Video lesson#21: Toss a coin (Peaky Blinders´scene)

On today´s video lesson we are going to learn some vocabulary and expressions used in gambling and negotiations with the help of Tommy Shelby, main character of one of the better Tv shows ever: The Peaky Blinders.

The series takes place in Birmingham (U.K.) during the period between World War I and II, where a family of gypsies called The Peaky Blinders rules over the city.

One of the things I enjoy most about this show and especially about Tommy Shelby is his use of the English language, combining British slang with very polite and well spoken English, depending on the situation and the context.

Anyway, as always you will find a list of vocabulary below that will help you understanding and enjoying this video. Pay special attention to expressions like toss a coin, heads or tails or

Cheers!

VOCABULARY

To melt: to turn something solid into something liquid. 

Canal: a long, thin stretch of water that is artificially made either for boats to travel along or for taking water from one area to another.

To sale: to exchange something for money.

Yard: an area of land in which a particular type of work is done. It´s also a unit of measurement equal to 91,4 centimeters.

To settle: to go and live somewhere, especially permanently.

Deal: an arrangement or agreement, especially in business.

To spin a coin/ to toss a coin: to throw a coin up into the air and guess which side will land facing up, as a way of making a decision.

Heads or tails: the two sides of a coin; the heads are the side where there is the face of a King, Queen, etc. and the tails is the other side, where the value of the coin is written.

To fuck: to have sex with someone.

For fuck sake: rude expression used to express confusion mixed with annoyance.

Joke: something that is said or done in order to make people laugh.

Sacred: considered to be holy and deserving respect.

To bet/ To take a bet: to risk money, or other valued things, on the result of an event.

Witness: a person who sees an event happening.

The terms of an agreement: the conditions that control an agreement.

Wager: amount of money that you risk in the hope of winning more or the agreement that you make to take this risk.

OBE: another word to call someone like brother.

Grave: a place in the ground where a dead person is buried.

Property: an object or objects that belong to someone.

One language, three accents

Has it happened to you that, while watching an English movie, you can´t understand a word of some of the characters although you perfectly understand others?

I´m guessing that is has happened, right?

Why? Probably, because of the actor´s nationality and accent.

As you know, there at least three different countries where English is their native language: United Kingdom, United States and Australia. Even though their natives speak English, there are a bunch of differences between their accents, pronunciation and even vocabulary.

To help you dealing with this problem I recommend you to watch this short video comparing the pronunciation and vocabulary of British, American and Australian English.

 

Did you enjoy it? Did you learn something new?

Please, write in the comments below which English do you find more difficult to understand.

For me, without any doubt, the Australian English is the toughest, so if you want to learn more about it watch this video lesson with the famous Australian song Down under (Men at work).

Video Lesson # 5: Down under

Today we are going to take a look at some Australian slang vocabulary with the famous song Down under from the Australian band Men at work.

This song was released in 1981 on their first LP Business As Usual and was their greatest hit, reaching number 1 in American Top 40 chart.

As you will see while you listen to it, it´s a song about an Australian traveler who is bothered by the stereotype image that people around the world have about Australia: a land of beautiful women, big muscled men that drink lot of beer and plenty of wellness everywhere. But it´s also a great song to learn some Australian vocabulary, so this is a lesson that you must follow if you are planning to visit Australia or New Zealand.

As always, follow the usual steps:

1- Download the lyrics sheet, and go to page 1 where you will find the song´s lyrics with some missing words (gaps).

2- Click this video and listen to the song while you try to fill the gaps with the words that you hear. I recommend listening at least twice to the song.

3- Check your results going to page 2 where you will find the whole lyrics of the song.

4- Take a look at the vocabulary below to understand every word of the song.

5- Listen again to the song, without reading the lyrics and try to understand most of it.

 

WORK SHEET  Down under work sheet 

VOCABULARY

Fried out: overheated. In this song is referred to the overheated engine of the van.

Kombi: (Australian slang) a van, specifically an old VW that was the typical hippie van in the 70´s and 80´s.

Hippie trail: referred to a way of traveling in the 60´s and 70´s where the goal was to travel as long as possible without spending too much money. Many of those trips were in a kombi where you could travel, spend the night and cook.

Zombie (Australian slang) weed, marihuana.

Land down under: other way to say Australia, as it´s a country that is in the southern hemisphere so it´s down under other countries.

To glow: to shine, or to look attractive because you are happy or healthy, especially with eyes that are shining.

To plunder: to steal goods violently from a place, especially during a war.

Vegemite: a brand name for a soft, dark brown, salty-tasting food for spreading on bread, made from yeast, that is popular in Australia and New Zealand.

To chunder: (Australian slang) to vomit, to puke, especially after drinking alcohol.

Den: a room in a house or apartment, used for activities not involving work such as reading, watching T.V. Also is a place where people secretly plan or take part in dishonest or illegal activities such as consuming drugs.

Slack jaw: mouth in an open position with the jaw hanging loosely, especially indicating astonishment. Normally is used as an adjective slack jawed.

To tempt: to make someone want to have or do something, especially something that is unnecessary or wrong.

The land of plenty: referred to Australia, as it´s a country with plenty of natural resources.