Learn the English Phrases "on top of that" and "to top it all off"

In this English lesson

I wanted to help you learn the English phrase,

"On top of that".

This is a phrase we use

when we're talking about something

that's in addition to something else.

I could say this,

"That I have to renew my license, and on top of that,

I have to renew my license plates."

So I've mentioned one thing

and then I've mentioned another thing that I have to do.

I could say this as well,

"I have to go to market today, and on top of that,

I have to go and pick up one of my kids later."

So it's when you're talking about one thing

and then there's another thing that also needs to happen.

So, I have to make this video, and on top of that,

I have to go in and edit the video.

The other phrase I wanted to teach you today

is the phrase, "To top it all off."

This is similar

but this is the phrase we use

just before mentioning the last thing, usually a bad thing.

Here's a really good example.

I could say this,

"I was driving home with my car and I got a flat tire,

and then after I got it fixed, to top it all off,

I ended up running out of gas."

So, I mentioned one thing,

and then a really bad final thing.

You could say this, you could say,

"I'm scheduled to take an English test.

And when I went to take the English test, I failed the test.

And to top it all off,

I'm not allowed to take the test again for three months."

I don't know why that would be

but maybe there's some sort of restriction.

So, it's when you mention something that's kind of bad

after mentioning something else that's a little bit bad.

So to review, when you say, "On top of that"

you're adding to a list of things that you're doing.

You know, I have to make this video,

and on top of that, I have to go to market today.

So I'm mentioning two things I need to do,

neither positive or negative.

But when we use the phrase "To top it all off"

we're usually talking about one negative thing

that happened at the end of some other bad things.

You know, I went to work today

and students were really mean to me,

and to top it all off,

my family was mean to me when I came home.

By the way, neither of those things actually happened.

But hey, let's look at a comment from a previous video.

I do have my comment today,

not like the other day when I was doing the lesson

at the spur of the moment.

Here we go from Dmitry.

"Hey Mr. Bob, thanks for the lesson.

By the way, can we use squeeze in,

in terms of taking a seat between two people

that sit really tight?

I hope you understand what I meant.

Have a great day."

And my response, yes, you can.

That is another way to use it.

Sometimes on the bus you have to squeeze in

between two people.

Great example, Dmitry .

So, this is from the previous lesson

where I talked about squeeze in and squeeze out,

and those are both...

Sorry, and that was another good additional meaning

of squeeze in.

So, as you can see,

I'm back at home

and I'm making a video at home for a change.

I have been making videos out and about.

I will do more of those

as I am out and about a lot right now,

but today is, kind of, a little bit of a crazy day.

I make this video on a Thursday,

it's also market day.

So it feels...

It's also the day

where I speak with my French speaking partner.

So, I feel like I'm squeezing in a lot of stuff today.

If I could use the phrase again.

So, it's kind of silly that I make this video today.

It does fit.

I mean, I'm not rushed or anything like that,

but I think maybe I should make this video

late in the day on Wednesday,

because on Wednesdays I have lots of time right now.

So I don't know why I leave this video always to Thursday.

I should just make it on a Wednesday.

Maybe I'll start doing that next week.

You guys don't mind when I make the video.

You just like to have the video.

Just leave, let me know in the comments.

You don't actually care

if the video's made a couple days before you see it.

I'm sure you just enjoy learning the phrases

and seeing it.

Anyways, I'm also back to my old camera.

I might use my phone a bit.

I haven't decided yet.

I'm still trying to figure out

how to get better audio when it's windy.

So, we'll see.

Anyways, see you in a couple days

with another short English lesson. Bye.