AEE 2645: Little Versus Small and Great Versus Big

Summary

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Podcast Summary: All Ears English Podcast

Episode 2645: Little Versus Small and Great Versus Big

July 2, 2026

Hosts: Lindsay McMahon & Michelle Kaplan

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Episode Overview

In this episode, inspired by a listener question from Vincent in the Dominican Republic, Lindsay and Michelle explore the nuanced differences between “big,” “great,” “large,” “small,” and “little” in American English. The duo delves into how these words are used differently—not only for describing physical size, but also for expressing importance, emotion, and connection. The conversation is peppered with lively examples, memorable expressions, and friendly banter, making the subtle distinctions clear and relatable for ESL learners.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Listener Question ([03:29])

• Vincent asks: “Clarify the correct usage of big vs. great, little vs. small.”

2. The Nuances of “Big” ([05:12]–[06:13])

• Physical Size:
  Used for objects—“a big house.”
• Importance/Seriousness/Life Moments:
  • "Big plans," "big decision," "big day," "big promotion"
• Idiomatic Expressions:
  • “Big deal,” “big opportunity,” “big mistake,” “big change,” “big fan”
• Memorable quote:
  “Big plans sounds much more important than just saying plans.” – Michelle [04:27]
• Sarcasm:
  • “Big deal” can be used sarcastically to minimize importance ([06:13]).

3. The Specifics of “Great” ([06:39]–[08:19])

• Quality and Positive Experiences:
  • “Great teacher,” “great time,” “great idea,” “great job”
• Strong Recommendation:
  • “That’s a great idea!”
• Rare Use for Size:
  • Sometimes used in formal/literary contexts, e.g., “great challenge,” or geographic names: “Great Wall of China,” “Great Lakes.”
• Memorable moment:
  “We faced great challenge in negotiating with this country.” – Lindsay, on political/literary usage [07:37]

4. The Role of “Large” ([08:46]–[09:38])

• Neutral, Factual Size or Number:
  • “Large corporation,” “large number of people,” “large scale”
• Not for Emotional/Personal Contexts:
  • “Large mistake” sounds odd, more scientific ([09:18]–[09:28]).
• Tone:
  • More academic, less emotional.

5. “Small” vs. “Little” ([10:55]–[15:56])

• Small:
  • Opposite of "large"
  • Neutral, size-focused: “small apartment,” “small business,” “small mistake”
  • Used in expressions: “It’s such a small world,” “small talk,” and for clothing sizes ([11:55]–[13:12])
• Little:
  • Opposite of "big"
  • More informal, emotional, or endearing
  • Softens: “a little mistake,” “a little puppy”
  • Can convey annoyance: “That little kid is driving me nuts” ([14:15]–[14:24])
  • Not used for technical/neutral size:
    • “Congratulations on your small baby” sounds odd; “little baby” is natural ([14:35]–[14:48])
  • Quantity/descriptions: “a little bit of mayonnaise,” “a little left in the jar,” “he's a little annoying” ([15:01]–[15:21])
• Sibling terms:
  • “Little brother/sister” (more childlike, endearing) vs. “younger brother/sister” (more adult, neutral) ([15:27]–[16:12])
  • “Big sister/brother” often replaced with “older” as adults.

6. Idioms, Chunks, & Common Expressions

• “It's the little things in life.” ([16:58])
• “Small world!” ([11:55])
• “Small talk” vs. lack of “big talk” ([13:00])
• Clothing sizes: “small, medium, large” ([13:12])
• “Big fan,” “great neighborhood,” “large scale” in context

7. Role Play Example ([16:28]–[20:04])

• Demonstrates use of all target words in a natural, friendly dialogue about plans and moving.

8. Observations and Takeaways

• These “little” words are much richer and more meaningful than they might appear.
• Not all opposites are interchangeable (e.g., “small talk” doesn’t have a “big talk” counterpart).
• Listen to and observe native speakers for nuances in context and tone.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Michelle: “Big plans sounds much more important than just saying plans.” ([04:27])
• Lindsay: "Big deal" can sometimes mean the opposite, used sarcastically: “Ah, big deal.” ([06:13])
• Lindsay: “Great is used to talk about quality. She’s a great teacher, or, we had a great time at the pool today.” ([06:41])
• Michelle: “Not all opposites work. You don’t say ‘large talk’; you don’t say ‘big talk.’” ([13:00])
• Lindsay: “Congratulations on your little baby!” is natural; “Congratulations on your small baby” sounds odd. ([14:35])
• Michelle: “You could say, ‘I made a little mistake.’ It’s cute. As you deliver that word, you can play around with your tone.” ([13:48]–[13:51])
• Lindsay: “I never would have imagined we’d find so much nuance in an episode about big and little.” ([16:14])
• Michelle: “It’s the little things in life.” ([16:58])
• Lindsay: “Both ‘large’ and ‘big’ work for space here, but not in every situation, as we’ve just learned.” ([19:47]–[20:04])
• Michelle: "Just think twice and observe. Don't assume you totally know them because we're showing you maybe a different side of these words today that you may not have known before, right?" ([20:39])

