AEE: Let These English Idioms Sink In

Summary

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Episode Overview

Title: AEE: Let These English Idioms Sink In
Hosts: Lindsay McMahon and Aubrey Carter
Date: January 24, 2026
Theme:
This episode is the third part of a mini-series exploring essential English idioms and phrasal verbs that express how we process and absorb surprising or impactful information. Lindsay and Aubrey break down the subtle differences among expressions like "let it sink in," "wrap your head around," and "make sense of," using real-life scenarios and a bit of pop culture to illuminate meaning. There’s a strong focus on both language skills and cultural nuances—especially regarding emotional situations where directness may not be socially acceptable.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Meaning of "Let It Sink In"

• Processing vs. Absorbing:
  • "Let it sink in" means taking time to truly absorb or process information, especially something with deeper or unexpected implications.
• When to Use It:
  • Often employed after receiving serious, surprising, or meaningful news (e.g., someone moving abroad, hearing a shocking story).
• Quote:
  • “When Jenna told us she was moving to another country, we all just sat there quietly trying to let it sink in.” (Aubrey, 03:37)
• Emotional Response:
  • There's usually a moment of silence or lack of immediate response, signifying the need to process.

2. "Wrap Your Head Around" Explained

• Meaning:
  • To struggle to understand or accept something, especially when it challenges expectations or is emotionally charged.
• Usage Examples:
  • When a friend switches careers unexpectedly or a relationship changes rapidly.
• Quote:
  • “I'm having a tough time wrapping my head around it.” (Aubrey, 09:07)
• Crossover with "Let it Sink In":
  • Sometimes interchangeable, particularly when describing the process of intellectually or emotionally taking in new information.

3. "Make Sense Of" and Its Nuances

• Meaning:
  • To comprehend or interpret something confusing or complex, can be emotional or intellectual.
• Context:
  • After hearing puzzling or unexpected news, or trying to decipher someone's unclear message.
• Quote:
  • “I'm replaying what she said, trying to make sense of it, but I still feel confused.” (Lindsay, 09:15)
• Different Angles:
  • Can mean making emotional sense (grappling with feelings) or understanding details cognitively.

4. Idioms in Cultural and Social Context

• Navigating Delicate Topics:
  • The hosts discuss the fine line in American culture about what is acceptable to say when a loved one shares major news (like marriage).
• Connection vs. Honesty:
  • “You feel like you sort of have to just be supportive. But there is, like, if you feel like they're really... for some reason... it really is a bad choice, you almost feel obligated... but it could ruin the friendship.” (Aubrey, 11:07)
• Diplomatic Language:
  • These idioms help avoid direct criticism or disagreement, helping maintain harmony.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|-------|---------| | 03:37 | “When Jenna told us she was moving to another country, we all just sat there quietly trying to let it sink in.” | Aubrey | | 05:32 | “So maybe when Mark explained that he was switching careers at 40, it took his friends a while to wrap their heads around it.” | Aubrey | | 06:38 | “After watching the news on tv, I tried to make sense of what I had heard.” | Aubrey | | 09:07 | “I can't believe Emma is getting married. I need a minute to let it sink in.” | Lindsay (role play) | | 09:15 | “I'm having a tough time wrapping my head around it.” | Aubrey (role play) | | 09:15 | “I'm replaying what she said, trying to make sense of it, but I still feel confused.” | Lindsay (role play) | | 11:07 | “You feel like you sort of have to just be supportive...” | Aubrey | | 14:04 | “Oh, it's such a tricky thing because you also risk losing the friendship... So we're using diplomatic phrases to navigate around this. A little bit to respond.” | Lindsay |

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Role Play Highlight ([09:07–09:29])

• Scenario: Two friends processing the surprise announcement of a friend’s engagement.
  • Lindsay: “I can't believe Emma is getting married. I need a minute to let it sink in.”
  • Aubrey: “Same here... I'm having a tough time wrapping my head around it.”
  • Lindsay: “I'm replaying what she said, trying to make sense of it, but I still feel confused.”
• Takeaway:
  • Demonstrates the idioms in a natural, conversational setting, showing both politeness and emotional complexity.

