BOX SET: English vocabulary mega-class! 🤩 Expressions with 'A'

Hello and welcome to The  English We Speak with me Feifei.

And me Rob. Hey Feifei, I  wonder if you can help me?

Of course, what is it?

Well, when I was cycling to the office I  got a puncture and I need help fixing it.

Sure, I can help you with that; it's a doddle.

Right... So, you think it's easy?

Yes, that's what a doddle means.  If we say something is 'a doddle',  

it means 'it's easy to do'.  It's an informal expression.

Okay, if you say so. Uh, now  can we hear some examples first?

Yes, that's a doddle too!

'According to the instructions, building  this bookshelf should be a doddle.'

'Getting to the museum is a doddle. You  only need to take one train straight there.'

'The test was a doddle and I got full marks.'

You're listening to The English We Speak from  BBC Learning English and we're hearing about  

the expression a doddle. We can say this  to mean it's an easy task to do, just like  

mending your bike puncture. In fact, it's such a  doddle maybe I can show you how to fix it, Rob?

Well, I did try and I managed to break the wheel.

Oh no. Maybe fixing your puncture  won't be such a doddle after all.

Maybe not. Perhaps it's time to start walking.

Good idea. Walking to work  will definitely be a doddle.

I hope so! Bye-bye.

Bye!

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

And I'm Neil.

Where's your beard?

Oh, uh, I shaved it off. Fancied to  change. Beards are such a thing these days.

Yep! Ever since beards became a  thing, I found them a bit boring.

'a thing'. Of course we know what the word thing  normally means, but what does 'a thing' mean here?

Our phrase for this program means 'a trend or  something recognisable in popular culture'.  

If beards are 'a thing', it means they've  become 'fashionable'. Lots of people have them.

Yes, cats on the internet; they're a thing.

Oh, Fidget Spinners; they're definitely a thing.

Fidget Spinners?

Yes, those little metal or plastic toys  that you spin on your finger, know them?

Ah, those things that kids  everywhere are playing with?

Not just kids! Anyway, what else is  a thing? Listen to these examples:

'Using funny GIFS in your  message is such a thing.'

'You know parkour? The sport of running and  

jumping across buildings.  Why is that such a thing?'

'Organic powdered food? Since  when has that been a thing?'

A well-known use of this phrase  was after American personality  

Kim Kardashian posted a picture of herself  pregnant with the words "pregnancy lips".

It's not a term that many people had  heard of and prompted responses like  

this - 'Pregnancy lips? Is that even a thing?'

Yes, when someone refers to  a trend you haven't heard of,  

or that you doubt exists, feel free to  respond with - 'Is that even a thing?'

But there's little doubt the phrase 'a thing' is  

itself 'a thing'. It's now been  included in major dictionaries.

There we are - a thing. No plans  to grow the beard back then?

Uh, only when being clean shaven  becomes too much of a thing.

Bye.

Bye.

Welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Beth.

And I'm Feifei.

We have a word used when something is 'a  disappointment'. It's the noun 'blow' in 'a blow'.

'a blow'? Can you give us some context, Beth?

Well, I've been trying to buy a new car. I  saw one I really liked and I was just about  

to buy it, but I've just found out that  it sold yesterday. It's a bit of a blow.

It does sound like a blow. How disappointing! A  similar thing happened to me when I was looking  

for a flat. I made an offer, but someone  made a higher offer, so I missed out.

Oh, what a blow! This word is especially used when  

something hasn't gone the way you  imagined and has ruined your plans.

And is often used when something is delayed,  

cancelled or fails. Did you find your  phone by the way? I heard you lost it.

No, so I've lost all my pictures and contacts.  It's a blow. Let's hear some more examples:

'We didn't get the funding, so the  project can't go ahead. It's a blow!'

'It was a bit of a blow when they  found out the festival was cancelled.'

'We'd made a lunch reservation for 1pm, so it was  a blow when the train was delayed until 1.30.'

You're listening to The English We Speak from  BBC Learning English and we're learning the word  

'blow' in 'a blow', which is a way of saying  something has happened that is disappointing.

Blow can also be used as a verb in the phrase  'it blows' to express 'something annoying'.  

Though this isn't as common. For example -  'It blows that I didn't get the car I wanted.'

Definitely. By the way, Neil  is selling a car. Did you know?

Yes, it's a nice one, but  far too expensive for me.

Oh, another blow. Oh well, good  luck finding one! See you next time.

