BOX SET: English vocabulary mega-class! Learn 10 four-word expressions in 23 minutes!

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak

from BBC Learning English. I'm Jiaying.

And I'm Neil.

Thanks for wearing a hat today Neil!

It'll be great for demonstrating

our piece of authentic English today.

Well, wearing a hat is very useful!

It makes you taller - and smarter!

The bigger the hat, the bigger the brains, apparently!

Excellent - you have demonstrated

our phrase very well!

Remind me what it is?

'To talk through your hat'.

It means 'To talk a lot about something

you don't really understand'.

I could say 'You're just talking rubbish.'

Maybe I should just wear a different hat!

No Neil, just listen to these examples

and you'll understand.

I don't believe Roy's story

about climbing Mount Everest.

He's talking through his hat!

The weatherman's promise of a heatwave

didn't come true.

I think he was talking through his hat.

You're talking through your hat when

you say our exams have been postponed.

This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English.

Our phrase today is

'to talk through your hat', which means

'to talk a lot about something 

you don't really understand' and Neil,

you've been talking through your hat.

Uh... okay, but I'm sure wearing a hat is good for you.

I know a hat keeps your head warm.

Oh yes - that's it! They're also good for

keeping your biscuits

but keep that under your hat!

Very good Neil! 'To keep something under your hat'

means 'To keep something a secret'.

Well. your secret is out now - but let's go

before you talk any more rubbish about hats!

Ok, goodbye!

Bye!

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak.

I'm Feifei.

And hello, I'm Rob.

Um... what is that smell?

Smell? Err... I can't smell anything!

There's 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 recognizing 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 50 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.

Oh - 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...

You are, and I'm Rob.

Hey Rob, a question - is it right you have

a friend who lives on top of a mountain?

Errr, no.

What about a friend who lives in La Paz

one of the highest cities in the world?

Strange question, but no.

OK, how about a friend who lives

at the top of a very tall tower block?

Definitely not. Why are you asking

about my friends, anyway?

Well, someone in the office said

you have friends in high places - and I just

wondered why it was useful to know

people who lived high up.

OK, well if you have friends in high places

it has nothing to do with their

physical location - they are people you

know who are powerful and in an

important position and

are able to help you.

So these are useful people to know then?

They certainly are. Let's hear some

examples of other friends in high places.

Wang managed to get a promotion

but I'm sure it's only because

he knows people in high places.

Thanks to his friends in high places, my

boyfriend managed to get tickets for the

sold-out rock concert. Yay!

Despite failing her exams, Jane still

managed to get a place at university.

I'm sure she has friends in high places.

This is The English We Speak from

BBC Learning English and we're talking

about the phrase 'friends in high places'.

These are powerful and important people

we know and might be able to help us

in some way. So Rob, you know some

very important people then?

Well, yes a few - although not the Queen.

Why do you want to know?

Well, I have to renew my passport

and I need someone important to witness

my application.

Oh come on Feifei, you know

I could do that.

Errr, sorry Rob. You may be a friend

but you're not in a high enough position to

do this! Look, it needs a doctor, lawyer or

policeman to sign it.

Great! So how high am I?

About this high.

That low. Oh dear. Time to make

some new friends. Bye bye.

Bye.

Hello, I'm Neil… but where is Feifei?

Sorry I'm late! Is it time for

The English We Speak?

It is, Feifei – but catch your breath

and have a seat. Are you OK?

You look a bit of a… a mess!

Me? A mess! You would be a mess

if you had been where I have been.

OK, OK, calm down… what's that smell?

So you think I smell now! I've been

to the rubbish dump!

The rubbish dump?! Why did you go there?

Because I was looking for Rob earlier, and

someone said he was down in the dumps.

Feifei, that is the last place you will

find someone who is down in the dumps.

It's just a saying that describes someone

who is unhappy, fed up and sometimes

feels there is no hope.

Oh I get it! Being depressed or

unhappy is a miserable feeling – a bit like

being at a rubbish dump, actually.

Exactly. Let's hear some examples…

Don't be so down in the dumps

you're going on holiday tomorrow!

Oh, it's Monday again - no wonder I feel so

down in the dumps.

Reshma has been so down in the dumps

since her boyfriend left her.

So that's being 'down in the dumps'

- feeling unhappy and miserable. So I've

had a wasted trip – but I wonder why Rob

is 'down in the dumps'?

It could be because his football team

lost... again.

No, he’s used to that happening.

It must be something more serious than that.

I know – he's feeling sad because

he's not presenting this wonderful

programme with you – it's such a great

script isn't it!

There's only one place for this

script Neil – in the dump!

Ha ha, very funny!

Bye.

This is The English We Speak. I’m Feifei.

And hello, I’m Rob.

Rob, would you mind wiping those

crumbs from your mouth?

Ooops, sorry!

Do you know, it’s very strange.

I made a cake a last night and brought it

to work today to share with you.

That’s very kind!

Yes, but

it seems to have vanished into thin air.

Wow! You’re a magician!

