
Learn how to express your feelings in English
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Lindsay McMahon
This is an All Ears English podcast. I just didn't get it. How to reveal your true feelings in English 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 Allears English app for iOS and Android. Start your seven day free trial at allearsenglish.com forward/app.
Michelle Kaplan
Have you ever gone to a movie, restaurant or city that everyone loves, but when you experienced it, you realized it was overhyped? Today we answer a listener question to show you how to talk about this experience while maintaining a connection.
Lindsay McMahon
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Michelle Kaplan
Hey Lindsay, how are you on this Saturday?
Lindsay McMahon
Doing great, Michelle. This is a sassy Saturday that we.
Michelle Kaplan
Sassy Saturday.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah, I'm doing good. How are you? Are you up to.
Michelle Kaplan
I'm good. Yeah, everything is good over here. My kids have been on break, so it's been a little bit. It's been a little chaotic around here, but that's okay. But Lindsay, have you ever been told by someone that something was super amazing and then it wasn't all it was cracked up to be?
Lindsay McMahon
Oh yeah, for sure. People talk a big game sometimes, right? When it comes to maybe they're inviting you on an experience. Experience. A weekend somewhere, maybe a restaurant. I don't know, even just a party. And you think it's going to be amazing and it's actually kind of boring. Sure. It's happened to me. Michelle, what about you?
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, of course, this is. Of course it happens. But yeah, today. Well, I think it happens sometimes with movies or books or TV shows a lot. On anything that somebody's recommending, you're in that danger, danger zone of something not being what that's cracked up to be.
Lindsay McMahon
But yeah, because often, you know, someone's recommendation comes from their perspective. Right. We only see things from our own. You know, different colored glasses. We all wear different colored glasses on the world. And. And so sometimes when someone gives me a recommendation, I think to myself, what do I know about this person? You know? Right. Do they have fancier taste? Do they have more casual taste? Do they like sci fi? And I actually don't like sci fi. Right. For example.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, right. Exactly. Exactly. So today we have a listener question about the expression not all it's cracked up to be. So we're gonna get that into. Get into that in just a second. But first we wanted to say thank you so much to our Android app reviewers. Yes.
Lindsay McMahon
Special thank you to the following users of the Android app. Anonymous, W6.6, Vishnu, Priya from California, Mohammed Mirzai, Fayed, Shak Kajra, and BL Estevon. These are all 5 star reviews. Michelle. Unbelievable.
Michelle Kaplan
Oh, my gosh. Thank you so much. We're so appreciative. Leave those reviews, keep them coming, ask your questions. But thank you so much to those have who have reviewed us. It really means a lot.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah. And guys, don't forget to get a better experience listening to the show. You can always use the Android or the iOS app. So go to allersenglish.com app to find out how to become a premium member. Okay. So, Michelle, do you want to read the question to change it up for today?
Michelle Kaplan
I was just gonna say. I was just gonna say I kind of. Absolutely. All right, here we go. Hey, Lindsay, Michelle and Aubrey, I just wanted to say a huge thank you for your awesome podcast. A it isn't just helping me with American English, but also giving me a deeper feel for American culture, which is really cool. Plus, I love listening to it while I'm walking somewhere. It actually keeps. It's actually what keeps me motivated to walk instead of hopping on public transport. I love that.
Lindsay McMahon
I love that too. Oh, so nice.
Michelle Kaplan
They say my walks usually take just about the right time to finish an episode. So it's kind of become my little routine. Oh, my God, I love that.
Lindsay McMahon
Perfect.
Michelle Kaplan
I feel so warm inside when I listen to an episode. Like I'm catching up with old friends. Oh, my gosh.
Lindsay McMahon
Oh, that's wonderful.
Michelle Kaplan
So nice.
Lindsay McMahon
Michelle, this is exactly why we do this, right? It's for this, you know, this feedback that we can imagine. We can go along with you on your walks with your dog or hanging out at a cafe. Right? That's it right there.
