What Does “Preach to the Choir” Mean? + “Might as Well” vs “Just as Well”
- Feb 16
- 5 min read
Updated: Mar 13
A new hobby, a new coffee, and the meaning of "preach to the choir"
This post comes from my weekly English with Em newsletter.
Weekly update
The rain has finally stopped! I don’t know what the weather has been like where you are, but it was beautifully sunny here for most of the weekend, which made a very welcome change and boosted my mood considerably.
Another small victory this week: I succeeded in my quest to find a new decaf coffee. For any coffee-loving readers based in Spain and Portugal, I highly recommend Ineffable Coffee. I ordered it last Tuesday, and it arrived the following day!
They ship Europe-wide, but you have to spend quite a bit more to get free shipping outside Spain and Portugal. That got me thinking about this week’s something new challenge (I'm aiming to try one new thing every week this year)…
I thought perhaps I could have trying a new coffee as this week's something new, but that seemed like a bit of a cop-out, so I was pondering what else I could do, without much success.
Then, by chance, as I was browsing the Aldi middle aisle on Saturday, I saw a book on how to draw animals. I used to love drawing when I was in school, and I was always good at art. However, unlike hula hooping (last week's something new), I think drawing is a use-it-or-lose-it skill.
I figured now was as good a time as any to start reacquiring that skill, so I bought the book and had my first go at it last night.
Which animal did I choose? After flipping through the book for a while, I finally settled on a hippo. I've always been rather fascinated by hippos; I can't tell you why... I don't know! I think they're absolutely adorable, the fact that they are one of the deadliest animals on the planet notwithstanding.
I don't think my attempt was too bad. I posted a photo in my family WhatsApp group, and my mum said, "It looks like a hippo" (high praise indeed! 😆), so I considered it a success.
My little brother, however, chimed in with, "A really p*ssed off hippo"! 😂 I must admit, he's right. It looks like someone or something has just encroached on its territory and it's about to charge at any moment!
It wasn't my intention to make it look angry, but it definitely turned out that way; something about the eye! See for yourself below (guide on the left; my attempt on the right). Do you think it looks angry? Let me know!
I'm going to try a bear cub next. Let's see if I can make it look friendlier than the hippo! 😬
Vocabulary list
Mood (noun): The way you feel emotionally at a particular time.
Considerably (adverb): A lot; to a noticeable degree.
Quest (noun): A long or determined search for something.
Decaf (adjective): Coffee that has had most of the caffeine removed.
Cop-out (noun): An easy way to avoid doing something difficult or challenging.
Ponder (verb): To think carefully about something.
Browse (verb): To look at things casually, without a specific plan to buy or choose.
Use-it-or-lose-it (adjective): Describing a skill that disappears if you don’t practise it.
Figure (verb): To think or decide something after considering it.
As good a time as any (phrase): A moment that is suitable, even if it is not special or perfect.
Have a go (collocation): To try to do something.
Deadliest (adjective): Most dangerous; most likely to cause death.
Notwithstanding (adverb): In spite of that; nevertheless.
Chime in (phrasal verb): To join a conversation, often suddenly or informally.
Pissed off (adjective): Very annoyed or angry. (Informal and sometimes considered rude.)
Encroach on (phrasal verb): To slowly take control of space, time, or rights that belong to someone else.
Charge (verb): To run forward quickly and aggressively, often to attack.
Turn out (phrasal verb): To happen in a particular way in the end.
See for yourself (phrase): Look at something and decide or judge it personally.
Cub (noun): A young animal, especially a bear, lion, or fox.
Which of these words will you try to use this week?
What's new on YouTube?
Short
Learn how to use the English idiom, 'pay it by ear', to talk about plans in English, with.
An English pun for you!
I relish the fact that you’ve mustard the strength to ketchup to me.
Explanation at the end👇
Idiom of the week
Preach to the choir
If you preach to the choir, you try to persuade or explain something to people who already agree with you or already know it.
In a church, a preacher gives a talk about religion, and a choir is a group of singers who already believe in the message, so preaching to them would not change their minds.
👉 You don’t need to tell me how important sleep is; you’re preaching to the choir.
👉 If you’re talking about healthy eating to a group of nutritionists, you’re probably preaching to the choir!
👉 I agree that we should save money; you’re preaching to the choir!
🌟 Note: This idiom is usually used in the present continuous tense.
Your questions answered:
Could you explain the difference between "might as well" and "just as well"?
👩🏫 Although might as well and just as well are similar-sounding idioms, they are used differently.
Might as well + base verb: Used to say that we decide to do something because there is no better or more interesting alternative.
👉 We’ve got an hour to wait, so we might as well get a coffee.
👉 It’s raining, so I might as well stay at home.
👉 No one is using this chair, so I might as well sit here.
Key idea: There’s nothing better to do, so this is a reasonable choice.
(It's) just as well + clause: Used to say that it is a good thing something happened (often because the result could have been worse).
👉 It’s just as well we left early, because the traffic was terrible.
👉 It’s just as well you brought an umbrella. It’s starting to rain.
👉 I missed the bus, but it was just as well because I met an old friend while I was waiting.
Key idea: It was lucky or good that something happened.
In short:
🌟 Might as well → a reasonable choice now
🌟 Just as well → good or lucky result
Explanation to the pun
This pun plays with words that sound like food names but also have other meanings:
• relish → 2 meanings:
(noun): a type of sauce, often eaten with burgers
(verb): to really enjoy something
• mustard → sounds like 'mustered'
(noun): a thick, spicy yellor or brown sauce
• muster
(verb): to find the energy or courage to do something
• ketchup → sounds like 'catch up'
(noun): a thick, cold sauce made from tomatoes
• catch up
(phrasal verb): to reach the same level as someone or stop being behind
Meaning of the sentence:
👉 I'm happy you found the strength to reach the same level as me.
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