Helping you speak, understand and connect in Australia –
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study notes
Different phrases to use when talking about working on a DIY project:
- Want to make something from a kit?
- I'm not that handy of a guy.
- Follow the instructions and take one step at a time.
- You've definitely been bitten by the DIY bug.
- If you fail, just try again.
- All I ask of you is a little trouble.
What about we + verb? “It's a convenient way to suggest someone do something together.”
If you agree with the suggestion but aren't sure it will work, but you want to try it anyway, you can say “Let's try” or “Let's try.”
Colloquial expression:
Abbreviation DIY Abbreviation for Do It Yourself. So, if you are doing a DIY project, you are taking on the task of building or repairing something yourself, without the help of a professional.
a capable attitude It is a positive and confident attitude toward tackling challenges, challenges, and problems.
the most skillful person around He is a man who is very good at fixing things with his hands and doing repairs and DIY projects.
if you are doing something step by stepThis means doing it gradually, not all at once.
If you've ever been bitten by the DIY bug, you've become very passionate about DIY activities.
a kit is a package you purchase that includes all the elements you need to build something.
guy “” is a casual word used in some English-speaking countries, such as Australia and the United Kingdom, to refer to a man or man.
to tackle It means something starts to address it.
to spoil something It means to make a mistake when doing something.
to Please put elbow grease It means to accomplish something using one's own efforts.
handy Skilled in working hands-on with real-world tasks. A skilled person is someone who is good at doing small construction tasks and repairing things.
Transcription:
(Note: This is not a verbatim transcription)
SBS would like to thank the Traditional Custodians of Country for their connections and continued care for the skies, lands and waterways across Australia.
Hello, I'm Joshipa. I couldn't wait to record this episode because I wanted to share how proud I am of myself.
Over the weekend, I painted my bedroom. I painted everything myself rather than having someone do it for me. And, as you know, my walls aren't perfect, but I'm so proud every time I see my new walls because I saved a ton of money on this DIY project.
By the way, do you know the abbreviation “DIY”? It stands for Do It Yourself.
Therefore, if you are doing a DIY project, you are taking on the task of building or repairing something yourself, without the help of a professional.
I think Claire is just as excited as I am. Because she decided to build a nest box for the parrot.
Australia is home to many species of parrots, including the Eastern Rosella and the Lorikeet. Some look like flying rainbows. Have you seen one of them yet? I hope so, they're really cool.
But before we start looking for parrots, let's see what Claire and Alan have to say about Claire's DIY project.
Claire
Would you like to try making a birdhouse using this kit you just bought? What do you think?
Alan
Claire, I'm not that handy of a guy.
Claire
Now, follow the instructions and take it one step at a time.
Alan
You've definitely been bitten by the DIY bug.
Claire
Don't worry, I'll think about it. All I ask of you is a little trouble. If you fail, just try again next week.
Alan
Okay, let's try it. But let me tell you, I wish I had the attitude that you could.
Building a birdhouse is not easy, so let's hope Alan and Claire can do it. In the meantime, we also have some work to do. Claire said this first.
Would you like to try making a birdhouse using this kit you just bought?
Claire suggests building a birdhouse using the parts included in the kit you purchase. When you buy a kit of something, that kit contains all the parts you need to assemble that thing, along with instructions.
There's no doubt about it! If something is foolproof, even a fool can do it.
Let's go on, Alan said.
I'm not that handy of a guy.
Bloke is a casual word used to describe a man in some English-speaking countries, such as Australia and the United Kingdom.
Alan is not a very handy man. That is, he is not much of a handyman and is not very good at using his hands to fix things or do DIY projects.
Cheer up, Alan. Claire doesn't seem to be taking “no” for an answer.
We will take it one step at a time.
Addressing a task or problem means starting to deal with it. When you're working on something one step at a time, it means you're working on it gradually, not all at once.
So when someone says, “Let's take it one step at a time and follow the instructions,” that person is suggesting that they follow the instructions that come with the kit and focus on doing each step correctly. There will be. Under construction.
A kit is a package you purchase that contains all the parts you need to build something.
You've definitely been bitten by the DIY bug.
When someone says, “You've definitely been bitten by the DIY bug,” they're not talking about the real bug. So no bug spray is needed and no one has actually been bitten.
This phrase is a playful way of saying that someone seems really enthusiastic about doing the project themselves.
So if you've been bitten by the DIY bug, you're super into DIY projects.
Personally, I don't really like insects. But the DIY bug? This is happily an exception. This is one “bug” I don't mind catching.
You can find “bugs” about many different things. For example, if you are someone who goes to the gym every day, you could say: “I've got the fitness bug.”
All I ask of you is a little trouble.
“Elbow grease” means putting effort and effort into achieving something. For example, if you do something yourself without a machine and you put a lot of effort into it, you can say that it took a lot of effort.
It's an old and funny way of saying that sometimes you need to use your hands and work hard.
By the end of our conversation, do you remember if Claire was able to convince Alan to join in building the hive?
Let's see what he said.
“Let's give it a crash” means “Let's try” or “Let's try.”
This is an expression of wanting to try something, even if it is difficult.Alan also said this.
I wish I had your can-do attitude!
If you have a “can do” attitude, you are positive and confident in tackling tasks, challenges, and problems.
Alan wishes he had Claire's can-do attitude. In other words, he wishes he had been as positive and willing to try new things as Claire was.
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A big thank you to our educational consultant, Professor Linda Yates, and our guest, Joe Antonios. .
Paul Nicholson and Lily O'Sullivan provided the voices of Alan and Claire.