English Listening Practice: Understatement | The Remains of the Day

The real English of understatement, in slow, clear English — not bad, I'm afraid, rather / a bit / a little, not ideal, I wouldn't say no. An English learning podcast episode you can take on a walk or a long drive, with nothing on screen to miss. Taught through The Remains of the Day.

This episode covers the story of The Remains of the Day, the film set on a vast English country estate, in which a butler spends thirty years never saying what he means — plus a vocabulary lesson built right into that story: the English of understatement, from "not bad" and "I'm afraid" to "rather", "a bit" and "a little", "not ideal" and "I wouldn't say no".

Perfect for English learners who enjoy movies and want a slow, clear, podcast-friendly way to improve their English listening comprehension and vocabulary on the go — no video required.

Free interactive learning materials for this episode are also available at engmoviereviews.com.

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