lifelong Learning: The hosts emphasize the importance of being lifelong learners, encouraging listeners to continuously engage with new information and expand their knowledge base.

   [14:06] Aubrey Carter: "Yes, absolutely. We should all be lifelong learners, right? I know you guys are curious about the world. There's certainly something you are studying up on, reading up on."

4. Avoiding Miscommunication: Understanding these phrases helps prevent miscommunications, especially in professional settings where non-academic studying might be involved.

   [14:33] Lindsey McMahon: "Yeah. But keep in mind, if you're a professional and you're in like night school, you could hit the books. As long as you're enrolled in a formal academic endeavor."

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Conclusion

Episode 2430 of the All Ears English Podcast serves as a comprehensive guide for English learners aiming to master academic and professional vocabulary related to studying and learning. Through engaging discussions, real-life examples, and role-play scenarios, hosts Aubrey Carter and Lindsey McMahon equip listeners with the tools to use these phrases confidently and appropriately. Emphasizing the significance of context and the nuances between similar expressions, the episode fosters a deeper understanding of English idioms, ultimately aiding learners in achieving greater fluency and cultural competence.

For more enriching content and to continue your journey towards English fluency, subscribe to the All Ears English Podcast and join a community dedicated to connection over perfection.

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Notable Quotes

• Lindsey McMahon on the idiom "hit the books":

  [03:56] "Yeah, he's not literally hitting a book. It means he's studying. It's a funny way to say it. It's a very idiomatic."

• Aubrey Carter differentiating "study up on" and "read up on":

  [07:03] "Yeah, these can be pretty synonymous, right? If you could say you're reading up on AI if you are reading a lot about it, reading articles, if you're reading the news. Right. This, if you study up on, is more for something you're really researching, diving into trying to study, study about."

• Aubrey Carter emphasizing lifelong learning:

  [14:06] "Yes, absolutely. We should all be lifelong learners, right? I know you guys are curious about the world."

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Further Resources

• Visit AllEarsEnglish.com: To access transcripts, subscribe for more episodes, and engage with a community of fellow English learners.

• Take the Fluency Quiz: Discover your English level by taking a quick two-minute quiz at allearsenglish.com/fluency-score.

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Connection NOT Perfection – Embrace the journey to English fluency with All Ears English!

Transcript

[Aubrey Carter]

This is an Allers English podcast, episode 2430. Study up on this impressive vocabulary.

[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 host, Aubrey Carter, the IELTS whiz and Lindsey McMahon, the English adventurer, coming to you from Arizona and Colorado, usa. And to get your transcripts delivered by email every week, go to allearsenglish.com subscribe part of leading a vibrant life is continuing to learn. But not all study terms can be used for everyone today at 4 Ways to Talk About Learning and Studying in English.

[Aubrey Carter]

Do you understand English but struggle to speak confidently in real conversations? If so, then our B2 speaking skills course is made for you. You learn from real recorded conversations with native speakers. Plus we've added brand new AI speaking exercises that give you instant feedback on your fluency pronunciation. Stop translating in your head and start speaking naturally through real conversations and instant feedback. Save up to $50 off the normal price. Plus get a free bonus course at allearsenglish.com B2 but offer ends June 29th at midnight. Allersenglish.com Letter B Number 2.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Hey there, Aubry. How's it going today?

[Aubrey Carter]

I am excellent, Lindsay. I have a question for you.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Sure.

[Aubrey Carter]

Have you read up on anything interesting lately?

[Lindsey McMahon]

That's a good question, because my first thought is I, you know, I started a new book, but that doesn't really answer the question you're asking me. Have you read up on anything?

[Aubrey Carter]

And so this couldn't be like reading a novel, right?

[Lindsey McMahon]

No, it doesn't really answer the question. So yeah, I'm always reading up on the news, Aubry, keeping keeping up to date on what's happening.

[Aubrey Carter]

Okay, nice. Perfect. I started reading. I know there's this kind of trendy popular theory. Mel Robbins wrote this book, the Let Them theory, and my brother was really excited about it. So I started reading up on that theory and sort of anything related. So yeah, I've been reading up on the Let them theory. Had you heard of it? Lindsay?

[Lindsey McMahon]

I've heard of it, but I don't know what it is. Real quick, what is it?

[Aubrey Carter]

Just like, instead of trying to change people's minds or control, just let them. Right. Whatever they're going to do, let them do it. Don't let it affect your attitude or your happiness. Right. But it definitely goes into it more because, you know, sometimes you. And there's also like, let me. Okay, okay, I'll let You. But also, I need to let me do things that will help me reach my goals. Right, Got it.

[Lindsey McMahon]

All right, I'll have to check. I'll have to read up on that. Aubrey. I'll have to read it.

[Aubrey Carter]

There you go. Something to read up on. This is interesting. This phrase came up. We had a great question and we're sharing some related phrases. Do you want to read the today's question for us?

