Milan ice cream ban: BBC News Review

Summary

In this BBC Learning English News Review, hosts Beth and Phil discuss a controversial plan by the Milan city council to ban the sale of ice cream and pizza late at night, following complaints from residents about noise. They explore key vocabulary from the headlines, including 'poised,' meaning ready for action, 'declares war on,' signifying a strong conflict, and 'sort of,' used to express something that isn't entirely certain. The episode emphasizes how language reflects the seriousness of the proposed changes while using everyday expressions.

Takeaways

• 🍦 Milan is considering a ban on the sale of ice cream and pizza late at night.
• 📢 The proposed ban is in response to noise complaints from local residents.
• 🏢 Critics argue that the ban could negatively impact local businesses.
• 📰 The term 'poised' in a headline suggests that Milan is ready to take dramatic action.
• 🐍 'Poised' is used metaphorically to indicate anticipation of a significant decision.
• 🛡️ The phrase 'declares war on' is used to describe a strong confrontation or conflict.
• 🗣️ 'Declares war on' is often used by politicians or in political journalism to denote strong action against a problem.
• 🍨 The headline 'Milan wants to ban gelato, pizza and other Italian favourites (sort of)' uses 'sort of' to indicate a partial or metaphorical ban.
• 🗣️ 'Sort of' is a common filler phrase used in spoken English, pronounced as 'sorta'.
• 🔄 The script discusses alternative phrases like 'kind of' and 'kinda' which have similar meanings to 'sort of'.
• 📺 The script is from BBC's News Review, aimed at helping English learners understand news headlines.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the BBC Learning English News Review?

The main topic is the proposal by the city council of Milan to ban the sale of ice cream and pizza late at night.

Why is Milan considering this ban?

Milan is considering the ban due to complaints about noise from local residents.

What are the critics' concerns regarding the proposed ban?

Critics are concerned that the ban will damage local businesses.

What does the term 'poised' mean in the context of the headline?

In the context of the headline, 'poised' means ready to act or take action, similar to how an animal might be ready to strike.

How is the phrase 'declares war on' used metaphorically in the script?

The phrase 'declares war on' is used metaphorically to indicate a strong confrontation or conflict between the city council and ice cream sellers, rather than literal warfare.

What does the expression 'sort of' imply in the headline from the Metro?

The expression 'sort of' implies that the ban is not absolute but is conditional, applying only after a certain time.

What is the pronunciation of 'sort of' in spoken English?

In spoken English, 'sort of' is often pronounced as 'sorta' or /sɔːtəv/.

What is another common filler expression similar to 'sort of'?

Another common filler expression similar to 'sort of' is 'kind of', which is often pronounced as 'kinda' or /kaɪndəv/.

What does the phrase 'ready for action' suggest about the city council's stance?

The phrase 'ready for action' suggests that the city council is prepared to take decisive measures regarding the proposed ban.

How does the script suggest that politicians or journalists use the term 'war on'?

The script suggests that politicians or journalists use the term 'war on' to announce strong action against a problem, such as 'war on unemployment' or 'war on drugs'.

What is the suggestion at the end of the script regarding ice cream?

The suggestion at the end of the script is to go and get ice cream, highlighting the importance of this food item in the context of the discussion.

Outlines

00:00

🍦 Milan's Proposed Ban on Late-Night Ice Cream and Pizza Sales

The first paragraph of the BBC Learning English News Review discusses a proposal by the city council of Milan to ban the sale of ice cream and pizza late at night. This consideration comes after complaints from local residents about noise. The hosts, Beth and Phil, introduce the story and emphasize the importance of understanding key vocabulary to discuss the news. They highlight the words 'poised,' 'declares war on,' and 'sort of' as essential for understanding the headlines. Phil explains 'poised' as being ready to act, using the metaphor of a snake ready to strike. They also discuss how 'declares war on' is used metaphorically to describe a strong confrontation or disagreement, not a literal war. The hosts suggest that the policy could be seen as a 'war on noise' or 'war on anti-social behavior.'

