Would you eat caviar at McDonald’s? In today’s lesson, we look at the strange “high-low” food trend of 2026: The McNugget Caviar Kit. We’ll use a conversation between two friends, Maya and Alex, to learn five essential English idioms for describing trends, marketing, and comparisons.
π§ Pop Quiz: Who Started It?
Try to answer this before you read the lesson!
Eating fancy caviar on fried chicken is a real viral trend. Which global superstar is famous for popularizing this specific snack combination?
A) BeyoncΓ© B) Rihanna C) Lady Gaga
(Scroll to the bottom for the answer!)
π§ The Dialogue
Read the conversation between Maya and Alex. Can you guess the meaning of the bold expressions?
Maya: Did you hear that McDonald’s is selling caviar kits for Valentine’s Day? It feels like they just jumped on the bandwagon of that viral food trend.
Alex: I actually think itβs genius. It certainly puts the Happy Meal to shame in terms of style.
Maya: Maybe, but it seems like a desperate way to reel in couples who would usually go to a nice restaurant.
Alex: Hey, don’t knock it. Restaurants learned years ago that adding a little caviar is the easiest way to pad the bill.
Maya: True, but twenty-five dollars for McNuggets is steep, even if it comes with a mother-of-pearl spoon.
Alex: Well, it worked on me. You have to admit, itβs the most eye-catching promotion theyβve done in years.
Maya: Fine, let’s try it. But if Iβm eating fish eggs at a drive-thru, youβre paying.
Alex: Deal. Itβs a date.
π‘ Expression Spotlight
Deep definitions and real-world examples.
1. Jump on the bandwagon
- Meaning: To join a trend or activity that has become popular, often somewhat late.
- Sentences:
- “I didn’t care about TikTok for years, but eventually I jumped on the bandwagon.”
- (μλ λμ ν±ν‘μ κ΄μ¬μ΄ μμμ§λ§, κ²°κ΅ μ νμ νΈμΉνκ² λμ΄μ.)
- “When the team started winning, everyone jumped on the bandwagon and bought jerseys.”
- (νμ΄ μ΄κΈ°κΈ° μμνμ λͺ¨λκ° μ νμ λ°λΌ μ λνΌμ μμ΄μ.)
2. Put (something) to shame
- Meaning: To be so much better than something else that the other thing looks bad by comparison.
- Sentences:
- “The graphics on the new PlayStation put the old games to shame.”
- (μ νλ μ΄μ€ν μ΄μ μ κ·Έλν½μ μμ κ²μλ€μ μμ£Ό μ΄λΌνκ² λ§λ€ μ λμμ.)
- “Your homemade cake puts my store-bought cookies to shame.”
- (λ€κ° μ§μμ λ§λ μΌμ΄ν¬λ₯Ό 보λ λ΄κ° μ¬ μ¨ μΏ ν€κ° λΆλλ¬μμ§ μ λμΌ.)
3. Reel in
- Meaning: To attract or pull someone towards you using a specific “hook” or incentive.
- Sentences:
- “The store put a ‘70% OFF’ sign in the window to reel in shoppers.”
- (κ·Έ κ°κ²λ μλλ€μ λμ΄λ€μ΄κΈ° μν΄ μ°½λ¬Έμ ‘70% ν μΈ’ νμ§νμ λΆμμ΄μ.)
- “He told some great jokes to reel her in before asking for her number.”
- (κ·Έλ λ²νΈλ₯Ό λ¬Όμ΄λ³΄κΈ° μ μ κ·Έλ μ λ§μμ μ¬λ‘μ‘κΈ° μν΄ μμ£Ό μ¬λ―Έμλ λλ΄μ νμ΄μ.)
4. Pad the bill
- Meaning: To add unnecessary or extra charges to a bill to increase the final price dishonestly.
- Sentences:
- “If a taxi driver takes the longest route possible, he is padding the bill.”
- (νμ κΈ°μ¬κ° κ°λ₯ν κ°μ₯ λ¨Ό κΈΈλ‘ λμκ°λ€λ©΄, μκΈμ λΆνλ¦¬κ³ μλ κ±°μμ.)
- “Be careful with mechanics who try to pad the bill with unnecessary repairs.”
- (λΆνμν μ리λ₯Ό μΆκ°ν΄μ μ²κ΅¬μλ₯Ό λΆνλ¦¬λ €λ μ λΉκ³΅λ€μ μ‘°μ¬νμΈμ.)
5. Eye-catching
- Meaning: Visually striking; something that grabs your attention immediately.
- Sentences:
- “Most resumes are boring, but one had a bold layout that was very eye-catching.”
- (λλΆλΆμ μ΄λ ₯μλ μ§λ£¨νλ°, νλλ λλ΄ν λ μ΄μμ λλΆμ μμ£Ό λκΈΈμ λμμ΄μ.)
- “The store’s neon sign was very eye-catching on the dark street.”
- (μ΄λμ΄ κ±°λ¦¬μμ κ·Έ κ°κ²μ λ€μ¨ μ¬μΈμ μ λ§ λμ λμμ΄μ.)
β Quiz Answer
The correct answer is B) Rihanna! While many chefs have served high-low food, Rihanna was frequently photographed enjoying caviar with potato chips and fried chicken, helping to make the trend go viral globally.
Discussion Question: Do you think paying extra for “luxury” fast food is a scam to pad the bill, or is it a fun idea? Let us know in the comments!
