MULTIMEDIA-ENGLISH
Frozen Grand Central
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2:22
Video page URL
https://multimedia-english.com/videos/esl/frozen-grand-central-2769
Description

Over 200 people freeze in place on cue in Grand Central Station in New York. See other people's reaction to this weird phenomenon.

Transcript

All right, thanks for coming out, everybody. I'm really excited that all you guys are here. We got a really exciting mission that we're going to be doing today. We're gonna be freezing in place on cue at the exact second. We're gonna hold that for five minutes, and then we're gonna unfreeze and we're out.

- You see that guy over there?
- They stopped what they were doing and just stood like... frozen.
- How long has this been happening?
- I don't know.
- I just walked in. Has it been going on for a while?
- No, 'cause this guy just dropped his papers a couple minutes ago. About a minute ago. Not even.
- Dad, look at that lady over here.
- It's like everybody.
- Yeah.
- Can't move my cart. There's hundreds of people frozen everywhere. This is wild.
- This is so weird.
- I don't understand what's going on.
- I don't either.
- I think it's some kind of protest, probably.
- It's either that or an acting class.
- No, they are not moving. I can't move my cart. I need some help. Uh, never mind. They're moving.
- That is the weirdest thing I've ever seen. I thought it was only me who was seeing it for a little while.

Explanations

COMING OUT= As used in this context, it means “showing up”, making your appearance, arriving as requested. But this particular use of “come out” is not a normal thing to say, so ignore it.

I’M REALLY EXCITED= I’m very happy about what is going to happen and full of anticipation.

YOU GUYS= (coll. AmE) The plural form of YOU:
- Michael, you stay with me. Kevin and Mary, you guys go and look for help.


GOT= Have, have got.

GONNA= (coll.) Going to.

FREEZING IN PLACE= (freeze – froze – frozen) If you freeze, you stop moving. If you freeze in place, you stop moving and stay exactly where you are, but completely motionless.

ON CUE= If you do something on cue, you do it when they give you a signal to do it.

AT THE EXACT SECOND= Exactly the moment you receive the cue.

HOLD THAT= If you hold something, you keep it or you keep holding it in your hand. In this context, he is talking about the freezing attitude, so “to hold that” means “to remain motionless”, to stay frozen as a statue.

UNFREEZE= As opposed to the previous freezing, it means to start moving again.

LIKE= (coll. or AmE. Conjunction of comparison) As if.
- They stood like frozen = They stood as if they were frozen.


GOING ON= Happening.

FOR A WHILE= For some time.

CAUSE= (conversational) Because.

GUY= Man, boy.
In the plural it can refer to men, women or both.

NOT EVEN= Even less than (a minute ago).

WILD= Crazy, very strange, hard to believe.

WEIRD= /wɪə*d/ Strange.

I DON’T EITHER= Neither do I, me neither (you agree to a negative statement)

NEVER MIND= It’s ok, don’t worry, forget about it.

FOR A LITTLE WHILE= For a little moment.