Michelle Kaplan
Such a cool feeling. I love that.
Lindsay McMahon
Really cool.
Michelle Kaplan
So it says, a few days ago, I came across this phrase, it's not all it's cracked up to be. Could you please break it down and explain what it really means and how people use it? And in your best tradition, could you recommend some other similar phrases? I love that. Thanks again for all the great work you do. I seriously appreciate it. Can't wait for the next episode. Well, we are so appreciative of you. This is from Ilser from Russia nowadays, living in Sweden, Stockholm. So beautiful. Thank you so much. What a beautiful question. Thank you for all the feedback. We. We're so appreciative of you.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah. And we are super excited to answer your question, Ilser, in our unique style that we do here at Allers English. And again, this is why we make the show for our listeners. So we want to hear from you guys. Go ahead and leave us a review. Send us more of these letters. We love your love letters. Right? We love it.
Michelle Kaplan
Thank you so much. So, all right, let's go ahead and answer the question. So, I mean, to me, this is a super common expression. What do you think, Lindsay?
Lindsay McMahon
Oh, yeah. It's not all it's cracked up to be, for sure. And I love how casual it is, Michelle. But it says a lot.
Michelle Kaplan
Yes, yes, exactly. I mean, but what does that mean? What does it even mean?
Lindsay McMahon
It means it's not as good as people say it is. Okay.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah. Right. So there's kind of this reputation for something, and it may be a lot of people feel this way. Maybe all. Everybody's talking about this one TV show and you're just watching it and you kind of don't get it. Like, am I missing something? I don't understand what everybody thinks is so great. Right.
Lindsay McMahon
That's what I usually think. Am I missing something here? Is there something wrong with me? Why? I can't figure out why this. You know, what comes to mind first? Egg creams. Egg creams.
Michelle Kaplan
I know that either.
Lindsay McMahon
Right.
Michelle Kaplan
So.
Lindsay McMahon
So this is this Is like a famous drink in New York City. I think it's more historical than anything else, but I tried one once and everyone says they're so great. I did not get it.
Michelle Kaplan
I also, like. Do you ever. Do you like, like an ice cream float?
Lindsay McMahon
I would rather just have an ice cream, you know, same.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, well, the other day, I don't even know the last time I even tried one of those, but Dan said he would let my son try one. We were at this cute diner and so he tried and I. And they're like, oh, take a sip. And I just little, it's not worth it.
Lindsay McMahon
Have an ice cream cone and go for a walk, you know, not sit in a restaurant. But anyways, those are two examples in terms of food. So it definitely carries over for food and drink and famous cultural icons in terms of things we consume, right?
Michelle Kaplan
Yes, exactly. And we've talked about this idea of things being overhyped before a little bit, but it's super important and useful and I wanted to take some time on it. So let's do some examples today. Lindsay, what's the first example?
Lindsay McMahon
Everyone thinks living in my neighborhood is the best, but let me tell you, it's not all it's cracked up to be. There are things I really don't like about it. Yeah.
Michelle Kaplan
Okay.
Lindsay McMahon
I mean, you lived on the Upper west side.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, Right.
Lindsay McMahon
Did you? Was it. I mean, people say the Upper west side is a great place to live. Was it all it was cracked up to be? Or would you say I did like it? I thought you were gonna say you liked it. Yeah. That's fair. Yeah, I did.
Michelle Kaplan
I did like it a lot. Yeah. But I'm trying to think of another place, but maybe. Or I'd lived and it wasn't. I don't know, Lindsay. Well, I mean, you left la.
Lindsay McMahon
I left la. LA was. I mean, I. I kind of knew I wasn't going to be a fit in la, you know, but, you know, it. It's your personality. Some people would go to LA and they'll say, it's going to be amazing. You know, I love it. I want to sit in traffic for three hours. No, it just. I knew that that wouldn't be a match for me, so that wouldn't really be. I guess you could still say it's not all it's cracked up to be because people think of LA as Hollywood and. And, yeah, the weather's great. So I suppose I could still say I tried la. It wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Right?
