Podcast Summary: All Ears English Podcast – “AEE 2537: Cozy up With These Holiday Phrasal Verbs”
Hosts: Michelle Kaplan & Aubrey Carter
Release Date: December 25, 2025
Episode Overview
In this festive holiday episode, Michelle and Aubrey dive into the world of phrasal verbs commonly used in the winter and holiday season. Their main goal is to help intermediate and advanced English learners master natural, conversational expressions for talking about cold weather, cozy traditions, and seasonal activities. Using relatable stories and lively banter, they introduce, explain, and role-play with five key phrasal verbs: cozy up, bundle up, warm up, sell out, and deck out. The episode is rich in anecdotes and includes cultural tips, making the vocabulary both memorable and practical for listeners looking to connect more authentically in American English.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Holiday Decorating Habits & “Deck Out”
- [02:00] The episode kicks off with Aubrey asking Michelle if she decks out her house for the holidays. Michelle humorously confesses, “Not at all. My husband is quite anti decorations.”
- She does minimal decorating for Christmas—mostly stockings, a tree, and some lit trees in the yard, but nothing over-the-top.
- They discuss “deck out” as a phrasal verb meaning to decorate extravagantly, referencing both holiday and Halloween decorations.
- Aubrey and Michelle joke about inflatable decorations, with Michelle calling them “really tacky” and admitting, “I’m like the Grinch when it comes to those blow up decorations.” ([03:03])
2. Phrasal Verb: “Cozy Up”
- [04:25] Meaning: To get comfortable and warm, often snuggling up under blankets or beside a fire.
- Michelle: “I love to sit in front of a fire with a glass of red wine. It feels very adult.” ([04:40])
- Aubrey describes how her son enjoys movie nights—“Let’s cozy up by the fire and watch a movie”—as a family holiday tradition.
- Both discuss their favorite blankets and comfy couches, with Michelle praising her “love sack” couch as “the best couch to cozy up on.” ([06:26])
3. Phrasal Verb: “Bundle Up”
- [06:52] Meaning: To put on several layers of warm clothing to protect against the cold.
- Michelle reminisces about New York winters: “I remember I had leg warmers and sweaters, lots of layers. A heavy wool coat.” ([07:01])
- Aubrey admits she dislikes bundling up due to the effort, especially with kids, referencing her grandmother’s wisdom: “‘I would rather be too hot than too cold, because…when you’re too cold, you just have to get all dressed up to be miserable.’” ([07:27])
- They swap stories about cold places (Quebec, Montreal), and Michelle notes: “You had to really bundle up. We could not have gotten away with that trick of throwing a jacket in the car.” ([09:18])
4. Phrasal Verb: “Warm Up”
- [10:27] Meaning: To do something to raise your body temperature, not necessarily wanting to feel cozy, but just to not be cold.
- Used in examples like, “Let’s warm up with a hot cocoa,” or, “I just want to warm up a bit first.”
- Michelle tells a story about struggling to warm up in her in-laws’ unheated cabin: “There were like little space heaters and we lit a fire so we’d be out playing in the snow, and we’d go inside to warm up. And it wasn’t any warmer inside.” ([11:11])
5. Phrasal Verb: “Sell Out”
- [11:45] Meaning: When stores run out of a popular item—used here about holiday shopping and hot gift items.
- Michelle remembers the “Magic Mixies” toy craze: “It was selling out everywhere… it was like $80. We only bought it because it was selling out everywhere.” ([12:59])
- Both reminisce about the “sell out” toy phenomena from their childhoods, citing Pogs, Tamagotchi, Furbies, and Beanie Babies.
- Aubrey: “That was like a big—oh, you gotta get them before they sell out.” ([14:12])
6. Phrasal Verb: “Deck Out” (Grammar, Nuance & Culture)
- [14:50] They revisit “deck out” in detail, linking it to the carol “Deck the Halls.”
- Michelle wonders, “I’ve never thought about that—the verb ‘deck’ comes from ‘decorations,’ probably, right?” ([15:13])
- Both laugh about families with storage units full of decorations and how serious some people get about decking out their homes.
- Aubrey notes: “You were talking about Halloween and definitely…we always try and go trick or treating…where you can see the best decorations.” ([16:14])
Memorable Quotes & Moments
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On “cozy up”
“I love to sit in front of a fire with a glass of red wine. It feels very adult.”
—Michelle Kaplan ([04:40]) -
On “bundle up”
“The worst thing about bundling up is when you put on all of these layers and then someone’s running behind and so you’re, like, sweating.”
—Michelle Kaplan ([08:00]) -
On “deck out”
“My mother-in-law decks out her house. She has a storage unit full of holiday decorations…that’s when you know someone really decks out their place.”
—Michelle Kaplan ([15:55]) -
Holiday consumerism:
“We only bought it because it was selling out everywhere.”
—Michelle Kaplan on Magic Mixies ([13:00])
Role Play Segment
[16:56 – 19:32]
Michelle and Aubrey act out a holiday-themed exchange, naturally weaving in all five phrasal verbs:
- “We love to go see the lights in her neighborhood because it’s completely decked out.”
- “But it will be cold, so be sure to bundle up.”
- “We’ll go for a little and then warm up with hot cocoa.”
- “Then you can cozy up with a movie.”
- “But I have to start shopping now before they sell out.”
Breakdown:
- The role play shows how seamlessly these phrasal verbs fit into everyday conversation.
- Michelle recalls “Christmas on Comstock,” a street known for its elaborate decorations, reinforcing the “deck out” example.
Practical Tips for Learners
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[19:44] “This is a great connection skill: talking with people about their holiday decorations or holiday plans. Especially if someone has decked out their home, they would love to be asked about it—because that’s a lot of work and expense, right?” —Michelle Kaplan
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Cultural context:
These phrasal verbs are not only for discussing holidays but are essential for everyday wintertime small talk and building rapport in American culture.
Important Timestamps
- [02:00] – Opening chat about holiday decorations and the meaning of “deck out”
- [04:25] – Introduction and deep-dive into “cozy up”
- [06:52] – Exploring “bundle up” with childhood anecdotes
- [10:27] – Usage and nuance of “warm up”
- [11:45] – Discussion of “sell out” and gift shopping traditions
- [14:50] – Further exploration of “deck out”
- [16:56] – Role play using all phrasal verbs
- [19:44] – Practical encouragement to use these expressions in real life
Conclusion
The episode wraps up by encouraging listeners to use these phrasal verbs to talk about their own holiday plans and traditions—not just to impress, but to connect with others authentically. Michelle and Aubrey wish the audience happy holidays and remind them that, in English, connection, not perfection is the key.
For further practice:
Check out previous episodes, especially AEE 2533: “What are you wishing for? Your English.”
And don’t forget: If you see holiday lights and incredible decorations, spark a conversation—people love to talk about the effort they “deck out” for!
Episode Tone: Friendly, enthusiastic, supportive, full of humor and practical advice—perfect for building both language and cross-cultural confidence.