AEE: 4 English Phrases to Start a Meal

Summary

All Ears English Podcast: Episode Summary Title: AEE: 4 English Phrases to Start a Meal
Hosts: Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan
Release Date: May 31, 2025

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of the All Ears English Podcast, hosts Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan delve into the nuances of starting a meal in American English. Aimed at intermediate to advanced ESL learners, the episode explores various phrases used to initiate mealtime conversations, emphasizing cultural differences and conversational etiquette.

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Exploring Phrases to Start a Meal

1. Shall We? [05:41]

Lindsay introduces the first phrase, "Shall we?", highlighting its polite and somewhat formal tone. This expression is versatile, suitable for both casual and semi-formal settings. Lindsay explains:

"I might just say 'enjoy' is something I might say. Right? What do you say?" ([02:42])

Michelle adds that "Shall we?" can effectively transition the group into starting their meal without explicitly mentioning eating:

"Shall we?" ([06:19])

This phrase is particularly useful in group settings, serving as a subtle cue to begin eating.

2. Chow Down [07:04]

Next, Michelle introduces "Chow down," a much more casual and energetic way to start a meal. Lindsay notes the stark contrast between "Shall we?" and "Chow down," emphasizing its suitability for informal gatherings:

"Let's all chow down. Tammy, this looks amazing." ([07:37])

This phrase conveys enthusiasm and eagerness to eat, making it ideal for relaxed environments among friends or family.

3. Let's Eat [09:38]

"Let's eat" is presented as a straightforward and universally understood phrase. Michelle illustrates its simplicity and effectiveness:

"You could say, 'Let's eat, everyone. I hope you're hungry, but save room for dessert.'" ([09:47])

Lindsay reminisces about childhood dinners, highlighting how common and casual this phrase is:

"I'm full for dinner, but not for dessert. That's what we used to always say to our parents." ([10:01])

This expression is versatile and can be used in both formal and informal settings without the risk of sounding out of place.

4. Enjoy [10:20]

The final phrase, "Enjoy," serves as a friendly and neutral way to commence a meal. Lindsay prefers this term for its simplicity and universality:

"Enjoy sounds the most natural to me. You know, I didn't grow up in a religious household... enjoy is pretty neutral, friendly, not overly fancy, but not overly casual either." ([11:09])

Michelle adds that servers often use this phrase, making it an appropriate choice when addressing a group or in a restaurant setting:

"Servers like waiters and waitresses will use this a lot as well." ([10:25])

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Cultural Context and Usage

The hosts discuss the absence of a direct English equivalent to phrases like "Bon appétit" in French or "Tabemasho" in Japanese. They explore how English speakers rely on a variety of expressions based on personal preference and the social context of the meal.

Lindsay emphasizes the importance of manners and expressing gratitude:

"We do want to make sure that we say thank you because manners are important." ([04:09])

Michelle concurs, explaining that while English lacks a specific phrase, the available options like "Enjoy" provide a flexible way to initiate meals respectfully.

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Practical Role-Play

To demonstrate the practical application of these phrases, Lindsay and Michelle engage in a role-play scenario set in a restaurant:

Lindsay: "So does your pizza. Okay, shall we?" ([12:28])
Michelle: "I've been waiting to chow down on pizza for a while." ([12:34])
Lindsay: "All right, let's eat." ([12:43])
Michelle: "Enjoy." ([12:45])

This natural dialogue showcases how each phrase fits seamlessly into a mealtime conversation, reinforcing their appropriate usage.

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Common Mistakes and Tips

The hosts caution against negative commentary on others' food choices, emphasizing the importance of positive interactions:

"Don't yuck someone's. Yeah, don't do that. That's really rude." ([13:03])

They also advise listeners to avoid using incorrect phrases like "bone up," clarifying common misunderstandings and encouraging the use of appropriate expressions based on the context.

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Encouraging Listener Engagement

Throughout the episode, Lindsay and Michelle encourage listeners to engage with the podcast by leaving reviews and participating in discussions about cultural expressions. They highlight the community aspect of learning English, reinforcing the podcast's tagline:

"Connection NOT Perfection!"

