Moonshot - The English We Speak

Hello and welcome to

The English We Speak.

I’m Feifei.

And I'm Roy! 10, 9, 8, 7…

What are you doing?

And why are you dressed like an astronaut?

I'm practising my countdown for when

we head to the Moon.

6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

We have lift off!

Please stop!

In this programme we're teaching

the expression 'moonshot', which refers

to an ambitious project carried out without

any expectation of short-term profitability.

It does not mean we're going to the Moon!

Where did you get that a spacesuit from?

I found it… in my garden. That definition

of 'moonshot' makes more sense.

Now I understand why people have

been talking about a moonshot vaccine.

Exactly! An experimental vaccine to

fight Covid-19! You're really learning!

Well, while I take this spacesuit off,

let’s have some examples…

We're investing in a moonshot

vaccine to help fight the virus.

I'm not sure if their new driverless

EV will ever come to market.

It's a bit of a moonshot.

The project is a moonshot.

It might not help the company

in the short-term.

This is The English We Speak from

BBC Learning English, and we’re talking

about the expression ‘moonshot’ which

refers to a project that is experimental

and doesn't necessarily have any

short-term financial benefits.

Yes – so the most common reference

recently has been the moonshot vaccines

or moonshot testing to fight Covid-19.

The phrase has a lot in common

with 'shoot for the moon' - the idea

of aiming for an ambitious target.

That's right – that’s some real moonshot

thinking right there! You always have

some ambitious ideas – like the time

you wanted everyone to dress like

squirrels and run around Hyde Park.

Thanks, Feifei! That was for charity.

I always like to shoot for the Moon

with my ideas.

You certainly do!

But Roy, you look a bit down.

What's wrong?

It's sad that we're not going to the Moon.

I once made my own spaceship out

of a packet of crisps, a tennis ball

and some duct tape. Sadly, it didn't work –

it was a bit of a moonshot.

I wish you were going to the Moon –

it would certainly be quieter in the office.

Bye Roy.

Bye.