Learning English

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Introduction

Eating beans and chips for dinner is very student-coded. Learn a different meaning of the word 'coded'.

Transcript

Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain expressions used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them, too! I'm Feifei, and I'm joined by Georgie. How are you?

Georgie
I'm very well, thank you. Feifei, how are you?

Feifei
I'm very well too, thank you. So, Georgie, what are we learning in this programme?

Georgie
We are learning an interesting use of the word 'coded' because it's something my friend has started using a lot and it's become quite popular on the internet.

Feifei
OK, well why don't you tell us about a typical way your friend might use 'coded'?

Georgie
Sure. So, this friend in particular loves sending me internet videos and memes. So imagine she sends me a video where she thinks the person in it is similar to me. She might say something like, "This is so you-coded", and that just means the person in the video matches my traits in some way – they're similar to me.

Feifei
Ah, OK. So the person in the video might be a little clumsy, forgetful, and a little bit silly.

Georgie
Feifei! Well, yes, fine. Now, it's not always about a person being similar. It could be a thing with a similar vibe or aesthetic. Do you have any examples of this, Feifei?

Feifei
Well, you know I love bright, intense colours, and I saw some paintings the other day in a shop and I thought, "Wow, those are so me-coded" – they were very me. Let's listen to some more examples.

Examples
I was watching this film yesterday and this character – I mean, he's a total mess, but he's so me-coded. I mean, he's just like me.

You ate chips and beans for dinner? That is so student-coded.

Have you met the new colleague yet? He's so George-coded. He likes board games and he wears glasses, just like George.

Georgie
So, basically, if you see something that reminds you of a person or thing because it shares the same traits or aesthetic, you can express that in a snappy way by saying the word or name and adding 'coded'.

Feifei
Yes. And a similar way of expressing the same thing is 'It gives off the vibe of', for example, the person in that video gave very Georgie vibes.

Georgie
Yes, or those bright, colourful paintings gave off Feifei vibes.

Feifei
OK, let's recap. We learnt a new meaning of the word 'coded', which means that something embodies the traits or aesthetic of something else. For example, the internet meme is very you-coded. Thanks for joining us.

Georgie
Bye bye!

Feifei
Bye.

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