05:03

🗣️ Understanding Filler Words in English: 'Sort of' and 'Kind of'

The second paragraph continues the discussion on language, focusing on the use of filler words in English, particularly 'sort of' and 'kind of.' These expressions are used to describe something in a vague or non-specific manner, similar to something else. The hosts note that these words are often used as thinking aids, filling gaps in speech while the speaker searches for the next word. They provide pronunciation tips, noting that 'sort of' is often pronounced as 'sorta' in spoken English. The conversation light-heartedly returns to the topic of enjoying ice cream, suggesting that despite the ban, they might still indulge. The segment ends with a prompt for viewers to subscribe to the channel for more English learning content and a reminder to explore more programs on food and drink.

Keywords

💡Ban

A ban is a formal or official prohibition of something. In the context of the video, Milan is considering a ban on the sale of ice cream and pizza late at night. This is related to the video's theme as it discusses the city's attempt to regulate food sales to address noise complaints, which is a central issue in the news story.

💡Ice cream

Ice cream is a frozen dessert made from a mixture of milk, cream, and often sugar, combined with various flavors. In the video, ice cream is highlighted as a quintessential Italian food that Milan is considering banning the sale of after midnight, emphasizing the cultural significance of the food item in the narrative.

💡Pizza

Pizza is a popular Italian dish consisting of a yeasted flatbread typically topped with tomato sauce, cheese, and various toppings. The video discusses the potential ban on pizza sales in Milan, which underscores the cultural and economic implications of the proposed regulation.

💡Milan

Milan is a city in northern Italy and is the focus of the news story in the video. It is known for its rich culinary culture, including ice cream and pizza. The city's council is considering the ban, making 'Milan' a key term in understanding the geographical and cultural context of the story.

💡Council

A council is an administrative body that governs a city or region. In the video, the city's council is the entity that is poised to enact the ban on late-night sales of ice cream and pizza. This term is crucial to understanding the authority behind the proposed regulation.

💡Complaints

Complaints refer to expressions of dissatisfaction or protest. The video mentions that the ban is being considered due to complaints from local residents about noise, which is a key driver of the proposed policy and central to understanding the conflict in the story.

💡Critics

Critics are individuals who express disapproval or objection. In the context of the video, critics argue that the ban will harm local businesses, highlighting a point of contention and adding depth to the debate over the proposed regulation.

💡Poised

To be 'poised' means to be ready and prepared for action. The video uses 'poised' to describe Milan's council as being on the verge of implementing the ban, which conveys a sense of anticipation and readiness, aligning with the theme of imminent policy change.

💡War

In the video, 'war' is used metaphorically to describe the conflict or confrontation between the city council and ice cream sellers. The phrase 'declares war on' is used dramatically to emphasize the intensity of the disagreement, illustrating the high stakes for the businesses involved.

💡Sort of

The phrase 'sort of' is used to indicate something is somewhat like another thing but not entirely. In the video, it is used to soften the impact of the ban, suggesting it is not a complete prohibition but rather a regulation of certain times. This term helps to clarify the nuances of the proposed policy.

💡Vocabulary

Vocabulary refers to the words and phrases that make up a language. The video is from BBC Learning English and aims to teach viewers the vocabulary needed to understand the news story. Vocabulary is key to the educational purpose of the video, helping learners to grasp the specific terms relevant to the news headline.

Highlights

Milan plans to ban the sale of ice cream and pizza late at night.

The city's council is considering the move after complaints about noise from local residents.

Critics argue the ban will damage local businesses.

The vocabulary 'poised' is used to describe Milan's readiness to act on the ban.

The term 'poised' implies anticipation of a serious action.

Milan is described as 'declaring war on' ice cream sellers, indicating a confrontation.

'Declares war on' is a metaphor for a strong stance against an issue.

The phrase 'war on something' is commonly used by politicians and journalists.

The ban is described as 'sort of', indicating it is not a complete prohibition.

'Sort of' is used to describe something that is similar to a ban but not exactly.

The pronunciation of 'sort of' in spoken English is often reduced to 'sorta'.

'Kind of' is an alternative expression to 'sort of', both used as fillers in speech.

The ban is a response to noise and anti-social behavior issues.

