BOX SET: English vocabulary mega-class! 🤩 Learn 8 expressions with verb+ing in 20 minutes!

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak.

I'm Feifei. And I'm Roy!

Feifei, do not touch my phone!

What?! I wasn't even going to go near your phone!

Well, I know you want to know who I've been calling,

but you can't have my contact list.

Wait! Did you hear me talking about contact tracing earlier?

It's not that kind of contact that we're tracing.

Well, I don't want a hug either!

I'm not a fan of unnecessary physical contact - I don't know

why people feel the need to touch me to get my attention when I have a name.

Again, not that kind of contact.

'Contact tracing' is related to the coronavirus pandemic.

When someone is diagnosed with with Covid-19, doctors try to trace people

they have had contact with to see who could be infected.

So you don't want my contact list, then?

No, I don't need your contact list.

Let's listen to these examples.

The doctors found four other people who had the virus through contact tracing.

I downloaded an app to help me with contact tracing.

Contact tracing is an important part of slowing the progression of the virus.

This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English

and we're talking about the expression 'contact tracing'.

This is the process of searching for potential cases of the disease

in people who have been in contact

with an infected person.

Yes, a lot of people are downloading apps to help them track

and trace their potential contact with people who have the virus.

That's right.

The quicker you know you might have the virus,

the sooner you can can self-isolate and avoid infecting other people.

This could help to slow the progress of the virus,

therefore flattening the curve

and lowering the strain on the hospital system.

Flattening the curve.

We taught that expression a while ago, didn't we?

That was the day you destroyed my car!

It was, but focus on the fact that we taught an important expression.

We teach a lot of great vocabulary every week!

We do, Roy.

Thanks for listening and join us again. Bye! Bye!

Feifei, why are you cutting holes in that bed sheet?

Oh, just getting my costume ready for tonight, Neil.

I'm coming as a ghost. What about you?

I don't really feel like it, Feifei.

I thought you were bringing your new girlfriend?

Sadly not. She hasn't replied to any of my messages for a whole week.

Oh, sorry Neil. Looks like she's ghosting you.

No. Like I said, she's not coming tonight.

You'll be the only ghost at the party, I'm afraid.

Neil, 'ghosting' is a slang word.

If you ghost someone, it means you suddenly stop all communication

with them, with no explanation.

Ah right. Yes, she doesn't answer my calls, doesn't reply to my texts.

That's ghosting. Some people do it to end a relationship.

So, are you saying she wants to split up with me?

I don't know, but it's not a very nice way to treat people.

We even use the word 'ghosting' between friends

when one stops contacting the other,

it's not only for romantic relationships.

Anyway, help me cut this second eye out of my ghost costume

while we play some examples.

Katia felt awful for weeks

after being ghosted by a guy she really liked.

Keiko wanted to break up with her boyfriend but didn't want to upset him.

So when he suddenly started ghosting her, she actually felt relieved.

Jorge and Rafa used to hang out all the time at school.

But once they started university, Jorge just ghosted Rafa.

You're listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English.

The expression we're looking at in this programme is 'ghosting'.

And, Neil... there we are!

One ghost costume. Thanks for your help.

I just want to know why, Feifei.

Why is she ghosting me?

What did I do wrong?

Neil, that's the difficult thing about ghosting.

You won't get those answers. Sorry.

Oh, it's her.

What is she saying? "Sorry, Neil.

I lost my phone last week and only just found it again.

Call me. Kiss." There you go!

She sent a kiss!

Feifei, let's make her a costume - I'm going to invite her to this party.

OK! One more ghost costume?

No, I think I've had enough ghosts for one day. Bye. Bye.

Welcome to The English We Speak,

with me, Jiaying… … and me, Neil.

Hey, Neil. How was your weekend?

Oh, very dull – I was just doing housework.

Housework is dull but it’s just part of life, Neil.

I wish I could just do whatever I want!

Like hiking or or binge-watching my favourite TV series.

You can still do these things, Neil –

but housework is all part of ‘adulting’.

You mean being a grown-up?

Yes, I do! The word ‘adulting’ or ‘adulting’ describes

behaving in a way that’s typical of an adult – particularly doing boring, mundane tasks.

Let’s face it, Neil, you’re not a child anymore!

Thanks for reminding me.

Let’s hear some more examples of ‘adulting’…

My kids are cooking dinner for me so I get a break from adulting!

I told my friend to stop behaving like a teenager and start adulting!

Paying the bills is boring, but a necessary.

part of adulting.

