Watch and learn English

Select a line to hear it again. Tap any word to see what it means. Underlined words are the key words of this video.

1. 0:00
   Tutor Welcome to MicroEnglish! Has anyone told you, just
2. 0:03
   Tutor wake up earlier, as if that solves your whole morning? In
3. 0:07
   Tutor this B2 lesson, we'll learn easier said than done:
4. 0:12
   Tutor a useful response when advice sounds simple but real life
5. 0:15
   Tutor makes it hard to follow.
6. 0:18
   Tutor The plan looks tidy: set an earlier alarm
7. 0:21
   Tutor and gain an hour. But you finish work at midnight and still
8. 0:25
   Tutor need enough sleep. Easier said than done points to that
9. 0:28
   Tutor gap. Suggesting the change takes seconds; making it work
10. 0:32
    Tutor takes more.
11. 0:34
    Tutor Imagine your friend suggests exercising before breakfast.
12. 0:38
    Tutor You reply, that's easier said than done. I work late.
13. 0:42
    Tutor You're explaining why the advice is difficult to follow. You
14. 0:46
    Tutor might like the idea. The phrase doesn't automatically mean
15. 0:49
    Tutor you reject it or refuse to try.
16. 0:52
    Tutor A useful response has three parts: name the difficulty,
17. 0:56
    Tutor explain the obstacle, and suggest an adjustment. For example:
18. 1:01
    Tutor that's easier said than done. My shift ends at midnight.
19. 1:04
    Tutor I could exercise on my days off. This keeps the discussion
20. 1:08
    Tutor moving towards something possible.
21. 1:11
    Tutor You can use the phrase alone as a short reply, or
22. 1:14
    Tutor begin with that's. To name the action,
23. 1:18
    Tutor use a form such as changing jobs is easier said than
24. 1:22
    Tutor done. Changing jobs is the subject here. Said
25. 1:25
    Tutor and done stay the same within the expression.
26. 1:28
    Tutor Listen to the whole expression: easier said than done. Give
27. 1:33
    Tutor said and done clear stress, and link the words smoothly,
28. 1:37
    Tutor keeping the connecting sound between them short and light.
29. 1:40
    Tutor Try it together: easier said than done. You
30. 1:43
    Tutor don't need a dramatic delivery. A calm voice helps the listener
31. 1:47
    Tutor hear a practical concern rather than an angry complaint.
32. 1:51
    Tutor You can also acknowledge someone else's difficulty. I
33. 1:55
    Tutor know it's easier said than done. Let's start small. Here,
34. 1:59
    Tutor you recognise that your own advice requires effort. This is
35. 2:03
    Tutor especially helpful when a friend has already tried and feels
36. 2:06
    Tutor frustrated.
37. 2:07
    Tutor Compare easier said than done with it
38. 2:11
    Tutor can't be done. The first highlights difficulty; the
39. 2:14
    Tutor second says something is impossible. If moving closer to work
40. 2:18
    Tutor needs money and planning, it may be easier said than done,
41. 2:22
    Tutor even though you could eventually manage it.
42. 2:24
    Tutor Adding but I'll try leaves room for action.
43. 2:28
    Tutor The phrase fits everyday conversation and many discussions
44. 2:32
    Tutor with colleagues. In a formal report, explain the specific
45. 2:36
    Tutor difficulty directly. A bare, sharp reply can sound
46. 2:40
    Tutor dismissive, especially when someone is sincerely trying to
47. 2:43
    Tutor help.
48. 2:45
    Tutor A common mistake is mixing the fixed phrase with another structure:
49. 2:48
    Tutor it's easier to say than done. Keep the matching forms,
50. 2:53
    Tutor said and done. You can also say it's easier
51. 2:56
    Tutor to say than to do, but that is a different grammatical pattern.
52. 3:01
    Tutor Now listen to four situations, with British and American
53. 3:04
    Tutor speakers. Choose the answer supported by the conversation.
54. 3:08
    Tutor Focus on the obstacle or the speaker's attitude. After
55. 3:12
    Tutor each explanation, you'll hear the same recording again with
56. 3:15
    Tutor the words visible.
57. 3:17
    Tutor Two British colleagues discuss a tiring journey to work. What
58. 3:21
    Tutor stops George from making the suggested change?
59. 3:24
    Alice Could you rent somewhere near the office?
60. 3:26
    Alice Easier said than done. I've checked, and the rent is twice
61. 3:30
    George what I pay.
62. 3:32
    George Maybe we could share the drive instead.
63. 3:40
    Tutor Nearby rent is the obstacle. George has already
64. 3:44
    Tutor checked it, so his reply shows a practical problem with an
65. 3:47
