BOX SET: English vocabulary mega-class! Learn 10 idiomatic English expressions in 25 minutes!

Hello. This is The English We Speak

with me, Feifei.

And me, Roy.

Roy, what are you holding?!

This? It's a sword.

I can see it's a sword!

Why do you have one?

Well, I overheard you saying your

friend Sandra is living in a bubble.

So I asked my pal at the museum

if I could borrow a sword

to help your friend escape!

No, Roy. I said 'Sandra lives in a bubble',

but it means that she doesn't really

accept new ideas and all her friends

have the same way of thinking.

'Living in a bubble' is the expression

we're looking at in this programme.

Ahhh, that makes more sense.

I just imagined that she might have got stuck

in a bubble after washing her hands.

Roy, your imagination never ceases to amaze me.

You know what we should do?

I think we should listen to some examples.

Bob and his friends think that climate

change isn't real. They live in a bubble.

Nelson lives in a bubble.

He never tries new food or

goes out with new people.

Geraldine doesn't want to meet my new

friends - she thinks they live in a bubble.

This is The English We Speak

from BBC Learning English, and

we're talking about the expression

'living in a bubble' which is used to

describe someone who doesn't listen to

people with different ideas, or maybe

is a little sheltered from society.

I think it's sad when people live

in a bubble because they don't

get to experience new ideas

or have their minds changed.

I don't live in a bubble.

It's why I like working with you.

Because you have very different ideas

to me and I like listening to them.

You're always wrong, but I still like you.

Thanks Feifei. I guess I should take

this sword back to the museum.

You should. Bye, Roy.

Bye.

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak.

I'm Feifei.

And I'm Neil.

Hey Feifei, it sounds like you might have a cold?

I think I have: sore throat, blocked nose.

I feel terrible. That's why I'm taking this medicine.

That's probably a good idea.

Medicine is usually good for making you

feel better but how does it taste?

Well, it's supposed to taste of strawberries

but to be honest it's just horrible!

That's why I never take the stuff, it's disgusting.

Have you heard the phrase

'a taste of your own medicine'?

No. Does it mean doing something

horrible or unpleasant?

Sort of. It describes someone receiving the

same, treatment or unpleasant experience

that they have given to somebody else.

You know, like you're always bossing

people around and then someone

starts to boss you around?

I don't know what you mean Neil!

Anyway, it's quite a negative phrase.

It is. Let's hear some examples.

Our boss is so rude to us but finally

somebody has answered back and now

he's got a taste of his own medicine.

When I meet up with my boyfriend,

he's always late so this time I'm going

to give him a taste of his own medicine

and turn up late as well.

Deepak is always rude to the teacher

but he was really offended when she

gave him a taste of his own medicine

and was rude back to him!

So that's 'a taste of your own medicine'

which describes someone receiving

the same treatment that they have

given to somebody else.

Excuse me!

Oh dear. It sounds like you need to

take some more medicine.

If you mean literally taking the medicine,

then yes but if you mean receiving the same

treatment I've given to someone else, then no.

I can't believe you think I am

always bossing people around.

I was just giving an example of the phrase.

I would never say you were bossy.

Good. Now why don't you go and

make me a nice cup up of tea?

Oh, OK, sure. See you.

And don't forget to close the door!

Yes. Sorry. I'll do that right now.

OK. See you later.

Ah, I feel better already. Bye.

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak.

I'm Feifei…

And I’m Rob. And I am so excited.

Oh yeah? Why's that, Rob?

You know, Feifei, it's that festive time

of year: presents, parties, time with the

family, snow… did I mention presents?

Yes, Rob. It's Christmas time.

Come on, Feifei, aren't you excited?

Imagine if we had lots of Christmases

all at the same time!

Oh no, think of the cost of

buying all those presents.

But hopefully you'd receive lots of presents too!

Anyway, do you know that for some people,

all their Christmases can come at once?

I don't think so!

OK, well, they're not really Christmases,

but if someone has extreme good fortune,

it's like the feeling of having lots of

Christmases all at the same time.

Got it. Having all your Christmases come at

once just means 'having lots of good luck'.

Yes! Let's hear from some people

who've had all their Christmases come at once

– lucky them!

Yeah! I got a pay rise and I'm off on holiday tomorrow,

and I've won the lottery!

It seems like all my Christmases have come at once!

The day I got married, I heard I'd passed

my exams and got a promotion, so it felt like

all my Christmases had come at once.