You’re listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English,

and we’re talking about the word ‘adulting’ – which describes behaving

like an adult and doing mundane tasks that only adults do.

It’s from the noun ‘adult’.

But, Neil, despite being an adult, doing housework is child’s play!

Child’s play! You mean it’s easy to do.

Well it is, but it’s so boring.

Well, if you do it quickly,

you’ll have more time to do other things.

Like paying the bills, repairing the broken cupboard, doing the gardening

– it’s all so unfair!

Neil, now you’re acting like a baby – not an adult!

OK, OK… I’ll treat my responsibilities like a grown-up.

That’s more like it – good luck ‘adulting’! Bye for now. See you.

Hello, and welcome to The English We Speak

with me, Feifei.

And me, Roy. Rob sounds very stressed today.

I think he's worried about his magic trick!

What magic trick?

I know he has a lot of work on this week.

When I spoke to him on the phone,

he said that he he had a lot of plates spinning.

No, Roy. If someone says they 'have a lot of plates spinning',

it means that they have a number of different tasks to do at the same time

and can't just focus on one.

Ahh, so he was talking about work?

Now I understand why he put the phone down when I started telling him

about how many times I'd tried to find rabbits in my hats. Right.

Let's listen to these examples.

As a single parent, I always have a lot of things to do at the same time.

I always have so many plates spinning.

He is always busy.

He's got so many hobbies and activities, and that's not including work.

He has a lot of plates spinning.

She decided to quit her job due to the heavy workload.

She always complained that she had a lot lot of plates spinning.

You're listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English,

and we're talking about the expression 'have a lot of plates spinning'.

This expression refers to having a lot of things to do at the same time.

Yes, I've also heard the expression used as 'a lot of balls in the air'.

You look quite busy today!

I'm always busy, Roy!

I have so much work and I have a lot of balls in the air at the moment.

Maybe I could help you?

Brilliant idea!

In fact, I've already created you a list of things to do so I can focus

on one task - the most important one!

Wow! There are so many things on this list!

Now I have a lot of plates spinning.

What task are you focussing on that's so important?!

My birthday party!

Someone needs to arrange that!

You can't be serious!

Of course I am - I wouldn't ask you to do that as well.

Bye. Bye.

Hello, this is The The English We Speak with me Feifei…

…and hello, it’s me, Rob.

Erm, Rob. What are you doing?

Just preparing some some biscuits for my new business.

Are you planning to sell biscuits?

Well, not any old biscuits, Feifei,

Rob’s Amazing Crunch and and Crumble Biscuits.

This is my new career!

You’re going to need some help if you want to launch a new biscuit business.

Hmmm... yeah, you’re right.

Maybe you could help me put them in boxes?

No, Rob. You need more help than that – you need crowdsourcing.

Oh right, is that some kind of

of magic ingredient to put in the biscuits?

No! Crowdsourcing is when you ask groups of people

for their ideas and opinions to help you develop your business idea.

Note that ‘crowdfunding’ is just when large numbers

of people donate small amounts of money to help someone start a business.

These days, it’s a useful way to help you develop your business.

Here are some more examples of crowdsourcing.

I’m launching a crowdsourcing project

to gather creative ideas for my new fitness website.

We’re going to crowdsource to try and raise enough money

so our idea of a treehouse cafe can become a reality.

I found crowdsourcing a great way

to generate honest opinion about the best way to start

my vegan restaurant business.

This is The English We Speak from from BBC Learning English,

and we’re talking about crowdsourcing – which is when you ask groups

of people for their ideas and opinions

to help you develop your business idea.

So, Feifei, where do I find people to ask for help?

You can ask members of the public via the internet and on social media –

even ask friends and family – the more advice you can get the better.

Oh right – Well, in that that case I’m going to message my mum

to see if she can help help me bake a few more biscuits.

Rob, crowdsourcing involves more than just your mum.

You need to speak to lots of people.

Oh crumbs!

Maybe I’ll stick with this this presenting job for a little bit longer.

Do you fancy a biscuit? Thanks. Bye. Bye.

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak.

I'm Feifei. Hello, I'm Rob.

Something funny, Rob?

Not really… Well, yes actually.

I've had some luck. Tell me more.

Well, I bought loads of shares

in that new chain of burger restaurants and guess what?

You've got a free burger?

No, Feifei – the price of the shares has risen

and I've doubled my money.

I'm laughing all the way to the bank!

For the first time in my life I'm rich!

Calm down, Rob!

I think you'd get some strange looks if you went to the bank laughing

– the bank has all your money - there's nothing to laugh about.