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:29] – Listener question and episode purpose
• [05:12] – “Big” (size, importance, idioms)
• [06:39] – “Great” (quality, recommendations)
• [08:46] – “Large” (neutral, factual size/scale)
• [10:55] – “Small” vs. “Little” (usage, tone, and expressions)
• [12:25] – Common chunk: “It’s such a small world.”
• [13:00] – “Small talk” and why there’s no “big talk”
• [14:15] – Emotional uses of “little”
• [15:27] – Describing siblings: little/big vs. younger/older
• [16:28] – Practical role play example
• [19:47] – Breaking down the role play and final takeaways

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Final Thoughts

Lindsay and Michelle demonstrate the complexity lurking in everyday language, especially with “simple” adjectives like big, little, great, small, and large. They encourage learners to pay attention to context, tone, and common expressions and to observe native speakers for real-life examples. Their lively discussion, practical expressions, and lighthearted tone make the episode both informative and enjoyable.

Key lesson: Even the smallest words can make a big difference in American English communication!

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Transcript

[Lindsay McMahon]

This is an All Ears English podcast. Episode 2645, little versus small and great versus big.

[Michelle Kaplan]

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 seven day free trial at allearsenglish.com forward/app.

Are you looking for big ways to have a little discussion or little way to have a big discussion? Today, learn the fun nuances between the words big, little, great, small, and large. Based on a really useful listener question. Learn how to use these today.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Have you noticed that some English speakers seem relaxed when they speak? They don't search for words. They don't constantly correct themselves. They simply communicate. That doesn't happen because they're perfect. It happens because they've built fluency. If speaking English still feels like hard work, it may be time to understand exactly where your skills stand Today. Take our free 2 minute fluency quiz and discover your English level. Go to allearsenglish.com fluencyscore that's allearsenglish.com flu e n c Y S C O R E.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Hey, Michelle. How are you?

[Michelle Kaplan]

How.

[Lindsay McMahon]

How are you? How's it going?

[Michelle Kaplan]

I'm doing well, Lindsay. How are you?

[Narrator/Announcer]

Good.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Michelle, do you have any big plans coming up? Anything big on the horizon?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Let's see. Well, I think just my. We just signed my son up for playing baseball, so my big plans are changing into a bit of a sports mom. But, you know, it's just for a season. It's just the first time he's doing it, but. So I'm sure a lot of my plans will revolve around, you know, games and things like that. So I'm excited. I think. I think it'll be fun. It'll be very cute to see him. I have a feeling his little sister will be cheering him along and. Oh, that's. That's great.

[Sponsor Voice]

Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

So that. That's exciting. Um, so, Lindsay, though, but when we talk about big plans, we mean plans that are important, you know? Yes, but the term big can actually get confusing because it has more meaning than just the word large. Right? It's more than that.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yes, it does. Right. It's not just that it's sub you know? Yeah, so. So there's. We're gonna get into. Into this today because it's based on a listener question. And these are our favorite episodes, Michelle, that are based on listener questions. So shall I go ahead and read the question?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Sure, please.

[Lindsay McMahon]

All right. This is from YouTube, guys. Don't forget that we have a thriving YouTube channel. If you go over to YouTube and you type in All Ears English podcast, you will find us. You can hit subscribe over there. Okay, so this is from Vincent Odrigue. There we go. Hello. It's great to listen to you. I would like you to clarify the correct usage of big versus great, little versus small. My name is Vincent from the Dominican Republic.

[Michelle Kaplan]

All right. Yeah, great question, Vincent. Thank you so much. This is. I'm sure that a lot of our listeners have questions about this huge.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yes. And I love when our listeners send in those very specific questions. So we're going to explain the differences today, what they mean and when and what scenarios you would use each one. Okay.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah. Because, yeah, these words are similar, for sure, but they are used differently. But we use them constantly in conversation.

[Lindsay McMahon]

It's true.

