AEE: Love Language Learning? Tell Me About It!

Summary

All Ears English Podcast: “Love Language Learning? Tell Me About It!” - Detailed Summary

Episode Title: AEE: Love Language Learning? Tell Me About It!
Release Date: January 11, 2025
Hosts: Lindsay McMahon and Aubrey Carter
Podcast Description: The All Ears English Podcast offers a fun and engaging way to enhance American English skills for intermediate to advanced ESL learners. Hosted by Lindsay from Boston and Aubrey from Colorado, the podcast emphasizes connection over perfection, delving into everyday vocabulary, idioms, American culture, and practical conversation skills.

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1. Introduction to the Episode

The episode kicks off with a warm welcome from Lindsay McMahon and Aubrey Carter, setting the stage for an engaging discussion centered around the versatile English phrase “tell me about it.” Lindsey highlights their podcast’s philosophy of focusing on “connection, not perfection,” aiming to help listeners become fearless and fluent English speakers.

2. Listener’s Question from YouTube

At [03:11], the hosts introduce a thoughtful question from a long-time listener, Omid Zakari from Iran:

Omid Zakari: “I read in a textbook that the phrase ‘tell me about it’ means ‘I agree.’ I’m a bit confused. Could you explain this phrase for me?”

This question serves as the foundation for the episode’s exploration of the phrase’s dual meanings and appropriate usage.

3. Exploring the Phrase “Tell Me About It”

A. Meaning 1: Expressing Agreement (“I Agree”)

Aubrey begins by addressing the first meaning of “tell me about it” as a way to express agreement, particularly in challenging or frustrating situations. She explains that this usage is a robust connection skill, allowing speakers to show solidarity and empathy.

Aubrey Carter: “...tell me about it, which is such a great way to express solidarity, but in a really fun, natural way.” [02:15]

Lindsay adds that while the phrase might sound a bit old-fashioned, it remains widely used today:

Lindsay McMahon: “I think 'tell me about it' is a classic over the years... people still say it today.” [04:39]

B. Meaning 2: Requesting More Information (“Tell Me More”)

The second meaning shifts to a more literal request for information or elaboration. This usage is characterized by a flatter intonation and is employed when the speaker is genuinely interested in learning more about a subject.

Aubrey Carter: “...tell me about it. Just give me some information.” [08:12]

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4. Role Plays Demonstrating Both Meanings

To illustrate the dual meanings, Lindsay and Aubrey engage in several role plays:

A. Expressing Agreement in a Frustrating Situation

Setting: Two individuals in a doctor’s office waiting room.

Aubrey Carter: “I’ve been here for hours. This is so frustrating.” [05:53]
Lindsay McMahon: “Tell me about it. I don’t know what’s going on, but I’ve been waiting forever too.” [05:58]

Here, Lindsay uses “tell me about it” to empathize with Aubrey’s frustration, demonstrating the phrase’s role in fostering connection through shared experiences.

B. Expressing Agreement in a Positive Situation

Setting: Waiting in a Costco returns line.

Lindsay McMahon: “I love Costco’s return policy.” [06:53]
Aubrey Carter: “Tell me about it. It’s so nice to not have to keep track of receipts.” [07:00]

In this scenario, Aubrey uses the same phrase to express agreement, but the context and intonation shift its meaning to a positive affirmation.

C. Requesting More Information

Setting: A conversation about finding a new gym.

Aubrey Carter: “Anything new with you?” [08:43]
Lindsay McMahon: “Well, I found a new gym that I really love.” [08:45]
Aubrey Carter: “Oh, cool. Tell me about it.” [08:49]
Lindsay McMahon: “It’s just around the corner from my house and they offer a ton of classes.” [08:55]

In this exchange, Aubrey uses “tell me about it” to request more details, showcasing its versatility beyond mere agreement.

D. Combined Usage in a Single Conversation

Setting: Discussing New Year’s resolutions.

Lindsay McMahon: “Making any New Year’s resolutions this year, Aubrey?” [10:05]
Aubrey Carter: “Yeah, I’m trying out a new diet.” [10:14]
Lindsay McMahon: “Oh, cool. Tell me about it.” [10:16]
Aubrey Carter: “Well, it’s intermittent fasting combined with just a balanced diet.” [10:18]
Lindsay McMahon: “I should try that. I just have a hard time staying consistent with anything.” [10:22]
Aubrey Carter: “Tell me about it. I’m hoping this one will stick.” [10:28]

This role play encapsulates both usages of the phrase within a single conversation, highlighting the importance of context and intonation in conveying the intended meaning.

