BOX SET: English vocabulary mega-class! 🤩 8 English 'expressions with prepositions' in 19 minutes!

Hello and welcome to

The English We Speak with me, Feifei...

...and me, Rob.

Hey, Feifei,

we’ve taught a lot of English phrases

and idioms over the years, haven’t we?

We sure have.

But have we explained one

about using our memory?

I can’t think of one off the top of my head.

I think you just have!

‘Off the top of my head’.

Let’s use that one.

OK, Rob.

When we say something is

‘off the top of my head’, it means we

are saying something from memory

and without thinking much about it.

We’re just saying what we think we know.

Yes, it’s just about quickly remembering

and saying some facts without checking

them.

And off the top of our heads, we have

some examples of this phrase now, don’t we?

We do, Rob.

And here they are....

Off the top of my head, I think we’ve

collected about £100 for Jean’s leaving present.

I haven’t written it down, but off the top

of my head we’ve sold

about 1,000 raffle tickets.

Off the top of your head, do you know

what time the flight from Tokyo arrives?

This is The English We Speak

from BBC Learning English.

We’re looking at the phrase

‘off the top of my head’

– which means saying something

from memory and not checking the facts.

And Rob, off the top of your head,

do you know exactly how many phrases

and idioms we have taught so far?

Oh... off the top of my head, I’d say err...

707?

No. I’d say it’s more like 708.

Is that just off the top of your head?

It is, Rob – but I have a very good head for numbers.

If you say so, Feifei.

But I’ll go and

count them just to be sure.

Bye.

Bye.

This is The English We Speak

with me, Jiaying...

...and me, Neil.

Hey, Jiaying,

have you seen what I've bought?

Yes, you've bought a boat,

and you've been bragging

about it on social media.

It's great, isn't it?

Now I can have fun on the water

and sail the seven seas,

although there is a problem...

Oh yes, what's that?

It didn't come with any instructions.

I don't know how the engine starts,

how to drive it or even

launch it into the water.

Oh, Neil, it seems like

you're 'all at sea' with your new boat.

I'm nowhere near the sea,

or even a river!

I haven't launched it yet.

I don't mean you're on the sea now.

I mean you're confused!

When we say

someone is 'all at sea', we

mean they are completely

confused or puzzled - not

sure what to do.

So, Neil, while the origin of this

phrase is connected to a

ship being lost at sea,

it's now used to mean

you are just lost or confused.

Here are some examples.

People are all at sea

with this new one-way

system in the city - they're

not sure how to get

into the centre!

I've lost my smartphone

and I'm all at sea about

how to contact my friends.

I'm all at sea with this

new rota - I'm not sure what

I am doing today.

This is The English We

Speak from BBC Learning English.

We're talking about the

expression to be 'all at sea'

which means to be confused

and not sure what to do.

And, Neil, you're all at

sea with your new boat.

I am, but I think I can work it out.

Are you sure?

You don't want to get stranded out at sea.

Yes, it's just like

driving a car - isn't it?

I'll take it down to the

coast and give it a try.

Oh dear.

I think instead

of being all at sea,

Neil's going to be just at sea - forever!

Good luck.

Bye.

Bye.

Hello and welcome to

The English We Speak.

I’m Jiaying…

…and I’m Rob.

Oh dear, Rob, it sounds

like you have a cold.

Yes, I have.

I feel terrible –

I don’t know if I could present

the rest of this programme.

It’s only a cold, Rob, but hang in there.

I’m sure you can make it to the end.

Hang in there?

Hang where?

In the cupboard?

Do you think I’m infectious?

Probably.

But don’t go anywhere –

I’m giving you words of encouragement.

When we tell someone to ‘hang in there’,

we mean that despite the difficulties,

they shouldn’t give up.

We can also say

‘hang on in there’ as words of encouragement.

So, Rob, here’s a tissue –

blow your nose and let’s carry on.

Thanks.

Now, could I have some examples as well, please?

OK then….

There are just a few miles to go,

so hang in there and you’ll complete the race.

Studying for your exams is hard,

but if you hang in there, you should go smoothly.