All my Christmases have come at once:

my parents bought me a new car, I got a

place at university and I've got a new girlfriend!

This is The English We Speak from

BBC Learning English and we're learning

about the phrase 'to have all your

Christmases come at once',

which means 'to have extreme good fortune'.

Did you know, Rob, that I've had lots of good luck?

No. What's happened?

Well, I've been invited to a big swanky Christmas

party tonight, I'm going skiing at the weekend and

you've bought me an amazing Christmas present.

Err, have I?

Yes, in that box over there.

Oh, that's not for you. Sorry. It looks

like not all of your Christmases have arrived!

Oh well, you may as well have your present now.

Hmm, a book of English phrases.

How useful!

It will be. Happy Christmas, Rob!

Same to you, Feifei.

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak

I'm Feifei.

And hello, I'm Rob.

Errr, what is that smell?

Smell? I can't smell anything.

There is definitely a terrible smell, like mouldy cheese.

What's in that bag, Rob?

Oh, this bag! You're right, it is cheese.

Beautiful, delicious Stilton cheese in fact.

Would you like some?

No! So why have you got a bag of mouldy cheese?

Well, I stopped at the cheese shop

on the way to the office and saw this

cheese was half price - and you probably

know, I have a good nose for a bargain.

I don't think so, Rob.

Judging by this cheese, you have a bad nose.

It smells awful!

No, Feifei. When you have a nose - or

even a good nose - for something, it's not

about your sense of smell.

It describes someone who is naturally good

at finding and recognising something.

In my case, finding a bargain!

I'm not so sure about that, Rob!

Well, I have a good nose for finding examples.

So here they are.

We need to sell more newspapers, so we need

to find a reporter with a good nose for a story.

I have a good nose for learning languages

and was fluent in Spanish in just a year!

My mum's got a nose for bargains and booked

us all flights to Italy  for just fifty pounds each.

This is The English We Speak from

BBC Learning English and we're finding out about

the phrase 'to have a good nose (for something)'.

Rob claims to have one but I'm not so sure.

So how much did you pay for this cheese, Rob?

Only 20 pounds, it was half price!

That's because it's old. Look, it's going green!

Sorry, Rob, this cannot stay in the studio.

It stinks, out it goes.

That's not very nice.

Hold on, I can still smell something bad.

It's your socks! Look, you haven't

got your shoes on. Urghhh!

Wow, Feifei, you really have got a good nose.

A good nose for bad smells!

Your bad smells, Rob!

Time to go. Bye.

Bye.

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak.

I'm Feifei.

And I'm Rob.

Phew, Feifei, is the air conditioning on?

Let me check.

Looks like it's broken.

Again? The company fixed it just this week.

Yeah.

And that's three times this month!

I know...

I honestly can't face calling

the company one more time.

I've wasted hours on the phone to them! Seriously.

OK, OK, Rob. No need to get so

hot under the collar!

But... Oh OK. You're right.

Give me a minute.

While Rob is cooling down, let me

explain that phrase I just used.

To get 'hot under the collar' means to become

very annoyed or angry about something.

There is another meaning, but we'll get there later.

OK, Rob, how are you now?

Just a minute more.

OK, let's listen to these examples first.

Nick got a little hot under the collar when he

returned from a meeting to discover his

colleagues had eaten all his chocolates.

I hate driving in big cities.

I just get too hot under the collar

when others drive badly.

I prefer to take a bus and chill out.

Try not to say anything about

Wayne's new haircut.

He knows it looks terrible.

When I mentioned it, he got

very hot under the collar.

This is The English We Speak

from BBC Learning English.

So, how are you feeling now, Rob?

Much better. Don't worry,

I'll call the air conditioning company.

If you do, err... can you ask them

which engineer is coming to fix it?

Why does that matter?

Well, you see, there's this one engineer

who makes me... all hot under the collar!

Ahh, I see! You find this person

attractive and they make you feel

excited or even a bit nervous?

Well, that's the other meaning of

hot under the collar, by the way.

Well, yes. Sorry. I should admit it.

It's been me who has been breaking the

air conditioning all along... Just...

just... just in the hope that...

Just so that you can see that cute engineer?

Feifei! That really is shocking.

OK, let me make that call.

Yes, it's getting a bit hot in here.

Bye.

Bye.

Oooooh.

This is The English We Speak.

I'm Feifei.

And hello, I'm Rob.

Rob, it's very kind of you to bring me

to this cafe and to buy me a milkshake.

