Author Archives: Dr. Jeff McQuillan

Prank Calls: “Do You Have Prince Albert in a Can?”

If you say the phrase, “Prince Albert in a can,” most Americans who grew up in the mid-20th century (like I did) will laugh. But why is that expression so funny? Prince Albert was the name of a brand (company … Continue reading

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You Need to Know Your Status Quo

Some people say that Latin is a “dead language.” But it is alive and well, and used everyday in American English. Learn how to use these very common Latin expressions: status quo de facto vice versa non sequitur Want to … Continue reading

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Do You Mind!?!

You probably know that “mind” in English refers to your thinking, what you do with your brain. But did you know there were several other uses of “mind”? Watch this lesson to find out how to use “mind” and “Do … Continue reading

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How to Avoid Being Cheesy and Tacky

“Cheesy” and “tacky” are two things you definitely do not want to be. Learn what these common adjectives mean in English, and how you should use them. For more on how to use “cheesy,” see our Cultural English 454, and … Continue reading

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How to Use “I’m Good” versus “I’m Fine”

A common way to start a conversation is with a question such as “How are you doing?” or “How are things going?” Learn how to respond to these questions using “I’m fine” versus “I’m good” in this video lesson. And … Continue reading

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7 Ways of Saying “No” in English

Sometimes you have to say “no” to someone, but how do you do it without always saying “no”? Find out how and when to use these 7 common ways of saying “no” in English: No, thanks No, but thanks for … Continue reading

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Put Some Latin into Your English

English uses several Latin expressions in both daily conversation and written communication. These expressions are more common that you might think! Here are a few you should definitely know: ad hoc post hoc post hoc, ergo propter hoc per se … Continue reading

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How to Sound More American

What are some things you should do – and NOT do – to sound more like a native speaker of American English? Here are some “tips” to help you in this video. And to really sound like an American, become … Continue reading

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How to Curse in English in a Nice Way

To curse means to swear, to use a “bad’ word or expression, especially when you’re angry. At ESLPod.com, we don’t think it is a good idea for you to curse in English. But you CAN express your strong emotions and … Continue reading

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4 Ways to Say “Yes”

Everyone knows what “yes” is in English, but did you know there are different ways of saying “yes” without actually saying “yes”? Watch this video to find out how to use: -Uh-huh -Absolutely! -By all means -Agreed Check out our … Continue reading

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