Michelle Kaplan
Right. And then you could always. You could always qualify it by saying, like, oh, in my opinion, you know, and that's okay. But how long were you there again? I forgot.
Lindsay McMahon
Oh, like three months. Not long.
Michelle Kaplan
That's what I.
Lindsay McMahon
We didn't really try that hard, frankly, to live there. I think we both knew it wasn't going to be for us, but we were sort of wandering in that moment, trying to find where we belonged.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly. All right, so here. Here's another example. I don't understand why that movie is getting such good reviews. I saw it and wasn't all it's cracked up to be.
Lindsay McMahon
Yes, interesting. Let's see. I just saw the movie over the weekend, The Amateur. Have you seen it?
Michelle Kaplan
Okay.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah, it was good, actually, legitimately a good movie. And I would recommend going to it. So that doesn't fall into this category.
Michelle Kaplan
It is all. It's cracked, too.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah, yeah, yeah. All right, here's another example. Don't waste your money. That restaurant is overpriced and the portions are small. Definitely not all it's cracked up to be. Right, good.
Michelle Kaplan
So maybe a restaurant everybody's trying hard to get into, it's hard to get a reservation. And then you go and.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah, it's right. It's funny because, yeah, sometimes we go places because there's a lot of hype. Like we said, there's a lot of hype around something. Maybe there's always a line outside the door to get in. Even, like, brunch places will do this. And we go. We assume it's gonna be great, and maybe it's more the hype. Right?
Michelle Kaplan
Yes, it's true. And then you wonder, does everybody actually love it? Or is it just that that idea is put out into the world, that this is amazing and you're supposed to love it and everyone is just kind of going along with it.
Lindsay McMahon
That's kind of how I feel about brunch in general. Just brunch. Brunching, Just the act of brunching. Regardless of where you go. It's just sort of. It's not my thing. It's not my thing. So for me, brunch is not all it's cracked up to be. But people love brunch. They love it.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah. Well, I think we've talked about this before, and my thing is I'm starving when I wake up. So I'm not. You know, it's just. And then you're in an awkward position. And I recently had this happen where I was going with somebody and it was going to be at like 10:30 and I can't. I don't know what to do with myself then.
Lindsay McMahon
I don't know how you made it in New York, because I think New York is a brunching city. Of course it's a brunching city. LA is a brunching city. Denver, not a brunching city. Because most people. Oh, yeah, most people are in the mountains by 8am oh, they're on the weekend. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So if you have that kind of lifestyle, because for me, brunch, maybe you have a drink and then you're tired at noon and you're hungry when you show up, there's a line. It's not all it's cracked up to be, but people love it. Right. And so you wouldn't use that phrase in that scenario.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, exactly.
Lindsay McMahon
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Michelle Kaplan
Yes. As our listener Ilser said in our best tradition to give other ways to say it. So I like that. Yeah. So not worth the hype or overhyped.
Lindsay McMahon
O. I like overhyped. That sounds cool.
Michelle Kaplan
Over. Hyped. Hyped, yeah. So what's an example with that?
Lindsay McMahon
That gym is not worth the hype or that gym is overhyped?
Michelle Kaplan
Right, right, right. So a lot of times, I mean, you see these gyms are so expensive. Yes. And then. Yeah. You're like, what am I paying for? Some of them are worth the hype. I. I can't say that I'm a gym connoisseur, but I'm just saying in general, things you have to pay a lot for.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah, for sure. Or overrated. Right. Very common. Right. And we also say underrated, which could be another episode for another day. Right. Overrated. Her new album is completely overrated. In my. Maybe we add. In my opinion.
