BOX SET: English vocabulary mega-class! Learn 10 three-word English expressions in just 23 minutes!

Hello this is The English We Speak

with me Feifei and joining me is Rob.

Hello Rob.

Hello. Now, I was thinking.

You always start the programme.

It's never me.

That's right, I have always started the programme.

That's the way I like it.

Really? And you always introduce the examples.

I do Rob, it's just the way I like to do it

and I know what's best.

Hmm, you do you.

I do me?

No. You do you. It means you do your own thing.

You know your own mind and

you probably won't change.

You do you?

Hmm, yes thanks for clearing that up Rob.

I guess you're right.

Thanks but can I introduce the examples today please?

No.

Look, we can agree on this.

You do you and we'll talk about this again later.

I told my girlfriend to do more exercise

but she wouldn't listen so I told her:

"You do you, I'm off for a run".

I like the way you do you.

You stick to what you think is right and are

not influenced by what other people's comments.

This is The English We Speak

from BBC Learning English and

we're talking about the expression 'you do you',

which can be said to someone to mean they

always behave in the same way and they won't change.

Of course Rob, I couldn't do things your way.

Oh, why?

You're always late so it's best if I start the programme.

And there's another reason why I always do me.

I'm always right.

Oh, in that case maybe I can do you too?

It's ok Rob, it's best if you do you and I'll do me.

Who me? This is very confusing.

I'll tell you what you can do.

You can finish the programme because I've got to go. Bye!

Right, that's all for this The English We Speak. Bye.

Feifei, where have you gone?

Welcome to The English We Speak.

I'm Neil.

And I'm Feifei.

You're a pretty polite person, aren't you, Feifei?

Well, thanks. I don't know. I try to be!

That was a very polite answer!

But sometimes we want to say things that are

very honest, or that others  might not want to hear.

For example, I ask you: "Do I look tired today?"

Well, I could directly say:

"Yes, you do look a bit tired."

Or you could start with this

slang expression 'not gonna lie'.

Not gonna lie Feifei, you do look a little tired.

I know, I need to get to bed earlier!

'Gonna' of course, is short for 'going to'.

Using this phrase indicates that you're

choosing to be honest rather than polite.

It's not only used for honest criticism,

we might also use it before something

we're very proud of,

or something we boast about.

For example: I love recording these programmes.

Though I'm not gonna lie, I'm the

best presenter in this team.

Woah, that's enough. I'm sure everyone

listening agrees that I'm the best presenter.

Of course you're a fantastic presenter, Feifei.

Just an example!

Talking of examples, let's hear a few more.

Fancy coming round for dinner tomorrow?

Absolutely. If you're making your famous roast?

Oh yes. Not gonna lie, it's  the best roast in town!

Slow down! You really are a terrible

driver Mark, not gonna lie.

Not gonna lie, I absolutely love my job.

I feel so happy when I walk through

the office door every day.

That last example sounds just like me.

Especially as I'm (coughs) the best presenter.

OK, OK, that joke is getting old now.

You're right. OK, one more thing.

This phrase 'not gonna lie'...

Yes?

Not gonna lie, I think some people use it too much!

Yes, it's become a popular phrase on social media.

Usually accompanied by a photo of someone

on holiday at the beach with a post saying:

"Not gonna lie, it's stunning here!"

The kind of post that makes me feel

jealous when I'm stuck in the office.

But I thought you loved your job?!

Oh, I do.

And yes, you are a very good presenter, Neil.

That makes me feel much better, not gonna lie.

Bye. Bye.

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak

with me, Feifei.

And me, Roy.

We may sound a little different.

That’s because we are not able to record in our

normal studios during the coronavirus outbreak.

In this programme, we have a phrase that

means to keep talking about something,

usually in a boring or annoying way.

You kept talking about some band this morning.

What were you banging on about?

What do you mean ‘banging on’?

I wasn’t hitting anything this morning with a pan!

I was just talking about music with Neil.

Exactly! You were talking about it so much,

and I was trying to work.

‘Banging on about something’ isn’t literal,

and why would you mention a pan?!

It means you were talking about something

to a level that it became annoying.

Ahhh, the way in which you kept talking about

that film ‘Unicorns Eat Bananas in the Stars’!

