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

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak.

With me Feifei.

And I'm Neil.

So come on Feifei,

you've been grumpy all morning.

What's upset you?

We have a new tea-making rota and it

seems that Rob will be making less tea than me.

Are you sure?

Yes. Look!

Feifei: Monday morning, Tuesday afternoon,

Thursday morning and every other Friday.

Rob: just Wednesday morning.

This tea-making rota is so unfair.

I'm really going to complain about

this at the next team meeting.

He always has it easy.

Is it that important Feifei?

If I were you, I'd let sleeping dogs lie.

You could make things worse.

Let sleeping dogs lie?

You mean 'leave things as  they are to avoid causing

trouble or restarting an old argument'?

Exactly!

We had this argument before and the

result was this new tea-making rota.

So, just like avoiding waking up a dog

and making it angry,

let sleeping dogs lie.

Let's hear some more examples of this phrase.

I was going to mention the argument

we had last night but

decided to let sleeping dogs lie.

Let's not go over last night's performance.

Let sleeping dogs lie and move on.

Don't remind her about the divorce.

Let sleeping dogs lie and  talk about something else.

This is The English We Speak from the BBC

and we're finding out about the phrase

'let sleeping dogs lie',

meaning to 'leave a situation as it is and

avoid causing trouble or  restarting an old problem'.

That's all very well but it still

seems unfair that I'm the one

who has to make tea the most.

Come on, Feifei.

Can't you remember why we  had a new tea-making rota?

It was because Rob makes such awful tea,

that we wanted him to make less of it!

Oh, yes!

Rob does make awful tea.

You're right Neil, it's not worth making a fuss.

We definitely don't want Rob

to be making our tea too often.

Yes. Let sleeping dogs lie.

But hold on.

I didn't see your name on the rota.

Shouldn't you be making tea?

I thought you were keeping quiet.

You never make tea!

I'm going to say something about this.

Shhh! Don't wake up the sleeping dogs.

I'll go and make some tea now, ok?

Bye.

Bye.

And don't forget, two sugars!

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak

with me Feifei.

And me, Rob.

So, Rob, I have a very simple question for you.

Yep?

Why have you got enormous

whiskers glued to the side

of your face and why

are you wearing a running vest?

Well Feifei, it's a new year and

according to our Chinese friends,

it's the 'Year of the Rat'.

New Year, new resolutions so I've

decided to join the rat race!

You've decided to join the rat race?

You mean to get really

competitive at work and

concentrate on promotions and pay rises

at the expense of your free time?

That's right.

But why?

Money!

Right, well let's hear some

examples of this expression before

a little more explanation.

I am going to quit the rat race.

I earn all this money but I never have

enough time to spend it!

It's just work, work, work!

People complain about the rat race but if

you earn enough, you can retire at 50!

Nieves decided to quit the rat race

after she had a serious health scare.

She realised that the money

wasn't worth the stress.

You're listening to The English We Speak

from BBC Learning English.

In this programme,

we're looking at the expression 'rat race'.

It's used to describe a way of life in which

people work very hard for a lot of money.

But there's no free time and it's

very, very competitive.

You heard in the examples,

we often hear the word 'quit' used

with 'rat race'. Quit the rat race.

But you, Rob, have decided to join it.

You do know that you don't have to look

like a rat to join the rat race?

And you certainly don't have to wear a racing vest.

Just trying to make things clear

for our audience, Feifei!

I do quite like those whiskers, though.

(Squeaks)

Bye!

Bye bye!

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak

with me Feifei.

And me, Rob.

Hey, Feifei, I have a little challenge for you.

Oh, good. I like a challenge.

Right. Well. Can you name a bird

that has bright feathers?

A parrot?

No. It has big colourful feathers that

it sticks up when it's showing off

and trying to attract a mate.

Got it! A peacock.

Why are you asking?

Well, it's a clue for this

authentic English phrase.

Can you think of an expression

which describes someone

showing off to attract attention?

Yes, Rob. It's 'peacocking'.

I often use it to describe you!

But, Rob, peacocking never impresses me!

Well, Feifei, you are hard to impress

but maybe these examples of 'peacocking' will.

Why does Dev have to wear that bright

shirt and walk around the office

talking and laughing loudly?

It's obvious that he's peacocking,

but to me, he's just annoying.

When we first met, I was impressed by

John's flashy clothes and constant jokes.

But he was obviously peacocking because

now he just wears jeans and

never says anything funny!

I thought my peacocking skills

would work wonders on our blind date.