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Conclusion

This episode of All Ears English provides valuable insights into starting a meal in American English, blending practical language tips with cultural understanding. Through clear explanations, real-life examples, and interactive role-plays, listeners gain confidence in using these phrases appropriately in various dining scenarios.

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Notable Quotes:

• "Enjoy sounds the most natural to me. You know, I didn't grow up in a religious household..." – Lindsay McMahon ([11:09])
• "Chow down doesn't have to be the... Let's chow down. You could also say, oh, you know, we're chowing down on this amazing dish." – Michelle Kaplan ([07:50])
• "The connection can truly begin through the conversation." – Lindsay McMahon ([15:12])

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Additional Resources:

• Previous Episodes: Listeners are encouraged to revisit earlier episodes, such as episode 2386 on phrasal verbs and episode 2409 on restaurant English, for a more comprehensive understanding.
• All Ears English App: For personalized learning tools, including real-time transcripts and vocabulary lists.

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Connect with Hosts:

• Website: AllEarsEnglish.com
• Social Media: Follow Lindsay and Michelle on their respective social platforms for updates and additional content.

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Thank you for tuning into the All Ears English Podcast! Remember, it's all about connection, not perfection.

Transcript

[Lindsay McMahon]

This is the all ears English podcast. 4 English phrases to start a meal. 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 like 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 Allears English app for iOS and Android. Start your seven day free trial at allearsenglish.com forward/app.

[Michelle Kaplan]

In your culture, are there many different things you can say to start a meal today? Find out what we say and don't say in English when we start eating with a group.

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[Lindsay McMahon]

Hey there, Michelle. What's going on today?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Not too much. Lindsay. Lindsay, what's the best meal you've had recently? Does anything stand out in your mind?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Definitely. So just last weekend I went to a Vietnamese place and had an amazing tofu banh mi sandwich. And it was very simple and it was, it was cheap, but it was good. And that is. And I've been to some restaurants in the last couple of weeks, but to be honest, that bon me sandwich was the best.

[Michelle Kaplan]

That sounds delicious. I love that. Is there. Lindsay, do we say anything like in American English, is there anything specifically that we say at the start of a meal?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Oh, good question, Michelle. We say a lot of different things and it depends on our personality. It might depend on what we heard growing up. Depends on who we're with. But I might just say enjoy is something I might say. Right? What do you say?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, well, that's what we're going to talk about today because, I mean, we don't. I think in English there's not really a specific.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Formal thing to say. So in French, I always think of bon appetit, which actually, I mean, Lindsay, would you.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Do you ever say that bon appetit Sometimes. Sometimes we do carry that over. I remember in Japanese we used to say tabimasho. Tabimasho means let's eat. Right? There's. Yeah. And you know, in many cultures and countries, we have something that we say in Spanish. Salu, I think we used to say. Right. So good.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, I don't feel that there's an. A complete English equivalent. Right. So we might say different things, but I don't think we have kind of a direct one to one. Oh, this is what we say. Right? Dude, what do you think?

[Lindsay McMahon]

It's true. It's true.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

It doesn't quite mean the same thing. We don't. Yeah, we. Yeah. And that makes sense because cultures are so different. Right? Cultures are so different. And before we get too much further into this topic, we do want to make sure that we say thank you because manners are important.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yes.

[Lindsay McMahon]

We want to thank our special listeners who took the time to go and write a review for Allers English. Today. These people left a review in the Android app. Remember, guys, we have an Android and an iOS app and you can review us in there. So thank you to Ahmed Fati Muhammad 5 star review. Thank you so much. Nored Aani from. I don't. Not sure where that person is from, but reviewed us on April 20th. Jose Miguel Castillo, thank you so much. Amazing. Another five star review. So thank you to these special reviewers. Guys, go and leave your review to get your name announced on the show. All right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Thank you so much. We're really appreciative.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Very nice. All right, Michelle, where to go from here?

[Michelle Kaplan]

All right, so we're going to talk also about, you know, if, if some are used not just about starting a meal, but about eating in general. So we're going to get more into this in just a second. But we did teach a couple of good ones in this episode you did with Aubrey, which was episode 2386, was wait up. English phrasal verbs for softening imperatives. And in that one, you guys talked about eat up and dig in.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yes, yes.