You banged on about it so much last

week that people left the room.

That film is amazing.

Feifei, you kept giving people spoilers, and

nobody went to see the film in the end because

you kept banging on about

everything that happened.

Well, that’s your opinion, Roy.

Anyway, let’s listen to these examples.

My friend keeps banging on about where he’s

going to go when he buys his new car.

It’s really frustrating.

That person on the bus was really annoying.

She kept banging on about

how the prices had gone up.

Will you please stop banging on about my project!?

If you think you could do a better job,

you can do my work for me.

This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning

English and we’re talking about the expression

‘bang on about something’, which is used

to say that someone is talking about something

so much that it is annoying or irritating.

Sorry, Feifei. I didn’t mean to say you

were banging on about that film.

Everyone did love your enthusiasm about it.

I’m sorry too, Roy. I just wanted to know

more about the band you were talking about,

so I found it annoying that I didn’t understand.

Ah, well, next I’ll tell you more about it.

That’s OK. I think I’ve heard enough about

your taste in music for one lifetime,

but thanks anyway. Bye, Roy.

Bye.

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak

with me, Feifei.

And me, Roy.

In this programme, we have an expression

which describes when someone has read the

message you’ve sent them, but hasn’t replied.

That reminds me, Roy, did you get my

message yesterday?

Oh… yes, I did. I read it and then

totally forgot to answer you.

Was it something important?

I can’t believe it! You completely ignored

my message. I got left on read!

What’s the colour ‘red’ got to do with

the fact I forgot to reply?

Red is actually my favourite colour.

Not red the colour, but ‘read’ as in the past of ‘read’.

Ahh, got you.

Sorry, I didn’t mean to leave you on read.

It’s just I was in the middle of something…

and then I got distracted… and then…

OK. Roy. I understand! What was so

important that you couldn’t reply?

I was eating a really nice banana

and then I just forgot… sorry.

That’s a terrible excuse.

It’s a good thing we’re friends or I

might think you were ignoring me.

Anyway, let’s listen to these examples.

I can’t believe I was left on read.

I sent him a message and I can see

he’s looked at it, but he hasn’t replied!

My partner always leaves me on read.

They get really distracted and

then don't message me back.

You shouldn’t assume the worst

if you get left on read.

If someone reads your message

and doesn’t reply, they might be really

busy and planning to respond later.

This is The English We Speak from

BBC Learning English and we’re talking

about the expression ‘left on read’.

We use this when someone has

read a message but hasn’t replied.

So, were you really eating a banana

and that’s why you left me on read?

Yeah, sorry. Well, I was also playing video

games which might have been the main reason.

Ha, I knew it! Well the next time I want

to offer you free tickets to the ‘Rob’s

Rolling Biscuit’ rock concert, hopefully

you’ll reply and not just leave me on read!

What!?! Free tickets?! Let me read the message

again! Can I still have the tickets?

Sorry, it’s too late now. I gave them to Neil.

He didn’t leave me on read. Bye, Roy.

Bye.

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak.

I'm Feifei.

And I'm Neil.

And Neil, we have a musical expression.

Do you like rock music?

Rock. Yeah I love it.

Really?

Yeah, when I was younger I was in a rock band.

We had it all: long hair, loud guitars,

even louder drums, leather... all that jazz!

Jazz? Hang on, was it a jazz or a rock band?!

Aha, very funny. 'All that jazz' is our phrase.

And it has nothing to do with jazz.

Indeed, it simply means 'and so on',

or 'and other similar things'.

You often use it after listing things.

For example: I love Christmas dinner.

You've got turkey, Brussels sprouts, roast potatoes,

gravy, all that jazz. It's just great.

You're not wrong. I love all that jazz too.

And now you've made my mouth water,

so let's take a break and listen to these examples.

I had a super lazy weekend.

I woke up late, got some coffee, went for a walk

watched a couple of movies, all that jazz.

It was great.

I don't read celebrity gossip.

You know: who's going out with who,

who got plastic surgery, all that jazz.

I'm just not interested!

It's often used in a list of unpleasant or boring things.

For example: This morning I cleaned the whole

house: washing, scrubbing, vacuuming, all that jazz!