Bye.

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

And hello! I'm Neil. Um,  sorry to mention it Feifei,  

but why is there a big coffee stain on your top?

Because I spilled coffee all over me.

Ah, that was a bit silly! And did I notice  when you arrived that you were limping?

Yes, I was, and thereby hangs a tail.

Where? Did you trip over a tail?

No Neil, I mean there's more to tell you. When we  say 'thereby hangs a tail' we mean 'what I have  

told you involves a longer explanation, or there's  more to tell you'. It's an expression taken from  

As You Like It by William Shakespeare. So, let  me explain why I have a coffee stain and limp.

If it involves me, then no.

It does!

Oh... Should we have some  examples of thereby hangs a tail:

'Why are you covered in mud?'

'Well, thereby hangs a tail.'

'I won that medal for bravery,  and thereby hangs a tail.'

'What a journey! All the main roads were closed,  

so we had to drive cross country,  and thereby hangs a tail!'

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

I've been telling Neil about the phrase  thereby hangs a tail. It means there's  

more to say about what I have already told  you. Neil, can you guess what's happened?

So, you have a limp and you  have a coffee stain on your  

top... Were you dancing with a full cup of coffee?

I wasn't. In fact, I was walking  to the studio carefully carrying  

my coffee when I tripped over a a  bag of potatoes in the corridor.

Ah, that's my bag of potatoes!

I thought so, but why is there a  bag of potatoes in the corridor?

Well, thereby hangs a tail.

I'm all ears.

I'll tell you later. It's time to go now. Bye.

Bye.

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

And hello! I'm Rob.

Rob, I'm having a bit of trouble with my computer.

What, again? What's the problem this time?

Well, I've written the script for this programme,  

but it won't save! And I can't print it out.  This computer just does not work. Can you fix it?

Let me have a pop at it.

A pop? Are you going to make it  explode? That's a bit extreme, Rob.

Don't worry Feifei. If I 'have a pop  at something' I just mean 'I'll try  

and do it', so I'll have a go at doing  something, like fixing in your computer.

Right, okay. Rob, have a pop then,  but just don't delete all my work.

Don't worry Feifei, I would never do that,  

would I? Let's hear some more examples  of the phrase while I sort this out:

'I'm going to have a pop at  doing this online application  

for a passport. Apparently, it's really easy!'

'We had a pop at making a cake, but we  baked it for too long and it burnt!'

'Why not have a pop at yoga? I've heard  it's good for your mind, body and soul.'

This is The English We Speak  from BBC Learning English and  

we're talking about the phrase have  a pop, which means to try something.

So Rob, you've had a pop at  fixing my computer, any luck?

Um, not exactly... Um, everything seems  to have disappeared from the screen.

Let me look. No! You have deleted my script! Rob,  did you know that have a pop has another meaning?

Oh yeah, what's that?

'to have a pop' also means 'to criticise,  

or even to try and hit someone', and I'm going  to have a pop at you for losing my script!

Hold on Feifei, if we don't have a script,  we won't know what will happen next.

I think the listeners know, Rob, don't they? Bye.

Bye.

Ouch!

Welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Rob and  I'm live here with the hero of the day, Feifei!

Thanks Rob. Hello everyone!

Now, let's talk about that fantastic performance.  BBC Learning English FC were two goals down and  

then you came along and scored three times  in the last 10 minutes! How do you feel?

Well it was really all down to the team. I was  just the right person in the right place today.

A very modest answer, but the  crowd are going wild about you,  

just listen! It's fair to say  Feifei, you played a blinder.

I'm just doing my job. Though, as a  proud BBC Learning English FC player,  

there's one thing I would  like to say to the audience.

Of course! Go ahead.

I'd like to explain that phrase  you used - 'to play a blinder'.

'to play a blinder' is a phrase used to  describe 'an amazing display of skill,  

usually sports, but also in other areas in life'.

Yes! Not only did you play a blinder  in the football game today Feifei,  

you played a blinder with that  definition. Listen to the crowd!

I'd like to add a little more, Rob.  Why do we use the word blinder?

Well, imagine you're watching  a dazzling performance,  

something so good it seems to shine  brightly. The idea is that it's so shiny,  

so dazzling it could cause  someone watching to go blind.

Oh, like looking at the sun. Thankfully, it's just  an expression. If you're watching or listening  

to this show, we're sure your eyesight won't  be affected. Let's have some more examples:

'Teresa played a blinder today in the final. What  a simply amazing performance on the tennis court.'