Seriously, Feifei! If I 'laugh all the way to the bank',

it just means I have made lots of money very easily.

Of course!

Let's hear some more examples.

The florist laughed all the way to the bank

when she signed a deal to supply all the hotels in the chain with flowers.

Since we bought it, the price of our house has greatly increased.

So when we come to sell it, we'll be laughing all the way to the bank.

Now the two companies have merged,

shareholders will be laughing all the way to the bank!

This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English

and we're looking at the funny phrase 'laughing all the way to the bank',

which means 'to make lots of money very easily'.

But, Rob, buying shares is no laughing matter.

Why's that?

Shares can go down in value value as well as up –

and I've just read that because someone got food poisoning

at one of those burger restaurants,

the share price has gone down.

Oh, so my get-rich-quick plan hasn't worked.

Can you cry all the way to the bank as well?

Cry all the way to the bank?

Yes, I think you can – and I'm gonna do that right now.

I need to borrow some money. Bye.

I can lend you a fiver! 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. Roy!

I saw the photo you sent to the text group this morning!

I didn't know you had a fancy sports car, a mansion and a swimming pool.

Roy, you need to stop flexing!

What do you mean 'flexing'?

I'm not exercising my muscles at all, right now!

Not flexing your muscles, Roy.

You're showing off!

This is our word for this programme - 'flexing' - which means to show off!

I'm not showing off.

I just want everyone to be aware of my amazing lifestyle.

I'm thinking about getting some dolphins to go in my pool!

Roy! Now you're just inventing things!

I don't think you have a mansion, a swimming pool or a fancy sports car.

Not only do I think you're flexing,

but you're totally exaggerating just to impress people!

Are you impressed? No, not at all.

Anyway, let's listen to these examples...

He's always flexing on social media,

- showing these glamorous pictures of his holidays!

People who flex are so annoying!

It's just showing off.

She can't stop flexing about her new house,

but it's actually not that nice.

This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English

and we're talking about

the word 'flexing', which means means showing-off.

When you're showing off about something strange, or tacky,

some people say 'weird flex, but OK'.

Well, I'm sorry if you think I was showing off.

I just want people to think I'm cool! That's all.

You don't need to flex for people to like you!

Everyone already does think you're cool!

It's because you're an amazing person like me.

But, talking about amazing things:

have you seen my new phone?

Weird flex, but OK.

What? I didn't flex!

Plus, why is it weird?

Well, it's not a cool phone - I've never even heard of the brand,

and the colours look like someone vomited rainbows.

Well, I like it.

Wait, what are those car keys on your desk?

Do you really have a sports car?

Of course I do - and a mansion and a pool.

The only reason I shared that photo was because I wanted to invite people

to my house party!

Really? Can I come to the party?

Sure, as long as you don't flex about that horrible phone.

OK, I won't talk about my amazing phone.

Bye, Roy. Bye.

Hello and welcome to The English

We Speak with me, Jiaying… …and me, Roy.

Hey Jiaying, it’s a beautiful day outside.

It is – blue sky and sunshine today - wonderful!

But why are you you telling me this, Roy?

Well, once we’ve finished the programme, would you like to go

for a run in the park?

I’m not sure!

I don’t want to run when I'm so hungry!

Well, how about we invite some friends and go for a picnic instead?

Now you’re talking!

Oh, didn’t you hear what I said?

I said how about a picnic in the park and…

Yes, yes, I heard you loud and clear – I just mean I like what you are saying!

For once, you are saying something I want to hear!

When we say to someone ‘now you’re talking’, it’s an informal way

of saying I really like or approve of your idea or suggestion,

sometimes because it is better than their initial idea.

So, Roy, going for a picnic is

a great idea!

Good,  but we can’t go yet.

We’ve got some examples of this phrase to listen to…

You'd buy the car if I gave you an extra ten percent discount?

Now you’re talking!

You want to go to the beach? Now you’re talking!

My boss has agreed to increase increase his initial pay offer.

Now he’s talking!

This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English

and we’re talking about the expression

‘now you’re talking’, which is used to express that you like

or approve of someone’s idea or suggestion,

often because it’s better than their initial idea.

So, who shall we invite to this picnic, Roy? Sam?

No, she’s busy. Neil?

No, he doesn’t like eating outdoors.

Oh, how about Rob?

Nope – he’ll eat too many of the biscuits.

Oh no! … look, it’s started raining!

Oh – the picnic is ruined!

I know - why don’t we arrange to meet everyone at the cafe instead?

Now you’re talking!

I’ll go and make some calls. Bye.

Bye, see you later.