Yes, by using "jazz" to describe dull things,

it's ironic and brings some humour.

It does, Feifei. Especially when we compare

it with the phrase to "jazz up".

You can 'jazz up an outfit' or

'jazz up a meal' for example,

which means to make something

more interesting and even glamorous.

Before we go, we should of course mention

the phrase is also the name of a song from the

1975 Broadway musical, Chicago.

Fancy singing it for us, Neil?

Oh well, I really couldn't.

After all, I was in a rock band, not a jazz band!

What about you, Feifei?

Err, maybe next time. I can't remember the words!

Excuses, excuses! Bye for now.

Bye.

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak.

I'm Neil.

Hello, I'm Feifei. All well, Neil?

Um, not great, Feifei.

What's up?

I'm just so done with writing this report.

You're done with it? You've finished?

I wish. The opposite. Lots more to do.

So you're not done yet?

No, sadly. If you say you're 'so done with' something,

it means you are irritated and bored by it!

It's often a task that you don't want to do.

Indeed. For example, I could say:

"I'm so done with recording with Neil."

Well, you could say it, Feifei.

But it wouldn't be true!

Of course it's not true. Let's hear some examples.

I need a new job. I'm so done with delivering pizza.

I need to get to bed earlier.

I'm so done with feeling like a zombie every day.

I'm so done with learning Hungarian.

The grammar is so hard!

So Neil, do you need some help with the report?

That's kind. I just need to sit down, focus,

and write the thing. It's just boring.

If you like, we can swap.

I'm making an incredibly dull spreadsheet right now.

Wow. Sounds great.

I'm so done with it.

Tell you what. Let's work hard all afternoon

and then treat ourselves to dinner.

Done! Which means, of course,

that I agree to your suggestion.

Perfect. Bye for now.

See you later!

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak.

I'm Neil and joining me in this programme is Feifei.

Hi.

Beautiful day today, isn't it?

Blazing sunshine.

It's so warm.

Yes it is, and luckily for you, your shift

is finished after this programme, isn't it?

Yep! But you have to stay here till

evening on the late shift.

Ahhh I'm off to the park to enjoy the sun.

I'd better buy some sun cream, eh?

Don't rub it in!

OK. See you later.

Two hours later.

My word, Neil! What's happened to you?

You look like a lobster!

It's very hot and sunny out there.

But what about the sun cream?

You told me 'not to rub it in' Feifei!

OK, I think I need to explain something.

We use the expression 'to rub something in'

when a person keeps mentioning

something another person wants to forget.

When I said 'don't rub it in' I was fed up of

hearing about your wonderful afternoon in

the sun while I'm stuck here in the office!

Ah. So I actually should have rubbed

in this sun cream. Let's hear some examples.

Don't rub it in. I know you beat me at tennis but

you don't have to keep mentioning the score.

Carlos got into Oxford but I didn't.

That's bad enough, but he keeps rubbing

it in by talking about it all the time.

This is The English We Speak

and in this programme we're

learning the phrase to 'rub it in'.

If a person 'rubs it in', it means they keep mentioning

something another person wants to forget.

I want to forget that I've got such a terrible sunburn.

Well I won't rub it in and talk about

that sun cream you should have...

... should have rubbed in.

Thanks Feifei.

Ouch!

Bye!

Bye!

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak

with me, Feifei.

And me, Roy.

In this programme, we have an expression

to describe when someone is very tired

and has used all their energy.

It can also be used for things when

they’re out of battery or fuel.

Speaking of which, Roy, you look exhausted!

Thanks, Feifei! Do I look that bad?

I do feel tired though!

Roy, you look like you’re running on fumes.

You mean my car has run out of petrol?

I usually say my car is running on fumes

when the fuel needle shows empty

but somehow the car keeps going!

Yes, the phrase ‘running on fumes’ does relate

to cars but we also use it to talk about people!

You look like you have no energy,

so you’re running on fumes!

I suppose I am. It must be all the hard work

I’m doing to help people learn English.

Hard work?! I saw you sleeping

at your desk the other day!

Exactly! I was so tired and running

on fumes that I fell asleep!

Hmmm anyway, let’s listen to these examples.

