To “fit the bill” means to be exactly what is needed at a given time or in a given situation.
Transcript
Fit the bill
All right, the expression we’re going to review today is “fit the bill.” To “fit the bill” means to be exactly what is needed at a given time or in a given situation. A person can fit the bill or a thing can fit the bill.
I told you earlier that I had some people over to my house on a recent Friday night. We were celebrating a work event and my company gave us an Uber Eats coupon that we could use to buy some food. I was thinking about my favorite delivery places, but I was also thinking about my kitchen and whether I would have to clean up a mess afterward. If I ordered something complicated, would I have enough plates and bowls? What kind of cleanup would I need to do?
The meals from my favorite delivery restaurants are not good for crowds. So I went to an old standby: pizza.
I ordered three pizzas from Jimmy’s Pizza Café, and that really fit the bill. That was exactly what we needed in that situation. Pizza is a crowd-pleaser; I got a cheese pizza, a veggie pizza, and a pepperoni pizza. It’s easy to eat on paper plates. Nobody spilled anything. The cleanup was a cinch. I could have done something complicated, something messy, something that maybe not everyone would like. But that wouldn’t have been the best choice. In this case, the best choice, the thing that really fit the bill, was pizza.
Do you remember, then, how you heard it earlier today? We were talking about the popularity of hard seltzers . For quite some time now, a lot of consumers have wanted to be more health-conscious with their alcoholic beverages. Beer is heavy and full of carbs. Cocktails are fun, but they’re expensive and often loaded up with sugar, especially if they contain syrups or fruit juices. Wine is good, but it’s not easy to just grab a small portion and go. Then, bars closed. Consumers were looking for something healthier—well, let’s just say, they were looking for something less unhealthy. And they couldn’t go out to bars and restaurants. But hard seltzers fit the bill. Hard seltzers were exactly what was needed during those times.
I’ve watched a lot of great documentaries and TV shows lately on Netflix and HBO Max. I’ve told you about a few of them. But I need to confess that sometimes I just get to the end of the day and I don’t want to watch anything really great. I just want something mildly entertaining that doesn’t require much brainpower—because, let’s face it, sometimes I don’t have much brainpower left to spend!
When that happens, I like to watch Law & Order . That just fits the bill. It’s not complicated. It doesn’t require much concentration. I could fall asleep for ten minutes and not feel lost. I don’t need to think about what happened in the previous episode because they all stand alone. The story is all wrapped up in one single hourlong episode. This is what I need when I’m out of energy and just want to be entertained for an hour before bed. In those situations, Law & Order fits the bill.
These are three examples of a thing that fits the bill. But a person can fit the bill, too. A few weeks ago, I told you the remarkable story of Volodymyr Zelensky , the president of Ukraine. He was an actor before becoming president; in fact, you might remember that he played the president on television. You might have thought a television actor might not be the best person to lead a country.
But Zelensky fits the bill perfectly. He’s a good war leader inside Ukraine and he has used his communication skills to rally support for his country’s cause in foreign capitals. He is what Ukraine needed at this crucial moment in its history, so we say that he fits the bill.
Quote of the Week
It’s Monday, so I have a quote of the week for you today. Today’s is from the sculptor Michelangelo. Here’s what he said: “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free.”
I like that quote because it’s just a much different perspective on creating art. As a non-artist—believe me, a non-artist—I just assumed a sculptor would have a vision in his head, acquire the material, and use the material to create the image in the marble.
But this quote frames it differently. Michelangelo said he saw the angel trapped inside the stone, and saw it as his job to carve until the angel could be seen by the outside world. I love how different people can look at the same thing differently. “I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free,” says the Italian sculptor Michelangelo.
See you next time!
That’s all for today, Monday, June 6, 2022. Remember that this was lesson number 474, so you can find the full lesson resources at PlainEnglish.com/474.
And as a reminder, the full lesson resources include the transcript, translations, exercises, step-by-step video lesson, and much more—that’s all at PlainEnglish.com/474. See you right back here on Thursday for the results of my hard seltzer taste test. See you then.
¿Hablas español?
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into Spanish. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .
How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
你说中国话？
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Parlez-vous français?
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visit PlainEnglish.com/sample to see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Você fala português?
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visit PlainEnglish.com/sample to see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
日本語は話せますか？
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visit PlainEnglish.com/sample to see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Parli italiano?
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visit PlainEnglish.com/sample to see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Sprechen Sie Deutsch?
The transcript of this lesson is available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visit PlainEnglish.com/sample to see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Sen Türkçe konuşmayı biliyor musun?
The transcripts of Plain English lessons are available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation. Turkish translations are available starting at Lesson 278.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visit PlainEnglish.com/sample to see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Mówisz po polsku?
The transcript of Plain English lessons are available with interactive translations into your language. In each lesson transcript, we select about one hundred difficult words, phrases , and expressions for translation. Polish translations are available starting at Lesson 278.
How is this different than simply using a translation engine?
Translation engines are powerful tools for communicating in the modern world . However, they often miss the context and can either mislead you or leave you confused . Our human translators are here to make sure that you’re getting not only the correct definition, but also the full context .How can I use the translations in my studies?
Most members use the translations as they are listening to the lesson and reading along . When you come across a word you don’t understand, you don’t have to press pause to discover the meaning . You can simply hover your mouse over the highlighted word . This lets you learn the definition of the word without having to press pause on the audio.
Do the translations work on mobile?
Yes! Instead of hovering over a highlighted word, just tap on it .
Can I see a sample?
Yes, please visit PlainEnglish.com/sample to see a sample episode with the Spanish translations.
How can I access the translations?
Translations are included in two memberships: Plain English Plus+ and Starter. Choose a plan and get started today!
Audio
The fast version of this expression is available for subscribers of Plain English Plus+.