Fun Video : The Mr. Magoo Show - Episode 1

Here’s a cartoon from my youth!

Mr. Magoo is a wealthy, short-statured retiree who gets into a series of sticky situations as a result of his nearsightedness, compounded by his stubborn refusal to admit the problem.

 

Funny Video: Esurance TV Commercial – $522 Bucks (and other slang terms for money!)

Here’s another TV commercial I saw airing on American television while I’m home this Christmas.

Unlike the French, Americans like to talk about money so it’s no surprise we have a lot of slang and idiomatic terms for it!

http://www.esurance.com/Welcome/home/home/ErinsWorld.aspx

• THE SAVER: 522 bucks (= dollars. Derived from the word ‘buckskin.’ In colonial America, the English wanted fur and they traded goods with the Native Americans for buckskin.) -- that's what people save, on average, when they call me to switch to Esurance.
• FIRST GIRL: If they switch to Esurance online, they could save 522 clams (= dollars. Native Americans on the west coast of North America strung clamshells [des coquilles de palourde] into strings of money).
• THE SAVER: I could save 'em 522 smackers. (= dollars. Sometimes said ‘smackeroo.’ Dates back to the beginning of the 20th century and comes from the notion of something being ‘smacked’ into the palm of the hand; the sound made as the dollar is slapped into the hand.)
• FIRST GIRL:You talkin' dough? (= money. Bread is a necessity of life and we earn money to be able to buy it. Dough, pronounced ‘doh,’ is what bread is before it is baked. A breadwinner is the individual who earns the money to support a family.)
• THE SAVER: Bread. (see above note)
• FIRST GIRL: Benjamins? (= $100 banknote. Benjamin Franklin is on the $100 bill. Sometimes called in street talk as a ‘Benji’)
• THE SAVER: Scratch (= money. Dates to beginning of the 20th century though its origins are unknown. Probably from the term ‘to scratch/scrape a living’ which means to earn just enough money to live). Greenbacks (= dollar. Since the Civil War, the back of US banknotes were printed in green ink). Moolah (= money. The origins are a mystery. Some say it comes from the Fijian language others say it comes from the French word ‘le moulin’ since mills were a primary source of wealth.) . Cheddar. (= money. This is a street term for money used often in African-American slang and rap music. I’m guessing that cheddar cheese probably was at some point in history an expensive item to buy and came to represent wealth or riches.) Simoleons. (= dollar. US slang term that is probably a blend of the 18th century British six pence coin called a ‘simon’ and the French gold ‘Napoleon’ coins.) Don't try to out-save me.

• SECOND GIRL: He’s the Saver.
• FIRST GIRL: (SAID WITH FRUSTRATION) I know he’s the Saver.
• VOICEOVER : You could save 522 bucks. See for yourself at Esurance. Technology when you want it. People when you don’t.
   

Funny Video : Progressive Insurance TV Commercial –Revised Language

This funny TV commercial is currently on American television at the moment. Most of the expressions the man is using are common!! Watch and see if you understand. The video uses what is known as Reduplicated or Ricochet Words which are word combinations and sounds designed to intensify their force. The transcript with explanations follows the video.

http://www.progressive.com/commercials/language.aspx

• FLO: Hi.
• MAN: I’m looking to save on insurance… don’t want to deal with a lot of flibbity flab (sometimes said as ‘flippity flam’ = used to describe something you don’t understand, such as someone speaking a foreign language) or mumbo jumbo (=a confusing or meaningless subject).
• FLO: (NODS AT WHAT HE IS SAYING) Sounds like you need to ‘Name Your Price.’
• MAN: No gobbledy gook (= containing a lot of jargon or very complicated language making it difficult to understand or incomprehensible)…
• FLO: Never.
• MAN: Do I still get all the dagnabbit (= expresses frustration, sometimes used instead of ‘dammit’.It is derived from the expression ‘God damn it’ which is considered rude language.) coverage I need?
• FLO: Sure, we give you a quote and you can adjust your price up and down to find something that works for you.
• MAN: This thing is okie McSmokie skittly doo (= very good, very cool. Probably derived from the expression ‘okidokey’ which means ‘ok.’).
• FLO: Great…I think.
• MAN: Diggedy (= no doubt).
• FLO: Oh! Still not sure.
• VOICE OVER: The ‘Name Your Price’ tool. Only from Progressive. Call or click today.

Funny Video : Achmed, the Dead Terrorist Christmas Special

Funny Video : Do You Speak English?

Thanks to one of my students, Raphaël, for pointing this video out to me!

Fun Video : Flash Mob Singing Handel’s “Hallelujah” in Mall Food Court

Here’s a fun video of a flash mob singing the “Hallelujah” chorus from Handel’s oratorio Messiah in the middle of a food court at a mall.

A flash mob is the new trend where large groups of people suddenly assemble in a public place to dance and/or sing. In this video, a flash mob takes place in a food court at a shopping mall.

A food court is usually an area inside a mall or an airport where you’ll find several fast food restaurants to choose from. In the United States, you can even find them in some high schools or universities replacing the traditional cafeteria!

