
How to know someone's intention based on their tone
Loading summary
Lindsay McMahon
This is an All Ears English podcast. Episode 2547. Teasing Direct how to know based on context. 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, Lindsay McMahon, the English adventurer, and Michelle Kaplan, the New York radio girl. Coming to you from Colorado and New York City, usa. To get real time transcripts right on your phone and create your personalized vocabulary list, try the All Ears English app for iOS and Android. Start your 7 day free trial at allearsenglish.com forward/app.
Michelle Kaplan
Today. Learn a new phrase that can be used in multiple ways to mean different things. Build the skill to tease someone and be sarcastic or to be direct. Listen in to make your vocabulary more robust today.
Advertisement Voice 1
Are you still translating from your native.
Lindsay McMahon
Language into English in your head?
Advertisement Voice 1
Are you always getting confused between the different grammar tenses?
Lindsay McMahon
Let's figure out what you need to work on. Find your current English level with our five minute quiz@allearsenglish.com fluency score. Hey, Michelle, how's it going today?
Michelle Kaplan
Hey, Lindsay. I. I ate four bagels yesterday.
Lindsay McMahon
Oh, wow, Michelle, you've reached a new low. Just kidding.
Michelle Kaplan
I. I didn't eat. I didn't eat poor bagels. But like, sometimes I would like to.
Lindsay McMahon
I know, I know you're a fan of bagels. People love bagels. I'm kind of neutral about bagels. I just sometimes for.
Michelle Kaplan
I'd rather have it. I'm not putting the right stuff on it.
Lindsay McMahon
What should I put on my bagel? Like what. What would be like, the best?
Michelle Kaplan
Well, you gotta do. Well, I like, like. Okay. And I like an everything bagel and I like it. Oh, my gosh. Have you ever had, like, have you ever had whitefish?
Lindsay McMahon
Oh, that's such a famous. Yeah, I think that's. It's pretty famous in New York, right? The white fish.
Michelle Kaplan
Whitefish salad with lox on top.
Lindsay McMahon
Okay.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, like tomato, onion. Oh, my gosh.
Lindsay McMahon
Okay. When I go to New York, I'll get like a locks, like just lox. A bagel with lox and cream cheese.
Michelle Kaplan
Cream cheese?
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah. Yeah. That is so. That's really good. But it's not so much for the bagel. It could be on a piece of bread. I know I should never say that. Yeah, but it's more the salmon and cream cheese together. But anyways, bagels are famous in New York. People. People love them. So if you guys are in New York, get yourself A New York bagel, right, Michelle?
Michelle Kaplan
That's right, exactly. So why did you say you've reached a new low?
Lindsay McMahon
Well, I'm sort of being a little bit sarcastic here because I know that you love bagels and I've heard about them a lot. But then you're saying yesterday you ate four of them, which is a lot of food.
Michelle Kaplan
They're giant. I mean, especially the New York ones. They are giant.
Lindsay McMahon
They really are. They're very blown up. Right. And so I'm kind of saying you went really far with your addiction to bagels. A little too far.
Michelle Kaplan
Yes, exactly. Because if so, I can't imagine anybody going through four of them. So that's just a lot to eat. So, yeah, I mean, this is an expression about actually being worse than before. So like you said, Lindsay, it can be humorous. It can also be serious, depending on the context. So again, right. The expression is reach a new low. So we're gonna get into that more in just a second here. But first we want to say a huge, huge hu. Huge thank you to our reviewers.
Lindsay McMahon
Oh, my gosh. It's all about our listeners on this show, Michelle. And today I want to announce those amazing listeners who took the time to review us in the Android app. So a huge thank you to Jason Sidu, Myria Warmlinger, Lemis, Gabrielle Spaghyari, Mahdi Torabi. Thank you to David Rodriguez, Lorenzo and Mohana Mozafari. Most of these are five star reviews, Michelle, and it's just. It's amazing to hear from our listeners over here. Yes.
Michelle Kaplan
Thank you so much, guys. You make our days really. It's so meaningful and we really appreciate it.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah. So wherever you're listening, whether it's in the Android, iOS app, Apple podcast, Spotify, take a minute now to go and leave us a rating and review. Write us a little note, Tell us what you love about the show. You could ask your episode idea, your episode question there, but send us a signal and we'd like to know what you think of the show. All right.
