Pete Smissen

When one action solves two problems, when time and effort lines up perfectly, that's when English reaches for this phrase, right?

To kill two birds with one stone.

All right.

As usual, let's go through a little speaking and pronunciation exercise where you can work on your Australian English pronunciation.

Listen to these phrases as I read them out and then try and pronounce them exactly as I do.

If you're working on your Australian pronunciation, pay attention to linking and to vowel sounds, consonant clusters, everything like that that's going on.

If you're working on a different accent, as I always say, that's fine.

No stress.

Just instead, use the phrases to prompt you to say it in the accent that you're practising, whether it's British English or American English.

Doesn't matter.

Okay?

So, you ready?

Listen and repeat after me.

So, all right, if we break down a little bit of pronunciation here, if I give you some tips and tricks, what are some of the cool things that were happening in these phrases?

I killed two birds with one stone.

Firstly, you'll notice that dark L in the word killed.

So, instead of saying killed with a light L, I will use a dark L where I do it with my lips.

It's kind of like a reverse W sound.

Instead of saying W,

I do the opposite.