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Why are you carrying a bag of dog treats?
My new neighbors invited me for coffee, and theyhave a dog.
You bought a present for the dog, but nothing forthe neighbors?
The dog helped us become friends.
Ah, it helped you break the ice.
Exactly, and I may have a soft spot for dogs.
Then today's lesson is perfect for you.
Welcome to your English Toolbox. I am Martin.
And I am Julia.
Today we are exploring Lesson 5 of our free IdiomToolbox course, Relationships.
You can find the course at yourenglishtoolbox.com.
Open the Idioms section and choose Lesson 5,Relationships.
You will find a slow dialogue, clear meanings,multilingual support,
examples, and interactive retrieval practice.
The direct link to this free lesson is also in theepisode description.
Let us begin with get along.
If two people get along, they have a friendlyrelationship.
You can say, I get along really well with my newneighbors.
Or ask, do you get along with your colleagues?
Notice the preposition, get along with someone.
Can two people get along even if they are verydifferent?
Of course. A good relationship does not requireidentical personalities.
That leads us to our second expression, see eye toeye.
If two people see eye to eye, they agreecompletely about something.
For example, my neighbors and I do not always seeeye to eye on music.
Perhaps because you play music late at night?
I play it very quietly.
That was not a confident answer.
Here is another example.
The two managers finally saw eye to eye on the newschedule.
The past form is saw eye to eye.
And we often add the subject, we do not see eye toeye on money.
Or, they see eye to eye about most importantdecisions.
So, you can get along with someone without seeingeye to eye on everything.
Exactly. One expression describes therelationship.
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The other describes agreement.
Now let us return to the dog.
The dog helped break the ice.
To break the ice means to make people feel morerelaxed when they first meet.
A friendly question can break the ice.
A small joke can break the ice.
And apparently, a very enthusiastic dog can breakthe ice.
When I arrived, the conversation felt slightlyawkward.
Then the dog brought you a toy.
Yes. We started playing with it.
Everyone laughed and the conversation becamenatural.
The dog did all the social work.
It is a very talented dog.
Our final expression is have a soft spot for.
If you have a soft spot for someone or something,you feel special affection for them.
Martin clearly has a soft spot for dogs.
Especially friendly dogs.
You could also say, I have always had a soft spotfor my old school.
Or, she has a soft spot for rescue dogs.
The usual pattern is have a soft spot for someoneor something.
It describes warm affection.
It is not the same as being weak.
Let us compare all four expressions.
Get along means to have a friendly relationship.
See, eye to eye means to agree completely.
Break the ice means to make a first meeting feelmore relaxed.
And have a soft spot for means to feel specialaffection.
Time for a quick challenge.
Listen to each situation and choose the bestexpression.
Situation 1.
You and your new colleague have a friendly,comfortable relationship.
You get along well.
Situation 2.
Two friends completely agree about where to go onholiday.
They see eye to eye.
Situation 3.
Everyone is quiet at the beginning of a meeting,so someone asks a friendly question.
The question breaks the ice.
Situation 4.
Your grandfather's old chair is not valuable, butyou feel special affection for it.
You have a soft spot for it.
Now complete this sentence about your own life.
I get along well with...
And one more.
I have a soft spot for...
Personal examples make expressions easier toremember.
Continue with Lesson 5 in the free Idiom Toolboxcourse at yourenglishtoolbox.com.
The interactive practice helps you retrieve theexpressions instead of simply reading them again.
The direct lesson link is in the episodedescription.
Now, what did you buy for your neighbors?
A box of chocolates.
Good. And the dog treats?
A much larger box.
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You definitely have a soft spot for that dog.
We already see eye to eye on that.
See you next time, friends.
Goodbye.