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Episode Structure & Timestamps

• [01:52–02:20] – Personal habits on processing information (“let it sink in”)
• [02:20–03:37] – Introduction to the idiom “let it sink in” and example scenarios
• [05:03–05:32] – Difference between “let it sink in” and “wrap your head around”
• [06:13–06:56] – Introduction and use cases for “make sense of”
• [09:07–09:29] – Role play: applying the idioms in real-life style conversation
• [10:40–14:20] – Cultural nuance: emotional support vs. honesty, and how these idioms help

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Takeaways & Final Thoughts

• Softening Emotional Reactions:
  • The idioms discussed provide learners with practical tools to diplomatically express confusion, surprise, or a need to reflect without direct disagreement.
• Cultural Sensitivity:
  • Using phrases like these is a key part of American conversational culture, especially when the situation demands delicacy.
• Practicing Connection, Not Perfection:
  • As the hosts emphasize, these expressions don’t just help learners sound more natural—they help build connections by showing emotional intelligence.
• Further Listening:
  • Listeners are encouraged to check out Part 1 ("take in" phrasal verbs) and Part 2 ("soak it in," "drink it in") for a fuller understanding.

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Useful for Listeners Who…

• Want to move beyond direct translations and respond with emotional nuance.
• Are seeking tips on conversational etiquette in sensitive or surprising situations.
• Wish to master phrasal verbs and idioms key to fluent, authentic English.

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Hosts' Style:
Warm, supportive, conversational, candid—true to the “Connection NOT Perfection” motto. The episode blends practical language instruction with friendly banter and cultural insights.

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Transcript

[A]

This is an Allers English podcast. Let these English idioms sink in.

[B]

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, Aubrey Carter, the IELTS whiz and Lindsey McMahon, the English adventurer, coming to you from Arizona and Colorado, usa. And to get your transcripts delivered by email every week, go to allearsenglish.com subscribe. Part of connection is not just knowing the words to respond when you're shocked, but it's also knowing what you can say culturally and what you can't. Listen in today for more. Do you often end up in situations where you know exactly what you want to say, but you don't have the English vocabulary words that you need in that moment? To succeed in English, you need nuanced English vocabulary. But first you need to know your English level. Take our free English level quiz to find out if you are B1, B2 or C1. Go to allearsenglish.com fluency score. That's allearsenglish.com fm l u e N C Y S C O R E.

[A]

Hello, Lindsay. How are you today?

[B]

Hey, Aubrey. Doing great. How are you? How's everything?

[A]

Excellent. It's a beautiful day here in Arizona. Do you have a question for you?

[B]

Okay.

[A]

When you listen to a podcast or maybe watch a film, do you ever need time to let it sink in?

[B]

I really do, but I think I don't take the time, you know, because like, as a podcast listener, there's just another episode to listen to. So I just go right into it. But I wish I did take more time.

[A]

Same. Every now and then I, I do, I'll be like, I need to go on a walk and process this. But that's rare. Usually it is. We're busy. Something else comes up and we don't take that time. No, it's true.

[B]

Well, today we're here for the final installment of a three part series, right, Aubry?

[A]

Exactly. Stay to the end for details. You can definitely listen to these out of order, but in part two, we discussed the phrasal verbs, soak it in and drink it in. And we mentioned that you might think let it sink in has a similar meaning, but it's actually very different. So we're covering that today and related meanings.

[B]

All right, good. We are going to close any gaps in our mind about these meanings. But first, guys, hit the follow button right here on Allers English today is a Sassy Saturday episode. But we do publish five days a week. So you want us to come up right in your listening queue. Do to build the habit. That's how so many of our listeners have improved their listening over just maybe a year or six months of listening to the show. So become a member of our community and hit the follow button. All right.

[A]

Yes. Amazing. All right, let's dive in with this first one. I had asked you if you sometimes need time for something to sink in. So when we say let it sink in, we mean to really absorb it, to fully process it, to think about all of the implication or the deeper meaning. Often if you read a poem, if you don't take that time to let it sink in, you're missing metaphors, double meanings. There's usually a lot sort of hidden there for sure.

[B]

So here's an example. When Jenna told us she was moving to another country, we all just sat there quietly trying to let it sink in.

[A]

Yeah, that happens sometimes when you get sort of somber news and no one really reacts right away. You're just kind of shock. Sink in because you're shocked.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah, for sure. It's not hitting you.

[A]

After hearing the surprising news, he needed a few minutes alone to let it sink in. And sometimes you'll see someone absent themselves. I just heard that on Love. Love, actually, it's sort of a British phrase to remove yourself from a situation because you need time to process.

[B]

Aubrey, I thought you weren't a fan of that movie. I thought you were.

[A]

I love love, actually, I do. I don't love the. The, you know, I know we've talked about this. The plot line where, you know, someone's sort of being fat shamed and sort of commenting about her own body. I really hate that. Right. I think it would be different today. I'm so glad our culture has evolved some in the way we talk about bodies.

[B]

Definitely.

[A]

But other than that, I really love that film.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

A lot of aspects I'll. I'll give you that are definitely dated and wouldn't fly today. So many. And not just that piece, but other pieces too.

