Hey there! This is TOP 268. Learn English With “All The Small Things” by Blink-182
Are you tired of lacking confidence when speaking English? Does it block you from achieving your true goals? This podcast is the place for you. This is Teacher Ola Podcast. My name’s Ola Mierniczak and I empower English learners to become confident speakers. The key to fluency is in your pocket. You’ll boost your vocabulary, brush up your grammar and improve your pronunciation. Enjoy your journey to fluency!
Hey there, welcome back to the podcast! Today’s episode is a real treat for anyone who loves diving into the deeper meaning of words and phrases. We’re breaking down some iconic lines.
But here’s the twist—you’re not just going to learn what these phrases mean. I’ll explain the grammar behind them, show you how to use them in your own conversations, and give you some quick tips to sound more natural in English. Plus, we’ll be shining a big spotlight on phrasal verbs, like “turn off.” If those tricky little phrases stress you out, don’t worry—I’ve got you covered!
I’ve got some exciting news: my Phrasal Verbs Masterclass is just around the corner! It’s happening this Wednesday and Thursday (the 20 and the 21 of November), and you don’t want to miss it. It’s your chance to finally master these must-know phrases and make them a natural part of how you speak. Go to teacherola.com/masterclass to save your spot.
Stick around until the end of this episode—there’s so much value packed in here, and trust me, you’re going to walk away feeling more confident and fluent. Ready? Let’s jump in! 8 phrases from “All The Small Things” by Blink-182.
One. “True care, truth brings”
This line is all about how real care goes hand-in-hand with honesty. If someone truly cares about you, they’ll be upfront and truthful. It’s simple, but it says a lot, doesn’t it? Listen:
I love friends who show true care.
Two. “Your ride, best trip”
“Ride” can mean a car, a bike, or just your journey through life. Pair that with “best trip,” and it’s talking about an amazing, memorable experience. But here, it doesn’t refer to any vehicle but to the journey of life in general: I wanna ride through life with you rather than anyone else. A noun ‘ride’ also means a ‘free ride in a car to a place you want to get to’, but in American English. In British English it’s going to be ‘a lift’. For instance:
He offered to give her a ride home.
Three. “You’ll be at my show”
Why do we say “at my show” instead of “on my show”? Which is a common mistake for us – the speakers of Polish.
“At my show” means you’re going to the event or being at the place where something is happening. It’s like saying you’re attending a concert or a party. You’re not necessarily part of the show, but you’re there to enjoy it. For instance:
You’re going to be at my show tonight, right?
“On my show” would mean that you’re part of the show or actually doing something during the show. Like, if someone is a guest on a TV show or if they’re performing, you’d say they are “on” the show. For instance:
He was on my show last week, singing a song.
In English, we always use “at” when talking about going to a place for an event, like a show, a concert, or a party. We use “on” when we’re talking about being part of the event itself.
Four. “Commiserating”
Ever had one of those deep chats with a friend where you just complain together about how life is hard? That’s commiserating—bonding over struggles, worries, anxieties you both have. Example Sentence:
We spent all night commiserating about work and how it just never ends.
Five “Say it ain’t so”
Now, this phrase is a little dramatic, but that’s what makes it fun. It’s like saying, “Tell me this isn’t true, because I can’t believe it is—and honestly, I don’t want to believe it.” Say it ain’t so.
Let’s talk about “ain’t”:
“Ain’t” is an informal contraction. It can replace: “is not”, “are not”, “has not”, “have not”
It’s casual, often used in songs or spoken English, especially in American English, specifically in the south of the US.
Say it ain’t so means “Say it is not so.” For instance:
It always happens to me. Say it ain’t so!
Six. “Turn the lights off, carry me home”
This line just hits differently. “Turn the lights off” feels like wrapping up the day or shutting down after a long one. And “carry me home” is that moment when you’re so tired, you just want someone to take care of you. To literally hold you in their hands and carry you home for you are so tired, you can’t even move your legs. Example sentence:
After that day, all I wanted was for someone to carry me home.
Let’s come back to ‘turn the lights off’ for a moment. Since “turn off” is a phrasal verb, let’s break it down. “Turn off” has a few different meanings, and we’re going to look at each one with easy examples you can use in everyday conversations!
Firstly, ‘turn off’ means to leave a road in order to travel on another
This meaning is used when you’re driving or travelling, and you exit one road to go on a different one. Example sentence:
Is this where we turn off to get to the mall?
Secondly, ‘turn off’ means to stop listening to or thinking about somebody or something. It’s an informal expression.
When you “turn off” in this sense, it means you stop paying attention, usually because something is boring or hard to understand. Listen up:
The teacher was speaking so fast that I just turned off.
Next, to turn off means: to make somebody feel bored or not interested
If someone “turns you off,” it means they make you lose interest or feel bored by their actions, behaviour, or words. Listen:
His constant complaining really turned me off.
The fourth but not the last meaning of ‘turn off’ is: to stop somebody from feeling sexually attracted or to make them dislike something.
This is a bit more personal, where “turn off” means causing someone to lose attraction or become disgusted. To illustrate it, I’ve got this example:
His bad jokes really turned me off during the date.
The last meaning of ‘turn off’ is: to stop the flow of electricity, gas, water, etc. This is the most common meaning we use around the house—when you switch off something, like the light or water. Example:
Please turn off the lights before you leave the room.
Coming back to the lyrics:
Seven: “Work sucks, I know”
This one’s probably the most relatable line of all time. Who hasn’t thought this at some point? It’s casual, blunt, and gets right to the point.
It’s used to say that something is very bad. It sucks!
The last phrase from the song: “Surprises let me know she cares”
This keeps the focus on love and thoughtfulness. It’s all about how surprises can be the perfect way to show someone they’re important to you. Surprises let me know she cares. Surprises help me notice that she cares about me.
Time for your speaking practice. Let’s focus, listen to the sentences and repeat each of them out loud twice. Let’s go:
I love friends who show true care.
He offered to give her a ride home.
You’re going to be at my show tonight, right?
We spent all night commiserating about work.
It always happens to me. Say it ain’t so!
After that day, all I wanted was for someone to carry me home.
Is this where we turn off to get to the mall?
The teacher was speaking so fast that I just turned off.
His bad jokes really turned me off during the date.
Please turn off the lights before you leave the room.
That’s a wrap for today’s episode! I hope you’re feeling ready to use those cool phrases from “All the Small Things” in your everyday English.
If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to hit that subscribe button so you never miss out on future lessons. And hey, share this with a friend who’s also learning English – the more, the merrier!
Before you go, grab your free worksheet to practise what you’ve learned today. It’s at teacherola.com/268 – go ahead and download it to keep working on those phrases. If you’re subscribed to my newsletter, check your inbox for the pdf!
And if you want to take your English even further, especially when it comes to mastering phrasal verbs, sign up for my Phrasal Verbs Masterclass at www.teacherola.com/masterclass. I’ll help you make those tricky verbs a natural part of your English.
I believe in you, I know you’ve got what it takes to speak English with confidence! Keep practising, stay fearless, and say it out loud! I’m your teacher, Teacher Ola, and you’ve been listening to the Teacher Ola Podcast. Catch you next time!