In this mini episode, you will learn the phrase “soft spot.”
Episode 477 of the Everybody ESL podcast is a mini episode that teaches you the phrase “soft spot.” Send your questions about English and your comments and suggestions to EverybodyESL@gmail.com. (And let me know if you’d like to record the introduction to a future episode.)
Intro
“Hi! This is Ivy, from Wuzhou, Guangxi, China. You’re listening to Everybody ESL.”
Welcome to episode 477 of Everybody ESL, the podcast for everybody who wants to improve their English, practice their English, or just learn more English. My name is Ben, and I have a mini episode for you today, where I am going to teach you about one English topic. You can subscribe to the Everybody ESL podcast at Apple podcasts and wherever you find your podcasts. If you like Everybody ESL, leave it a good review so other people can find out about it too. And if you have any questions, comments, or suggestions for me, please send an email to EverybodyESL@gmail.com. Okay! Let’s get on with this mini episode.
The episode
In this episode, I am going to teach you an interesting phrase. The phrase is “soft spot.” Soft spot.
That’s s-o-f-t s-p-o-t. Soft spot.
In previous episodes, I have talked about the phrases “to hit the spot” and “sweet spot,” but today we’re doing a different spot phrase.
What is a soft spot? When do we talk about soft spots?
A soft spot is a special fondness or affection for something. A soft spot is a special feeling of tenderness for something. If you really like something and if something makes you feel tender or affectionate, you can describe that feeling as a soft spot.
You can think of it a little bit like this:
A soft spot is like a weakness. A soft spot is a place where you are not strong and hard.
Instead, it is a place where you are soft and affectionate and tender and full of feeling.
We always use the phrase “soft spot” in this construction: We always say that someone has a soft spot for something or someone. I have a soft spot for something. Or she has a soft spot for something. We have a soft spot for something. That is the construction that we always use when we use this phrase, “soft spot.”
Let me give you an example of a situation where someone might use this phrase.
Imagine that two people are talking about the kinds of movies they enjoy watching. And one person says, “I have a soft spot for movies about lost animals.” I have a soft spot for movies about lost animals.
In other words, “I feel a special tenderness or a special affection for movies about lost animals.”“I really love those movies.” “For some reason, those movies really affect me.”
“I have a weakness for them.” “I cannot resist them.” “I really love those movies.”
I have a soft spot for those movies.
Someone could also say, “I have a soft spot for the town where I grew up.” I have a soft spot for the town where I grew up.
In other words, "The town where I grew up gives me all kinds of tender feelings.” “I have a special affection for that town.” “I have a weakness for that town.” “When I think about that town, I feel a lot of affection.” “I have a special fondness for that town.”
That is “soft spot,” an interesting and useful phrase that I think you should know.
Outro
This is the end of episode 477 of Everybody ESL. Remember: If you have any questions about English, or if you have comments or suggestions for me, or if you would like to record an introduction that I can play at the beginning of future episodes—the same way Ivy recorded the introduction you heard at the beginning of this episode—send an email to EverybodyESL@gmail.com. I’ll be back soon with a new episode. And until then, keep going, keep practicing, and keep learning. I’ll see you soon. Goodbye!