Please double-click on the English subtitles below to play the video.
00:07
Feifei: Hello and welcome to The English
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We Speak. I'm Feifei.
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Neil: And hello, I'm Neil. Phwa!
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What is that smell?
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Feifei: Rob's homemade cooking.
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Neil: Rob cooks?!
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Feifei: Yes, he does.
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But it doesn't taste very nice.
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Neil: So why do you have to eat it -
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and why do have to make
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the studio stink of it?
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Feifei: Well, I don't want to offend him.
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He keeps giving me his
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homemade food and asking
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me for some honest feedback.
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And I just tell him 'it's interesting,
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unique, special'.
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Neil: Oh Feifei, you need
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to keep a lid on it.
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Feifei: Well, if you think that'll stop
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the smell, I will.
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Neil: That's not what I meant, although
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it's a good idea. If you 'keep
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a lid on something'
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it means to keep something under control
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- to stop the situation getting worse.
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Feifei: OK, Neil!
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Neil: Here are some examples
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of this phrase in action.
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I couldn't keep a lid on my feelings about
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the rota so I shouted at the boss!
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With rising food prices, it's hard to keep
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a lid on how much I spend
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at the supermarket.
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01:17
Feifei: This is The English We Speak from
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BBC Learning English and we're looking at
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the phrase 'to keep a lid on something'
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which means to keep something
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under control and
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to stop the situation from getting worse.
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But this isn't the only meaning, is it?
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Neil: No. If you keep a lid on something,
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it can also mean you keep
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something secret. Like this...
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I've heard that Daisy is expecting a baby
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- but keep a lid on it until it's official!
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Feifei: OK Neil, you're telling me to keep
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a lid on things by telling Rob to stop
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giving me his homemade food?
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Neil: Yes - unless his cooking is amazing.
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02:01
Feifei: It's not.
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Neil: Right, well tell him you're on a diet or
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you've become vegan and
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that should stop
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him. And I will keep your little lie a secret.
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Feifei: You mean, you'll keep a lid on it?
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Neil: Exactly. But in the meantime, could
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you actually keep a lid on that box of food
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please? It stinks!
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Feifei: OK. Right, I'm off to speak to Rob.
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Bye.
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Neil: Remember to be firm and
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say what you mean.
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02:28
Rob: Hi, Neil. Feifei doesn't seem
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to want this delicious
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food I made. Would
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you like it?
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Neil: Err... go on then. Looks lovely. Bye.
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