Learn English Vocabulary Daily #12.1 - British English Podcast

Hello and welcome to The English Like a Native Podcast.

My name is Anna and you are listening to Week 12, Day 1 of Your English Five

a Day, this is a series where we aim to increase your vocabulary by five

pieces every day from Monday to Friday.

So, let's start as we usually start, with a noun.

Today we're using the noun adapter, adapter.

We spell this A D A P T E R.

Adapter.

Adapter.

An adapter is a type of plug that makes it possible to connect two or more pieces of

equipment to the same electrical supply.

For example, if I want to attach many different types of equipment to my

computer, then I may need an adapter that has lots of different outlets that allows

me to plug in a USB-C and a mini USB, and a headphone jack, and other weird

and wonderful little slots, an SD card, I might need to put an SD card in there.

And so an adapter would allow me to connect all these different devices.

You may be familiar with a travel adapter.

We all need travel adapters when we go to a different country, because many places

have different types of plug sockets.

So, in the UK, we have a three-prong socket.

So, our plugs have three prongs on them, and you'll find three holes

in the wall to put your plug into.

But in many other countries, there's a two-pronged socket.

So, there's only space for two prongs.

I think I'm using the right word by saying prongs.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

Anyway, let's carry on.

Here's an example sentence.

"Don't forget to bring the adapter, if we can't charge the phones

to use the sat nav, we'll never be able to find our way home."

Next we have a verb, and it is to compromise, to compromise.

We spell this C O M P R O M I S E.

To compromise means to risk having a harmful or negative effect on something.

So, if you're putting something in danger or someone in danger of being

harmed or damaged, then you are compromising them, or compromising

their safety, or compromising a plan.

Here's an example sentence.

"If we set sail into that storm, then we compromise the safety of our passengers."

Next, we have a noun and it is aroma, aroma.

This is spelled A R O M A, aroma.

Aroma is a strong, pleasant smell, usually from food or drink.

"Mmm, what's that aroma?"

Here's an example sentence.

"There's nothing better to wake up to than the aroma of freshly brewed coffee."

Though I would say, actually, probably there's nothing better than waking

up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and freshly baked bread.

Oh, delicious.

What's your favourite aroma?

In fact, thinking about it, probably one of the best things that I

remember from being a child, in terms of aromas, was when my mum would

be making like a roast dinner, a Sunday lunch or a Christmas dinner.

She just used to make the most amazing gravy.

And, yeah, the smell of everything roasting and then the gravy

being boiled up in the pan.

Oh, delicious.

Anyway, I'm getting really hungry now.

Let's move on.

So, the next piece of vocabulary on our list is an adjective

and it is hands-on, hands-on.

This is spelled H A N D S, hyphen; on, hands-on.

If someone is hands-on or they're described as doing something in a

very hands-on way, then it means they're very involved in the task.

They're very involved in managing or organising things or in the making

decisions about what's being done.

So, they're very involved.

They're using their hands.

They're getting involved in the doing.

They're not just watching, they're doing.

I always think that a manager who's quite hands-on can either

be a blessing or a curse.

In some ways it's great that they like to get involved in the tasks themselves

and they understand the work and then also the obstacles that the workers

face, but a hands-on manager can also maybe get in the way of things.

And you're like,

"You're supposed to be managing and overseeing the entire project.

Let me do this task."

So, what do you think?

Hands-on manager, good or bad?

Here's an example sentence.

"Melissa is a very hands-on manager, she always gets involved and values

everyone's input and suggestions."

Last on our list today is a phrase and it is open your mind.

This is open, O P E N.

Your, Y O U R.

Mind, M I N D.

So, or it could be to open one's mind, open his mind, her mind, their minds.

So, to open your mind is to become able to understand different

ideas or ways of thinking.

The adjective for this would be to be open-minded.

When you travel the world and meet different people and experience

different cultures, then you open your mind to many different ways

of thinking and behaving, and yeah, you just become more open-minded.

Here's another example.

"Anna encourages her students to open their minds and try to see

things from new perspectives."

Okay, so that's our five for today.

Let's recap.

We have the noun adapter, a type of plug that makes it possible to

connect many pieces of equipment to the same electrical supply.

Then we have the verb compromise, which is to risk having a harmful

or negative effect on something.

Then we had the noun, aroma, "Mmm", a strong, pleasant smell.

We had the adjective, hands-on, to be very involved in something.

And then we had the phrase, open your mind.

So, to become able to understand things and accept different

ideas and ways of thinking.

So, let's do this now for pronunciation.

Please repeat after me.

Adapter.

Adapter.

Compromise.

Compromise.

Aroma.

Aroma.

Hands-on.

Hands-on.

Open your mind.

Open your mind.

Great.

Now, what would I be doing if I were risking your safety?

Compromising it.

I would be compromising your safety.

If I walk into the kitchen and I say,

"Mmm.

Something smells good."

What am I picking up with my nose?

An aroma.

An aroma.

And, oh my goodness me, I have lots of different devices that

I need to connect to my computer because they all need charging.

What am I going to use?

An adapter.

An adapter.

Now, I have lived in the same place all my life, never moved, never travelled, and

I definitely need to think in a different way and understand different ideas.

So, what would you suggest that I do?

Open my mind.

You say,

"Anna, you need to open your mind!

Come on!"

And if I were to be managing you, but very much involved in every single task myself.

What would you describe me as being?

Hands-on.

Hands-on.

Fantastic.

Let's bring everything together now in a little story.

Ahh, the blissful aroma of freshly brewed coffee when I walk past

the cafe on the way into work.

I can't just walk past, go on, go grab yourself a gingerbread latte

and a warm chocolate croissant!

Woohoo!

I've always thought that coffee was, well, just coffee, right?

Why would I put flavours like gingerbread, hazelnut, caramel or pumpkin

spice into my morning 'pick-me-up'?

If it wasn't for Auntie Diane last Christmas, I would still be drinking

'Americano, no milk', wouldn't I?

Auntie D opened my mind to a world of coffee outside the norm, to a taste

sensation that I now can't get enough of.

Add a little shot of flavour to that double espresso caffeine hit,

after all, I need the sugar rush to get through my day at work.

I know, I shouldn't, I know it compromises my health, but I am keeping a close

eye on my blood sugar, I promise.

Waiting for this morning's spiced pumpkin cappuccino, I realise

I've left my adapter at home.

Damn, I need my phone fully charged today.

I have so much to do to get the presentation ready for tomorrow.

My poor little iPhone is going to be as tired as me by the end of the day!

Don't panic though, just smelling the sweet coffee treat that I am

about to indulge in has me ready to tackle whatever comes my way today.

I'm the most hands-on member of the team, and nothing can get in my way — not today.

Perhaps I can swing by the phone shop this morning and pick up another adapter.

Yeah, that's what I'll do.

And that brings us to the end of today's episode.

I do hope you found it useful.

Until tomorrow, take very good care and goodbye.