English, baby!

简体

Over The Top

The Modal Verb "Might"

Date: Dec 06 2011

Themes: Soap Opera

Grammar: Modal Verbs

Go Super!

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

Go Super to Listen

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

Go Super to Listen

It’s often possible to have too much of a good thing. Take, for instance, your favorite beverage. Whatever it is, if you pour too much in a glass, it will spill over the top and make a mess!
“Over the top” is an expression used to describe something that is too extreme in some way. If music is too loud, you can say it’s over the top. If someone you just met starts buying you flowers and calling you every day, you could say their behavior is over the top.

But being over the top is not always a bad thing. If you go to a concert and there are lights, fireworks and backup singers, you might walk out and happily say, “That was over the top!” And, of course, what is over the top to one person, may be perfectly reasonable to another. Devan recently got engaged. It’s time for her to choose a dress. But, as Marni finds out, Devan’s expectations may be a little over the top.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Marni

Devan

Marni: This is so exciting. I can’t wait to see you try on dresses.

Devan: Yeah, I’m excited, too, but I’m kind of nervous. All the dresses in the window were so over the top.

Marni: Well, what do you mean?

Devan: They were all so big and pouffy and white.

Marni: Yeah, most wedding dresses are white. But I heard that they have a lot of different styles at this place. I’m sure you can find something that’s not too over the top.

Devan: OK, but I definitely don’t want sparkles. I hate sparkles. And I don’t want anything one-shouldered. But I don’t want anything strapless. And I don’t think I want sleeves either. I don’t want anything lacy. I don’t want anything Victorian. I don’t want anything too modern. I don’t want anything totally ‘80s…I don’t want it to have sequins. Marni? Hey! Are you sleeping?

Marni: No…I uh…It’s just that…I think your expectations might be a little over the top.

Devan: What? What do you mean?

Marni: Well, so far all I’ve heard is all the things that you don’t want. I mean, what about all the things that you do want in a dress? There has to be something here that you would like.

Devan: There is. Like…that!

Marni: That?

Devan: This one. I think this is it. I think I found my dress. I think it’s perfect.

Marni: Well, it’s definitely not over the top.

Grammar Point

Go Super to learn "Modal Verbs" from this lesson

Quizzes

Go Super to take Quiz

Lesson MP3

Go Super to download full lesson MP3

Go Super to Ask Ebaby! teachers your questions!

The iTEP^® test

Sponsored by

Schedule an iTEP^® test and take the official English Practice Test.
Take Now >

Discussion

Go Super to Listen

Marni helps her friend Devan shop for a wedding dress. They are excited, but the dresses in the window make Devan a little nervous. She wants something simple and they all seem over the top.

Devan begins to list the things she doesn’t want in a dress. The list is so long that Marni falls asleep. When Devan wakes her up, Marni tells her that maybe her expectations are over the top.

But suddenly, Devan sees the perfect dress. She holds it up. It’s plain and white. Definitely not over the top. Do you like things that are over the top, or do you prefer simplicity?

Comments

1 through 20 of 32
Next >
1 2

samirah

Saudi Arabia

the dress that was chosen by the girl in the video is very very simple , is she sure that it is wedding dress !! lol .It depends on the girl herself .some girls need a simple touch to shine , while others need more effort to get the dress that corresponding with their body shape ,in some cases , wearing a dress on that have sequins is a comauflage .

lovina77

Sudan

simplicity is good just for a daily Endeavors,but not for important occasion,like weding,you need to be speacial,speacialy in ur weding,so i prefer to be over the top a little bit.

goodmahsa

Iran, Islamic Republic Of

when I am speaking about sth out of my mind I should say I prefer to wear sth in middle not that much extreme to be called over the top not this much simple(Daven’s choice)but in reality I can not tell you what will be my choice for 100 percent, it depends how do I look in it ? whether it looks good in me or not

nahla1

Sudan

too high or not cheap

analee

Malaysia

why can’t i play the vedio?

wwongsapun

Thailand

I have been in this situation with Devan. It’s special day for bride.So which should the nice dress for that day. I like to wear simplicity dress but hidden some thing that to seduce to looking… Hahahahaha

denisezhao86

China

I don’t like the wedding dress that Deavan finally chose,it’s too simple,like a bridemaid’s dress.I like the wedding dress which having lace,sequins,like a princess.

winter_sonata_nw

Egypt

when it comes to dresses, I have my own choice. I like dresses neither over the top nor plain. Instead,I think the perfect dress is the one which is simple.different in style.has its own taste and when you show up.you pay the attention of all people in .It is the dress that makes you special .I think I can be a fashion-designer.lol

99qingkong

China

i love the simple dress too,it’s really perfect and graceful,and and i wanna buy it.

MUHAMMAD92

Saudi Arabia

i like moman wear simple dress.

orange.juice

Switzerland

her taste was awful i wouldnt make the same choice, my wedding dress will be more imperssive and glamorous

selvgali

Honduras

Devan is over the top

Kropeczka

Poland

I prefer simplicity, all things with sparkles aren’t for me. I don’t want to look like fireworks. My wedding dress was very simple and i think it was lovely :)

snoopyboy

Antarctica

You can get her anything as long as you don’t go beyond the friendship zone without her consent.

yeah kneeling would be overdoing it, espacially in public.

friendlover

Turkey

thank you snoopyboy for your nice comment. ıt’s great you think it’s not over the top.

Haha..I didn’t drop on one knee while giving her that necklace for sure. It would be really over the top. :)

Vina Novalina

Indonesia

I prefer simplicity but i think everyone has different perspective about something over the top. For instance, like Friendlover who bought a neckless for his friend’s special day, maybe for him it is not over the top but for his friend it can be, otherwise and like the article said that being over the top is not always bad things in some case hehhe

廖慧倫

Taiwan

i like simplicity..because i think over the top have a little like overdressing!!

bonvivant

South Korea

audio is not machted to the script

CatcheR

Iceland

I like simplicity

snoopyboy

Antarctica

Fret not! Friendlover, your nickname says it all, you just love your friend and thought buying her a necklace would make her happy. it’s not like you bought her a unicorn.

Did you drop on one knee when you handed the necklace to her?