Lily asks
Describe a celebration or holiday that matters to you.
How to build your answer
Describe: four moves, about a minute.
- 1Say who or whatOne line to introduce it.
- 2Two detailsWhat they're like, or what it looks like.
- 3Why it mattersWhat it means to you.
- 4A small momentOne example that brings it to life.
Lily's answer, three ways
The same story, from easy to advanced. Tap a highlighted phrase to learn it.
Easy
Lily's voice note
Christmas, for sure. I go back to my parents' house for a few days, and it's the only time we're all under one roof. Mum cooks way too much food, my brother Sam and I do the washing-up, and my nan falls asleep in her chair after lunch, every single year. Then we play silly board games and argue about the rules. It's nothing fancy, but I count down the days every December. It just feels like home to me, you know?
Phrases to borrow
under one roof
/ˈʌndə wʌn ˈruːf/
in the same house or building
It's rare to get the whole family under one roof.
count down the days
/kaʊnt ˈdaʊn ðə ˈdeɪz/
wait for something with a lot of excitement
I'm counting down the days to my holiday.
Natural
Lily's voice note
Definitely Christmas. Every December I'm back at my parents' house for a few days, and the whole family gets together. Mum cooks enough food for twenty people, and my brother Sam and I are always stuck with the washing-up. After lunch my nan nods off in her chair, every single year, with her paper hat still on. Then we get the board games out, argue about the rules and take the mickey out of each other. It's nothing fancy, but it really feels like home.
Phrases to borrow
/nɒd ˈɒf/
fall asleep for a short time, usually without meaning to
I always nod off on the train home.
take the mickey
/teɪk ðə ˈmɪki/
tease someone in a friendly way
My friends always take the mickey out of my accent.
Advanced
Lily's voice note
Christmas, without a doubt. Every December I head back to my parents' house for a few days, and it's the one time of year we're all together. Mum cooks enough to feed an army. My brother Sam and I get stuck with a mountain of washing-up, and my nan dozes off in her armchair after lunch, every single year, like clockwork. Then the board games come out and we bicker about the rules until we're crying with laughter. It's nothing fancy, but it means a lot to me. So yeah, I love it.
Phrases to borrow
enough to feed an army
/ɪˈnʌf tə ˈfiːd ən ˈɑːmi/
far too much food for the number of people
My aunt always makes enough to feed an army.
like clockwork
/laɪk ˈklɒkwɜːk/
always happening at the same time or in the same way
The bus comes at ten past eight, like clockwork.
crying with laughter
/ˈkraɪɪŋ wɪð ˈlɑːftə/
laughing so much that tears come out
That film had us crying with laughter.
mean a lot to someone
/ˈmiːn ə ˈlɒt tə ˈsʌmwʌn/
be very important to someone emotionally
Your support means a lot to me.
Your turn: answer Lily
Describe a celebration or holiday that matters to you.
Answer out loud, in your own words. Try one phrase you just borrowed.
Memories & childhood
get together
meet as a group, usually socially
“We get together every Friday for dinner.”
heytardy