[Michelle Kaplan]

And maybe drink up as well. So. Yeah. So guys, there are some good ones over there. So check that episode out. So, yeah, let's. Let's get into what we might say. So what's the first one, Lindsay?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Okay, we might say shall we? And this is nice. I mean, we just did an episode last time we recorded Michelle about what happens when one person gets their food. Food before the other. This is continuing on that theme. Kind of. Maybe you're sitting in a restaurant and you've both gotten Your food at the same time. Right, right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

And I'm gonna give you the number for that episode towards the end of today. So we're. We'll. We'll let you know which one that was. But definitely a super good one to listen to along with this. So. Yeah, that looks amazing. Shall we? Or shall we? It looks amazing. Do you. Does that feel natural to you, Lindsay?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, it does. I. I like shall we. It's kind of polite and elevated a little bit, but, you know, again, it's communicating with the person in front of you. Right. Also, it could also be useful if you're dining in a group and, you know, you just. Maybe someone has spoken some words or something or some kind of announcement, and then you're ready to transition into actually picking up our forks and eating. Someone might say this. Shall we?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Shall we? Right. We don't need to say, shall we eat? If. If we know we both have our forks. Yeah, we know what we're talking about.

[Lindsay McMahon]

You can say that.

[Michelle Kaplan]

You could. You could say, shall we eat? But you don't have to. Yes, we know what we're talking about.

[Lindsay McMahon]

All right, so let's get a lot more casual here for the next one. Michelle.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yes. Oh, that's true. We're taking another turn. The next one is chow down, and that one is very casual. Lindsay, what do you think of this one?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, it's like, between shall we and chow down, you're in two totally different households. Right. Yeah, that's true. Different kind of norms in the home. Right. So you could say, okay, everyone, now let's all. Let's all chow down. Tammy, this looks amazing.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Tammy, she's all that. Tammy is a great. She's like, must be a good cook.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, Tammy.

[Michelle Kaplan]

So. But yeah, and chow down. It doesn't have to be the. Let's chow down. You could also say, oh, you know, my. We. We were chowing down and this amazing dish. Right. So you could use it in that way as well.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, I guess you could use it that way for sure.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah.

[Lindsay McMahon]

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[Michelle Kaplan]

All right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

And then another way, another thing you might say with your family or friends and just indicating that we can begin eating is, let's eat.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah. Simple as that. You could say, let's eat, everyone. I hope you're hungry, but save room for dessert. Lindsay, do you get, like, full from your meal and then you still. You're. You're not full for dessert?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, I used to say that as a kid. I'm. I'm full for dinner, but not for dessert. That's what we used to always say to our parents.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yep, yep, yep. Exactly. It's like two different stomachs.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah. I have a second stomach waiting for my chocolate ice cream or my chocolate lava cake.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right, of course. Yeah, of course.

[Lindsay McMahon]

And then we might just say simply, enjoy. Right. I like that one.

[Michelle Kaplan]

So, but we would always kind of just say it like, enjoy. Right. And I think that sometimes servers, like waiters and waitresses will use this a lot as well. So here's an example. So here's your salad.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Oh, thank you. It looks amazing.

[Michelle Kaplan]

All right. Enjoy. Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

And just to be clear, waiters and waitresses would not say chow down or shall we? Those don't apply. This enjoy is something that you could say as one of the people dining to the group, or the waiter or waitress could say it, but this is the only one that would work for that scenario. Okay.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right, Right, right. Exactly. Or, you know, you could just say. What's another example, Lindsay, of how you might use this? This.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Another giving Thanksgiving. Yes. This is a beautiful Thanksgiving meal. All right. Enjoy.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right.