5. Importance of Intonation and Context

A recurring theme throughout the episode is the crucial role of intonation and context in interpreting the meaning of “tell me about it.” Lindsay emphasizes that while the words remain the same, the speaker’s tone can drastically alter the phrase’s intent:

Lindsay McMahon: “You can really hear the difference in the intonation when someone’s like, tell me about it.” [08:36]

Aubrey further explains that differentiating between the two meanings relies not just on how the phrase is said but also on the surrounding conversational cues.

6. Takeaways and Conclusion

As the episode wraps up, Lindsay and Aubrey distill their discussion into key takeaways for listeners:

• Dual Meanings: “Tell me about it” can either express agreement (“I agree”) or request more information (“tell me more”), depending on intonation and context.

• Connection Skill: Using the phrase appropriately enhances conversational connection, whether by showing empathy or genuine interest.

• Intonation Matters: Paying attention to the speaker’s tone is essential in understanding the intended meaning and responding appropriately.

Lindsay McMahon: “This gives you a fun, friendly... it’s a really good connection skill.” [11:05]

Aubrey Carter: “Sometimes intonation is really key for phrases like this.” [11:45]

The hosts encourage listeners to practice these nuances to improve their conversational English, emphasizing that mastering such subtleties can lead to more meaningful and engaging interactions.

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Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• [02:15] Aubrey Carter: “Tell me about it, which is such a great way to express solidarity, but in a really fun, natural way.”

• [04:39] Lindsay McMahon: “I think 'tell me about it' is a classic over the years... people still say it today.”

• [08:12] Aubrey Carter: “Tell me about it. Just give me some information.”

• [11:05] Lindsay McMahon: “This gives you a fun, friendly... it’s a really good connection skill.”

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Final Thoughts

In this episode of the All Ears English Podcast, Lindsay and Aubrey provide a comprehensive exploration of the phrase “tell me about it,” unveiling its dual meanings and the importance of intonation in conveying the correct intent. Through engaging role plays and insightful explanations, listeners gain a deeper understanding of how to use this versatile phrase to enhance their conversational English and build stronger connections.

For learners aspiring to speak American English naturally and confidently, mastering such phrases is invaluable. As Lindsay and Aubrey aptly put it, focusing on connection rather than perfection fosters a more authentic and effective language learning journey.

Transcript

[A]

This is the All Ears English podcast. Love language learning. Tell me about it. 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 host, Aubrey Carter, the IELTS whiz and Lindsay McMahon, the English adventurer, coming to you from Arizona and Colorado, 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 7 day free trial at allearsenglish.com app.

[B]

What does it mean when someone says tell me about it? It could mean two very different things depending on the intonation. Listen in for two amazing ways to connect in English. This is your Last chance. Make 2025 the year that you finally take action when it comes to your professional English. Save up to $100 off the normal price on our business English course, but the offer ends January 12th at midnight New York time. Join us at allearsenglish.com business that's allearsenglish.com B U S I N E S S.

[A]

Hey, Aubry, how's it going today?

[B]

I am great, Lindsay. How are you?

[A]

Oh my gosh. Busy. Crazy week over here on my end.

[B]

Oh, tell me about it. I have got a to do list a mile long.

[A]

Oh, we both have a busy week. Yes. And we are. Yeah, we can really understand each other, right? In that sense.

[B]

Yeah. Oh man, this is such a great way. This is what we're talking about today, this expression, tell me about it, which is such a great way to express solidarity, but in a really fun, natural.

[A]

Way and also to kind of vent a little bit yourself. Right. Because if you're also need, you need a way to vent that out. You're also stressed or busy and you need to say that too. So build the connection, express solidarity. But before we get into this amazing phrase, let's ask our listeners to go ahead and hit that follow button. Aubrey, why should they hit follow on Allers English?

[B]

Yes, we have five episodes every week, guys, so if you're not following the podcast, you might be missing some of these. I know that's how I am with my podcast. I just kind of like, I'll catch a couple. But honestly, most of the podcasts I listen to one episode a week. So if I had one that was five episodes a week, I would definitely hit follow so that I didn't miss any.

[A]

Especially if you believe in our philosophy, which is connection, not perfection. Connection, human connection. To us is the most important thing when it comes to learning a language. That is why we're learning English. Ultimately, it is the reason. And that's how we angle every episode over here, guys. So hit that follow button. All right.

[B]

Exactly. Speaking of connection, I can't wait for this episode. We got a great question on YouTube from Omid Zakari. Would you like to read this question for us, Lindsay?

