All Ears English Podcast Episode 2536

Title: How to Be Better Than Decent at English Vocabulary
Release Date: December 24, 2025
Hosts: Michelle Kaplan & Aubrey Carter

Episode Overview

In this lively and practical episode, Michelle and Aubrey dive into the nuanced ways native speakers use the adjective “decent” in American English. They break down its multiple meanings and common learner mistakes, provide real-life role play, and emphasize subtleties like tone. The episode is geared toward intermediate and advanced English learners eager to sound more natural and confident.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Why Focus on “Decent”? (03:15)

• Inspired by a common ESL learner error: using “decent” to mean “fantastic” or “really good.”
• “Decent” is tricky because its dictionary definition is vague, and its meaning changes with context and tone.
  • “If you just look at the dictionary definition … of an acceptable standard, satisfactory ... you probably think that means good, right? But it doesn’t really.” — Aubrey [03:29]

The Four Main Meanings of “Decent” in English

1) Good Enough / Acceptable, Not Amazing (05:33)

• Describes something adequate but not impressive.
  • “The restaurant wasn’t fancy, but the food was decent.” — Michelle [05:56]
  • “If something I’m like, ‘It was all right. I probably wouldn’t recommend it,’ then I would describe it as ‘decent.’” — Aubrey [05:46]
• Typical connotations: “It’s fine, it just passes.” — Michelle [04:48]

2) Respectable / Reliable / Good Character (07:04)

• Used for people with integrity or honesty.
  • “He seems like a decent guy.” — Aubrey [07:10]
  • “Which was a really decent thing to do.” (helping an elderly neighbor) — Michelle [07:43]
• Here, “decent” is a compliment, meaning moral or trustworthy.

3) Proper / Appropriate / Presentable (08:05)

• Especially about clothing or appearance.
  • “Don’t come in, I’m not decent!” — Michelle [08:07]
  • “Are you decent?” (Can I come in? Are you dressed?) — Aubrey [08:14]
• Can refer to being generally presentable (not just clothed, but clean or appropriately dressed for the situation).

4) Fairly Large or Respectable Amount (08:46)

• Describes a moderate but respectable quantity or distance.
  • “We had a decent number of people show up to the event.” — Aubrey [08:55]
  • “They drove a decent distance before stopping.” — Michelle [09:19]
• Tone is important: can be positive or mildly disappointing, depending on delivery.
  • “If you were expecting thousands … ‘yeah, we had a decent number’… it’s not that positive.” — Aubrey [09:49]
  • “But if you did have a lot show up you could say, ‘Oh, we had a decent number of people!’” — Michelle [10:19]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “You don't want to accidentally describe something as decent if you mean it's really good. There's definitely a negative collocation to this—if you’re calling something decent, you actually mean it wasn’t that great.” — Aubrey [04:34]
• “My dad always says … ‘was it decent?’ … he sort of has a low bar … he’s not asking if it was good.” — Michelle [03:52]
• “It’s so strange that we have the exact same word … why couldn’t we come up with another word?” — Aubrey, on the word’s versatility [08:46]
• “It’s interesting how your tone will change this a little bit, whether it’s positive or negative.” — Aubrey [09:49]

In-Depth Role Play: Using All Meanings of “Decent” (11:15–12:22; explained through 14:22)

Scenario: Michelle is picking up Aubrey to drive her to the airport.

• Decent price — “I got it on sale for a decent price, too.” [11:48]
  (“good enough, fair”)
• Decent of you — “That was really decent of you.” [11:52]
  (“thoughtful, kind”)
• Look decent — “Just need to change so I look decent.” [11:59]
  (“presentable, appropriate”)
• Decent drive — “It’s a decent drive to the airport from here.” [12:06]
  (“fairly far distance”)

Commentary:

• Using “decent” multiple times in conversation is possible due to its different meanings, but native speakers usually mix up their vocabulary for variety.
• The distinction between “look decent” (appearance, neat or appropriate) and “be decent” (clothed, not naked) is clarified. [14:22]
  • “If you say ‘I'm not decent,’ that almost sounds like you're not wearing clothes. But if you're talking about, ‘so I look decent,’ to look decent is different than to be decent.” — Michelle [14:25]

Takeaways and Practical Tips

• Context and Tone Matter: Meaning often shifts with voice inflection and context.
  • “You also want to think about the tone of voice … that's also going to clue you in.” — Michelle [15:46]
• Don’t describe something as “decent” if you mean it was “fantastic” or “amazing.”
• “Decent” is very positive for people’s character, neutral-to-mildly negative for objects/experiences (unless describing an amount).

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Why “decent” is tricky for learners: [03:15–04:48]
• Four definitions and examples: [05:33–10:19]
• Role Play using all meanings: [11:15–12:22; discussion to 14:22]
• Subtle distinctions, commentary: [14:22–15:27]
• Tone and context advice: [15:46–16:07]
• Closing reflections: [16:13–16:26]

Final Thoughts

This episode dives deep into a common “false friend” word in English, arming listeners with nuanced meanings, context and practical examples for “decent.” Michelle’s anecdotes (especially about her dad) lend warmth and humor, while Aubrey’s explanations demystify native usage. By the end, learners are equipped to avoid misunderstandings and use “decent” like a native—making their English better than just decent.

Memorable farewell:
“This was really fun. And yeah, this is more than a decent episode.” — Michelle [16:13]
“I would not call this episode decent. No, it was fantastic.” — Aubrey [16:19]