Michelle Kaplan
Love it. All right, thank you again, everyone. So. So let's get back into. Reach a new low. So. Yes. Okay. So this basically means, like we were saying, you become worse than in the past. So something's happened, generally. Something. An event where you made me wor. You made. That made you worse in some way.
Lindsay McMahon
Made you worse. Yeah, yeah.
Michelle Kaplan
And it doesn't have to be a person even. It could be a situation. And I thought of this episode because my kids, one of them has finished off the Halloween candy. But my Son still has a bag of his and he dropped, he's. He dropped some on the floor and started to want to just eat it off the floor or like lick it off the floor. And even though he has more candy. And I said, okay, we've reached a new low.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah. Yeah. When you're licking candy off the floor, no matter how old you are, you've reached a new low of like kind of being addicted to something in a sense.
Michelle Kaplan
Right? Yes, yes, exactly, exactly. So, you know, this was used in a humorous or teasing way. But what about in the role play from the beginning?
Lindsay McMahon
Like we.
Michelle Kaplan
Again, I'd overeaten and you're teasing me about it.
Lindsay McMahon
I'm teasing you about it. It's light hearted, right. This is quite light and fun and sarcastic and I'm poking fun at your addiction to bagels here. Right?
Michelle Kaplan
Yes. But you know, you want to be careful with like that, with like eating and that kind of conversation because that could be a sensitive topic. So. Ye, you know, like if somebody, maybe somebody does have a large appetite and if you don't know them that well and you're not teasing them and you say, wow, you've reached a new low, like they could get pretty offended. So I would say, yeah, right.
Lindsay McMahon
100. That's really important. Yeah. So I know that you don't have issues with eating and so it's okay for me to tease you. I know you have an obsession with bagels and it's kind of a fun back and forth. Right. But. Right. If anyone is struggling with eating issues, I would steer clear of this. Right. Because it would be taken literally. Right. It would be taken seriously, not facetiously or sarcastically.
Michelle Kaplan
Right, Right. So that person might be insecure about it and they're binge eating or have some sort of disorder or whatever it is. And if you just go, wow, you reached a new low. It's not going to be taken the same way as if Lindsay, who knows me well, who knows about the bagels. I know my son well. We're just joking around. We like, there has to be a certain level of familiarity to be able to use that in that context.
Lindsay McMahon
Super important. So that's where the nuances in today's episode is. It's the same phrase. But if you use it in the wrong situation. Right. It could be taken literally and directly and really harm someone. Right. Really hurt someone. Whereas if it's used in the right way with the right person at the right time, it's fun, it's playful, it's teasing. That's Real.
Michelle Kaplan
A fine line. Yeah, very interesting here. Well, let's do some more examples that don't deal with bagels or candy. So, okay, the first one is I always thought he was rude, but he reached a new low when he asked me to drive him to the airport when I had the flu.
Lindsay McMahon
And so this is a little more straightforward and direct. Like you're actually saying he's a pretty bad guy. Right?
Michelle Kaplan
Like he, we. You thought he was rude but then it became worse. Right?
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah. Or not thought. At the very least not thoughtful. Right?
Michelle Kaplan
Yes. Yes.
Lindsay McMahon
He's not, you know, thinking about you. He's a little self centered.
Michelle Kaplan
Yes.
Lindsay McMahon
Or I can't believe we stayed up binging that show until 4am Seriously, we've reached a new low. So this is us just kind of making fun of ourselves, right? We're a little addicted to Netflix or something.
Michelle Kaplan
Yes, exactly, exactly. And I'm sure everybody can relate to that moment of even if maybe it's not watching tv but even reading. I just finished a book and I would stay up late reading it. And my friend just finished a little book and she did say that she stayed up till 4am reading it because she was so addicted to it. And I can't read that book because I can't stay up till 4am I mean I can, but like I. Yes, exactly. Or here's another one. This restaurant was going downhill, but their atmosphere has reached a new low. I don't think I'll be coming back so.
Lindsay McMahon
And here are we teasing the restaurant, Michelle? No, not really.
Michelle Kaplan
Oh, this is the more straightforward one. It's getting worse. It's getting even worse.
