Hi this is Tutor Nick P and this is Adverb Phrase 32. The adverb phrase today is believe it
or not. Okay. Let's take a look at the note here. This is a very, very, very common phrase
and it is a fixed-phrase. So it cannot be reworded . You always have to say believe
it or not. You can't say it any other way. It is usually said to prepare the
listener that what you are about to say is something that will be very
surprising, shocking , or you think the listener will question the truth of what
you are about to say. Meaning they may not even want to believe you. They may
say no. That sounds too crazy. Believe it or not. So even though what I'm about to
say may sound unusual or crazy , it is the truth. That's kind of what you mean. So
well you could choose whether to believe it or not but it's supposed to be true
what I'm telling you. All right. Let's continue. The origin of this phrase comes
from a cartoon series called "Believe It or Not" So exactly the same name
which was started in 1918 by Robert Ripley. The cartoon lasted long after his
death. So obviously other cartoonists continued
it or somebody else continued it after his death. But used the same idea. Looking
for strange things around the world to make a cartoon out of. And remember when
this first came out in 1918, this was not only before the Internet but it was long
before TV too. And it was even as still in the early days of radio. So people didn't
have as much information of all these strange things that were happening
around the world. And it was seemed very interesting to them. It was a pretty
good interesting cartoon. A little educational at the same time. Okay.
All right and there have been illustrated books giving examples of his works. You
know, of the you know , the cartoons. I did actually buy one of these years ago
where and some of them are still very interesting to read. Okay. Anyway, let's
look. We have three examples of this adverb phrase is used in everyday
speech. So number one here. Believe it or not. His wife was born a man who had a
sex change and his children are actually adopted. So maybe a lot of people don't
know. Maybe that this is not of public knowledge. But yet it may be true. So
somebody might say believe it or not. I know you' might question it and I know
maybe his wife looks normal. You think you had kids. So you think it's
everything is normal here. But maybe, maybe it is not. All right. Number two
here. Believe it or not , there was a chicken who lived after its head was
chopped off for another 18 months. This is actually one of the examples from
believe it or not that actually came out. They made a cartoon of it or or...A
little picture cartoon in the newspaper on it. But this is one of the famous ones.
So this is a good example of what he's cartoons were like. All right. And of
course that is a true story. I, I think I've read another article where they
said, you know, the guy that cut off his head ... He kind of cut it off sideways
and the chicken was still able to survive. He felt too guilty to kill it
and finish it off. And he used to feed it from like from its neck and it still
survived for a long time after. All right. Anyway, let's continue here. And the last
one here. Believe it or not. That famous actor lost all his money and is now
living as a pauper. You know, as a very poor person. Sometimes
you hear this about some celebrities. You didn't hear them. You know, whatever
happened to that actor ? Yeah. He used to be a good. He used to be famous. And then
maybe you know, you hear some story about that. Okay. Anyway, I hope you got i. I
hope it was informative. Thank you for your time. Bye-bye.