[A]

But I watch it's not. It's not the holidays until I've watched.

[B]

It are on Team Love, actually. I thought our team was dividing across lines of not love actually. Not watching love, actually. And Michelle's also a fan. Yeah.

[A]

I kind of wish they would remake it and. And re edit a little something something. But yeah, I love every year.

[B]

Every year. I think I'll get it on the plane on my way back to Boston. For, by the way, guys, we're recording this a few. About a week before Christmas. So that's the context.

[A]

So I just watched it, like, two days ago, actually.

[B]

Okay, perfect. Perfect. All right. All right, good. So then wrap your head around. It would be our next one. Right. So very similar. Right.

[A]

And so this can be emotional things. Same where you need time to let something sink in. It can also just be more about something that's different, difficult to understand or comprehend. Right.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

So maybe when Mark explained that he was switching careers at 40, it took his friends a while to wrap their heads around it. So that kind of thing where, like, you're confused, you don't understand why he's making this choice.

[B]

Yep. Yep, for sure. And. Or I still can't wrap my head around how quickly their relationship changed. And again, it comes back to shock. Right. You're kind of shocked, you're confused. You're just not taking it in because it doesn't make any sense with what you expected to hear.

[C]

Right.

[A]

But we do use this more synonymously with let it sink in as well. I could say, like, I just saw this documentary, and I need time to wrap my head around everything I learned. And then it would have a very same meaning as, like, I need to just absorb it.

[B]

Yes. I love it. And there's a third one today. Aubry. What is it?

[A]

Make sense of it. So kind of the same, like, understand it. Something's either confusing or hard to understand. For example, after watching the news on tv, I tried to make sense of what I had heard. Okay, so this could be anything. It could be extreme violence that you just can't fathom how that happens in the world. You need sort of time to try and make sense of it.

[B]

Yeah. And this could be used in a heart sense. Like, you've seen this violence, and you just can't take it in emotionally. But it also could mean, like, cerebrally. Is that a word? Cerebral. Cognitively, you can't quite take it in because you can't make sense of it because you. You don't quite understand all the details. Right. It could be both.

[A]

Exactly. Yeah. The second example is more like that. Right. She kept reading the text message again and again, trying to make sense of his comment. Yeah. So this is more cerebrally, like, I just don't understand what he means.

[B]

Yeah, exactly. Love it. When you first start your own business or go into management. No one tells you how hard but important hiring is. I've learned that I need to hire for attitude and willingness to learn as much as I Need to look for hard skills. Skills. If you're hiring, stop struggling to get your job. Post even seen on other job sites. Give your job the best chance to be seen with Indeed sponsored jobs. They help you stand out and hire quality candidates who can drive the results you need. If I needed to hire a new software developer, I'd be super specific in my job post with Indeed. I'd specifically look for someone with AI experience and who has built tools in our industry language learning in the past. With Indeed sponsored jobs, you only pay for results. No monthly subscriptions, no long term contracts. Just a boost whenever you need to find quality talent fast. Spend more time interviewing candidates who check all your boxes. Less stress, less time, more results. Now with Indeed sponsored jobs and listeners of this show will get a 75 sponsored job credit to help get your job the premium status it deserves@ Indeed.com a ae just go to Indeed.com ae right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. I N-E-E-.com a e Terms and conditions apply. Hiring. Do it the right way with Indeed. All right, Aubrey, we are going for a role play now. My favorite part of our episodes. So here we are sitting in a coffee shop. Sounds fun. Processing a friend's announcement though. Oh, I wonder what the announcement is. Okay. Okay, good. Here we go. All right. I can't believe Emma is getting married. I need a minute to let it sink in.

[A]

Same here. I mean, last time we talked, she wasn't even sure where the relationship was going. I'm having a tough time wrapping my head around it.

[B]

Exactly. And she didn't give us any details. I'm replaying what she said, trying to make sense of it, but I still feel confused.

[A]

Honestly, I think she surprised herself too. She looked nervous but excited.

[B]

True. Well, as long as she's happy.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah, this can happen. Or sometimes maybe you have a friend who just like you were sure you'd be like married and have a kid before that person, but then they. They do all that before you and you're shocked.

[A]

Right. You're just totally. That kind of thing coming or.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It just might happen out of the blue. Right? Really out of the blue.

[B]

People's lives change really quickly, you know?

[A]

Totally. You never know.

[B]

Yeah. All right, so first thing we said here was I can't believe Emma is getting married. I need a minute to let it sink in.