A shopping mall, or simply a mall, is usually an indoor complex of different shops. In France, les Halles is a good example of this type of center. One mall, the Mall of America in Minnesota, even has an amusement park inside with a roller coaster!!

Funny Video for Thanksgiving

I found this on the ESL Podcast Blog : http://www.eslpod.com/eslpod_blog/2010/11/24/happy-thanksgiving-2/

The song below is a parody (funny song based on another song) of the popular 1970′s Gloria Gaynor hit song “I Will Survive.”  Happy Thanksgiving!

 

“I Will Survive” – Thanksgiving Version

At first I was an egg, I was petrified* (very scared; very frightened)
Kept thinking I’d be lost or I’d get cracked (for something hard to be broken so that a line appears on the surface) and fried
But you took me to your nest (bird’s home) before it was too late
and kept me warm and you helped me incubate (for an egg to be kept warm until a bird is hatched or born).

And now you’re back, think you’re the boss
Wanna put me on a plate next to your wife’s cranberry sauce (a sweet jelly sauce made from cranberries, eaten at Thanksgiving)
I should have known this day would come
I should have known not to relax
If I thought for just a second that you’d come in here with an ax (tool for cutting wood).

Go on now go, walk out the door
Just turn around now
Ain’t chopping (using a sharp tool to cut) my head to the floor.
Weren’t you the one who prized (highly valued) this dark meat on my thighs (upper part of a leg)?
Do you think I’d gobble (make the noise that a turkey makes)?
Did you think I’d lay down and die?

Oh on, not I.
I will survive.
Oh as long as I know how to peck (for a bird to use its hard mouth (beak) to hit or bite), I know I’ll stay alive.
Got my wings so I won’t fall,
Ain’t selling me to Butterball (popular U.S. company that sells turkeys).
I will survive.
I will survive.
…

* “Petrified” can also mean for a living thing to turn into something very, very hard because it is very old, like a fossil.

Funny Video : Geico Commercial – Woodchucks Chucking Wood

This funny television commercial by Geico is adapted from an old tongue twister: ‘How much could a woodchuck chuck, if a woodchuck could chuck wood.’ Now say that 10 times real fast! A woodchuck is another name for a groundhog which in French translates to une marmotte.

As you can probably deduce from the video, to chuck is an informal verb meaning ‘to throw.’ It also has the meaning of throwing something away you no longer want. In British English, if you chuck someone such as a boyfriend, girlfriend or spouse (un époux, une épouse) , you end the relationship.

Funny Video : Geico Commercial – Drill Sergeant as Therapist

to switch to	-	to change from one thing to another
a drill sergeant / a drill instructor	-	someone in the army responsible for training soldiers to march and other basic military exercises Learn more at : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drill_sergeant
to chug on over (slang)	-	to go
mamby-pamby (slang)	-	cowardly
a jackwagon	-	an insult probably invented for this television advertisement to avoid saying “jackass,” an insulting term for a stupid person.
a crybaby (slang)	-	a person such as a child who frequently cries, like a baby

Funny Video : Feeding Fluffy (Mitsubishi TV commercial)

a squirrel	-	un écureuil
a racoon	-	un raton laveur
wounded (adj.)	-	blessé
to feed	-	nourir, donner à manger à

Funny Video : Mayday! Mayday!

Funny Beer Commercials

This week seems to have taken on a beer theme though I personally don’t imbibe. However, for all you brewski lovers, here are a few funny TV commercials.

Humor Spot: Funny things happen in church!

Ok, not necessarily of any relevance to learning English but I have a few student who would appreciate this.

Video of the Moment: The Bare Essentials of Safety from Air New Zealand.

Air New Zealand staff bare all to get flyers' attention

In this new funny video that is actually being used on board the airline fleet of Air New Zealand, they are taking a new approach to get passengers to pay attention to the safety instructions. You’ll also get to enjoy a New Zealander accent or as it is locally known, a kiwi accent.

VOCABULARY

to bare all	to show yourself naked
to wing one’s way	to go or be sent quickly from one place to another We’ll be winging our way to our next port of call.
port of call	(informal) one of the places you visit on a trip
to lift off	(phrasal verb) when an aircraft or space vehicle lifts off, it goes up from the ground into the air But before we lift off, we’d like to give you what we call ‘the bare essentials’ of safety aboard this flight.
the bare essentials	what is basic and absolutely necessary for something. This is also a play on words with ‘bare’ which also has the meaning of being naked.
to tuck away	(phrasal verb) to store something in a safe place All baggage should be tucked away overhead.
to require	to impose an obligation We require all passengers to follow crew member instructions and lighted signs.
to happen to do something	to do something by chance If we happen to switch on the seat belt sign, please return to your seat and fasten your seatbelt.
to fasten	to close something such as a piece of clothing or a bag using the buttons, zipper, clip, etc. on it
snug	fitting closely to your body, or fitting closely into a space Not so tight as to lose the feeling in your legs, but enough to ensure that it’s snug and fits low across your hips.
to tighten	to pull something such as a rope or a belt until it is straighter or until it fits more tightly around something Tighten by pulling on both sides of the elastic.
to inflate	to fill something with air or gas so that it becomes the right shape and size for using Don’t worry if the bag doesn’t inflate, oxygen will flow through it automatically.
to brace oneself	to push your body, or a part of it, against something solid and strong in order to support yourself or to avoid falling If an emergency were to happen during takeoff or landing, brace yourself either on the seat in front of you or…
coincidentally	used for saying that something happens by chance Coincidentally, this is the perfect place to find your life jacket.
to be on hand	to be present or available to do something And we will be on hand to provide life jackets to babies, if needed.
to be plum out of something	(idiomatic) to not have something at all If you find yourself wanting to smoke while on board; sorry, but you’re plum out of luck. - Note: plum is used as an intensifier. So, if you want to say that you’re very tired, you might say, “I’m plum tired.”
to pop back	to clip or snap back into place During takeoff and landing, we’d ask that you’d pop your tray table back
upright	straight and tall Make sure your seat is upright.

