All Ears English Podcast: Episode 2548

Title: Absorb These English Phrasal Verbs
Hosts: Lindsay McMahon & Aubrey Carter
Date: January 14, 2026

Episode Overview

This lively episode centers on enriching your English by learning and mastering several everyday phrasal verbs and expressions that capture the idea of “absorbing” an experience or moment. Lindsay and Aubrey focus on practical, idiomatic ways to talk about being present, emotionally moved, or fully aware—skills important both for conversation and connection. This is part two in a series about the phrase “take in” and its synonyms. The hosts provide real-life examples, clarify subtle differences, and offer tips for more natural, connected English.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Importance of “Soaking In” Life’s Moments (01:38–04:09)

• Setting the Mood: Aubrey shares a personal story about pausing to appreciate a meaningful family moment during the holidays.
  • "I just kind of pause to soak in that feeling of like, oh, and I'm imagining last forever." (01:50 – Aubrey)
• Connection, Not Perfection: Lindsay underscores why expressing these feelings is key for human relationships.
  • "When we talk about those moments, that builds connection." (02:46 – Lindsay)
• Conversation Tip: Asking someone when they last paused to “soak it all in” is a great way to connect.

Phrasal Verbs for Absorbing Experiences (04:02–10:15)

• Soak It In (04:09–05:18)
  • Means to take time to appreciate, understand, and value a moment.
  • Example: “The audience sat quietly to soak in every word of the inspiring speech.” (04:20 – Lindsay)
  • Often used for nature, beautiful views, or emotionally charged moments.
  • Contrasted with literal meaning (e.g., soaking in a tub).
• Absorb It (05:45–06:03)
  • More straightforward, can be positive or negative.
  • Example: “He took a deep breath to absorb it all before responding.” (05:45 – Lindsay)
• Let It Sink In (06:10–06:17)
  • Used for processing information, often when overwhelmed.
  • Example: “It took me a minute to absorb what they had said." (06:03 – Aubrey)
• Take It All In (07:10–08:14)
  • Used for awe-inspiring or overwhelming experiences, where you need time to appreciate everything.
  • Example: “We stood at the rim of the Grand Canyon and tried to take it all in.” (07:21 – Aubrey)
  • Conversation: Discuss how taking in art, nature, or events can be an intense, meaningful experience.
• Drink It In (09:01–09:51)
  • More poetic, often used for beautiful sights or fleeting moments.
  • "We paused, drink in the breathtaking view of the mountains." (09:07 – Aubrey)
  • Also common in parental reflections on enjoying family life.
• Other Notes:
  • Some phrasal verbs are non-transferable—“eat it in” or “sip it in” are not correct. Only “drink it in” and similar set phrases work as idioms (12:47–13:08).

Real-Life Role Play (10:50–13:15)

• The hosts act out being at a music festival, naturally using all four phrases:
  • Soak it in: “Soak it in, Aubrey. Moments like this don't happen often.” (10:58 – Lindsay)
  • Drink it in: “I’m going to take a minute to drink it in.” (11:05 – Aubrey)
  • Take it all in: “It’s almost hard to take it all in.” (11:09 – Lindsay)
  • Absorb: “I think I’m gonna need a few days to absorb the experience.” (11:17 – Aubrey)
• This segment illustrates how these expressions naturally fit into conversation about impactful events.

Subtle Differences and Usage Tips (13:15–14:15)

• Discussing overstimulation and the difference between needing time to “take it all in” versus being overwhelmed.
• Clarification on let it sink in as slightly different—not always emotional, more about information processing.
• Teasing the upcoming part three focused on “let it sink in”.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On appreciating the moment:
  • “That’s amazing. That’s so great. That’s what life is about, right? And we want to be able to talk about it because when we talk about those moments, that builds connection.” (02:46 – Lindsay)
• On idiomatic use:
  • “This is idiomatic. It's important you use it word for word. We say 'soak it in.'” (04:56 – Aubrey)
  • “These are definitely idiomatic. We have to learn these as idioms, not as any kind of words that apply.” (12:55 – Lindsay)
• On the effect of technology:
  • “The last couple of times I have gone to a concert, you're like, watching it through other people's phones…No. Oh, gosh. Yeah, I want to go back to the 90s.” (13:57–14:15 – Aubrey)
• On connection:
  • "Sharing with others what took you some time to absorb, to take it all in... That is such a great way to connect, to share and to learn about what was emotional for others." (15:04 – Aubrey)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:38 – Aubrey’s family story: pausing to “soak it in”
• 04:09 – Phrasal verbs introduction: “soak it in”
• 05:45 – “Absorb” and “let it sink in” for emotional/mental processing
• 07:10 – “Take it all in” for awe-inspiring situations
• 09:07 – “Drink it in”, poetic use for beautiful moments
• 10:50 – Role play with all four expressions
• 12:47 – Idiomatic restrictions: phrases you can and can’t use
• 13:57 – Conversation on technology interfering with presence
• 14:49 – Preview of part one and part three in the series
• 15:04 – Takeaway: being present and sharing with others

Summary Takeaways

• Use idiomatic phrasal verbs like soak it in, take it all in, drink it in, and absorb to describe taking time to appreciate moments, especially those that are beautiful, moving, or overwhelming.
• Context is crucial; these are generally for positive, impactful experiences, but some (like absorb or let it sink in) also apply to processing difficult or large amounts of information.
• Not all phrasal expressions transfer directly—stick to set forms like “drink it in,” not “eat it in.”
• Sharing these moments of presence deepens connection with others—a main goal of language learning.

For Further Learning

• Part One: Episode 2542 covers “take in” and its various meanings.
• Upcoming: Part three will focus specifically on “let it sink in” and similar phrases.

Hosts’ Closing Thought:
"Being present in life and then describing it, putting it into words, that’s the good stuff." (14:49 – Lindsay)

For transcripts and fluency quizzes, visit allearsenglish.com. If you enjoy the focus on connection, not perfection, hit follow!