[A]

Yes. Let's do it. Here we go. So Omid says hi, Aubry, Lindsay and Michelle, first of all, thanks so much for your amazing podcast. I've been listening to your podcast for nine years. Oh, my gosh. Aubry, a nine year listener. That is so great. So good. I have a question for you. I read or I read in a textbook the phrase tell me about it, that it means I agree. To be honest, I'm a bit confused. Would it be possible for you to make a video and explain this phrase for me? Thank you in advance. Omid from Iran. Nice.

[B]

Such a good question. I love this when we get a question about one specific phrase and there's a reason Omid might be a little confused because we do use this two very different ways.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And they have very different pronunciations as well. So I'm excited to dive into this.

[A]

And we don't want to mix them up because you could end up in a conversation you're. You're not trying to be in. Right. If you.

[B]

Right, exactly. It could be really confusing, that's for sure.

[A]

So how are we going to. Which way are we going to talk about first, Aubry, for our listeners?

[B]

First we're going to talk about the way Omid referred to, where it means I agree. And this is a great connection skill. Instead of saying just I agree. Right. This is more interesting, more enthusiastic. I often say same. You for sure heard this in role plays. I'm like, same. But this is another fun way to do this.

[A]

Yeah. It's saying same is a little more trendy right now, I think. But I, you know, I think Tell me about it is a classic over the years, over the decades. I know people were saying this back in the 90s. I was saying it a lot. But people still say it today, right?

[B]

Absolutely. And to just be really clear up the top, there are two different ways that we say this. And one is when we something's negative or hard. Right. Like at the top of the episode you said, I'm super busy busy. I'm like, tell me about it. So that's the first one here. And the second one is when we're agreeing about something positive. Our intonation is different.

[A]

Love it. So it's kind of generally still agreeing, right? Still agreeing with someone.

[B]

Yeah, both agreeing, absolutely. But that's interesting how when it's something negative, we emphasize tell a lot more. Tell me about it. Right. You can hear in my. My intonation that I'm upset about something or something's hard or frustrating.

[A]

Interesting. So today's episode is all about identifying. Right? This, this use of tell me about it. All about identifying. So let's do a role play. Aubrey, real quick.

[B]

Yeah. So this is usually as a response. So we're going to hear some role plays. You and I are in a doctor's office in the waiting room in this role play.

[A]

All right. Yes.

[B]

I've been here for hours. This is so frustrating.

[A]

Tell me about it. I don't know what's going on, but I've been waiting forever too. Right. So, yeah.

[B]

So this is. You can hear in your intonation, you're also upset. And this is such a great connection skill. If someone is upset to the point they're expressing it to you, a stranger, it's probably going to diffuse the situation and really help for you to also be like, I agree. I'm right there with you.

[A]

Right. Because imagine what is the flip side? What if you don't say anything? You just go back to your magazine, you just listen to them, maybe turn your head, then go back to your magazine, you don't hear them or just.

[B]

Be like, I don't mind waiting.

[A]

Yeah, that would be so weird. So weird. Especially for a stranger to hear that coming from someone.

[B]

Exactly. Right. I'm always. If someone's ever venting like this, I'm much more likely to be like, ah, tell me about it. I know, right? So frustrating.

[A]

Yeah. Okay, so here's another role play here. We're waiting in the returns return line at Costco. Michelle and I just talked about Costco. Yeah.

[B]

Oh, nice. I love Costco. But this one's positive, so notice the difference in the intonation of the phrase.

[A]

Okay. All right. I love Costco's return policy.

[B]

Tell me about it. It's so nice to not have to keep track of receipts.

[A]

Yeah. So it's a little more positive. How's it different?

[B]

Less common, for sure. Don't you think? I mostly use tell me about it to express frustration, to agree about something negative. You can hear it positive like this. And it's definitely different intonation, but I. I definitely use it more, and I feel like I hear it more for negative things. What about You.

[A]

Yeah, I would say so, too. I would say.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It's really. It's. It's commiserating, as they say. Right.

[B]

Tell me about it.

[A]

Yeah, usually not about positive things in general. Okay. So I feel like that covers, you know, the. The commiserating idea. Now, where do we go from here? Aubry?

[B]

Yes. We have a second totally different meaning, which is more literal, where you're actually saying, tell me more. It. When you say tell me about it. Right. So you do need to keep in mind that you could hear this phrase and it might mean. I agree. And it might mean, you know, tell me more.

[A]

I love it. I love it. So, for example, what could we say, I heard you're doing a fundraiser. Tell me about it. Right, Tell me about it.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

Just give me some information.