Humor Spot: He’s Barack Obama from Jib Jab

Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!

Video Lesson / Humor Spot: Looking Cool Driving a Minivan

The Guy's Manual – A very funny video that contains some great idiomatic expressions. Other great funny videos can be found at the before mentioned link.

I recommend that you go through the vocabulary and expressions first before watching the video. If you enjoyed this video and/or you have questions, don’t hesitate to leave a comment at the end of the post.

1. a ride – This term is used for your vehicle or other mode of transportation. For example if you just bought the fastest and coolest sports car, you might ask your friends, “What do you think of my new ride?”

2. to have an edge – This expression is used to say that something has a strange quality that makes it interesting. Imagine a new cd comes out by your favorite singer and you find there is something about that is better than his previous cd, you might say, “There is an edge to this album that wasn’t there in the last one.”

In the video, the presenter states that the ride has all the edge of cottage cheese. In other words, there’s nothing esthetically interesting about a minivan! You can replace ‘cottage cheese’ with any other word or expression you like. For example, I might say just for fun, “That TV film had all the edge of watching paint dry.” In other words, it was uninteresting and boring.

3. the fast lane – If you live or travel in the fast lane, you have a wealthy, stylish and fast lifestyle. This would be like the fast and furious lifestyle of a Hollywood star always on the go, always going to parties and always travelling. The term comes from the lane of traffic on a highway used for those cars driving at higher speeds and need to go around slower moving traffic.

4. a nugget – You’ll recognize the term from McDonalds. A nugget also means a small piece of information or advice that can be useful, helpful or important. In the video you heard the presenter say “a nugget of wisdom.” You can also say a “a nugget of advice,” “a nugget of truth,” etc..

5. to hang in (on) there – This informal expression is used to express endurance, to continue doing something with determination in spite of difficulty or obstacles.

6. to mean business – This is an excellent and very common, informal expression to use when you seriously intend to do what you say you will do. You say this when you are very serious about something. “I don’t think he was joking this time, I think he really meant business when he said he’ll quit if doesn’t get a raise.”

7. tasteful – Showing good judgment about what is attractive or suitable

8. dashboard – This is the part of the car where you find your speedometer and other instruments such as your radio, CD player and cigarette lighter.

9. street cred – This is an urban slang expression indicating that you have respect on the streets, you know your environment and that you are just very cool! Cred is short for credibility.

10. a tip – A useful suggestion.

11. in-van entertainment – Here the presenter is referring to the music and nowadays the DVD players that can be found in our vehicles!

12. to go a long way towards doing something – If you say something goes a long way towards doing something, you want to say that it helps to achieve something. In the video, the DVD players go a long way to keeping the children quiet in the back of the van.

13. to richly deserve – This is a great expression to mean completely. “He gave them the credit that they so richly deserved.”

14. carpool lane – In many large cities throughout the United States you have a special lane reserved on the highway uniquely for those who carpool. To carpool is when two or more people, usually work colleagues, get together and use the same car to get to work. In some cities, such as Atlanta, the carpool lane is also known as the HOV lane (or high occupancy vehicle lane). If you are caught in this lane and you are alone in your car, you will be ticketed by the police. The act of sharing a car is called carpooling and those who practice this are simply called carpoolers.

15. (just) the tip of the iceberg – This wonderful expression is used to say a small or minor problem could in fact be the result of a more serious or deeper problem which we don’t see or of which we are not aware. Now, in the context of the video, the presenter used it to say that he knows a lot of things but the tips and advice he gave about looking cool in a minivan are just a small part of his knowledge. He knows a lot more about a lot of other things, however his iceberg is melting he jokes!

Humor Spot: The Secretary from Tac.tv

Humor Spot: World's First IT Professionals

My dad sent me this funny little video of the world's first IT (information technology) professional when the world updated from the scroll (un rouleau de parchemin) operating system to the book operating system. LOL! I believe the video is in either Swedish or Norwegian but with English subtitles.

Humor Spot: The Magic Fridge

Ok, another quite stupid video from Bud Light but it made me laugh nonetheless! Enjoy!

Humor Spot: Bud Light English Class

A very important English class lesson!