Speaker 1: Hey there, it's Michael here and welcome back to English
Tips in a Minute from Happy English. I'm here every
week with a short, simple tip to help you speak
English more naturally and confidently. Today, let's look at another
really common conversational phrase, the thing is. We use the
thing is to explain a situation or to give a reason,
especially when there's a problem, a limitation, or something we
need to clarify. The thing is has a similar meaning
to here's the thing, but it's softer and more casual.
Like if your friend asks, oh, hey, how come you
didn't come to the party, you could say the thing is,
I wasn't really feeling well, Or maybe you're explaining a
situation the thing is I had other plans, or like
if your coworker invites you to a concert but you
don't like the music, you can say the thing is,
I really don't like blues. We often use this phrase
when we want to be honest with someone but polite.
It helps soften what we're about to say. Try writing
your example with the thing is in the comments, and
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next Happy English podcast and next week's English Tips in
a Minute Hey, thanks for listening, and until next time,
keep learning and keep it cool.