Speaker 1: 0:03

Hi there, welcome to the English. Like a Native podcast, this is your Fiverr Day. We are on week 2.2. First, on today's list, we have an idiom To button down the hatches.

Speaker 1: 0:23

To button down the hatches, this means to prepare for a difficult or challenging situation. This comes from sailing on the ocean. It's something that you would hear in nautical terms. For example, as the storm approached, the captain ordered the crew to button down the hatches. Now, as someone who lived on a ship for two years, i certainly experienced a couple of occasions where I was ordered to button down the hatches. I had to release this very heavy hatch, this door that would go over and reinforce the little port hole, the little window in the side of the ship. We would do that when it was stormy, to stop the windows being broken by the waves crashing against the side of the ship. We use this metaphorically. Of course, we might say, okay, things are going to be rough, let's button down the hatches. Maybe, if you are about to enter a storm at work, if you know you're going to be in for difficult times, a rumour is about to be released, perhaps something is going to go in the newspapers, or you're going to send out a newsletter letting people know about something that you know is going to cause upset, then you might be warned to button down the hatches to prepare yourself.

Speaker 1: 2:07

Okay, next on our list is anchor Anchor. Can you notice a theme emerging here? Yes, these are all nautical phrases. It's a ship theme today. So anchor, this is a noun. It can also be a verb, but we're treating it as a noun today. An anchor is a heavy object used to prevent a boat from moving. So when a boat comes into the dock and it wants to stop for a little while, it will usually drop its anchor down to the ground or the seabed so that the ship stays where it is and the tide doesn't carry it out. An example sentence The boat's anchor was stuck on a rock on the seabed.

Speaker 1: 2:58

Next on our list we have embark Embark To embark on something. This is a verb When it comes to the sea and ships. To embark means to board a ship or boat, but it can also mean, in general, to start a journey. So I embarked on a journey. Example We will embark on our journey to the Caribbean tomorrow. Next on our list very easy to remember is disembark. Can you guess what this means? To disembark is a verb meaning to leave a ship or a boat to get off it. For example, after two weeks at sea, we finally disembarked in New York And the final phrase on our list today is to run aground, to run aground.

Speaker 1: 3:57

If you run aground, this means your boat or your ship has hit the bottom of the ocean. So if the water is very shallow and you hit the ground while you're sailing along, then you have run aground, because I'm sure you can imagine it's not good to run aground when you're sailing. An example sentence the boat ran aground on a sandbank and got stuck. I'm glad to say I've never experienced running aground during my time at sea. Okay, that was my five, so let me give you those again. Two button down the hatches, anchor, embark and disembark. And number five was run aground. Now let's bring all of those together in a travel agents article.

Speaker 1: 5:01

Embarking on a cruise is an exciting adventure filled with endless opportunities for fun and relaxation. As you board the ship, you can feel the anticipation building. You find your room, you take a moment to settle in before heading out to explore the many activities available on board. As the ship pulls away from the dock, you can feel the excitement build. The gentle rocking of the ship is soothing. As you make your way to the deck to take in the stunning ocean views, the captain's voice comes over the loudspeaker. Button down the hatches. We're in for some rough seas ahead.

Speaker 1: 5:44

Despite the stormy weather, the onboard entertainment continues, from comedy shows to live music performances. There is never a dull moment on a cruise ship, and if you need a break from the action, you can always head to the spa or lounge by the pool. As the ship approaches its next port of call, you can prepare to disembark and the ship drops anchor. The excitement of exploring a new destination is palpable. However, not every cruise goes as planned. Sometimes a ship may run aground, causing unexpected delays, but even in these situations, the crew works tirelessly to ensure the safety and comfort of their passengers. No matter the destination or the unexpected twists and turns, cruising is an exhilarating experience, filled with adventure, relaxation and fun. So set sail and explore, and there we go. That brings us to the end of this particular Fiver Day. I do hope you found this lesson useful. If you did, then maybe share it with a friend, and we can all learn five new words and phrases each day. Thank you so much for listening. Until next time, take care and goodbye.