Lindsay McMahon
Exactly. And here's the next one. Okay, your outfits have reached a new low. This is supposed to be formal night. Right. So maybe for many, many times in a row you are showing up too casual. And again this time you showed up really casual, but you were supposed to be formal. So it's reached a new low. Right.
Michelle Kaplan
Well that reminds me of Dan because we've gone on cruises and he kind of. They always have like a formal night on cruises and he's decided that he's not packing a suit on a cruise. So his form, his formal night is like a Hawaiian shirt and shorts and it's like. No, no.
Lindsay McMahon
Is Dan one of those guys that wears shorts in the wintertime? Because there was an article, I didn't read it, but there was a headline I saw somewhere about dudes in the U. S who won't wear pants. Like they'll wear shorts and sandals in the winter.
Michelle Kaplan
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no. That's just for like on vacation when it's warm now he wears pants. So. But yeah, you can see it's used with the truth or sarcastically. It could be self deprecating. But again, you have to be very careful if you're teasing someone with this. If you're using it in a teasy, teasy teasing way.
Lindsay McMahon
Yes, yes.
Michelle Kaplan
And what else is interesting? I thought what I said to my son was I realized this. I actually said, we've reached a new low. I don't think I said, you've reached a new low. So I guess I meant it as a family, as a whole and not to single him out. So kind of more humorous way that we say, you know this. But like, if you want to back off a little bit, you could say, we've reached a new low.
Lindsay McMahon
Well, that would be a whole other episode, Michelle. Guys, hit the follow button on the show. We're gonna have to cover this topic. We haven't covered this yet. This is a great one. How we, instead of when we want to say something directly to someone, instead of saying you, we say we, but we actually mean you. And it may be possible that it was a little bit of that too. At the same time. I'm not sure. Yeah, but I know I do this. Instead of saying you, I'll say oh, we. Because I'm trying to soften it a little bit.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, yeah, it's interesting. You're. You're trying to shift it a little bit so it's not so direct. So very interesting there. Yeah, we'll definitely have to call it. Cover that. Guys, hit follow.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah, it's going to be a great year, guys. So make sure you're following the show and we'll follow up with that episode pretty soon.
Michelle Kaplan
Yep.
Advertisement Voice 2
Fiscally responsible financial geniuses, monetary magicians. These are things people say about drivers who switch their car insurance to Progressive and save hundreds. Because Progressive offers discounts for paying in full, owning a home and more. Plus, you can count on their great customer service to help when you need it. So your dollar goes a long way. Visit progressive.com to see if you could save on car insurance. Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states or situations.
Lindsay McMahon
All right, Michelle, so where to for here? From here, what else would. If you want to convey this idea, what else could you say?
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, so in a similar expression would be to stoop to a new level or a new low.
Lindsay McMahon
Right? Okay.
Michelle Kaplan
Yes, stoop. All right, so go down. So for example, when she started personal insults, she really stooped to a new level. Or you could say to a new low.
Lindsay McMahon
Right. So you kind of cross a line and now things get really bad. Right? Yep. And this isn't really about playing, playing with someone or being sarcastic. This is just directly like, you've gotten really bad.
Michelle Kaplan
Yes, yes, yes.
Lindsay McMahon
Or I stooped to a new low when I spilled wine all over my boss. Now this is tricky because you didn't do it on purpose, right?
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, yeah.
Lindsay McMahon
But you're just kind of saying like, I, I got even more accident prone. Maybe. You're very clumsy.
Michelle Kaplan
Right, Right. So this might be in more of a. You're self deprecating, you know. Oh my gosh, I really stooped to a new low.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah, it's. It's a little bit playful. It is. The way it's being used is kind of playing around with the words. Right?
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, yeah. So that's interesting. Here's another one. To have outdone oneself. So this is, you know, really kind of in the sarcastic way. So it's like to. To gone even more than in the past. You're like, you've gone really far. So for example, I think this place has hit a downwards. Oh, wait. Nope, I'm in the wrong one. I didn't think I could be any more irritated at him, but he's outdone himself this time. So.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah, yeah, he's gone further than you thought he could even go.
Michelle Kaplan
Right. Yes. Yeah.
Lindsay McMahon
Or, oh, no, I burnt the cookies. I've outdone myself.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah.