Unfortunately, she told me I was just

showing off and I just needed to be myself.

I don't think I'll be seeing her again.

You're listening to The English We Speak

from BBC Learning English.

We're talking about 'peacocking',

which describes someone showing off

to attract attention and impress people.

Originally, it described an extreme and

over-the-top way a man might dress and the

arrogant way he might behave to attract a woman.

Yes, I can see why you would have

been good at that, Rob!

Well, women do it now too, Feifei.

For example, by bragging on Instagram

about the amazing things they've done.

OK, it seems like anyone can be

guilty of peacocking these days.

Well, you'd never find me peacocking Feifei.

I'm not the sort of person to show off.

I hate to attract attention.

What do you mean, Rob?!

You're always centre of attention.

Hmm, thanks!

Bye!

Bye bye!

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak

with me, Feifei.

And me, Neil.

Nice bobble hat, Neil!

Thanks.

But not very practical.

Wearing a hat indoors must be quite hot.

It’s the fashion, Feifei.

Some of us have to keep up with the trends.

Right! Maybe that explains the waistcoat

you’re wearing as well.

To be fashionable?

Oh, you wouldn’t understand, Feifei!

I understand very clearly.

You are a sheeple.

What are you bleating on about?

Sheeple. It describes people who just follow

the crowd, without much thought.

Basically, you are easily led – like a sheep!

But you’re not the only one.

Listen to these examples.

I can’t believe all these sheeple who’ve

paid lots of money for the latest smartphone.

They’ll be half price in a few months’ time!

My brother’s one of those sheeple who

has to follow the latest fashions.

He’s now wearing ripped jeans but so

is everyone else at his college!

Although nearly everyone in my class has

one of those smartwatches, I’m not going

to be one of those sheeple.

I’m going to stick with the old watch

my grandmother gave me instead!

This is The English We Speak from

BBC Learning English and we’re talking

About the word ‘sheeple’.

It’s a mix of the English words ‘sheep’ and ‘people’.

It describes people, who just like sheep,

follow what other people do or things that are trending.

So, you’re saying I’m trending?

No, I’m saying you are just following the trend.

You can’t think for yourself.

Like a sheep!

I don’t think so. Look, I’m wearing sandals and socks.

That’s not fashionable but very comfortable.

Hmmm, that reminds me

of sheep as well – stupid!

Charming! I’d watch out, Feifei.

I might be a wolf in sheep’s clothing!

Bye, Neil.

Bye.

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak.

I'm Feifei.

And I'm Rob. Hello.

Errr, Feifei, you're looking a bit angry.

Me, angry! I am angry.

Oh no, what's the problem?

I think you know Rob.

Somebody told the boss

that I spilt coffee over his computer

yesterday and now he's angry with me.

Oh no. What kind of mean and horrible person

would try and get you into trouble?

You and the boss were the only people

left in the office last night. Hmmm?

Whoa, hold on Feifei. If you are implying

it was me who told the boss, then you are

barking up the wrong tree.

Please don't make me any angrier

by saying that I am like a dog!

No, no Feifei. Just calm down.

I should be angry because you are making the wrong

assumption about who told the boss, OK?

That's what I mean by barking up the wrong tree:

you want to blame someone

but you got the wrong person.

I didn't even know you had done it.

OK, I'm sorry. So the phrase 'barking up the wrong

tree' means making the wrong assumption

when trying to achieve something.

Shall we hear some examples while I make you

a coffee to say sorry?

If you think I have enough spare cash

to pay for your holiday, then you're

barking up the wrong tree.

You're barking up the wrong tree if you think

I was the one who said you were leaving.

It wasn't me!

You're barking up the wrong tree if you think

I'm going to lend you my  car. I've seen how you drive!

You're listening to The English We Speak.

We're talking about the phrase

'barking up the wrong tree'.

It means to make a wrong assumption

about someone or something.

The phrase can also mean doing something

in a way that will not work.

You're basically wasting your time.

Like a detective trying to solve

a crime by obviously arresting the

wrong man - he's barking up the wrong tree.

Ok Rob understood and here's your coffee

to say sorry for barking up the wrong tree.

Thanks, make sure you don't spill it this time.

The boss would be really angry!

(ANGRY DOG GROWL!) ...what did I say?

If I find out you did tell the boss,

I'll make sure to bark up the right tree,

OK?

Ok Feifei, I hope your bark is worse than your bite.

Bye.

Bye

Hello I'm Feifei and welcome to The English We Speak

And joining me is Rob.