[Michelle Kaplan]

And one. I mean, they're very important for connection, not only for describing things, but they also help show emotion. Like, for example, big plans. Sounds much more important than just saying plans.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yes, Right. There's a big difference. Right. If something is going to have a big impact on your life, if it means a lot to you, you should say big plans. Right. So, guys, don't forget to go ahead and hit the follow button right now on the podcast. If you don't want to miss a single episode or if you're in YouTube, make sure you are subscribed to the show.

[Sponsor Voice]

All right?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Definitely. All right, so let's start with big and great. Lindsay, when would we use big?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Well, big is definitely used to talk about physical size. So we're not going to say that doesn't hold up here. That obviously does. It's the most obvious one. But it's also used to talk about so many other things, like importance, a big decision.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Seriousness, a big problem, life moments. Tomorrow's a big day, she got a big promotion.

[Sponsor Voice]

Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

So it's so much more than just saying, I have a big house.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right, right, right. That's kind of, you know, maybe that's the first thing people think of that usage, but there's a lot more to it. And we can also use big with certain words a lot. You know, there are just little chunks that you might hear. So, for example, big deal, big Opportunity. Big mistake. What else, Lindsay?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Big change or big fan? I'm a big fan. You are a big fan, Michelle. Of pink. I know that, yes.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I was just watching stuff about pink.

Y.

Okay. And I was. My. My love was renewed all over again. I love you, pink. Okay.

[Lindsay McMahon]

But you know what's funny about the phrase big deal, though? Sometimes that's used sarcastically to mean the thing is actually quite small. Right. Ah, big deal or no big deal? We say no big deal, I guess.

[Sponsor Voice]

Right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

But we don't even be. Yeah, but you're. Yeah, you're right. Sometimes we say h. Just ah, big deal.

[Lindsay McMahon]

It's like we do say that. So be careful here, guys. Some of these are used to mean the opposite of what we're saying. But let's get back to. To the episode. Michelle, what about great?

[Sponsor Voice]

When would.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

So great is used to talk about quality. Right. So she's a great teacher or a positive experience. So we had a great time at the pool today or could also be a strong recommendation. So that's a great idea. What else do we use great with?

[Lindsay McMahon]

I mean, we use great with a lot of things, like jobs. Like, great job. Right?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

So the work you've done. Right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

You've.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Great job preparing this episode. Michelle. Our team has done a great job preparing this episode. Thank you to our team member. Cheryl helped prepare this one, I think. Great news. Right? Great effort or great question or great idea.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yes. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, can we use great to mean something big in physical size?

[Lindsay McMahon]

So sometimes you hear this. Right. But it's a little bit more rare. I've heard it used.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Just not in, like everyday conversation. It feels a little more formal. Maybe on the news. Right. I've heard politicians say we faced great challenge in, you know, negotiating with this country. That kind of thing.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right. And that. Not. That's not even necessarily about actual size, like, but you will see it in literature. So if you want like something the size of something, you might read something like the great mountains stood before them.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

It's just, you know, so, you know. I mean. Yeah, exactly. And informal titles to mean big. You might hear like. Right. Like Great Lakes, the Great Wall of

[Lindsay McMahon]

China, Great Sand Dunes. I think those. That's in Colorado. Yeah. There's a lot of national parks or like places on the map marked great as part.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I mean, you also will just hear like the Great indoors or the great outdoors. Right? No, but isn't there.

[Sponsor Voice]

Isn't there.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I think there might be a store called the Great Indoors. I don't know. But yeah. The great outdoors. But yeah. Any similar words? We kind of touched on one of them. Or.

[Lindsay McMahon]

I mean, of course the word large comes up.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

If we're gonna talk about big, great. We got to talk about large.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, we gotta.

[Lindsay McMahon]

So when would we use large now, Michelle?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah. Well, so we use it to mean size. Like big, but it sounds a little bit more neutral and factual. Right. So like size. She works for a large corporation.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Or numbers. A large number of people attended the concert. Okay.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Or a scale. They deal with inventory on a large scale.

[Lindsay McMahon]

But we wouldn't really use it for emotional situations. Like. That's a large mistake. Would that. Would we say that. Does that feel strange?

[Michelle Kaplan]

No, that. That feels very strange. Don't you think?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, I do. Because I feel like large is a little bit more scientific. It feels a little more scientific, a

[Michelle Kaplan]

little more neutral, academic in a way, like.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, yes, totally. 100.