Michelle Kaplan
In my opinion. In my opinion. Yeah. If you want to add those little qualifiers to kind of soften it or just make sure people know that, you know, this is just what I think. But.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah.
Michelle Kaplan
Or a letdown. That's saying that something really. You were excited about it and you were kind of.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah, yeah. For example. Yeah, go ahead.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, go ahead. Oh, I wanted to love the new hotel, but I thought it was a letdown. Yeah.
Lindsay McMahon
That's tough. Right. I'd rather be surprised and say I had low expectations, but. But it really blew my mind. Right. It really surprised me.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah.
Lindsay McMahon
We. When we visited Portugal last year in Lisbon, we stayed in a little. A little guest house. That just was underrated, in my opinion.
Michelle Kaplan
It.
Lindsay McMahon
It was amazing. The service was incredible. The breakfast was amazing. The friendliness of the people was unbelievable. I just. I loved it. So that's the kind of experience that I look for.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah. That's amazing. That's amazing. Yeah. I mean, I'm trying to think of things. Recently, I did read a book that I found it wasn't worth the hype. There's been a TV show. There's been a. I think a TV show or a movie made from it. And yeah, I was reading it and I'm just like, I want this to be over. So I did. I didn't think it was worth the hype, but a lot of people loved it and that's. Okay.
Lindsay McMahon
Nice. Have you ever read the book A Tree Grows in Brooklyn? Super famous. No. Okay. It's a really famous, but I haven't ever read it, so I'm just reading this now for the first time. It's about Brooklyn in the early 1900s. Right. So immigrant families and what life was like. Really. So far, it's a really good. It's well written. I would recommend it. So not overrated.
Michelle Kaplan
Well, I'm about to eat finish my current book, so.
Lindsay McMahon
Right. You can move on to that one after. Love it.
Michelle Kaplan
Exactly. So should we do a role play?
Lindsay McMahon
Let's do it, Michelle. So here we're not going to use everything we taught you because that would be a lot of. A lot of commentary.
Michelle Kaplan
A lot of commentary. But here we're talking about a new movie that came out.
Lindsay McMahon
Here we go. So did you love it?
Michelle Kaplan
Honestly, I don't think it was all it's cracked up to be.
Lindsay McMahon
Really?
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah. I don't know. I didn't really get it. To me, it was kind of a letdown.
Lindsay McMahon
Oh. I've heard some people say it's overrated, but I personally loved it. Yeah. Michelle, did you see the second Top Gun? The Top Gun sequel with Dan Cruz? Okay. I was wondering what you thought about that. You'll have to go watch it and tell us on the show. I thought it was pretty cute. I thought it was good. I mean, I think a lot of sequels will never be as good as the originals. I mean, how could you beat the first Top Gun? Come on. Right?
Michelle Kaplan
But it was.
Lindsay McMahon
It was good. I. I wasn't disappointed. So that's good.
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, that's good. Yeah. So, all right. You said. So did you love it? Right. And you're kind of. You. Could I. I could tell that you want you to say yes and excited. So I said, honestly, I didn't think it was all it's cracked up to be.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah. Yeah. Interesting. And then I said, you said to me it was kind of a letdown.
Michelle Kaplan
Oh, yeah. And then you said, I've heard some people say it's overrated, but I loved it. And I like how you added I personal. Really loved it. You added that in. And I was noticing as we were doing this role play, there are a lot of little ways that we kind of qualify these things and show that there are opinions. So I said, honestly, I didn't think it was all it's cracked up to be. You said, oh, no. Then I said, to me it was kind of a letdown. And then you said, I personally. Right. Loved it. Those are interesting ways that we did. You know, we. We softened it a little bit.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah, totally. So I think when something is such a cultural phenomenon and people are loving something, and then you go and you're like, I don't get. Well, that would be another one. Michelle, I want to add as a bonus. I just didn't get it.
Michelle Kaplan
I didn't get it.