Hang in there – the doctors are

doing their best and you should make a full recovery.

This is The English We Speak

from BBC Learning English.

We’re learning about the phrase 'hang in there',

which we can say to someone to

encourage them to carry on despite difficulties.

So, Rob, are you able

to hang in there for just a little bit longer?

I’m trying my best.

Do you need anything to help

you get to the end of the programme?

Oh, thanks – a nice hot cup of

tea would be lovely, thanks.

OK, Rob – as you’re not feeling great.

Oh no!

Have I caught your cold now?

Hang in there, Jiaying.

You’ll be fine.

Thanks, for the encouragement.

Now, how about that nice cup of tea?

Hello everyone.

This is The English We Speak

with me, Feifei… and… oh no,

Rob is late again!

…. Sorry I’m late, I missed my train and

I had to... I had to wait for the next one…

Are you OK, Rob?

You’re very breathless.

Well, you would be if you had run to the station

and from the station to the office.

Hmmm, it’s not that far, Rob!

I think this is a wake-up call.

A wake-up call?

No, no, no. I set my alarm – I got

out of bed – it just seems to take longer

to walk to the station these days.

I didn’t mean your alarm, Rob.

‘A wake-up call' is a

warning that you need to change

your current situation before it gets any worse.

And what is my ‘current situation’?

You’re unfit – you need to do some more exercise!

Let’s hear some examples of

‘a wake-up call’ shall we?

Martha’s bad test results were a wake-up

call for her to work harder before

her final exams.

The store’s poor sales results are a wake-up

call for the business to move with times and

sell more fashionable clothes.

The recent extreme weather is a wake-up call

for us all to do something about climate change.

This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning

English, and in this programme we’re learning

about the phrase ‘a wake-up call’, which

means a warning to change your current situation

and stop things from getting any worse.

It's time to change - like Rob’s fitness!

So, Rob, how are you going to change

your current situation?

Well, that’s easy – I’m going to get

a later train.

More time in bed!

I wouldn’t, Rob – otherwise you’ll get

another ‘wake-up call’.

Who from?

The boss – he hates people being late all

the time.

So if you’re not punctual, you

might get the sack!

Oh right, I’m off!

Where are you going?

To do some exercise.

Like you said, I need

to get fit – quickly!

Bye.

Good luck, Rob.

Hello and welcome to The English

We Speak with me, Jiaying...

...and me, Neil.

Hey, Jiaying, would

you like to play some games

online with me?

Sure thing - I'm down for that!

I'm sorry to hear that - why

are you so sad?

No Neil, I said I'm down for it -

which means I'm happy to

do it, or I'm interested in

doing it.

So, in this case, yes -

I'm down for some online gaming!

Ahhh, got you!

You can say 'up for

something' or 'down for something'

to mean that you want to do it.

When 'up' or 'down' are followed

by the preposition 'for' it changes

the meaning.

I got confused,

because 'I'm down' can mean

that you're sad.

That's right!

If you say 'I'm down', it means 'sad'.

Well, I hope you're going

to be nice when we play -

I'm not up for losing!

Sorry Neil, I was born to win!

Let's talk more about it

after these examples.

I'm up for meeting up later,

but it will have to be

after work. I have a lot to do today.

Steve isn't up for going to that

restaurant as he doesn't like spicy food.

I think he'd be down

for that vegetarian place.

I wasn't really down for going

to the cinema.

I've been isolating at home.

You're listening to The English

We Speak from BBC Learning

English, and we're talking about

the expressions 'up for something'

and 'down for something' which are

used to say that someone is

interested in doing something.

You can also use 'I'm game' to say

the same thing!

For example,

'I'm game for meeting up tonight!'

That's right.

In fact, I'm down for

adding 'I'm game' to my vocabulary.

Very funny, Jiaying!

I really enjoy our banter at work!

I'm always up for hearing some of your jokes!

And I'm always game for

making you laugh!

Well, I think I better start

looking for some more prepositions before we

over teach 'up' and 'down'.

Good idea!

See you next time!

Bye, Neil!

Goodbye.

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 will 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!