    Tutor idea he has considered.
66. 3:49
    Alice Could you rent somewhere near the office?
67. 3:51
    Alice Easier said than done. I've checked, and the rent is twice
68. 3:55
    George what I pay.
69. 3:57
    George Maybe we could share the drive instead.
70. 4:00
    Tutor An American pair talk about evenings at home. Listen for
71. 4:04
    Tutor why Jessica cannot easily follow Roger's suggestion.
72. 4:08
    Roger Why not turn your phone off after dinner?
73. 4:11
    Roger That's easier said than done when I'm on call.
74. 4:13
    Jessica Right, you need to hear any urgent calls.
75. 4:23
    Tutor Jessica needs the phone for urgent work calls. The clue is
76. 4:27
    Tutor that she is on call; switching it off could mean missing something
77. 4:30
    Tutor important.
78. 4:31
    Roger Why not turn your phone off after dinner?
79. 4:34
    Roger That's easier said than done when I'm on call.
80. 4:36
    Jessica Right, you need to hear any urgent calls.
81. 4:41
    Tutor Back to British English. Alice is preparing to sing alone.
82. 4:45
    Tutor What does George's whole reply communicate?
83. 4:48
    Alice Everyone says I should enjoy my solo, but I'm terrified.
84. 4:52
    Alice I know it's easier said than done. Shall we rehearse together?
85. 4:55
    George Yes, having you there would help.
86. 5:04
    Tutor George recognises the challenge and offers help. I
87. 5:08
    Tutor know softens his advice, and rehearsing together gives Alice
88. 5:11
    Tutor a concrete next step.
89. 5:14
    Alice Everyone says I should enjoy my solo, but I'm terrified.
90. 5:18
    Alice I know it's easier said than done. Shall we rehearse together?
91. 5:21
    George Yes, having you there would help.
92. 5:25
    Tutor Finally, an American conversation in a bakery. What
93. 5:28
    Tutor does Roger think about increasing production for tomorrow?
94. 5:32
    Jessica Can we bake twice as much tomorrow?
95. 5:34
    Jessica Easier said than done with one oven. We could borrow the cafe's.
96. 5:38
    Roger I'll ask whether it's free.
97. 5:45
    Tutor The order needs an adjustment. Roger suggests borrowing
98. 5:49
    Tutor equipment, so he sees a possible solution rather than treating
99. 5:52
    Tutor the task as impossible.
100. 5:55
     Jessica Can we bake twice as much tomorrow?
101. 5:56
     Jessica Easier said than done with one oven. We could borrow the cafe's.
102. 6:00
     Roger I'll ask whether it's free.
103. 6:03
     Tutor Someone says, just find a quieter place to work. Respond
104. 6:07
     Tutor aloud: that's easier said than done. Then explain
105. 6:10
     Tutor your obstacle. You could start with I need. Give
106. 6:14
     Tutor a reason that fits your own life.
107. 6:22
     Tutor Remember that difficulty isn't refusal. You can use
108. 6:26
     Tutor this phrase and still accept the goal. If your response sounds
109. 6:30
     Tutor too negative, add a reason or a possible next step. That
110. 6:34
     Tutor helps the other person understand what you need.
111. 6:37
     Tutor The short reply works in both British and American English.
112. 6:41
     Tutor For a past experience, change the surrounding verb: it
113. 6:45
     Tutor was easier said than done. The core expression stays fixed.
114. 6:49
     Tutor In formal writing, a precise explanation may serve
115. 6:52
     Tutor your reader better.
116. 6:54
     Tutor Visit this lesson on MicroEnglish dot com for interactive
117. 6:58
     Tutor dictation: listen, type what you hear, and check your
118. 7:01
     Tutor answers. You can also ask the AI tutor about your sentences.
119. 7:05
     Tutor The first dictation is free; further practice and tutor
120. 7:09
     Tutor access depend on membership and available credits.
121. 7:13
     Tutor In the comments, name one piece of advice that's easier said
122. 7:17
     Tutor than done for you. Explain the difficulty, then suggest
123. 7:20
     Tutor a small next step. Ask any questions you have about the expression,
124. 7:24
     Tutor too. Thanks for practising with me today!

Choose an answer for each question, then check it.

1. Question 1

   Why would a speaker use easier said than done after receiving a practical recommendation?

   A To claim that the suggestion is completely useless and should be ignored entirely B To acknowledge that the advice sounds reasonable in theory while pointing out practical hurdles C To prove that nobody has ever completed that kind of assignment before
   Check my answer Chat with the tutor