Lindsay McMahon
And this one's really cool because normally we use the phrase I don't get it or I didn't get it to mean I didn't understand. And essentially, that's what we're saying. I Didn't understand why people love this so much. I didn't understand what the big deal was. And I use this a lot, right?
Michelle Kaplan
Yeah, yeah, exactly. I didn't get it. It doesn't necessarily mean, oh, I didn't understand it. I didn't understand why everyone loves it.
Lindsay McMahon
Right, exactly. So we're gonna add that in for you guys as a bonus to today. Michelle, what's another episode our listeners can find right now?
Michelle Kaplan
All right, guys, check out episode 2387. That was eight different ways to use some in English.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah. So this is a really interesting connection skill, right? Because if someone has recommended that we go see something that we try, a restaurant, we probably want to be a little careful about how we review it. But we want to be truthful, too, because if we don't tell our true opinions about things, we become a little bland and boring and we. It's okay to be spicy and say, actually, I didn't think it was worth all the hype. Right. So. But also, we're keeping in mind, was that the person that recommended it to us? Then we can learn about that person. So there's a lot here around connection. Michelle, don't you think that's absolutely.
Michelle Kaplan
Oh, yeah, absolutely. You don't want to make that person feel like, how could you like something like that or feel like, you know, oh, maybe if it's a book or something. And then what are you saying? I'm not smart? Maybe I'm not, you know, you know, people. People might get offended. So just make sure you say, oh, I didn't really like it.
Lindsay McMahon
Yeah, but it, it's also okay to be truthful, you know, give your true review. People, everyone takes in the world differently, and that's the cool thing about life. So I love it. Most importantly, just use the conversation to build that connection because that's what we're all about here at Allers English. Right, Michelle?
Michelle Kaplan
That's absolutely right. Okay, well, thank you again for that great question and that sweet, sweet review of our show, and we appreciate it. And guys, thanks for listening.
Lindsay McMahon
All right, guys, leave a review for the show wherever you listen, and we'll do our best to read your name out loud on the show. All right, Michelle, talk to you soon. Bye.
Michelle Kaplan
All right, bye. Bye, Lindsay.
Lindsay McMahon
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 be make sure you don't miss anything. See you next time.
All Ears English Podcast Summary
Episode: "I Just Didn't Get It! How to Reveal Your True Feelings in English"
Release Date: May 17, 2025
In this engaging episode of the All Ears English Podcast, hosts Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan delve into the nuanced expression “not all it’s cracked up to be,” exploring how English learners can authentically express their true feelings without compromising connections. The episode is tailored for intermediate to advanced English learners aiming to enhance their conversational skills and cultural understanding.
Timestamp [07:09]
The episode centers around a listener question from Ilser, a Russian living in Stockholm, who inquires about the meaning and usage of the phrase “not all it’s cracked up to be” and requests similar expressions. Michelle shares Ilser's appreciation for the podcast, highlighting its dual role in improving English proficiency and providing cultural insights.
Timestamps [07:16] - [09:15]
Lindsay explains that the expression signifies something is not as good as its reputation suggests. For instance, Michelle mentions feeling this way about movies, books, or TV shows when they don’t meet expectations set by popular opinion.
Quote:
Lindsay McMahon [07:16]: “It means it's not as good as people say it is.”
Practical Examples Provided:
Neighborhood Living:
Lindsay shares her experience with Los Angeles, suggesting that despite its glamorous image, it wasn't the right fit for her.
Timestamp [09:07]
Quote:
Lindsay McMahon [09:07]: “Everyone thinks living in my neighborhood is the best, but let me tell you, it's not all it's cracked up to be.”
Restaurants and Hype:
Michelle discusses the disappointment of visiting overly hyped restaurants where the experience doesn't match the buzz.
Timestamp [11:03]
Quote:
Michelle Kaplan [11:03]: “Don't waste your money. That restaurant is overpriced and the portions are small. Definitely not all it's cracked up to be.”