Lindsay McMahon
Although I think I've heard this used though, in a genuine way. Like if someone makes a really good dessert. Oh, you've outdone yourself. This is the best dessert I've ever tasted from you.
Michelle Kaplan
Right, Right. So it could be used in more of a genuine, positive way. And depending on the tone and the context, it could also be used in kind of a teasing way. So here you're being self deprecating. I've outdone myself. Like, I've outdone myself this time. Like, oh, last time I dropped it on the floor, this time I burnt them. Oh, gosh. You know.
Lindsay McMahon
Wow. This is a very high level episode. I love it. It's because we're trying to figure out which deliveries are genuine sarcastic, teasing or direct. Right. And there's so much nuance here because there's context, there's vocabulary, there's personal history between you and the person. Wow, there's a lot here.
Michelle Kaplan
There is a lot.
Lindsay McMahon
What's another one, Michelle?
Michelle Kaplan
One more Last one we'll do is to hit a downward spiral. This is about go. You know, think of an actual spiral. You're going down. I think this place has hit a downward spiral. It's probably going to close. Yeah. So this is a more serious context. But what about the next. The next example?
Lindsay McMahon
Okay, here's the next one. Okay. My shoe choice has hit a downward spiral. Will you go shopping with me this weekend? So here I'm making fun of myself.
Michelle Kaplan
Right.
Lindsay McMahon
Yes. I am just saying I have just lost my taste in shoes. I don't know what to do. It's okay to make fun of yourself pretty much any time. Right. Especially if you're asking for help.
Michelle Kaplan
Exactly. And you could have said, okay, my shoe choice has reached a new low. Right. So. So you could use that as well. But, yeah, it's. I would say that's true for my shoes, actually.
Lindsay McMahon
Are things getting worse when it comes to shoes for you, Michelle?
Michelle Kaplan
It's not getting worse. It's just that there is. I realize. I only realize in certain. Certain situations, like, oh, I don't have shoes for this. This occasion. I don't have anything. And, you know, so. But I don't realize it until it's that moment.
Lindsay McMahon
It's the moment before you gotta leave. Yeah. Walk out the door. I get it. I get it. Yeah.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah.
Lindsay McMahon
Shoe shopping is hard. I mean, if your feet don't fit most shoes, it can be really challenging. For sure. I've been trying to buy a pair of boots for the last, like, three winters, and I just give up. Every time I just say, I'll just wear shoes in the snow.
Michelle Kaplan
You sound.
Lindsay McMahon
That's the sound.
Michelle Kaplan
So me, like, I. I would totally do the same thing.
Lindsay McMahon
I just give up. All right, we have a great role play planned for our listeners today, Michelle.
Michelle Kaplan
Let's do it.
Lindsay McMahon
So what's our scenario here?
Michelle Kaplan
All right, so here we are, best friends, and we are looking at Instagram together.
Lindsay McMahon
Okay. All right, here we go. Okay, here we go.
Michelle Kaplan
Oh, geez. My time limit came up. Meaning we've been doing this for two hours.
Lindsay McMahon
Yikes. Okay, we've hit a new low, definitely.
Michelle Kaplan
But I actually think we hit a downward spiral back when we started looking up fashion pictures.
Lindsay McMahon
Oh, yes. Also, that's when I realized my fashion sense has stooped to a new level. We should go shopping.
Michelle Kaplan
Yes. But not at the mall. It's not nice anymore.
Lindsay McMahon
You're right. It was getting bad. But now that terrible store that opened has outdone itself.
Michelle Kaplan
Definitely.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah. That's a good example, because and everyone on this podcast can probably relate to this feeling of as you get sucked into social media, that you. There's always a moment where you realize what's happening and you've hit a new. Sometimes you've hit a new low. Right. Because you've been there for a couple hours and you're just scrolling and scrolling and scrolling.
Michelle Kaplan
It's terrible. And, yeah, sometimes, like, for example, I have an alert come up on my phone when I've been on. But every. Yeah, it would be good if I paid attention to it, but it's just. So I just turned it away. Okay.
Lindsay McMahon
I usually I just fill my feed with, like, dog videos, like border collies and huskies and things, and those are less harmful for me, I guess. But. But it's still really. It just. It feels icky, just the scrolling, you know, and everyone knows exactly what we're talking about. Yeah, that is a new. That's a great example of this. So it's a great way to encapsulate this. This phrase. So basically I said, yikes, we've hit a new low. When I realized. When you said we had been on for two hours scrolling.