The vocabulary 'poised', 'declares war on', and 'sort of' are crucial for understanding the story.

The news story is from BBC Learning English's News Review.

The program helps English learners understand news headlines.

The hosts encourage viewers to subscribe for more English learning content.

Transcripts

Banning ice cream and pizza in Milan?

This is News Review from BBC

Learning English where we help you understand news headlines in English.

I'm Beth. And I'm Phil.

Make sure you watch to the end

to learn the vocabulary that you need to talk about this story.

And remember to subscribe to our channel to learn more English

from the headlines. Now,

today's story. For many, ice cream, pizza and Italy

go hand in hand.

Now, the northern city of Milan has plans to ban the sale

of these famous Italian foods late at night.

The city's council is considering the move

after complaints about noise from local residents.

Critics of the plan

say it will damage local businesses.

You've been looking at the headlines,

Phil. What's the vocabulary

that people need to understand this news story in English?

We have: poised, declares war on

and sort of. This is News Review from BBC

Learning English.

Let's have our first headline.

This is from your Euro News. Why is Milan poised to ban ice cream and pizza

after midnight?

So, this headline asks why Milan is trying to ban pizza and ice cream.

We're looking at the word, poised. Phil,

what can you tell us about it?

OK, well, literally poised means in position and ready to act.

Maybe think of an animal –

we might say that a snake is poised to strike.

What that means is that the snake is looking at the mouse,

it's very still and just getting ready to jump on the mouse and eat it.

But here, poised is metaphorical. We're not literally talking about an animal.

But, imagine the council, ready to do something dramatic

and that thing is to ban ice cream and pizza.

Yes. And we often use poised to mean ready to do – something poised to act,

poised to announce. It has this idea of anticipation –

that there's something quite serious coming, quite often.

Yes. And pizza and ice cream in Milan is definitely serious business.

OK, let's look at that again.

Let's have a look at our next headline.

And this is from the Telegraph. Italian city

declares war on ice cream sellers.

So this headline again is about the Italian city,

Milan, versus ice cream or

ice cream sellers.

We're looking at 'declares war on'. This sounds very dramatic.

Yeah, I mean

this isn't literal - literally it's when one country says to another country

'we are at war with you'. But this

isn't that. It's just talking about a confrontation as a conflict

or disagreement between the city council and the ice cream sellers.

Yes. So, 'declare war on' here in the headline is metaphorical.

This reminds me of another phrase which is 'the war on something'. Again,

it's not really to do with the military or armies.

You might hear about the war on unemployment or the war on drugs.

What kind of situations do we hear it in usually?

We often hear this from politicians or journalists reporting

on politicians, and when they announce a war on something

it means it's a problem

they want to take strong action against.

So, we could talk about this policy

perhaps as a war on noise or a war on anti-social behaviour

or something like that. Yeah.

OK, let's look at that again.

Let's have our next headline.

This is from the Metro. Milan wants to ban gelato,

pizza and other Italian favourites (sort of).

OK. So, this headline is saying the same thing again.

It's all about banning that food in Milan.

We are looking at sort of.

I use this expression all the time, Phil. Why do you we use it?

Well, here we are using 'sort of' to describe something that is

like something else.

So, we're saying this is like a ban.

It's not really a ban –

it's only after a certain time.

Yes. And something interesting about the pronunciation.

It's written in the headline 'sort of',

but when we pronounce it in spoken English,

we say 'sorta' or /sɔːtəv/. Are there any other alternatives?

Well, 'kind of' means the same,

and that's often 'kinda' or /kaɪndəv/. Both of these expressions

are very common in English as fillers, which are the words we say

when we're trying to think of the next word, so, often,

we'll sort of put another kind of word in the sort of gap...

Yeah.

Yeah, I think you've kind of explained that quite well.

But I think we should sort of just go and get ice cream now.

What do you think? Actually,

I think it would be better if we kind of looked at that again.

OK, yeah. Let's look at that again.

We've had poised – ready for

action, declares war on – tries to defeat

and sort of – in a way; kind of.

If you want to know more about food and drink, just click here.

to watch more programmes.

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so you never miss another episode.

Thanks for joining us. Bye. Bye!