[B]

Exactly. Yeah. Or Mark told me you got a new job. Tell me about it.

[A]

So this is really. Is very different. It's like saying you're open, you've heard something is going on, and you're opening up a conversation. You're saying, I'm ready to listen. I'm interested.

[B]

Right, right, right. So tricky that the exact same words have such a different meaning. You can really hear the difference in the intonation when someone's like, tell me about it.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

This is just. Yeah. Like, it's a little more flat. Kind of just like, tell me about it.

[A]

Totally. So here's a role play. You ready? Yeah.

[B]

I'll start us. Anything new with you?

[A]

Well, I found a new gym that I really love.

[B]

Oh, cool. Tell me about it.

[A]

It's just around the corner from my house and they offer a ton of classes. Well, that's good.

[B]

Nice.

[A]

Yes. Yeah.

[B]

So, yeah, so you can see there's a flatter intonation. Right. You're not having to emphasize any words because you're just. All you mean is, oh, tell me more about that.

[A]

Exactly. I love that 2025 is your year to make things happen when it comes to your career. But this can't be done without strong, confident English skills. Your time is running out to save up to $100 off our normal price on our business English course, plus get two free bonus courses. Join before midnight on January 12th, New York time. Go right now to allearsenglish.com business. That's allearsenglish.com b. S. And remember, offer expires January 12th at midnight. Okay, Aubrey, should we have another role play now to bring everything together into one scenario? Yeah, yeah.

[B]

This role play has both of these uses. Right. So listen for the different intonation. You can tell from context what is meant, but especially from intonation. Yes.

[A]

I love it. Here we go. So weird. Yeah. New Year's resolutions. Okay, good topic. All right. Making any New Year's resolutions this year, Aubry?

[B]

Yeah, I'm trying out a new diet.

[A]

Oh, cool. Tell me about it.

[B]

Well, it's intermittent fasting combined with just a balanced diet.

[A]

Nice. I should try that. I just have a hard time staying consistent with anything.

[B]

Tell me about it. I'm hoping this one will stick.

[A]

Nice.

[B]

So very different intonation.

[A]

Very, very different. I hope your listeners got that. Super different. Saying completely different things here, which is. Is. I'm glad we're covering this topic. It's. It's perfect for the show. Love it. Yeah.

[B]

Okay, so the first one we used, I had just said, I'm trying a new diet. And so you said, oh, cool. Tell me about it. This just means I want to hear more. Right. Give me some details.

[A]

I'm open. I'm ready to listen. I'm interested. I'm curious. All really good signs for connection, right?

[B]

Absolutely. What a great phrase. Because there are a lot of ways you can say it, but this is another option.

[A]

Yeah, perfect. And then I said, nice, I should try that. I just have a hard time staying consistent with anything. And then you identified with me and you said, tell me about it. And that is that kind of a bit of commiserating, a bit of shared pain kind of. Right.

[B]

Exactly right. You can say, oh, I agree, or same, but this gives you a fun, friendly. I like this one the most, really. It's not quite as common, but I feel like it is the most commiserating, like you said, like, really showing that you understand and feel what they're going through.

[A]

Yeah, no, it's a good one. It's a good one. This is good. So where's our. What's our takeaway for today for our listeners? Aubry?

[B]

Yeah. As you've heard from us before, sometimes intonation is really key for phrases like this. So tell me about it. Can mean two very different things depending on your intonation. But also what a great connection skill to share with someone that you have this in common, especially when it's something that you're venting about.

[A]

I think both are good connection skills, showing you're curious, interested, and open and ready to listen. Not right. The first one we talked about, for sure. And then commiserating also, I'm not sure which is stronger. Right. Sometimes it can be very strong to commiserate with people. We've done episodes about that to share. Talk about how you share their pain in a. In a certain way. Can be a strong connection skill actually.

[B]

Yes, absolutely. But you're right that the other one is so valuable too. To we often have students asking us how can I keep the conversation going? This is one way, right? If someone tells you something new, some kind of detail. Oh, tell me about it. Tell me more. Like be genuinely interested. Ask for more details that will keep the conversation going.

[A]

Exactly. That's kind of a best kept secret of the great conversationalists. Get the other people to continue talking. Get the other person to keep talking. Keep asking them questions. I love it. So good. All right, Aubrey, we are done for today, but I'll see you in the next episode. All right, awesome.

[B]

See you next time.

[A]

Take care. 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. Eng. Com fluencyscore and if you believe in connection, not perfection, then hit subscribe now to make sure you don't miss anything. See you next time.