Michelle Kaplan
And then I said, definitely. But I actually think we hit a downward spiral back when we started looking up fashion pictures. So, like, downward spiral, it's like it got worse and worse and worse. So I'm saying the start of that was not. Now that we've reached two hours. Yeah, it's bad. But it was an hour ago when we started looking at fashion pictures that we couldn't stop.
Lindsay McMahon
And it's funny how the technology just facilitates that, because if you click on one thing, the algorithm learns that you want that and gives you more of that. So you go down that rabbit hole. Right. So it really becomes a downward spiral, literally created by technology. Interesting, right? Yeah. And then I said, oh, yes. Also, that's when I realized my fashion sense has stooped to a new low. Right. So. Meaning it's never been this bad.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, yeah, exactly. And then you said, we should go shopping, and then we were talking about the mall, but it's not nice at the mall. So as you said, it was getting. It was getting bad, but now that terrible store that opened has outdone itself. So it's even worse.
Lindsay McMahon
Worse. Even worse. Oh, my gosh, Michelle, this has been an interesting episode. I think our listeners are really going to want to gain this skill of sensing. When is it okay to say something sarcastic to whom and when do we need to be more direct? Right.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. There's all. There are a lot of layers to this episode. There's more than just, oh, here are the expressions. Right? There's really a lot here. Personal relationships, using it seriously or in more of a comical way. A lot, a lot of layers that you have to think about when you're using these expressions. So I would say that's the takeaway for today. You know, really consider who to like, to whom you're talking to and what you're trying to say. And then. Yeah, and give it a go. Also, head on over to episode 2530 that was given versus give up in English like Lindsay gives up every year on her booths.
Lindsay McMahon
Exactly, Michelle. All right, guys, and don't forget to leave us a review. Wherever you're listening, whether it's in the app or in the podcast, leave us a review and rating. Let us know what you think about the show. All right, Michelle, good stuff today. I will talk to you very soon back here on the podcast.
Michelle Kaplan
All right, bye, Lindsay. Bye, guys.
Lindsay McMahon
Okay, bye. Thanks for listening. To all ears. English. Would you like to know your English level? Take our two minute quiz. Go to allearsenglish.com 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.
Advertisement Voice 1
If you're an H vac technician and a call comes in, Grainger knows that you need a partner that helps you find the right product fast and hassle free. And you know that when the first problem of the day is a clanking blower motor, there's no need to break a sweat. With Grainger's easy to use website and product details, you're confident you'll soon have everything humming right along. Call 1-800-GRAINGER Click grainger.com or just stop by Grainger for the ones who get it done.
Title: Teasing? Direct? How to Know Based on the Context
Hosts: Lindsay McMahon & Michelle Kaplan
Date: January 13, 2026
In this episode, Lindsay and Michelle explore the richly nuanced phrase “reach(ed) a new low,” dissecting the difference between using English in a teasing, sarcastic, or direct way—contexts that can significantly change meaning and emotional impact. Tailored for intermediate to advanced English learners, the episode dives into how to skillfully interpret and use expressions that may be lighthearted or potentially offensive, depending on tone, relationship, and situation.
On Sensitivity and Context:
“There has to be a certain level of familiarity to be able to use that in that context.”
— Michelle Kaplan (07:10)
On Appropriateness:
“It’s the same phrase. But if you use it in the wrong situation ... it could be taken literally and directly and really harm someone.”
— Lindsay McMahon (07:31)
On Language Softening:
“Instead of saying you, I’ll say oh, we … because I’m trying to soften it a little bit.”
— Lindsay McMahon (11:06)
Recognizing the Fine Line:
“You want to be careful with ... eating and that kind of conversation because that could be a sensitive topic.”
— Michelle Kaplan (06:26)
Self-Deprecation and Humor:
“My shoe choice has hit a downward spiral. Will you go shopping with me this weekend?”
— Lindsay McMahon (15:26)
For further practice on “given” vs. “give up,” Lindsay and Michelle recommend listening to episode 2530.
Final Word:
This episode reminds listeners that English expressions are versatile but can easily backfire if misused. Carefully consider both your audience and your intent—connection, not perfection, is always the goal!