Brunch Culture:
Lindsay expresses her personal disinterest in the popular brunch scene, emphasizing that despite its widespread love, it's not for everyone.
Timestamp [11:41]
Quote:
Lindsay McMahon [11:41]: “Brunch is not all it's cracked up to be. But people love brunch. They love it.”
Timestamps [14:41] - [16:45]
Michelle and Lindsay introduce synonyms and related phrases to “not all it’s cracked up to be,” such as:
Overhyped:
Timestamp [14:52]
Example: “That gym is overhyped.”
Overrated:
Timestamp [15:00]
Example: “Her new album is completely overrated.”
Letdown:
Timestamp [15:47]
Example: “I wanted to love the new hotel, but I thought it was a letdown.”
Underrated:
Timestamp [16:14]
Example: “The guest house in Lisbon was underrated.”
Quote:
Michelle Kaplan [14:50]: “Overhyped. Hyped, yeah.”
The hosts emphasize the importance of qualifiers like “in my opinion” to soften critiques and convey personal perspectives without sounding harsh.
Timestamps [17:15] - [19:37]
To solidify understanding, Lindsay and Michelle engage in a role-play scenario discussing a movie where one host finds it disappointing while the other enjoys it. This exercise demonstrates how to use the expression in conversation while maintaining politeness and clarity.
Key Points from Role Play:
Expressing Disappointment:
Timestamp [17:32]
Michelle Kaplan: “Honestly, I don't think it was all it's cracked up to be. I didn’t really get it. To me, it was kind of a letdown.”
Balancing Opinions:
Timestamp [18:30]
Lindsay McMahon: “I've heard some people say it's overrated, but I personally loved it.”
Bonus Expression:
Timestamp [19:14]
Lindsay introduces “I just didn’t get it,” differentiating it from mere confusion about something’s quality.
Quote:
Michelle Kaplan [19:15]: “I didn't get it. It doesn't necessarily mean, oh, I didn't understand it. I didn't understand why everyone loves it.”
Timestamps [19:45] - [20:58]
Lindsay and Michelle underscore the balance between honesty and maintaining connections. They discuss how sharing genuine opinions fosters authenticity in conversations without offending others. The hosts encourage listeners to use such expressions thoughtfully to express their true feelings while respecting differing viewpoints.
Quote:
Lindsay McMahon [20:25]: “Most importantly, just use the conversation to build that connection because that's what we're all about here at All Ears English.”
The episode concludes with Lindsay and Michelle thanking listeners for their questions and feedback, encouraging them to continue engaging with the podcast through reviews and further inquiries. They highlight the community-oriented nature of the show, aiming to make English learning a connected and enjoyable experience.
Lindsay on Personal Experiences:
“Everyone thinks living in my neighborhood is the best, but let me tell you, it's not all it's cracked up to be.”
[07:16]
Michelle on Overhyped Experiences:
“Don't waste your money. That restaurant is overpriced and the portions are small. Definitely not all it's cracked up to be.”
[11:03]
Lindsay on Brunch Culture:
“Brunch is not all it's cracked up to be. But people love brunch. They love it.”
[11:41]
Michelle on Personal Disappointments:
“Honestly, I don't think it was all it's cracked up to be. I didn’t really get it. To me, it was kind of a letdown.”
[17:32]
Lindsay on Connection Through Honesty:
“Most importantly, just use the conversation to build that connection because that's what we're all about here at All Ears English.”
[20:25]
Expressing Disappointment: Utilize phrases like “not all it’s cracked up to be,” “overhyped,” or “overrated” to convey that something didn't meet expectations.
Balancing Opinions: Introduce personal opinions with qualifiers such as “in my opinion” to maintain politeness and clarity.
Cultural Insights: Understanding these expressions aids in navigating social conversations and sharing honest feedback without offending others.
Authentic Communication: Emphasizing connection over perfection fosters more genuine and meaningful interactions in English.
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