I love milkshakes.

Did I say I was paying?

Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about work.

Mmm, strawberry, my favourite.

Errr, yes, me too...

But back to talking about work.

You know we're moving the desks around?

Why do milkshakes taste so good?

Oh look I've finished mine.

As I was trying to say, it looks like

you've got the short straw.

Oh, that's why I've drunk my

milkshake quicker than you.

I had a short straw!

No, Feifei. Forget the milkshake.

If you get, or draw, the short straw,

it means you're the person in a group

who gets the most unpleasant

outcome in a situation.

Right, and why have I got the short straw?

Well, I'm afraid they're moving your

desk to just outside the toilet!

We'll see about that.

Let's hear some examples of other

people who've got the short straw.

It looks like I've got the short straw.

I'm doing the late shift whilst everyone

else goes to the pub!

Oh dear, Tom's got do the washing up

after our dinner party - looks like

he's got the short straw.

We were given free tickets to the theatre,

but I got the short straw because my seat

was right at the back and I couldn't see a thing!

This is The English We Speak

from BBC Learning English and we're

talking about the expression

'to get the short straw',

which describes a person in a

group who gets the most unpleasant

or difficult outcome in a situation.

You can also say 'to draw the short straw'.

And Rob, you're saying I've got the

short straw in the office reshuffle?

Yep, that's why I thought I'd take

you for a milkshake as a way of making

you feel better about it.

You mean, as a way of saying sorry more like.

I've seen the new office plan and you were

supposed to sit by the toilet but you

changed the name to mine - what a cheek!

Well... errr... How about if I pay for your milkshake?

Maybe, if you buy me another milkshake.

Oh OK then, remind me, what flavour?

Strawberry, with TWO long straws.

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.

In this programme, we have an expression that

is used to describe publicly criticising someone.

Roy, why are you hiding under the desk?

Well, I’m a bit scared at the moment.

Neil said you were throwing shade at me,

so I don’t want to get hit.

I guess it was you who smashed the window

throwing all that shade around.

Roy! I’m not throwing anything physically.

I was throwing shade at you.

That means I was publicly criticising you.

I was telling everyone how terrible

your favourite T-shirt is.

You always wear it, but the film on it is so uncool.

Who likes ‘Gibbons by the Sea’?

I do – it’s a brilliant film.

You should stop throwing shade. I love this T-shirt.

It’s a classic.

It’s not a classic – it’s old.

Also, I did smash that window as I literally threw a

bag of your other terrible T-shirts out of the window.

We’ll talk about it more after these examples.

Ece got really angry when she caught

her friend throwing shade at her.

Hey! Don’t throw shade at my job!

It may not pay well, but I enjoy it!

Joan never throws shade.

She’s so chilled out.

This is The English We Speak from BBC

Learning English and we’re talking about

the expression ‘throw shade’, which

describes the act of publicly criticising someone.

I can’t believe you threw my bag

of T-shirts out the window.

I know you don’t like my T-shirts but

you should stop throwing shade at me.

OK, I will. I’m sorry, Roy. Actually, do

you want to know a secret? I love your T-shirts.

I wanted to buy one, but I couldn’t find one.

Well, I have a spare in the bag.

You can have my other ‘Gibbons by the Sea’

T-shirt and then we can have matching

T-shirts in the office. We’ll look so cool.

Yes we will! Bye, Roy.

Bye, Feifei.

This is The English We Speak.

I'm Feifei.

And hello, I'm Rob. Hey, Feifei.

Did you see the match last night?

The match? No, Rob.

I had better things to do!

Oh, you should have done.

My local team beat Manchester United

3-0! It was a giant-killing!

Well I'm glad I didn't watch it.

Who wants to see giants being killed?

Feifei, nobody was killed and there were no real giants.

The giant is the team that is usually stronger,

more powerful or skilful than the other team.

And the killing happens when the weaker

or less skilful team beats them.

And that's what happened last night.

It was brilliant!

I see. So a giant-killing describes a situation

when a weaker or less skilful person or

team beats a stronger or more skilful opponent.

Yep. And we call the winning team 'giant killers.'

So my team can be called 'giant killers'!

So is this phrase used for sporting competitions?

Yes it is. It's not just used in football.

Although the giant-killing in the

game last night was amazing!

I mean, did I mention the score was 3-0?

OK calm down, Rob.

Let's hear some other examples

of the phrase 'giant-killing'.