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[Lindsay McMahon]

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[Lindsay McMahon]

So the listener also asked about small and little. Yeah, all these little words that can trip us up. We think we know them, but maybe we don't quite know them as well as we think. Right, right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, exactly. So for small, I mean, small is the opposite of large. It's about size and it also sounds factual. So, for example, I live in a small apartment, so I run a small business. That's a good chunk. Yeah. Or I made a small mistake.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yes. And usually a small business is defined by the number of employees. I think in the US though, I. I want to say it's either employee less than 100 or less than 500 employees. It's not that small.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, that's.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, they're not that small.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Small businesses.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Some of them are not. And some of them, like, sometimes you say, like, micro businesses. I would call us kind of a micro business. Right. You know, but I also use the term small business to refer to us, too. So lots of details here, Michelle, what about with certain expressions? Certain expressions, yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

So we might. You. Well, this is really common. It's such a small world. Right. That's used mostly when, you know, if there's some sort of coincidence or you meet someone. Like, I mean, I. I remember when I was in San Francisco when I was probably 10 years old, we ran into someone that we knew in. In like a tea garden, and they were like, are those the Kaplans that. You know. That's certainly a time when you would use it.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yep. This happens all the time. And I think there was also a song I. I like. There was a ride at theme parks, Small World. And they would play that song.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, that's Disney World.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Lindsay, I gotta get on this.

[Lindsay McMahon]

I gotta get on it. I know now that I'm gonna be having a child, I gotta get into Disney.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I'm not gonna sing the song for you, but yeah. Yeah, It's a small world after all. Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Everyone knows this. Yeah, yeah, for sure.

[Michelle Kaplan]

But there's also small talk, which we talk about all the time in the show. So we wouldn't say. Yeah, I mean, just. You could say, I hate small talk.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Exactly. It's funny. Like, why don't we say I hate big talk? We don't say big talk. Right. It doesn't. It doesn't exist. So sometimes the opposite can't be used. Right. Keep that in mind, guys. Or we don't say large talk either, right?

[Michelle Kaplan]

No, no. There's also small and large could be used for clothing sizes, right? Small, medium, large.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Right, for sure. Yeah, absolutely. And then little is the opposite of big, Right? So we're talking about little now. What is little, Michelle? Yeah, size.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah. Yeah. But it's also more casual, and it also adds. It could add a little emotion or attitude, so it could soften situations. So, for example, we said earlier, small mistake. But you could say, oh, so I made a little mistake. Right?

[Lindsay McMahon]

A little mistake. A little mistake. Right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

It's cute. It's like a mistake.

[Lindsay McMahon]

As you deliver that word, you can play around with your tone of voice, right?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

You can show sympathy. Oh, you poor little Thing, Right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah. But it could be endearing. Right? So look at that cute little puppy. Like, I wouldn't say that cute, small puppy.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Right. You're right.

[Sponsor Voice]

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

It's kind of a chunk thing going on here, Michelle, isn't it?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

I mean, you could also use it to show annoyance. That little kid is driving me nuts. You wouldn't say that small kid.

[Michelle Kaplan]

No.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Is driving me nuts. That little kid.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right. Yeah, right, exactly. So, yeah, there is some chunk stuff going on here where it just sounds more natural.

[Lindsay McMahon]

It's true. Or like when I told one friend that I was gonna have a baby, he said, oh, congratulations on your little baby. And he. And it wouldn't make sense to say, congratulations on your small baby.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

That would mean, like, too small. Like, scientific.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right, right, right. That would be actually about commenting on the actual size of the baby. And, like, I don't know. It would be weird.

[Sponsor Voice]

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

So there is some nuance here. There is some nuance here, Michelle. Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

So we also use it to describe quantity, like a small amount. So. But you would say, can I have a little bit of mayonnaise?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Or there's only a little left in the jar. There's only a little jam left in the jar or something. Or mayonnaise.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Or he's a little annoying. It. Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah. Yep. And then siblings, of course, you know, they use these words to talk about each other. Right.

[Narrator/Announcer]

We.

[Lindsay McMahon]

I have a big sister and a little brother.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right? Yes.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Michelle, you have a. Although, as an adult, would you say, I have a big brother? Not really.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I'd probably say older. Then I think it becomes. You say older or younger, Right?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Exactly.

[Michelle Kaplan]

At some point you have a younger brother.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, I guess maybe it's when you become, like a teenager, you would no longer say, well, if your brother's younger. I have a little brother. You could probably still say that. But when you become an adult, it's not little big. It's older, younger.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Although I do sometimes hear adults even say things like, oh, my baby. My baby brother. You know, you still. Like, you still can. But yeah, you.

[Lindsay McMahon]

You're.

[Michelle Kaplan]

You could also use older or younger.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, yeah. It's. There's, again, nuance there. Real nuance, of course.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Whatever is in your personality. Yep.

