A shock to the system: What does it mean? - The English We Speak
17,323 views ・ 2019-02-04
Please double-click on the English subtitles below to play the video.
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Feifei: This is The English We Speak. Hello, I'm Feifei…
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Rob: And hello! I’m Rob.
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Feifei: Hey, Rob. How was your holiday?
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Rob: Absolutely fantastic
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- a whole week sitting around, relaxing, doing nothing.
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Perfect!
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Feifei: It sounds great,
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so why are you looking so grumpy today?
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Rob: Well, it's my first day back at work
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and it's been a shock to the system.
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Feifei: A shock?!
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Did you get a shock in the office?
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Rob: Well, no.
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Not something dangerous, like an electric shock.
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I mean experiencing 'a sudden and unpleasant change
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from what you have been used to'.
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For me, it's a change from relaxing
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and doing nothing on the beach
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to suddenly being back in the office,
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sitting at my desk, working hard
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– with you!
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Feifei: That does sound like a shock!
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Rob: Well, here are some other people
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who've experienced a shock to the system…
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Examples: After such a long and hot summer,
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this cold weather has come as a shock to the system.
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I hope they can fix my car quickly.
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Walking to work has been a bit of a
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shock to the system.
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My daughter has found starting secondary school
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a real shock to the system.
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She gets so much homework!
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Feifei: This is The English We Speak
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from BBC Learning English.
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We've discovered that 'a shock to the system' means
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experiencing 'a sudden and unpleasant change'.
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It's what Rob's experienced coming back to work today.
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So, I guess
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your holiday is already a distant memory Rob.
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Rob: Yes, it is.
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Feifei: All that relaxing and doing nothing, hey?
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But I'm still confused.
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Rob: Why's that?
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Feifei: 'A shock to the system' is 'a sudden change'
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– but you did the same thing on holiday
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as you do in the office.
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There's no change!
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Rob: Very funny.
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But, hold on.
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If that's what you think, I might as well wear these.
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Feifei: Oh no! Swimming shorts and a hat!
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Please, go and cover up!
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Rob: OK. See ya!
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Feifei: Bye-bye!
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