'Dip Your Toes' or 'Take the Plunge'?
2024-03-10
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1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English.
2Today we talk about trying something new or something you are unsure about.
3People can react differently to these kinds of situations.
4Some people may want to jump right in feet first.
5They may want to take the plunge!
6And some people may want to test the waters.
7They may want to dip their toes in first.
8Which kind of person are you? Well, imagine you are standing on the edge of a lake or swimming pool.
9You want to get into the water, but you don't know the water's temperature.
10Do you jump right in? If you do, you may be more bold and adventurous.
11Or do you want to dip a toe into the water before you decide?
12If so, you may be more cautious and careful.
13If you dip your toes into something, you start doing it slowly and carefully.
14You are not sure if you will like it.
15You want to test the waters before beginning something, or before taking the plunge.
16Testing the waters means you get a feel for something before committing to it.
17For example, if you want to move to a new city, you probably want to test the waters first by going there for a short stay.
18Taking the plunge is the opposite of dipping your toes.
19When you take the plunge, you jump right into something.
20You do not wait or hesitate.
21We use the expression dip your toes in for many situations.
22You may want to try an activity briefly to find out if you like it first.
23It can also mean you start something very carefully before becoming involved in something that you are not experienced at.
24Now, let's hear some of these expressions used in a non-water related situation.
25A: Hey, I'm going ballroom dancing this Saturday. Do you want to join me?
26B: Ballroom dancing? I know nothing about ballroom dancing.
27A: That's fine! This place I found is perfect for you. Before the dance starts, they give a free class to beginners.
28B: Yeah, I don't know. Maybe I'll just go and watch. You know ... dip my toes in. I like to know what I'm getting into first.
29A: Sure. But I promise you ... after the first 5 minutes you are going to want to jump in feet first!
30That is all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories.
31If you are new to VOA Learning English, there's no need to dip your toes in first. Just take the plunge! Visit our website to find more stories.
32Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo.
1And now, Words and Their Stories, from VOA Learning English. 2Today we talk about trying something new or something you are unsure about. 3People can react differently to these kinds of situations. Some people may want to jump right in feet first. They may want to take the plunge! 4And some people may want to test the waters. They may want to dip their toes in first. 5Which kind of person are you? Well, imagine you are standing on the edge of a lake or swimming pool. You want to get into the water, but you don't know the water's temperature. 6Do you jump right in? If you do, you may be more bold and adventurous. 7Or do you want to dip a toe into the water before you decide? If so, you may be more cautious and careful. 8If you dip your toes into something, you start doing it slowly and carefully. You are not sure if you will like it. You want to test the waters before beginning something, or before taking the plunge. 9Testing the waters means you get a feel for something before committing to it. For example, if you want to move to a new city, you probably want to test the waters first by going there for a short stay. 10Taking the plunge is the opposite of dipping your toes. When you take the plunge, you jump right into something. You do not wait or hesitate. 11We use the expression dip your toes in for many situations. You may want to try an activity briefly to find out if you like it first. It can also mean you start something very carefully before becoming involved in something that you are not experienced at. 12Now, let's hear some of these expressions used in a non-water related situation. 13A: Hey, I'm going ballroom dancing this Saturday. Do you want to join me? 14B: Ballroom dancing? I know nothing about ballroom dancing. 15A: That's fine! This place I found is perfect for you. Before the dance starts, they give a free class to beginners. 16B: Yeah, I don't know. Maybe I'll just go and watch. You know ... dip my toes in. I like to know what I'm getting into first. 17A: Sure. But I promise you ... after the first 5 minutes you are going to want to jump in feet first! 18That is all the time we have for this Words and Their Stories. 19If you are new to VOA Learning English, there's no need to dip your toes in first. Just take the plunge! Visit our website to find more stories. 20Until next time ... I'm Anna Matteo. 21Anna Matteo wrote this lesson for VOA Learning English. 22________________________________________________ 23Words in This Story 24cautious - adj. careful about avoiding danger or risk 25hesitate - v. to hold back in doubt or indecision 26We want to hear from you. Do you have a similar expressions in your language? In the Comments section, you can also practice using any of the expressions from the story. Our comment policy is here.