You’ve made a cake disappear!

No, Rob.

The phrase 'to vanish into thin air’ means

'to suddenly, mysteriously and completely disappear'.

You haven’t seen the cake, have you, Rob?

No, Feifei – no sign of your disappearing cake.

Ok, well let’s hear some examples of this phrase.

Let’s hope they haven’t suddenly disappeared!

I can’t remember where I’ve parked the car!

I think it’s vanished into thin air.

Have you seen the boss?

Someone important needs to talk to him

but I can't find him anywhere.

It's like he's vanished into thin air.

Has anyone seen my glasses?

They’ve vanished into thin air.

This is The English We Speak

from BBC Learning English

and we’re learning about the expression

‘to vanish into thin air’,

which can be used to describe a situation where

something mysteriously and suddenly disappears.

So, any sign of my cake?

No.

Very odd.

I put it on my desk this morning

and went to make a cup of coffee

and when I returned,

it had gone.

Great cake, Rob!

Thanks for sharing it!

I hope you’ll be baking again soon!

See you!

Rob!

Sorry, Feifei!

It was so tempting, so delicious,so I thought…

So you thought you’d eat it!

It helped us demonstrate today’s phrase.

There’s just one thing

I want to vanish into thin air.

Rob: Oh yeah? And what’s that?

You, Rob!

Now I’m off to bake a cake - for me.

See you! Oh. She's gone.

Hello, this is The English We Speak

and I'm Feifei.

And hello, I'm Rob.

Rob, didn't you know it's very rude

to eat while talking?

Sorry! It's just - somebody left these

doughnuts here and I had

to eat them - I have

a soft spot for doughnuts.

Couldn't you wait?

No, sorry I can't - oooh, is that

chocolate I can see in your bag?

You couldn't spare

a few chunks, could you? I have

a soft spot for chocolate as well.

No Rob, you can't, but can I assume

a 'soft spot' refers to your large and soft

belly you have as a result of eating

too many sweet things?

How dare you! Having a soft spot

does not mean having a fat belly

not that I have one anyway.

If you have a soft spot for something,

it means you have the

feeling of really liking

something or someone.

Right. And it's quite a strong feeling?

It is. When you have a soft spot

for someone it means you

have a lot of affection

for them. Is there anyone you

have a soft spot for, Feifei?

Hmmm. At the moment I just

have a soft spot for some examples!

He always had a soft spot for the

woman in accounts - and guess what?

Now they're getting married!

She has a soft spot for designer shoes.

Her cupboard is crammed with

hundreds of pairs.

Some of them, she's never even worn!

She's got a soft spot for her

English teacher and keeps buying him

presents - and she's

always the first to turn up for his lessons.

This is The English We Speak from

BBC Learning English and

we're learning about

the phrase 'to have a soft spot' - which is

a feeling of really liking something

or someone.

So Rob, you asked if I had a soft spot

for someone - and I do!

Oooh, go on.

He's tall and handsome.

Oh yes.

A little beard.

Of course.

And a natural performer.

I knew it! You only had to say, Feifei.

Yes, it's the great actor, Scott Foley.

Oh I see. You have a soft spot for him?

I do. And how about you, Rob?

There's nobody - just doughnuts -

soft, round, sweet and squidgy

in the middle - what's not to like?

Hmm, just like you then!

Time to go, Feifei. Bye!

Bye bye!

Hello and welcome to The English

We Speak. I'm Feifei, but where is Rob?

Sorry, Feifei. I didn't know we were

in this studio today.

Yes. Studio 62D.

It says it on this plan.

Really? The studios and offices are

being refurbished, and everything

seems a bit chaotic.

As long as we follow the plan

we will be OK. Calm down, Rob.

Are things really that bad?

Yes! First I sat at my desk

and was told to move to another one.

And then, when I sat at another desk,

I was told the boss was sitting there.

So you had to move on.

Well, of course! And then

when I went to the studio, somebody

was in there, reading the news!

So I was told to find another studio.

Yes, yes, I get it, Rob. You could

say you were moved from pillar to post.

Exactly. You mean, going from

one place to another in a disorganised

and chaotic way?

I do. Let's hear some examples

of this phrase in action.

We got moved from pillar to post

on our tour so we started to complain.

It's not what was promised

in the holiday brochure!

As a child, both my parents worked

so I got dragged from pillar to post

trying to find someone to look after me.

I was passed from pillar to post when

I phoned the bank to try and pay

my credit card bill.

This is The English We Speak from

BBC Learning English and

I'm with Rob, who's

been moved from pillar to post.

That means moving from one place

to another in a disorganised

and chaotic way. But, Rob, things

don't have to be chaotic.

Why's that?

If you just follow

the temporary plan. It tells you

where to sit and which studio to use.

OK. Let's have a look. Right - so we're

meant to be in this studio - 62D.

Yes! And where is your desk?

Err, oh no, my desk is right behind a pillar!

Nobody will be able to see me now.

I'll have no-one to talk to.

Oh, I think this office refurbishment

is going to be really good!