OK, but I’m sure wearing a hat is good for you.

I know a hat keeps your head warm.

Ah 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 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 means

‘you enjoy something more than anything else you do'.

Roy, you love video games, don’t you?

Yes, I love them!

I play them all the time!

I know!

You live for video games!

No, I’m an English Teacher.

Teaching English is my job.

I don’t play video games for a living!

Roy, I said live for video games, which means

you enjoy them more than anything else.

Some

people live for art, or they live for sports.

Ahhh got you.

I understand. And what do you live for, Feifei?

I live for music.

That’s why I always listen

to my MP3 player when you’re speaking!

Now, let’s have a look at these examples.

Martin loves art so much.

He lives for painting.

Have you seen his new collection?

Cassandra adores doing sports.

She lives for football.

Denzel loves playing and looking after his kids.

He lives for his children.

He’s an amazing stay-at-home dad.

This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning

English and we’re talking about the expression

‘to live for something’ which means you

'really enjoy something'.

A lot of people also

use it to say how excited they are for a specific event.

Yes, for example you might say ‘I’m living

for the weekend’, or ‘I’m living for a party’.

Oh, did Neil invite you to his party?

I’m living for it!

I thought we couldn’t have parties!?

We all have to stay at home at the moment.

Don’t be silly, Roy.

It’s a virtual party.

All the cool people are doing it.

Maybe that’s

why you didn’t get invited.

I’ll let you

come to the virtual party as long as you don’t

do anything silly like last time!

That wasn’t my fault!

I misunderstood the invite.

I thought it was a fancy-dress party.

It was Piotr’s wedding!

You came dressed like Frankenstein’s monster!

Oh well, at least I looked cool.

Some people said I was more

interesting to look at than the bride!

You looked ridiculous – no wonder people

couldn’t stop staring at you!

Well, I am living for our chat on Friday at

the virtual party, Feifei!

Well, I might not hear you speaking, because

I’ll be listening to my MP3 player!

Bye, Roy.

Bye.

Hello, I’m Jiaying.

This is The English We Speak.

And hello, I’m Rob.

I am so exhausted today!

I feel like I could fall asleep right now.

Tell me about it!

Well, I kind of just did.

You see,

I have been watching

a TV series, and last night I watched it

for so long that I didn’t get much sleep

and now I feel really tired.

No, Rob.

I said ‘tell me about it’, but I

didn’t want to hear more about

why you were tired.

‘Tell me about it’

is a fixed expression we use to mean

we agree with something that someone

has just said, or to say you’ve had a

similar experience.

It can also be used

to acknowledge a shared feeling or

opinion about something.

So, in this case,

I meant to say that I’m also tired.

Right. So, when you said ‘tell me about it’, you

didn’t want me to tell you about it…

you were saying you felt the same.

That’s a bit strange, isn’t it?

Well, Rob – language can be a bit

strange at times – especially with

fixed expressions!

Tell me about it!

Right, we can talk

more about it after these examples.

When I told my boss I was working

too much, she just said ‘tell me about it’.

You’re not happy with the new trilogy

of films?

Tell me about it.

Tell me about it!

I know exactly what

you mean when you said the cricket

team wasn’t performing.

This is The English We Speak from

BBC Learning English.

We’re talking

about the expression ‘tell me about it’.

We use it to say we agree with exactly

what another person has said, to say

we’ve had a similar experience, or that

we have the same opinion or

feeling about something.

Yes!

So, seeing as I’m feeling really

tired, I think I might apply for a holiday.

I need a nice break to help me to relax.

Tell me about it!

I think I’d go for a

week to a spa, turn off my phone and

just disconnect from everything.

What would you do?

Well, you know that I mentioned that

TV series that I can’t stop watching?

The one you watched for so long

last night that caused you to be tired today?

Yes!

Well, I think I’d like to spend one

week watching all of the episodes,

and not go to bed once.

But Rob, if you do that, you’ll be

even more tired than you are now!

Tell me about it!

The thing is, I just

can’t stop watching it! It’s brilliant!

Oh, well, good luck with your holiday!

Bye.

Bye.