[A]

Yeah, there's some shock, some surprise. So you're like, it's. It's taking me a moment to process. I'm Just really surprised. Yes.

[B]

What else?

[A]

And I said, I'm having a tough time wrapping my head around it. So, yeah, this is interesting. Two friends and I kind of love this conversation. This happens a lot where we're trying really hard to not talk trash about our friend. We don't want to gossip. We don't want to say anything negative, but we're both very shocked. We're both like, may. And there's maybe this underlying tone of, is she making the right choice? What's happening? For us to use these phrases like, I need to. I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around it. I'm very surprised and I maybe disagree, but I'm trying to be a good friend.

[B]

This is a really. I don't know if this is a cultural thing, but this is a tough thing because when someone has decided to get married to someone and if you don't like. Like the person or you disapprove, there's a really fine line you have to walk. And basically you kind of can't say, like, socially. I mean, culturally. Socially.

[A]

Absolutely.

[B]

You kind of can't say that exactly.

[A]

Right. That's so tricky. You feel like you sort of have to just be supportive. But there is, like, if you feel like they're really. For some reason.

[B]

Right.

[A]

It really is a bad choice. You almost feel obligated out of loyalty to your friend to say something, but it could ruin the friendship.

[B]

Right. Like, if you know something about that person that the person doesn't know, then maybe that's an extenuating circumstance where, like, culturally, you could. You could say something.

[A]

But if I just don't like them. Yeah.

[B]

No, I.

[A]

To yourself.

[B]

It's true. I know someone that was in this situation that he wanted to tell his best friend that he doesn't think it's a good choice who his best friend is marrying, but he just couldn't do it, you know?

[A]

So tricky. It's the same as when someone. If there's, like, a breakup and you want to maybe really tell them what you thought of that person, but there's a chance they'll get back together, so you feel like you can't really be. Be that honest and open. So tricky.

[B]

It's so true. Did we go through the last one? I'm not sure if we did.

[A]

I'll. No, I think that makes sense of it.

[C]

Yeah.

[A]

You said. I'm replaying what she said, trying to make sense of it, but I still feel confused. Right. So these are just like, polite ways that we're saying. And we're in public. So maybe if we were like in private, we'd be like, what is happening?

[B]

Yeah, for sure.

[A]

But instead we're using these very polite phrases.

[B]

This is a little polite, a little bit more polite. It might be like emotionally you're trying to make sense of and cognitively you're trying need to make sense of it. Right. Because sometimes it's both. Yeah, it's both.

[A]

Definitely.

[B]

Yeah. Okay, what are the other part one and part two that our listeners should go to?

[A]

Yes, if you miss these, you can check them out right now. Episode 2542 was take in phrasal verbs to connect in English. And then the follow up, part two was 2548, absorb these English phrasal verbs. So that covered more like take it in, take it all in and then soak it in, drink it in. And then this is your part three.

[B]

Love it. And where should we leave our listeners today for a takeaway? What is our final thought on this one?

[A]

I kind of love what came up here in the role play. It's really interesting when you use phrases like these to be more careful of a friend's emotions, of big things in a friend's life. You can't always say, like, what are you thinking? I disagree. I'm confused. And yeah, we would use today's phrases.

[B]

Yeah. And I do. I'm gonna echo this again. I really do wonder if this goes across cultures. Like, or are we especially sensitive to. Once someone has announced that they're getting married, for example, you don't really talk trash about the person they're marrying. You really don't. Unless it's like something really dire.

[A]

Exactly.

[B]

And yeah, I'm just curious. Maybe we'll have this be a poll question for our listeners for today to know it just tells you connection is about so much more than learning the words operates about understanding the cultural context of what we do and what we don't do and what. What's fair game and what's a faux pas. Right.

[A]

In some ways, it might really be better to be more blunt and honest and share your true feelings. Because then if someone goes through a horrible breakup or something goes terribly wrong, you might feel guilty, like you should have said something so tricky.

[B]

Oh, it's such a tricky thing because you also risk losing the friendship. Right. If you do broach that topic and you say, I think you're marrying the wrong person or, you know, you could lose the friend forever. I mean, this is heavy stuff here. So we're using diplomatic phrases to navigate around this. A little bit to respond.

[A]

Exactly right. Very interesting today. I love that cultural piece as well and I'm excited for you guys to use these expressions.

[B]

Yeah, super interesting. Good topic today guys. Hit follow if you love our style, which is connection, not perfection. All right, Aubry, we'll see you soon. Take care.

[A]

See you next time. Bye bye.

[B]

Thanks for listening to Allears English. Would you like to know your English level? Take our two minute quiz. Go to allearsenglish.com 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.

[C]

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[A]

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