A slippery slope: The English We Speak

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak

with me, Feifei…

…and me, Rob.

We may sound a little different – that’s

because we are not able to record in our

normal studios during the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, Rob, why are you wearing those

funny rubber shoes today?

It’s in preparation for today’s phrase, Feifei!

What? Our English expression today has nothing

to do with wearing shoes!

Ah, but these are special rubber shoes to

stop me sliding down any slippery slopes

– that is what we’re talking about, isn’t it?

Hmm, well sort of but it’s not really about

slipping down a slope – only metaphorically.

Right, so it has got something to do with

easily descending downhill into something?

Yep. We describe a situation that is getting

worse and will end in disaster unless it is

stopped, as a slippery slope. Listen to

these examples…

Having a glass of wine with your dinner is

a slippery slope – you’ll end up finishing

the whole bottle by the end of the evening.

Juan was on a slippery slope to getting the

sack when he started missing important meetings

with clients.

He’s on the slippery slope to failure if

he keeps missing the deadlines for his assignments.

This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning

English and we’re talking about the expression

‘a slippery slope’, which describes a

situation that is only going to get worse.

It’s basically a situation or problem that

is going downhill!

OK, so I won’t be needing these slip-resistant

shoes, then. Hmm, but they are very comfortable.

I might keep wearing them actually.

Oh no, Rob – it’ll be a slippery slope.

Why’s that?

Well, if you keep wearing them without socks…

…everyone will laugh at me?

No – your feet will smell and then nobody

will want to sit next to you!

Charming! Well it’s a good job I’m self-isolating!

Bye, Feifei.

Bye, Rob.