[Lindsey McMahon]

This question came in from Yget Kirkhan and ye get says. The other day while I was talking to a friend from the U.S. i mentioned that I had to study a lot that night and didn't have much time. She replied, so you'll hit the books. Which I find quite funny and interesting. It's a phrase I hadn't heard before. That's why I thought this might be an idea for your podcast. By the way, I recently discovered your podcast and I really enjoy listening to it. Oh, that's great to know, Aubry.

[Aubrey Carter]

Yes. Awesome. And I can totally see why this would seem like a really funny expression, because usually a hit is like a punch or maybe you hit something with your car. So it seems weird that there's this idiom, hit the book. So you imagine someone literally hitting a book. It does.

[Lindsey McMahon]

It means totally agree. It's very strange. It's totally counterintuitive. And we'll get into it today. But first, guys, go ahead and hit this follow button. Hit that follow button. If you just found the show, maybe your friend recommended it to you. Make sure you're following the show so you get new episodes five days a week. Okay.

[Aubrey Carter]

And I see what you did there. Hit the follow button like you hit the books. It's funny how often you spit when you don't really mean to hit anything.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Very interesting. Good stuff. So, yeah, let's talk about this phrase, Aubry, hit the books.

[Aubrey Carter]

What does it mean first? Yeah, it means studying. It's very specific to school work. Right. If you are in classes, college, high school, and you have to study for an exam, you would say, I'm gonna hit the books. If you're studying for the bar, Right. For big exams, all that type of test, that's when we'd say, I'm gonna hit the books. If you just need to study a lot.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah, okay, good stuff. I need to hit the books. I have an exam tomorrow, for example. Or again, he can't come to dinner. He's hitting the books tonight.

[Aubrey Carter]

Yeah. What's interesting. Yeah, he's not literally hitting a book. It means he's studying. It's a funny way to say it. It's a very idiomatic.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Exactly.

[Aubrey Carter]

But it's interesting to think about, you know, Would you ever say this about work? Maybe. If you had to read a lot of manuals or read some instructions, would you say, I'm going to hit the books?

[Lindsey McMahon]

It's a good question. You really wouldn't. This is especially reserved for being a student in school. Even if you're a professional and you do study things, you're. It's just. It just means you're in school. Hit the book.

[Aubrey Carter]

Exactly. Yeah. So where I said, have you read up on anything lately? That's because I know you're not in school. If I knew you were registered, you know, if you were doing a PhD I made might say, have you been hitting the books lately? But where I know you're not, I would say, have you been reading up on anything? Because we still study. We still research when we're not enrolled in school, but we don't hit the books.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Very interesting. Yeah. I mean, I'm taking an online course on Coursera right now. Multiple ones about AI, you know, how to prompt AI, how to do it, and that I still wouldn't say I'm hitting the books when it comes to AI. No, it doesn't work, Aubrey. It's a very narrow phrase.

[Aubrey Carter]

Right. You're reading up on it. That might be perfect for our next phrase. Here we say study up on. This is more flexible. This means we're studying or researching anything. So you are studying up on AI.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah. For example, here are some sample sentences. I don't know much about that politician's views. I need to study up on it. Yeah. So you might do this before a big election if you're not really tuned in all the time.

[Aubrey Carter]

You need to study up on studying up on emotional intelligence. I've been studying up on the let them theory. Right. So this, you don't have to be officially enrolled in any schooling. Anything you're researching or studying about. You could use this.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yes. I love it. And then we move on to read up on. Now, Aubry, what is the difference between study up on and read up on?

[Aubrey Carter]

Yeah, these can be pretty synonymous, right? If you. You could say you're reading up on AI if you are reading a lot about it, reading articles, if you're reading the news. Right. This, if you study up on, is more for something you're really researching, diving into trying to study, study about. Whereas read up on just means you're reading a lot about it.

[Lindsey McMahon]

It's a Little more narrow. Right. Maybe the umbrella term is study up, on which you could be reading up on it, but you also could be, I don't know, taking quizzes or something.

[Aubrey Carter]

Exactly right. Whereas if you're just reading a lot about it, then you wouldn't say study up on just reading it. Reading up on it. For example, she's been reading up on emotional intelligence. Right. Same thing. This just means maybe she's reading a lot of articles.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Oh, and here we have an AI example. Love it. I need to read up on AI. I feel like there's a lot I don't know about it. Right.

[Aubrey Carter]

Yeah. So these are pretty interchangeable, pretty synonymous. Just anything you're reading a lot about, studying about, researching online, maybe.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah. And I like the next one. Aubrey, did you used to cram for tests?

[Aubrey Carter]

Yes, absolutely. I was really bad at procrastinating, and then the night before an exam, I'd be up all night long cramming.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah, it's so. It's so bad. It's a common habit of high school kids. Right. They don't pay attention during the semester. And then the night before, we have to jam everything in our brains, and then we let it all out after we take the test.

[Aubrey Carter]

Exactly right. This just means to study a lot at once, usually after procrastinating. But this is a little more flexible. Right. Hitting the books is just about like schooling. If you also are supposed to give a presentation at work and you procrastinate it, then you could say, I'm gonna have to cram tonight. There's a lot I have to learn before I write slides, for example, something you're doing last minute.

