Please double-click on the English subtitles below to play the video.
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Feifei: Hello, this is The English We Speak
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and I'm Feifei.
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Neil: And hello, I'm Neil.
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Feifei: Hey great news, Neil!
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Neil: Oh yes, what's that?
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Feifei: I got a promotion.
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Neil: Oh well done.
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Congratulations and all that.
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Feifei: Come on, Neil - you were never
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going to get one. And anyway,
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it's not all good news.
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Neil: A promotion - a pay rise, more power
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- how is that not all good news?
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Feifei: Well, it means longer hours,
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harder work, having to work
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with you more. I expect
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you have some English expression
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to describe that!
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Neil: I do, Feifei. You have to take
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the rough with the smooth.
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It means you have to accept
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the bad or unpleasant things in a situation
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as well as the good things. In other words,
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you can't have everything.
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Feifei: Thanks for the sympathy, Neil.
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Neil: Here are some good
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things though, Feifei: examples!
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A: I'm going to use my qualification to get
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a really good job, but I've lots of studying
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to do before I get it.
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B: Well you have to take the rough with
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the smooth but good luck!
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Having kids is very fulfilling but it can
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be challenging too, especially the lack of
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sleep - but I guess I have to take
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the rough with the smooth!
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Feifei: This is The English We Speak from
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BBC Learning English and we're learning
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about the phrase 'to take the rough
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with the smooth' which means you have
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to accept the bad things
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in a situation as well as the good things.
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Neil: So poor you, Feifei - you've got
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a great new promotion but
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you're going to have to
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work longer. So fewer lunches with me,
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less time at the pub...
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Feifei: The expression for that
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would be 'to take the smooth with
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the smooth'. But do you
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know what - this programme is
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a good example of taking the rough
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with the smooth.
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Neil: So you mean there are some
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good things and some bad things?
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Hmm, so what are they?
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Feifei: Well, the rough things
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are presenting with you...
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Neil: And the smooth things?
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Feifei: The smooth things -
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the good things - are it's a short
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programme and it's nearly
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over. It's time to go, Neil.
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Neil: Thank goodness. Enjoy your
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promotion then - hope it goes smoothly
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Feifei: It will! Bye.
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Neil: Bye.
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