Cute as a button

[svetlana14]

Dear all,

Could you please listen the attached sentence. I cannot understand it even if there is the subtitle. Why do you think it is so hard to catch the words the lady are saying? Thank you very much.

 

[jutfrank]

Yeah—I am cute as a button and I can run my arse off.

It's hard to catch the words because she's speaking very fast and not very clearly, coupled with the fact that you've probably never heard a phrase like run my arse off before.

 

[probus]

In addition to the two valid points made by jutfrank, it's worth noting that the lady is obviously not a native speaker. She has a rather noticeable foreign accent. I guess she is Russian.

 

[jutfrank]

the lady is obviously not a native speaker. She has a rather noticeable foreign accent. I guess she is Russian.

She has a very English accent. Listen to the last word off.

 

[probus]

Fair enough. But I would then argue she has two accents, one overlying the other. In a million years I'd never believe she was a native speaker of English.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

Dear all,

Could you please listen the attached sentence? I cannot understand it even though there is the subtitle. Why do you think it is so hard to catch the words the lady is saying? Thank you very much.

You're welcome!

 

[Tdol]

Her way of saying cute as a is so cut down that it is almost incomprehensible.