[Lindsay McMahon]

So, yeah, so this could just be me. We were just served. Or maybe a family member just got the plates out and we all have our plates and we're waiting to eat. And then someone says, all right, enjoy. Or people say, it at the same time, maybe.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right, right, right, exactly. So which one of these feels the most natural to you? Because I do think that generally we say, you know, if. Especially if it's a more formal, like we're about to start Thanksgiving or something, that we generally say something before eating.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, I think enjoy sounds the most. Feels the most natural to me. You know, I didn't grow up in a religious household. Some people do say prayers before they eat if they're religious, for example. So there might be other things they might say, but we didn't do that when I was growing up. So enjoy is pretty. Is pretty neutral, friendly, not overly fancy, but not overly casual either.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, yeah, it's. It's definitely a good catch all. So it's a safe one to use. So, Lindsay, let's do a role play with some of these. Here we are. We're getting food at a restaurant.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Okay, here we go. So. Oh, wow. I'm so happy I ordered the pasta.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Looks delicious.

[Lindsay McMahon]

So does your Pete. So does your pizza. Okay, shall we?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Let's. I've been waiting to chow down on pizza for a while.

[Lindsay McMahon]

All right, let's eat.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Enjoy.

[Lindsay McMahon]

This is a very natural role play. Right. So guys, go back and listen again to the. How this went, because it's incredibly natural. Let's go through it, Michelle. So what did I say first?

[Michelle Kaplan]

You said that my pizza looks delicious. And you said, okay, shall we?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah. And I said, so does your pizza. Yeah, often. That's the other thing that we haven't talked about yet. People comment on each other's food. And I've. I've made a couple of comments on this show. Don't say don't like. Do like when you look at someone's food. Right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Don't yuck somebody's. Yum.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Don't yuck someone's. Yeah, don't do that. That's really rude. I like to eat things that are pretty healthy, like tempe or maybe tofu. And sometimes I'll get like a. When it comes to the table, and I'm like, don't do that to someone. I remember that when steak comes to the table to someone else, if they do that to me, you know?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Right. I was. I was buying tofu, some sort of tofu, something at the grocery store recently. And the cashier said, oh, like, he made a reaction. I'm like, come on, man. I.

[Lindsay McMahon]

That is not good for sales. Oh, my gosh. That's shocking. From the cashier.

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. So, yes, you said, okay, shall we? And then I said, let's. I've been waiting to chow down on pizza for a while.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah. And then. And then I said, all right, let's eat. Right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

And I said, enjoy. Lindsay, do you ever have, like, buyer's remorse over what food you order when you see what somebody else got?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yes, because I feel like I always order the wrong thing. I always order the wrong thing. I ordered very poorly. Very poorly. So that happens. You, Michelle, do you order one?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah. Sometimes I. Sometimes I try and anticipate that feeling. So I'll think about what the person is ordering and I think, oh, am I going to be jealous of what this person orders? And yeah. Yes, that, that's a. I'm sure that's a very human feeling that our listeners can relate to as well.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, for sure. Guys, go back and listen to episode 2409. Don't let it get cold. Restaurant English for connection. So good. So good. There are so many norms around sitting down at a restaurant or at a family's home and eating with the people that we, we want to know this. Right. So we. That. So the connection can truly begin through the conversation. Right?

[Michelle Kaplan]

Yeah, exactly. Yeah. So these are really good. Again, just for takeaway, we don't. You might say bone up, like bona petite. Right?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Sure.

[Michelle Kaplan]

People throw it around. They know what it means. But yeah, we don't. I wouldn't say that. We have one specific thing that is really sad. I mean, listen, I don't want to generalize either because I, I don't know if in. I don't know if in French, everybody's just all the time saying, bon appetit. Like, I don't know.

[Lindsay McMahon]

Right, right.

[Michelle Kaplan]

You know, it's possible. That's. So if we have any listeners who speak French and. Or in, you know, let me know. Is this really the common expression or is that what everybody thinks people say?

[Lindsay McMahon]

Yeah, but in English, you do have a lot of choices. So use them all, try it out, see which one feels right and go with that. All right, very good. And guys, don't forget to leave a review for allers English. Yes. Wherever you're listening. In the app or in the podcast. Spotify, Apple Podcast, iOS app, Android app. Write your review and we'll read your name out loud on the show. Okay, good.

[Michelle Kaplan]

All right, thanks for talking about this with me, Lindsay. Lindsay, I'll see you next time.

[Lindsay McMahon]

All right, take care, Michelle. Bye 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 forward/fluency score. And if you believe in connection, not perfection, then hit subscribe now to make sure you don't miss anything. See you next time.

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