All Ears English Podcast AEE 2576: Lindsay's Language Adventure on the Spanish Steps
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Mar 4, 2026 A lively chat about language mishaps from a trip to Rome and a run-in at the Spanish Steps. They explore tricky false-friend translations and better ways to say “it’s not possible.” Politeness strategies and softening phrases get practical examples. Cultural differences in directness and brief polite commands for places like museums are highlighted.
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Cop Said It's Not Possible On The Spanish Steps
- Lindsay and Michelle were sitting on the Spanish Steps in Rome when a policeman told them, it's not possible, and gestured for them to move.
- They found the phrasing odd because it meant 'not allowed' in Italian, but it was technically incorrect in English since sitting there was physically possible.
Possible Versus Permitted Means Different Things
- Saying something is 'not possible' addresses physical ability or feasibility, not permission, so it can sound wrong when you mean 'not allowed'.
- Michelle and Lindsay highlight this as a common false-friend translation from other languages like Italian where the local phrase maps differently.
Use You Can't For Direct Rules
- Use You can't X for direct, authoritative instructions when you need clarity and brevity, e.g., You can't sit here.
- This is appropriate for figures of authority like police or security handling crowded or urgent situations.