START TO UNDERSTAND English with a Simple Story | The Wrong Suitcase (+ Words and Phrases)

listen to this short story called the wrong  suitcase to practice your English listening  

skills my name is Jack from To fluency this is the  to fluency podcast be sure to turn on subtitles  

listen to it once without subtitles and then again  with subtitles and then stay until the end because  

we're going to go through key words and phrases  used in the story let's get started the wrong  

suitcase lean aside as she stood on the baggage  carousel watching the suitcases spin by she was  

exhausted after a flight to Florence for a work  conference all she wanted was to grab a suitcase  

head to a hotel and sleep finally she spotted her  bag or at least she thought it was her bag a black  

suitcase with the same bright pink ribbon she  always tied to the handle she grabbed it rolled  

it out of the airport and popped into a taxi when  she arrived at her hotel she kicked off her shoes  

and unzipped the suitcase that's when she froze  inside was not her carefully packed work outfits  

but a neatly folded dress a box of chocolates and  an envelope with a name written on it her heart  

raced as she opened the envelope inside was a note  this suitcase isn't a mistake follow the clues  

a Lena stared at the note confused a that could  only mean Alex her boyfriend of 2 years but what  

was he doing in Florence she had left him back  home thousands of miles away saying goodbye at  

the airport just yesterday she picked  up her phone and called him no answer  

she tried texting him nothing frustrated but  curious she rummaged through the suitcase and  

found another note taped to the chocolates go to  the cafe where you had your first cappuccino in  

Florence Lena smiled Alex had joined her on her  first work trip to Florence last year and they  

had stumbled into a small Cafe near the city  center she remembered the way he had laughed  

at her trying to order in Italian after a rest  Lena set out the suitcase rolling behind her  

the streets of Florence were just as beautiful  as she remembered with cobblestones underfoot  

and the smell of fresh pastries in the air when  she reached the cafe she stepped inside and  

scanned the room on a small table near the window  was a cappuccino and a note Lena sat down and  

opened it I know you're busy with work but I hope  you make time for this adventure your next clue  

is at the Uffizi Gallery look near the Boticelli  paintings Lena laughed quietly to herself Alex  

knew she loved the Uffizi she had spent hours in  in front of the birth of Venus on her last trip  

admiring every detail at the gallery Lena felt  the excitement growing she walked through the  

crowded halls stopping near Botichelli's famous  painting there a museum guide handed her a small  

envelope how did you know to give this to me  she asked surprised the guide smiled a man came  

earlier he described you perfectly Lena blushed  as she opened the envelope the note was longer  

remember when we got lost trying to find the  Ponte Vecchio you said you'd never forget  

the view go there next Lena headed toward the  bridge her heart racing she could picture Alex  

setting this up his playful smile as he planned  every step Ponte Vecchio was busy with tourists  

crowding the shops along the bridge Lena searched  for another clue feeling a little lost then she  

saw a street performer holding a rose are you Lena  the performer asked yes she replied feeling a mix  

of surprise and anticipation the performer handed  her a rose and a note this is the last stop come  

to the Piazza Michelangelo at Sunset by the time  the sun began to dip below the horizon Lena was  

climbing the steps to the Piazza Michelangelo the  view of Florence stretched out before her bathed  

in golden light her heart pounded as she scanned  the square and then she saw him him Alex stood  

near the edge of the Piazza holding a small black  box tears filled Lena's eyes as she walked towards  

him you did all this Alex grinned I figured if you  were going to Florence for work it was a perfect  

chance to remind you how much I love you he  dropped to one knee and opened the box revealing a  

sparkling ring Lena will you marry me Lena laughed  through her tears yes of course the tourists  

around them clapped as Alex slipped the ring  onto her finger as they hugged Lena couldn't stop  

smiling what had started as a work trip turned  into the most unforgettable adventure of her

life in this story we explored 10 commonly used  phrases and a lot of phrasal verbs let's break  

those down now so you can understand their  meanings and how they're used in everyday  

conversations these phrases will help you sound  more natural when speaking English and it will  

help you understand English better the first one  is step off and step off means to exit a vehicle  

