Crystal clear
| Li: | Welcome to The English We Speak, I'm Li and with me is Rob. Hi Rob. |
| Rob: | Hello Li. |
| Li: | So Rob, thanks for offering to help me build my new wardrobe. It's come in a hundred pieces and I don't know where to begin. |
| Rob: | No problem Li, I'm happy to lend a hand. I'm great at building furniture! |
| Li: | Good because the instructions seem to be so confusing. This bit here ... doesn't fit ... here. |
| Rob: | Let's have a look. Give it to me. Let's have a look at these instructions. Yes, simple, it's crystal clear! |
| Li: | Crystal clear? The instructions are crystal clear? Rob, my wardrobe may look fancy but there are no crystals in it. |
| Rob: | I know that. I just mean the instructions are obvious—they are simple and clear to understand. If we say something is crystal clear we simply mean it is absolutely clear. Is that clear? |
| Li: | It is. You mean it's easy to understand. I suppose, literally it means as clear as a crystal? |
| Rob: | Exactly. Let's hear some examples of this idiom in action: |
| Li: | So in those examples, crystal clear was used to mean extremely clear or easy to understand. But Rob, what I can't understand is why you find these instructions crystal clear and I can't? |
| Rob: | That's easy—you had them upside down. |
| Li: | Silly me! |
| Rob: | But if you just put that piece of wood in there ... and put a screw in there ... and hook the doors onto there ... your wardrobe will be complete. Is that clear? |
| Li: | Crystal clear! |
| Rob: | Good. But as I'm here now, I'll finish it for you. (Noises of Rob building wardrobe) There you go ... what do you think? |
| Li: | (Tapping the wood) Yes, it seems quite solid ... oh no ...
(Wardrobe collapse) |
| Li: | Oh dear. Now I know what is really crystal clear. |
| Rob: | Oh yes, what's that? |
| Li: | I will never ask for you to help me build a wardrobe again. Is that clear? |
| Rob: | Crystal! |
| Both: | Bye. |