Please double-click on the English subtitles below to play the video.
00:07
Feifei: So Neil...
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00:08
Neil: Yes, Feifei?
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Feifei: Everyone's asking - who was
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that beautiful woman
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who you were at lunch with?
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Neil: Ah, she's a... just a friend.
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A new friend. Err, a very nice, new friend.
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Feifei: Ooh, you really like her!
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Neil: Well, yes. She's lovely.
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She's a doctor.
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Feifei: Neil, I just can't help thinking...
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she's so pretty!
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00:29
Neil: What are you saying, Feifei?
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She's too pretty for me? As you know,
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I punch above my weight!
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Feifei: You certainly do.
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And I'm not saying you're fat!
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Neil: Haha. Yes, 'to punch above
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your weight' is our phrase on
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The English We Speak. It means to
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achieve beyond what
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is expected of you.
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00:46
Feifei: We can use it to describe
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the performance or influence of
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companies or even countries...
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Or in this case - when Neil is going out
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with someone more attractive
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and successful - we
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say he is punching above his weight!
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Neil: Hey, Feifei. That was a bit harsh.
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01:01
Anyway, let's hear these examples.
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01:06
Croatia punches above its weight when
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it comes to football. It has
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a population of under 5 million, but
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came second in the World Cup.
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Even as a small business, you can punch
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above your weight if you focus
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on quality and build
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a strong brand.
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Some of the cheaper smartphones
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are really punching above their weight -
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they're a fraction of the price
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but have got some great features.
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01:34
Feifei: You're listening to The English
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We Speak from BBC Learning English.
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Our expression is
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'punch above your weight'. So, Neil, how
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did you meet this mystery woman?
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Neil: Well, she's a doctor. You know I was
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going to boxing class earlier this year?
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Feifei: Yes, how's that going?
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Neil: Well, I stopped. I was training with
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someone much bigger than me,
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and I, err...
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broke my nose.
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Feifei: You were literally punching
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above your weight!
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Neil: Yes. And who should I meet
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at the hospital but this beautiful doctor!
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Feifei: Well, it's a good story.
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Shame it's not true.
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Neil: I know. I've never boxed in my life!
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Feifei: And I know you had
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lunch alone today.
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Neil: Ahh. But I hope the story helps
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teach this phrase!
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Feifei: I hope so too.
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Neil: Anyway, if you're not busy...
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fancy lunch tomorrow, Feifei?
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02:18
Feifei: There you go again,
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punching above your weight! Bye.
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02:23
Crowd: Ouch! That must have hurt!
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