A necessary evil: The English We Speak

Feifei: Hello I'm Feifei and welcome to

The English We Speak.

Rob: And hello, I'm Rob.

Feifei: You're looking pleased with

yourself, Rob.

Rob: I am. I've just booked

these dirt cheap – I mean really cheap –

flights to Ibiza!

Feifei: Wonderful!

Rob: Look at the price - 20 pounds return!

That means extra money to spend on

food, drink and partying.

Feifei: 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!

Rob: Eh? Let me see. You're right.

Grrr, I hate paying tax.

Feifei: I guess you could say it's a

necessary evil.

Rob: 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.

Feifei: 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.

Feifei: 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?

Rob: No. Less money for eating, drinking

and partying.

Feifei: Can you get a refund? Stay at

home and eat, drink and party?

Rob: I could but if I stayed at home,

there's another necessary evil I have to deal with.

Feifei: What's that?

Rob: I'll have to spend more time with

you.

Feifei: Hmm! What time is your flight

exactly?

Rob: Did I say something wrong?

Feifei: Bye.

Rob: Bye.