Hello everyone.

So Rob, I hear you have a new a hobby?

Yes that's right, it's very exciting.

Let me show you.

Arghh! Bees! I don't like them. Shut the door!

So, your new hobby is beekeeping?

Yes, I'm a beekeeper and I love it

but there is a sting in the tail.

Of course there's a sting in the tail -

bees sting - and it hurts, that's why I don't like bees.

They only sting when they're angry Feifei.

And anyway, when I said 'there's a sting in the tail'

I wasn't referring to the bees.

I meant something unpleasant comes with

something that is meant to be pleasurable.

Yes, as I said, looking after bees

means you're likely to get stung.

That's true but what I meant was beekeeping is

fun but I wasn't expecting it to cost so much money.

I had to buy all these hives

and these special protective clothes.

Yes, you do look silly! So, you're saying

beekeeping is fun but the unexpected

cost of it is the sting in the tail?

Exactly. Let's hear some examples

while I go and get some honey.

We had a great holiday

but it had a sting in the tail.

When we got home we discovered

our house had been broken into.

I love her new book, the story is funny and romantic

but there's a sting in the tail when someone dies.

Yeah, we all got a pay rise this month,

but there's a sting in the tail.

We're expected to work longer hours.

So that's 'a sting in the tail',

a phrase that means something unpleasant

and sometimes unexpected happens

when doing something good or fun.

OK Feifei, one of the good things about beekeeping

is you get this delicious honey and that's free.

Go on Feifei, try some.

Mmmm honey, delicious!

Oh no, you've brought something else with you.

It's a bee!

Don't panic! I'll try to catch it.

Ouch! That hurt.

Oh dear, it looks like beekeeping

has more than one sting in the tail!

Very funny!

Bye!

Hello and welcome to

The English We Speak.

I’m Feifei.

And I'm Rob!

Now, Feifei, can you help me with

this social media post I’m trying to write?

I’ll try. What do you want to say?

Well, I want to post something about how tired

I am because I’ve been working so hard,

and how I just can’t go on.

Hmm, it looks like you’re looking for sympathy.

Sympathy? No, I just want to tell people how

exhausted I am because I am so hard-working.

You just don’t understand!

I completely understand, you are sadfishing!

Sadfishing? I don’t even like fish!

No, Rob. You’re fishing for sympathy.

When someone is ‘sadfishing’, they are exaggerating their

emotional problems, particularly via social media,

so they get sympathy or attention from others.

Hmm, that doesn’t sound like me.

Right, well I’m going to send my post now. There, done.

Good luck. Let’s hear some examples of sadfishing.

He got lots of ‘likes’ for his post about having

no friends, but I think he was sadfishing.

He’s got loads of mates.

I don’t know if Heidi really has a problem with her skin.

I think she’s just sadfishing and wants attention.

Some people say there’s a growing trend

for sadfishing and people just share their

worries online to get noticed.

But I wonder if it’s a cry for help?

This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English

and we’re talking about the expression

'sadfishing', which describes when someone

exaggerates their emotional problems,

particularly on social media,

to get sympathy or attention.

It’s not a nice thing to do.

So, Rob, how’s your ‘sadfishing’ going?

It’s not sadfishing, Feifei. I’m just telling people

about my terrible life so they understand.

Ooh and look, I have received a comment already.

Oh, who from?

It’s from Roy. He says “Stop moaning!

I work even harder, every weekend and every

evening but it’s OK because I love my job!”

It looks like he’s fishing too.

What, sadfishing?

No, fishing for compliments - trying to get

someone to say something good about him.

No, he’s just sad - working at the weekends!

Perhaps my life isn’t so bad.

I think I’ll delete my post now.

Good idea. Bye, Rob.

Bye.

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak.

I'm Feifei.

And I'm Roy! I'm glad you're here, Feifei.

I'm really upset! Rob just sent me an email

saying 'thanks for all my hard work

and that I was a goat!'

I think that email was intended for me.

For I am the GOAT. It makes me very happy

when people call me that!

You like being called a goat?

No, Roy. GOAT is an acronym for

the 'Greatest Of All Time'.

That's why that email was meant for me.

Ahhh, that makes more sense about why

Rob would call me a GOAT,

because I did bake him over a thousand biscuits.

Well, I'll buy him 2,000 biscuits

from the shop and then we'll see

who Rob thinks is the GOAT.

Clearly everyone thinks it's me.

You're very competitive, Feifei!

Plus, I baked, not bought the biscuits.

