Here are some words and expressions that appear in the video:
context (noun): information that helps us understand a situation
– The word, “hot,” can mean different things depending on the context in which it is used.
respond (verb): give a reply to something, answer
– How would you respond if someone asked your age?
innocuous (adjective): safe or harmless
– My brother thought he made an innocuous comment about different cultures at the party, but several people were offended by his apparent insensitivity.
vaguely (adverb): not clearly or exactly
– I vaguely remember meeting Maria last year at a conference.
– His face seems vaguely familiar. I wonder if we took a class together at the university.
deflect something (verb): turn something, like a conversation, in a different direction
– The coworker asked Brandon why he was late, but Brandon deflected the question for personal reasons.
actual (adjective): real or exact
– I’m not sure of the teacher’s actual words, but I think he said we would have a test sometime next week.
social cues (expression): the ways we communicate through verbal or non-verbal language. This language helps us “read” another’s intended signals.
– People sometimes do not understand the social cues of a new culture, and misunderstandings sometimes arise.
straight up (expression): truthfully, honestly
– You should usually tell your close friends straight up how you are feeling unless you are dealing with very private matters.