'Did you see Mexico beating Germany  in the World Cup? Mexican forward,  

Hirving Lozano, played an absolute blinder!'

'Darren, what an awesome presentation! You  

played a blinder. I'm pretty sure  we've just won some new clients.'

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

that in the last example we weren't talking  about sport. You can also play a blinder in  

a work or business context, or anything  that involves skill and performance.

Well Rob, I think we've  both played a blinder today.

Thank you, thank you! Which  reminds me, hang on a second...

Let's bring back the cheering crowd!

I love it. Wouldn't it be great if we could have  people cheering us just like that in real life?

And wouldn't it be fantastic if, in real  life, you were actually good at football?

Hey, come on, we both know I played  a blinder, at least in the programme.

Okay.

- Bye. - Bye.

Welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Beth.

And I'm Feifei.

We have an expression all about being very happy,  particularly when your face suddenly reflects  

how happy or excited you are. it's a nice phrase  for Christmas and it has a Christmas word in it.

It's 'light up like a Christmas tree'.

'light up like a Christmas tree'.

Can you give give us some context, Beth?

Well, think about a Christmas tree. When you  turn on the lights, it's suddenly much brighter,  

it's full of life and energy. Now, imagine this  being your face. Last year, I got a puppy for  

Christmas. It was such a shock. When I saw him,  I lit up like a Christmas tree; I was so happy!

Wow! I can imagine your face very excited.  When I was a child, I really wanted a doll's  

house. I didn't expect to get one, but  I did. I lit up like a Christmas tree.

So, in both these situations we were surprised,  a happy surprise, and our faces reflected that.  

But this expression doesn't always have  to be used with a surprise, or Christmas.

True. Whenever I see my family after a while,  I light up like a Christmas tree. I know I'm  

going to see them, it's not a surprise,  but I still feel really excited about it.

Yesterday, my nephew lit up like  a Christmas tree when I told him  

we could make a snowman. He was very  excited. Let's hear some more examples:

'My girlfriend lit up like a Christmas  tree when I asked her to marry me.'

'When I read him the poem I'd written  he lit up like a Christmas tree.'

'I lit up like a Christmas tree  when I found out I got the job.'

You're listening to the English We  Speak from BBC Learning English and  

we're learning the expression  light up like a Christmas tree,  

which is a way of saying you look  very happy or excited about something.

Now, we've been using it so far metaphorically  to mean you look excited about something, but we  

can also use it more literally, especially when a  place is particularly bright with a lot of lights.

Yes, I went to Paris last weekend and at night  the Eiffel Tower was lit up like a Christmas tree!

Ah yes, it's covered in lights. It's always lit  up like a Christmas tree at night. I better go,  

it's time for our Christmas party!  See you next time and Merry Christmas.

Bye for now.

Hello and welcome to The English  We Speak with me Jiaying.

And me, Neil.

Have you started working on your act for  this year's BBC Learning English talent show?

No, I've been too busy writing a presentation for  

you! And doing your shopping. Why are  you asking me to do everything for you?

Because you're so good at it. Plus,  

I need time to perfect my act for the  talent show. I have made a flying start.

What? For your act you're  starting to learn how to fly?!

No Neil. I didn't say I was starting to fly!  I said a flying start. I'm actually learning  

how to juggle umbrellas. We use the expression 'a  flying start' to mean 'an excellent beginning'. We  

often use it to talk about competitions or races  in which someone makes a strong, or quick, start.

Ah okay, well done on making a  flying start on your umbrella  

juggling act. I can't wait to see it.

I've already juggled seven umbrellas. I'll show  you my skills while we listen to these examples:

'Your son has made a flying start in  the class; he's a brilliant student.'

'The athlete got off to a flying start.  She set a record in the swimming event.'

'A flying start on a diet and losing a few kilos  early on can really boost someone's confidence.'

This is The English We Speak from BBC  Learning English. We're talking about  

the expression a flying start, which  means a strong or good beginning.

We often use it with the words  'have', 'make' or 'get off to'.

I can't believe you juggled all seven  umbrellas. How long did it take you to learn?

About an hour. Like I said,  I got off to a flying start.

You really did; that was amazing! I need a flying  

start with my act. I'm learning  to say the alphabet backwards.

Well, good luck with that boring act.

Mm, thanks...

Right, I need to go and train  harder. I want to win this. Bye!