He’s been working so hard at work recently,

he’s running on fumes. I’m worried about him.

Towards the end of the match, the footballer

said she was running on fumes.

I was running on fumes yesterday.

I couldn’t concentrate in the meeting.

This is The English We Speak

from BBC Learning English.

We’re talking about the expression

‘running on fumes’, which describes a situation

where you have no energy, but you keep going.

So why else are you so tired?

Well, I have a baby and he cries a lot.

I spend all night looking after

him, so I have no energy.

Ahhh, that makes sense. Why didn’t you call

me to say you you’d be in work later?

Well my phone was running out of battery.

It was running on fumes.

Sounds like everything in your life is

running on fumes! You. your car, your phone!

True, but I’m really impressed you compared

me with a car earlier. If I were a car, I’d

probably be a really expensive sports car.

Roy, if you were a car, you probably wouldn’t

even have all four wheels. Bye!

Bye.

Hello I'm Feifei and welcome to

The English We Speak.

And hello, I'm Rob.

You're looking pleased with yourself, Rob.

Oh I am. I've just booked these dirt cheap,

I mean really cheap, flights to Ibiza!

Wonderful!

Look at the price: 20 pounds return!

That means extra money to spend on

food, drink and partying.

Let's have a look… hold on.

The basic price is 20 pounds but look

at the tax you have to pay on top.

One hundred pounds!

Eh? Let me see. You're right.

Grrr, I hate paying tax.

I guess you could say it's a necessary evil.

Hmm, you could say that, if you

mean it's something bad that can't be

avoided, and you have to accept it in

order to achieve a good result.

That's exactly what I meant, Rob.

If it can't be avoided, like paying tax on a

plane ticket, then it's a necessary evil.

Let's hear some examples, shall we?

For me, exams are a necessary evil.

You have to do them to get a place at university.

Sitting in traffic for hours is a necessary evil

if I want to drive to the seaside on a public holiday!

I hate running, but having to exercise is a

necessary evil if I want to stay fit and healthy.

This is The English We Speak from

BBC Learning English and we're finding

out about the phrase 'a necessary evil'.

It describes something that you have to

accept in order to achieve something else.

And Rob, that tax on your plane ticket is unavoidable

– so not so cheap now, is it?

No. Less money for eating, drinking and partying.

Can you get a refund?

Stay at home and eat, drink and party?

I could but if I stayed at home, there's another

necessary evil I have to deal with.

What's that?

I'll have to spend more time with you.

Hmm! What time is your flight exactly?

What? Did I say something wrong?

Bye.

Bye bye.

Welcome to The English We Speak.

It's Feifei here with Rob, and we're

in a bit of a rush.

Yes, yes, I've hurt my foot and we've

got to get to hospital. Ouch!

Ooh, it looks nasty Rob – all red and swollen.

It was a good job I was driving by when you hurt it.

Yes yes, thanks for the lift, Feifei.

But it really is hurting, so could

you step on it, please?

What?

Step on it!

Oh, OK. If you say so.

Oww! That was painful, what did you do that for?

You said 'step on it'.

I thought that was an odd request, but I did.

No, Feifei! I meant drive faster –

that's what 'step on it' means.

It's what you say to someone to ask them to hurry.

That hurt so much.

Oops, sorry! Right, well hold on tight, Rob.

I will step on it while we hear some examples.

Taxi! Could you take me to the station, please?

And could step on it? I'm late!

Our coach told us to step on it if we

wanted to get to the match on time.

Please step on it, otherwise we're

going to miss the plane.

This is The English We Speak from

BBC Learning English and we're finding

out about the phrase 'step on it', which

means 'go faster' or 'hurry up'.

Well, we're nearly at the hospital, Rob.

Good good, because my foot hurts so much.

I need urgent medical attention.

How exactly did you hurt it?

I was playing football and another

player stepped on my big toe. It was so painful.

What! So you've got me to 'step on it' –

and drive at high speed – because

someone stepped on your big toe?

This isn't an emergency, Rob, you can get out and walk.

Urgh, that's not very nice.

You had better step on it, Rob.

The casualty department shuts in five minutes. Bye.

Bye.

Thank you so much for watching this video.

I hope you enjoyed it.

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