{"id":50461,"date":"2020-04-27T01:15:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-27T01:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/127.0.0.1\/aee\/aee-1354-thats-a-different-story-how-to-impress-natives-with-this-one-phrase\/"},"modified":"2023-04-25T15:41:48","modified_gmt":"2023-04-25T15:41:48","slug":"aee-1354-thats-a-different-story-how-to-impress-natives-with-this-one-phrase","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.allearsenglish.com\/aee-1354-thats-a-different-story-how-to-impress-natives-with-this-one-phrase\/","title":{"rendered":"AEE 1354: That’s a Different Story! How to Impress Natives with this One Phrase"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"that's<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Have you heard people use the phrase \u201cthat\u2019s a different story\u201d in English?<\/p>\n

Do you wonder how this works in conversation or when you should use it?<\/p>\n

This is one of those phrases that can be used in a variety of different ways, and it can even help with connection.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re going to look at the various ways you can use this phrase, others like it, and what these can add to conversation and help you to make connections. <\/p>\n

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Understanding A Common Phrase<\/strong><\/h3>\n

You have probably heard somebody use the phrase \u201cthat\u2019s a different story.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lindsay recently heard a student use this phrase and she was so impressed.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s great to make episodes like this because it helps to bring the listeners exactly what is needed.<\/p>\n

Lindsay\u2019s ears perk up when she hears a student like you use a phrase like this\u2013and we want this to have the same impact on you when you hear others speak.<\/p>\n

So what does the expression \u201cthat\u2019s a different story\u201d mean in conversation?<\/p>\n

It means that something is even more extreme, or just not what was once thought.<\/p>\n

It could be better or worse, but it shows an extreme or significant difference from what you originally thought.<\/p>\n

In the example that Lindsay refers to, she heard a student say \u201cthat\u2019s a different story\u201d when talking about distance to family.<\/p>\n

She thought that her family lived somewhere in NY, perhaps a little further from where she lives.<\/p>\n

She said \u201cit must be tough if they are not right near you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lindsay said \u201coh no, NY would be close, but family lives in DC!\u201d<\/p>\n

She said in return \u201cthat\u2019s a different story.\u201d<\/p>\n

You can see the extreme or significant difference in this example and the way that this expression is used.<\/p>\n

You can use either \u201cthat\u2019s a different story\u201d or \u201cthat\u2019s another story.\u201d Both of these work well in conversation.<\/p>\n

So this phrase works really well to convey some sort of extreme, and so you will hear it used a lot. <\/p>\n

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Looking At Some Examples<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This is one of those phrases where it can help to see some examples of how it may work in conversation.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s look at a few mini role play or examples to see this expression and how it can work. <\/p>\n

First example shows an extreme in the number of a potential quantity of something. <\/p>\n

Lindsay: \u201cWow, don\u2019t you have like fifteen papers to grade this weekend, Michelle?\u201d<\/p>\n

Michelle: \u201cI wish! More like 50!\u201d<\/p>\n

Lindsay: \u201cThat\u2019s a different story!\u201d<\/p>\n

Another example is about how hard somebody works or how different it may be from what is expected\u2013this is often about perception.<\/p>\n

Michelle: \u201cDuring the school year she works so hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lindsay: \u201cYeah, but you should see her in the summer. That\u2019s a different story.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the following example, you can see that there can be a change of subject or a different path in the story. <\/p>\n

In this case you may touch on it briefly in conversation because it\u2019s too much to go into at the moment. <\/p>\n

Michelle: \u201cSo anyway, I was speaking to Mark the other day, who by the way is moving all the way to Alaska in October, but that\u2019s a different story!\u201d<\/p>\n

Lindsay: \u201cWait what?\u201d<\/p>\n

Another example of this shows a longer story where you add in this phrase along the way.<\/p>\n

Lindsay: \u201cSo I got to the station\u2013I lost my shoe, but that\u2019s another story\u2013 and I called her and told her to meet me there. Turns out, she wasn\u2019t even CLOSE to leaving.\u201d<\/p>\n

Michelle: \u201cOh man!\u201d<\/p>\n

You might also hear \u201cthat\u2019s another story for another day\u201d which is very closely associated and works quite well here. <\/p>\n

These examples can really help to show you how to use this phrase.<\/p>\n

There are various approaches to this and so there are several different times when this phrase works well.<\/p>\n

Think of circumstances or conversations in your life where you could use this and it may open you up to trying out a new phrase. <\/p>\n

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Adding More Intensity With One Phrase<\/strong><\/h3>\n

This phrase really helps you in conversation when you want to put a bit of emphasis on things.<\/p>\n

These are so useful for making things more  intense, and perhaps that\u2019s the most useful way to add this to conversation.<\/p>\n

This sort of phrase is great for talking about things that are different in a more interesting way. <\/p>\n

They help to show that things were not the way that you thought they would be. <\/p>\n

You show that there may have been an assumption and that things were not how they seemed. <\/p>\n

These are really useful for connection though you may not recognize that readily. <\/p>\n

They show you care, or that you are putting off telling a story. <\/p>\n

The meanings are a bit different, but listen to how people use them and you can get a sense for when they work well. <\/p>\n

They can even be used in a humorous way, and that leads to a really fun connection!<\/p>\n

This is the best type of phrase when it can be used in various ways, and help to lead you to connections. <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Other Ways To Say This Sort of Thing<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Though \u201cthat\u2019s another story\u201d works well in conversation, there are other similar phrases to use instead.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s great to have a few similar phrases available to you, and then you can use what feels natural in each conversation.<\/p>\n

Here are a few other ways to express the same sort of thing. <\/p>\n