[Lindsay McMahon]

I never would have imagined we'd find so much nuance in an episode about big.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I know. Little.

[Lindsay McMahon]

You know, I never. I never would have thought that we would find this level of nuance here. It's incredible.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, It's. It's interesting. It's interesting to talk about. And Discover. So should we do a role play?

[Sponsor Voice]

Let's do it.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Michelle. So here you and I are friends. You were asking me about my weekend.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Okay. Okay, here we go. So do you have any big plans this weekend?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Kind of. I'm helping my little sister move into her new place.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Oh, nice. Is it a big apartment?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Not really. It's a pretty, it's pretty small, but it's in a great neighborhood.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Oh, well, that's awesome. Location is everything.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Exactly. She's really excited to be within walking distance of her favorite cafe.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Oh, well, I completely get that. It's the little things in life.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Totally. She doesn't need a large space, just a nice environment. So this is interesting because this is an example where I'm assuming you and I are not like seven years old.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Talking about her sister. So we did say little sister. Right. So there you go. Right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, I think I, I, yeah, I'm thinking about that nuance and I wonder if you would be more likely to say younger sister if I said, do you have any siblings? Right. Like, rather than like talking about her, referring to her. Oh, my little sister. Like, but I would stay. I don't know. It's interesting.

[Sponsor Voice]

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

I explore. I think there might be a little something there in terms of how close you are to the person too.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yes.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah. That's interesting. Yeah.

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

I think if, if you feel a sense of endearment towards your younger sister, you might be more likely to say little sister, I think.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

No, I, I agree. And I also think it's more likely if, if they, I don't know, maybe I'm wrong here. If they are younger than you to be like, oh, my little sister, my baby sister, my. Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

I don't know.

[Lindsay McMahon]

You mean like significantly younger or.

[Michelle Kaplan]

No, no, just like being like, you know, you have this older sibling. Oh, my little sister. Like, but I don't know, like, I don't think that I would say like my big brother, but I'm very close to my brother.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Right. Maybe it's something about a younger sister. I don't know.

[Michelle Kaplan]

We have to pay attention.

[Lindsay McMahon]

I know. Like, I, well, that's the thing. I would never say my little brother. And I would say I'm probably less close to my brother than you are to your brother. I have a feeling you're closer to your brother. But I would say my younger brother or just my brother. Sometimes he doesn't feel younger. You know, he's got like a 11 year old child and.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

So anyways, there's like lot there but just listen. Observe native speakers as they say this, guys. And start to pick up on that nuance.

[Sponsor Voice]

Right?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yes. All right, let's go through this role play. So I said, do you have any big plans this weekend?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yep. And then I said, kind of. I'm helping my little sister move into her new place, Right?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yep. And then I said, oh, nice. Is it a big apartment? So the size.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, the size. And I said, not really. It's pretty small. But it's in a great neighborhood. And hear, great means what, Michelle?

[Michelle Kaplan]

It means like a high quality. High quality. Like there's like lots of things around. Just desire.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Desirable. Yep.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yep. And then what else?

[Michelle Kaplan]

So I said, I completely get that it's the little things in life, which is really almost just like an expression, you know, when you say oh, it's, you know, you'll hear that people say that a lot. It's the little things in life. It's like you don't need necessarily the biggest, grand, amazing things in life to make you happy. It's the little things that sometimes make all the difference.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yep. That's really just more of a chunk or a saying like you said. And then I said, totally. She doesn't need a large space, just a nice environment. And this is an example of where we could interchange big or large. Doesn't need a big space. You need a large space. Right. Both would work in that scenario, but not in everyone, as we've just learned.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yep, exactly. Oh, wow. So a lot here. So, guys, check out episode 25, 60, 68. That was as well versus 2, versus also in English. So another one about is, you know, kind of small words that can make a big difference.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah. Really good stuff today, Michelle. Any final takeaway? I guess what comes to mind for me is don't assume, like these seem like simple words. Right. But yeah, just kind of think twice and observe. Don't assume you totally know them because we're showing you maybe a different side of these words today that you may not have known before, right?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, yeah, exactly. Really interesting. And just, I think it's also just interesting how much conversation we got into over just these little words. So.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, for sure.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, really interesting stuff. All right, Lindsay. Well, I'm glad we were able to have a. A big discussion about this, A robust discussion, Michelle.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Good stuff, Michelle. Have a good day.

[Michelle Kaplan]

All right, you too. Bye.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Okay, bye.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Thanks for listening to allears English. Would you like to know your English level? Take our 2 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 See you next time.

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