We're celebrating our village

cricket team's giant-killing over

a professional county team!

There was a giant-killing at

the tennis match today - a brand new

player beat the third-seeded

player in straight sets!

The non-league team have become

giant killers in the FA Cup - they could go

all the way to the final.

This is The English We Speak

from BBC Learning English and

we're hearing about the sporting

expression 'giant-killing' - that's when a

strong or skilful player or team is

beaten by a less strong opponent.

The winners are called 'giant killers'.

So a giant-killing is quite an achievement?

It sure is. It's unexpected but

it's great when it happens.

I understand, Rob, it comes as a

surprise because you're so used to losing!

Never mind, Feifei. If you're not

a football fan, you'll never understand.

Hmm, I suppose this programme is

a bit like a giant killing.

Why's that then?

The weaker, less skilful presenter

beats the stronger, more skilful presenter

by getting more lines to stay in the script.

Errr, I don't think so, Feifei.

You always have more to say.

That's true. Now, isn't it your turn

to make the tea?

Oh OK, if you say so. See you later.

Ha! 1-0 to me. Bye.

Good to be back at work, Neil?

Yes, Feifei. I feel a bit better now.

Just got a… just a little... just a bit of a cough.

Anyway, it’s good to have you here

because you can finally pay me.

Oh. Right. Why’s that?

Well, remember you said you didn’t

believe I could stand on my head?

I do. I said I would give you £10 if you can do it.

Yes. Well…

No way!

There we are. On my head. £10 please.

Time to cough up, Neil.

OK, OK! You can come down now.

Not bad huh? Now, how about you

‘cough up’, and I explain what it means?

Hey, I was only joking about the £10.

Oh OK, there you go.

Thank you. If you ‘cough up’, it

means you give someone money,

especially if you don’t want to.

Yes, I didn’t want to give Feifei the money,

but I said I would so I had to cough up.

Indeed. Time for some examples.

I waited two whole weeks for my new TV

to be delivered. And then I had to cough

up an extra £15 for the delivery!

I can’t believe it.

My last trip to the library was expensive.

I had to cough up for the fines for all the

books I returned late. Whoops!

When I sat on my colleague’s glasses he

asked me to cough up £100 to buy a new pair.

I must admit, the new ones are an improvement.

(Coughing) You're listening to The English We Speak

from BBC Learning English.

The expression we're looking at in this

programme is 'to cough up'.

Neil, that cough is still sounding bad.

Have you tried the cough medicine I use?

Not yet. It’s just a little expensive.

£10 for a little bottle of medicine!

It’s worth it. Listen, if you won’t cough up,

I’ll give you the £10 back if you promise to buy it.

That’s very kind.

Not a problem.

And while you go to the pharmacy,

I’m going to practise presenting the

programme standing on my head.

It’s good for blood circulation, apparently.

Standing on your head is one thing,

but presenting a whole programme? No way.

Are you sure! £10 says I can!

Haha. OK then. Bye.

Bye.

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak.

I'm Neil and…

Erm, hi everyone. Erm, I’m Feifei and I've just …

Err… well…

Feifei is here with me…

Feifei, what's going on?

Um, yes, and today we are here, with you,

dear learners of the wonderful English language…

What are you looking for?

The script, Neil. I misplaced it somewhere…

Just wing it!

Wing it? Wing, like a bird?

Yes, the air is fresh and I flap my wings…

What are you doing? What are you doing?

You told me to pretend I was a bird.

Or to tell the story of a bird or…

I know lots of bird jokes.

No, that's not it.

In English 'to wing' something means to improvise.

This informal expression is thought to come from

the theatre and it refers to performances

given by actors who had to learn their lines

quickly while waiting in the wings.

Ah! The wings are the space on each

side of the stage, where actors wait

before coming onto the stage.

Sometimes someone gives them

their lines from there as support.

That's right. Let's hear  how this expression is used.

Mary spent all weekend partying instead of studying.

When I asked her why she wasn't concerned

about the exam, she told me she'd just wing it.

The minister is a great orator.

He's never had a speech ready,

he just wings it and people love it.

So a theatrical expression for you.

Now Feifei, do you know lots of jokes

about birds? Tell me one.

Why did the little bird get in trouble at school?

Mmmm… no idea…

Because he was caught tweeting during the test.

Yes, very funny…

Bye.

Hi everyone, we hope you enjoyed that video

and thank you very much for watching.

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Hope to see you soon. Bye guys!