Let's calm down while we listen to some examples.

That footballer is truly amazing.

Every ball she touches ends in a goal.

She's the GOAT!

Have you seen the new film in the Pelican series?

The special effects, story and acting are all perfect.

It's the GOAT.

My friend said that Ed Sheeran is the GOAT

but I'm not sure I agree.

He's not my favourite artist.

This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English

and we're talking about the expression 'GOAT'.

'GOAT' is short for 'greatest of all time'

and is used to talk about things or

people that we think are the best.

Yes, for example footballers or other

sports stars who you think are number 1.

You can call them the GOAT.

It can be a way to express your opinion.

You can even use it for video games or films.

For example, the film that I think is the GOAT is ...

Don't even finish that sentence, Roy!

No film that you like could be considered

Good, let alone the GOAT.

Right, well, at least Rob  thinks that I'm the GOAT.

I'll go and say thanks to him for his kind email!

OK Roy, bye!

Bye!

This is The English We Speak with you Neil.

And you, Feifei. Hello everyone.

Ah Neil, it sounds like you're in a good mood.

You'll never find me in a bad mood Feifei.

Why?

Well I wanted to ask you a favour.

Oh yes?

I need to leave early today and wondered

if you could finish this programme on your own

and then start writing another script?

Are you joking? If you think I'm going

to do all my work and yours, then you are

living in cloud cuckoo land!

Where is that exactly? I can assure you I live in London.

Yes I know that. What I mean is that

you are silly to think the impossible is possible.

That's living in cloud cuckoo land.

Basically, you are misguided to think

I can do my work AND your work. OK?

OK Neil, if you say so.

Neil thinks I'm silly to believe he can

do his work and mine but we'll see!

Let's hear some examples shall we,

while you visit cloud cuckoo land!

If my teacher thinks I can do my grammar

homework and learn all my new vocabulary

tonight, then he's living in cloud cuckoo land!

If you think we're going to win this match

with only ten players, then you're living

in cloud cuckoo land!

He's clearly living in cloud cuckoo land.

How can we ever afford to buy a house

with the little money we earn?

So living in cloud cuckoo land describes

a situation where someone thinks

doing something impossible is possible.

So it's about someone being unrealistic?

Exactly. Like you wanting to go home

early and me doing all your work.

Ridiculous!

Well Neil, if you think I'm going to

sit here and miss out on front row seats

at the theatre, then YOU are living in

cloud cuckoo land.

Oh, so you're off to the theatre,

leaving me to finish the programme!

I am Neil. See ya.

Oh. Well everyone, today's

programme is about the phrase 'living in

cloud cuckoo land' and

it appears I am in it! Bye for now.

Hi Neil. Good holiday?

Lovely, thanks. You know I adore the beach.

Your kids must have loved it too?

Ah, they didn't come. They were at summer music camp.

That's very dedicated!

Well, they have piano exams to pass, Feifei.

And then there's a French test when

term starts again, so they've been having

intensive French lessons every evening.

Wow, you really are tiger parents!

Tiger what?

I mean you push your kids

to achieve success at school.

A 'tiger mother' or 'tiger parenting'

describes a particular kind of strict upbringing.

Well, let's say we just want

what's best for our kids.

Even if they don't appreciate it yet!

The phrase 'tiger mother' was first

used to describe a style

of raising children common in some

traditional East Asian households,

though it can be adopted by anyone.

It appeared in a book by Chinese American

law professor Amy Chua, who claimed her

academic success was partly thanks

to her own tiger mother.

Let's hear examples.

I never got to relax as a child.

My tiger mother had me up at 7am practising

the violin every Saturday and Sunday.

We've decided to let little Bruno do

whatever he wants, whenever he wants.

I'm worried tiger parenting would stress him out.

I have my tiger parents to thank for making me

learn my multiplication tables at the age of three.

I would never have become

the governor of the bank otherwise.

You are listening to The English We Speak

from BBC Learning English.

Our expression is 'tiger mother'.

Well Feifei, how to be a good parent

is always a subject of debate.

Tiger parenting is no exception.

It all depends on your values, really.

Absolutely. In any case, Neil, it sounds like

your kids have had a very busy summer of learning.

What are you up to with them this weekend?

Anything fun?

We're going to the zoo.

That's nice. A reward for getting good grades?

Yes. Though we're going

to take our notebooks too.

They have to learn so much about animals if

they want to get top grades in biology this year.

You really are a tiger parent!

Roar.

Bye.

Bye.

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