[Lindsey McMahon]

I think it's important, though, because cramming is just. Is about the act of getting information into your brain. So if you're cramming to get the info in your brain to then present it, that works. But if you're exactly right, hustling on the presentation, that would be another verb. Right, Aubrey?

[Aubrey Carter]

Right. But this. If you. If there's a bunch you have to read before you create the slides. Yes. There's a. You could. You could cram last minute for that. Yeah.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yep. Yep. Really important to know that difference. There. Good. I'll take a quick break and then we'll be back.

[Aubrey Carter]

All right.

[Lindsey McMahon]

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[Aubrey Carter]

All right. You want to start us out?

[Lindsey McMahon]

A few of us are hitting the books at a study session tonight, if you want to come.

[Aubrey Carter]

Oh, thanks. I might take you up on that. I've got some serious cramming to do.

[Lindsey McMahon]

What are you writing your thesis on?

[Aubrey Carter]

Gender identity? I've been studying up on how much one's gender affects their sense of self.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Interesting. There's definitely something. That's definitely something I'd like to read up on. Can I read your paper when it's finished?

[Aubrey Carter]

Absolutely.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Nice, Nice, nice.

[Aubrey Carter]

So I definitely had to make us students here so that we could use hitting the books. Oh.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yep. And that proves it, right? It just doesn't apply unless you're a student in a. In a program.

[Aubrey Carter]

Exactly. So you started us out by saying a few of us are hitting the books at a study session tonight. So you were inviting me just meaning we're going to study together.

[Lindsey McMahon]

And then you said, thanks. I might take you up on that. I've got some serious cramming to do. So you need to jam all this information into your head.

[Aubrey Carter]

Exactly. I probably have been procrastinating. I'm not like, I'm good. I'm ready. I've been studying. No, I've got some cramming to do.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Oh, my God. Did you used to get nervous, Aubrey, for tests before you would take them in school?

[Aubrey Carter]

Absolutely, yes. I remember the most nervous I ever was. Someone told me they had taken the class before and they Said, if you're confident with your grade, this teacher doesn't make you take the final. He says, go, you. You know, you. You don't have to take it. So I didn't study at all, and I went the last day, but I was like, what if that student was wrong? And I find out I have to take the final? I hadn't studied at all. But then he was right. He was like, oh, great. You don't have to take it. I saved all that time. I was so happy.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Oh, my gosh. Rumors, right? Good thing it was true. Good thing it was true.

[Aubrey Carter]

I know, right? Because I. I risked it there. It was kind of a gamble.

[Lindsey McMahon]

It was risky. Yeah. Gamble. All right, what did you say next, Aubrey?

[Aubrey Carter]

All right, so then you were asking what I'm writing my thesis on, and I. Let's see. You said, that's definitely something I'd like to read up on. So. Oh, before that, you said. I said I've been studying up on how much one's gender affects their sense of self. So this is interesting. It is. There is a little bit of a nuance here.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah.

[Aubrey Carter]

This implies that I am really researching. I'm studying, I'm looking at studies. Case studies, maybe. Right. I'm diving into the material more to understand something rather than just reading articles, for example.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah. It's kind of like when you write a paper, like you write a master's thesis or a PhD, you do a literature review. Right. You have to do that whole process where you review what's already been written. That would be a context to use, setting up on.

[Aubrey Carter]

Right, Right. You might even be creating studies, surveys, and having to get input that way. Right. Whereas read up on is what you said next. And that would just mean more like, I would like to read a lot about that. You said, that's definitely something I'd like to read up on.

[Lindsey McMahon]

All right. Excellent. Aubry. Where should we leave our listeners for today's episode? I like this theme, the theme of these words, because it's about staying up to date on things. It's about lifelong learning in a sense, isn't it?

[Aubrey Carter]

Yes, absolutely. We should all be lifelong learners, right? I know you guys are curious about the world. There's certainly something you are studying up on, reading up on. And I'm also glad to be that really grateful for this question because you could see how this would be confusing. You might accidentally ask someone at work if they're hitting the books when you know they're. They need to read a lot for a project. So it's good to know that that's very specific to studies schooling that you would be enrolled in.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Yeah. But keep in mind, if you're a professional and you're in like night school, you could hit the books. Right? That's the other piece. As long as you're enrolled in a formal academic endeavor. That's the difference with hit the books, I think. Aubry. Yeah.

[Aubrey Carter]

Yes, exactly. And then for everything else, you can study up on it. We're reading up on it as we continue to. Yeah. Be lifelong learners.

[Lindsey McMahon]

You got it. All right, good stuff, guys. Hit the follow button if you want to be a lifelong learner with us. With all ears English right here. And Aubry, I'll see you back here very soon.

[Aubrey Carter]

Awesome. See you next time.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Good stuff.

[Aubrey Carter]

Bye bye.

[Lindsey McMahon]

Thanks for listening. To all ears English. Would you like to know your English level? Take our two minute quiz. Go to allearsenglish.com forward/fluency score. And if you believe in connection, not perfection, then hit subscribe now to make sure you don't miss anything. See you next time.

[C]

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