Please double-click on the English subtitles below to play the video.
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Feifei: Hello and welcome to The English
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We Speak. I'm Feifei.
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Neil: And I'm Neil.
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Feifei: Oh what's that parcel you've got in
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your hands there, Neil? Looks exciting...
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Neil: It's a present.
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Feifei: A present? For who?
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Neil: For you! For Christmas!
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Feifei: Christmas?
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It's a bit early, isn't it?
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Neil: Well, I saw these and I just knew
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you'd love them so much - so
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I bought them! I can't
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wait till Christmas to see your face.
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Go on, open it now!
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Feifei: You're too kind, Neil. OK...
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A pair of glasses... Harry Potter glasses.
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Neil: Aren't they brilliant?!
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Go on, try them on.
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Feifei: I look ridiculous.
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And I don't even like Harry Potter.
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Oh well, it's the thought that counts.
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Neil: 'It's the thought that counts'.
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An excellent expression, Feifei.
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If someone gives you a
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present which you don't like, you can say
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'it's the thought that counts'.
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Feifei: It's a polite way of saying you
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appreciate the effort and
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the kind thought a person had
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when they bought you a present... but you
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don't like what they bought.
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Neil: Let's hear some examples of this
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expression which is particularly
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useful around Christmas time.
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A: Wow! That Elvis Presley onesie
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you're wearing is pretty weird.
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B: Thanks. My grandmother gave it to me
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for Christmas. It's the thought
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that counts, I suppose.
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A: I have no idea what to get my auntie
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for her birthday.
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B: Get her anything.
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It's the thought that counts.
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A: Oh no, not more tea towels.
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I was expecting something more exciting
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for our wedding presents.
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B: You know what they say - it's
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the thought that counts.
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01:59
Feifei: This is The English We Speak from
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BBC Learning English. Our expression is 'it's
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the thought that counts.' It means the
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kindness someone shows when
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they buy you a present
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is more important than the gift itself.
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Neil: A very useful expression for politely
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saying that a present someone bought you is
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really not what you wanted.
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OK, Feifei, lean over.
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Feifei: Ouch! What are you doing with
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that pencil?
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Neil: There we go. With that flash of
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lightning on your forehead now you
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really look the part
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- Feifei Potter.
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Feifei: Hmm I need a spell to make
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you vanish, Neil...
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Neil: Bye!
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Feifei: Bye!
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