or a mode of transport by stepping down or out  of it so in the story Lena stepped off the plane  

feeling tired but excited she stepped off the  plane other examples he stepped off the train and  

looked for a taxi as soon as we stepped off the  bus we were greeted by the tour guide number two  

is grab to grab means to take hold of something  quickly or firmly and it's often used in casual  

situations in the story she grabbed the suitcase  thinking it was hers she grabbed the suitcase  

other examples can you grab me a bottle of water  from the fridge can you grab me a bottle of water  

from the fridge I grabbed my bag and rushed out  of the door I grabbed my bag and rushed out of the  

door the third one is one that is a little bit  more advanced it's to kick off to kick off now  

there are various meanings for this but in the  story at the hotel she kicked off her shoes to  

relax at the hotel she kicked off her shoes to  relax so to kick off means to remove something  

usually shoes in a casual way another example is  after a long day I love kicking off my shoes and  

lying on the couch after a long day I love kicking  off my shoes and lying on the couch kick off  

can also mean to start an event or activity for  example let's kick off the meeting with a quick  

update let's kick off the meeting with a quick  update number four is set out set out to set out  

means to begin a journey or a task with a specific  goal in mind in the story Lena set out to follow  

the clues Alex had left Lena set out to follow  the clues Alex had left other examples are we set  

out early to explore the city before it got too  crowded this is something I like to do on vacation  

we set out early to explore the city before it  got too crowded and another example she set out  

to finish her report before the deadline  she set out to finish her report before  

the deadline I like number five which is rummage  through rum,age through to rummage through means  

to search for something in A hurried or untidy  way so in the story Lena rummaged through her  

suitcase to find more Clues she rummaged through  the suitcase to find more clues other examples I  

rummaged through my bag but couldn't find my  keys I rummaged through my bag but couldn't  

find my keys and he rummaged through the drawers  looking for a pen he rummaged through the drawers  

looking for a pen you're halfway through the  language analysis so let's keep going before  

you do be sure to check the description for  English learning resources and also also for  

all of the phrases in this story number six is  scan the room to scan the room and to scan the  

room means to look around quickly usually to find  someone or something in the story it said at the  

cafe she scanned the room for her next clue at the  cafe she scanned the room for her next clue other  

examples are she scan the room for a familiar  face she scanned the room for a familiar face  

and the teacher scanned the room to see who wasn't  paying attention the teacher scanned the room to  

see who wasn't paying attention number seven is  head toward you might also hear head towards now  

to head toward means to move in the direction  of a specific place and in the story she headed  

toward the Uffizi gallery excited for the next  stop hopefully I am pronouncing that correctly  

other examples are we're heading toward the park  for a picnic we're heading toward the park for  

a picnic and he headed toward the exit after the  meeting ended he headed toward the exit after the  

meeting ended number eight is hand over to hand  over means to give something to someone this is  

often formal with a specific purpose and in the  story The the performer handed over a rose and  

a note other examples are the cashier handed  over my receipt and change the cashier handed  

over my receipt and change and he handed over  the documents to his lawyer he handed over the  

documents to his lawyer number nine is look around  to look around means to observe your surroundings  

often when you're exploring or searching for  something in the story Lena looked around the  

Piazza searching for Alex other examples we  looked around the museum for hours we looked  

around the museum for hours and she looked around  the shop for a gift but didn't find anything she  

looked around the shop for a gift but didn't find  anything and number 10 is slip on to slip on means  

to put something on quickly often referring  to clothing or accessories so in the story  

Alex slipped on the ring after Lena said yes other  examples are I slipped on my jacket before heading  

out I slipped on my jacket before heading out and  she slipped on her shoes and ran to catch the bus  

she slipped on her shoes and ran to catch the bus  so that is today's lesson if you want to learn  

more English with me then check the description  to go through the different lessons that I have  

available for you if you are on YouTube then  simply click on more videos if you're on the  

podcast continue listening with me and if you  enjoyed this then I would appreciate it greatly  

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benefit from this lesson thank you for watching or  listening and I will speak to you soon bye for now