Thanks. Are we at the end

of the programme now?

Yes. Bye.

Bye bye.

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak.

I'm Feifei.

And I'm Rob. Hello.

Hey, Rob, how is your application

to run in the marathon going?

Not great. I fill in a form and then

I'm told to fill in another one.

Have you tried phoning someone?

Yes. And they won't give me a straight answer.

They just keep giving me the runaround.

Well, that makes sense.

If you're going to run in a marathon,

you've got to run around.

No, Feifei. Giving someone the runaround

does not involve any exercise.

If you give someone the runaround,

it means you behave in an unhelpful way

possibly sending someone from one place

to another to get help.

If you are given the runaround,

it can be very frustrating.

I'm sure it is.

I know lots of situations where

I've been given the runaround.

Well, there's one place where you

won't be given the runaround.

It's here, with some helpful examples of this phrase.

When I called the bank to ask for a loan,

they just gave me the runaround.

She went to the hospital to get the results of her test,

but she just got the runaround.

Now she's going to make a formal complaint.

When I complained about the bill,

I was told to speak to the boss. But he wasn't there!

I think I'm just being given the runaround.

This is The English We Speak

from BBC Learning English

and we're finding out about the phrase

to 'give someone the runaround'.

which means

to deliberately behave in an unhelpful way.

And, Rob, you've been given the runaround.

I have.

All I want to do is get a place in the marathon.

But nobody seems to want to help me.

Could it be that you're so unfit,

they just don't want to give you a place?

I don't think so. I've been training for weeks!

Well, I managed to get a place

straight away with no runaround.

What? You're running the marathon too?

Why didn't you tell me?

Right, I'm going to phone them again

and demand a place.

And don't be given the runaround this time, Rob!

I won't. See you at the start line!

Bye.

Welcome to The English We Speak.

Hello, I'm Feifei

and hello, I'm Rob.

Err, Feifei, why the sad face?

It's not a sad face, it's an angry face.

Oh no, has someone upset you?

They sure have. I've just overheard

Neil saying I have no fashion sense.

He says I dress like I'm living in the 1980s!

Ouch!

And he says my clothes are

uncoordinated and dated!

Well, Feifei. I hate to say it, but

if the cap fits...

What cap? I don't wear hats.

No, Feifei. I mean, the criticism is

probably true and you should accept it.

In other words, he's probably right.

Hmm! Rob, I can't believe you agree

with Neil!

Let's hear some examples, shall we?

My boyfriend calls me messy and

untidy - what a cheek!

Well, if the cap fits.

You say your teacher thinks you're lazy

because you never do your homework?

Well, if the cap fits!

They think I ate all the biscuits because

I was the only one in the kitchen last night.

Well, if the cap fits!

This is The English We Speak from

BBC Learning English and we're finding

out about the phrase 'if the cap fits'

which means you agree with someone's

criticism or an opinion about someone else

and they should accept it.

But Feifei, you're claiming you can't

accept what Neil said about

your fashion sense.

So you're saying the cap doesn't fit?

Exactly. But Neil is rude, unkind

and tactless.

Absolutely!

And you are the same for agreeing

with him. So Rob, if the cap fits

I know. I should wear it! Actually,

You look very fashionable, in fact.

You're a hypocrite too.

Rob, keep wearing that cap!

Fair enough. See ya.

Bye.

Hello, this is The English We Speak

and I'm Feifei. Joining me is Neil.

Hello.

Hey Neil, how was your night out 0:21:21.120,1193:02:47.295 Feifei, your clothes aren't that bad.

at the new restaurant?

Oh, it was... OK.

Just 'OK'?

The food was average. The service was standard.

Neil, there is no pleasing you!

Keep your voice down Feifei.

It was nothing to shout about.

It was nothing to shout about?

Would you normally shout about a good restaurant?

Of course not. But when something

is 'nothing to shout about', it means it's

nothing special. It's average or

unremarkable. So you wouldn't

make an effort to tell anyone about it.

So basically, you mean your

experience was disappointing?

Not exactly. I mean it was neither

good nor bad - just average.

These examples might

make the phrase easier to understand.

This year's bonus is nothing to shout

about but I guess it's better than

last year's.

My job is nothing to shout about but at

least it pays the bills.

Her clothes are nothing to shout about:

brown, cotton, cheap-looking, not very

fashionable!

This is The English We Speak from

the BBC and we're discussing the phrase

'nothing to shout about'. It's used to

describe something or someone that isn't

special - something unremarkable or just

ordinary. So Neil, the restaurant was

nothing special but was there

anything you could shout about?

Oh yeah. The prices! It was so cheap.

That's probably why the food wasn't great.

And on Mondays they do a special

'two for the price of one' meal.

That's something to shout about.

You're easy to please!

Actually Feifei, I was wondering if

you'd like to have dinner with me

next Monday?

At the restaurant that's

nothing to shout about?

Yeah.

OK then and if the food isn't good,

I'll have someone to shout at.

Who's that?

You!

Bye.