Easy English Expression 0546 a knee-jerk reaction/response

Easy English Expression Rehashed Hello everybody, my name is Coach Shane and welcome to Easy English Expressions Come on, let's master English Hello, and welcome back to Daily English Expression. Sometimes we react before we've had a chance to stop and think. Today, we're exploring a phrase that describes exactly that kind of instant, instinctive response.

Let's go back in time. Today's expression is so good. Listen carefully. A knee jerk reaction or a knee jerk response. So reaction, R-E-A-C-T-I-O-N. Response, R-E-S-P-O-N-S-E.

But what was that in the front? A knee jerk reaction. A knee jerk response. Knee. K-N-E-E. You know, your leg, your foot, your knee. Knee. K-N-E-E. The K is silent.

Hyphen. Short dash. Jerk. J-E-R-K. Now, the word jerk has several meanings, but in this case, we want to think of the verb jerk. And the verb jerk means a quick, sudden movement.

Okay? So imagine this situation. You go to the doctor and you're sitting down. And the doctor takes this tiny little move. hammer. It's not really a hammer, but it looks like a hammer.

And he, thunk, he hits your knee, right? Right below your knee cap, right? He hits your knee and thunk, your leg, shoom, kicks, right? That, everybody, that is a knee jerk.

Your knee, thunk, jerks. It's a reaction by him hitting or hammering your knee, your knee kicks. That is a knee-jerk response or a knee-jerk reaction.

If your knee jerks, then you are healthy. Your nervous system is functioning properly, which is good. Now, in daily English, a knee-jerk reaction or a knee-jerk response is healthy.

Somebody who responds to something immediately without thinking. Okay, so for example, do you love America or do you hate America? I love America. I hate America.

Everybody's going to have a different knee-jerk reaction. Now, if we think about it, there are many good things and there are many bad things about America. Every country has good things and bad things.

So now when we think about it, maybe love or maybe hate is not the best word. Maybe we can say something. Oh, America has many good things which I really like.

America has many bad things which I do not like. But the knee-jerk reaction is... Your first feeling, your first response that you have without thinking, without thinking.

Does this make sense? Let's listen to the dialogue. What do you think of the riots? Well, my knee-jerk reaction is to support the people. But? But after I thought about it, violence with violence never solves anything.

In America, we have these politicians who are trying to be president and especially on the Republican side and especially there's one guy who says some very powerful statements and the knee-jerk reaction, watching everybody's knee-jerk reaction is amazing. It's very interesting. Some people are very supportive of him. Some people think he's crazy.

So yeah, it's – he – is an artist at getting people's knee-jerk reaction. He's amazing at that. But that happens a lot. If you say a subject that's sensitive to you,

You're going to have a knee-jerk reaction. For example, for me, something that's very important to me is Hollywood. As soon as you say Hollywood to me, my knee-jerk reaction is anger, frustration, disgust.

I'm sorry it is. You know, wait a second. I understand. There are some beautiful, amazing movies, some fantastic actors, great stories, wonderful directors.

Yes, I understand Hollywood can produce some amazing pieces of art and entertainment. I agree. But at the same time, Hollywood produces so much garbage and their influence on culture is, in my opinion, negative.

It's not clean. It's pretty dirty. The people there tend to be hypocrites and blah, blah, blah, whatever. If I think about it, I can tell you a million different things.

But my knee-jerk reaction is very negative. Now, once again, if I think about it, I absolutely can find some positive things. Of course I can. It's like Wall Street.

You think about Wall Street business and business people and banks. What's your knee-jerk reaction? You might hate them. You might think they're greedy bastards.

But then again, if you think about it, you probably can find some good things. You probably can think of some good people who have helped society a lot. And we can understand maybe some benefits of capitalism. Of course, we can find negative things.

Knee-jerk reaction, knee-jerk response is that automatic response. So, think about this. Are knee-jerk reactions good or bad? Well, we have to really be careful because knee-jerk reactions tend to be thoughtless.

And being thoughtless is not a good thing. Holding judgment, thinking about the situation always produces much better results. Slowing down. But nowadays, with the internet especially, it's really difficult to slow down.

Knee-jerk reactions, the media, the news, love it. They love knee-jerk reactions. Because if they can show you something shocking, they can sell advertising and make money. And that's the name of the game.

Knee-jerk reactions. How are you doing? Do you find yourself reacting? Whoops. Too quickly? Or are you pretty good at not having knee-jerk reactions? Coach Shane, how am I doing?

I really do my best to not have knee-jerk reactions, but sometimes it's tough. That's today's expression. Check out that dialogue two more times. And don't forget our website, www.letsmasterenglish.com.

What do you think of the riots? Well, my knee-jerk reaction is to support the people. But? But after I thought about it, violence with violence never solves anything.

What do you think of the riots? Well, my knee-jerk reaction is to support the people. But? But after I thought about it, violence with violence never solves anything.

Thanks so much for listening. Make sure to check out our webpage, www.letsmasterenglish.com. Try a free lesson. Get our newsletter. And if you have a question, please, or a comment, or maybe some criticism, then please send an email.

Contact at letsmasterenglish.com. I'm Coach Shane, and together, let's master English.