Have we got everything, Neil?
Think so. I've got the tickets,
most importantly. Would not want
to miss this concert!
Let me see. One, two, three... Neil?
Yes?
There are only three tickets.
You know Dan is coming too, right?
Really? Oh man. We're one short.
What to do?
I don't know.
Neil, it's OK. I'll take one for
the team. I'm a bit tired anyway.
Are you sure? I could...
Don't worry. I know how much
you love this band!
Too kind. But before I head off,
let's explain the phrase Feifei used.
To 'take one for the team' is to give
something up for the benefit of others ...
usually for your friends or colleagues,
or your sports team, for example.
I decided to let the others
go to the concert instead of me.
I took one for the team.
And I'm very grateful.
Now, listen to these examples.
There wasn't enough space in the car
for all of us, so Johnny took
one for the team and walked.
Valentyna injured her foot in
the first half of the game. She wanted
to continue playing,
but we decided that someone else
should play in the second half
to give us the best chance
of winning. Valentyna
took one for the team.
Sometimes you have to take one
for the team.
Last week I spent the day clearing out the
kitchen while the rest of
the family went to the beach.
You're listening to The English
We Speak from BBC Learning English.
In this programme,
we're looking at the expression 'take one
for the team'. Right, I'd better get going.
Before you go, Neil
I just want to ask something.
Yes?
We need someone to do the
late shift next week. I was wondering...
Feifei, don't you worry. I'll take
one for the team.
I knew you would! Thanks, Neil. Now, go and enjoy the show!
Bye.
Hello I'm Feifei and this is The English We Speak.
And hello I'm Neil.
Neil, I wonder if you could help me.
I'm trying to find something on this map.
Oh yes, map reading - I'm good at that.
What are you trying to find?
Well, I went to a gig last night and
saw this new singer - he was amazing.
Thanks for inviting me! Anyway,
what's that got to with a map?
Well, afterwards everyone was talking about it
and saying the gig was so good that
it will 'put him on the map'.
But... I just can't find him on here.
Put the map away Feifei - you won't find him there.
When we say someone will be 'put on the map',
it means they will become famous
or become more prominent - but not on a map!
Right! Actually, Neil, I've heard about
a new restaurant I ate at being 'put on the map'.
Yes, something as well as someone can be put on
the map - or in other words, become famous, popular
or well known.
You must have eaten at a good quality restaurant for it
to be put on the map!
I did! Let's tuck into some examples shall we?
Her first exhibition at the Tate gallery
has put her on the map as a serious modern artist.
This great tasting food has really put this
new restaurant on the map.
Hosting the Olympics has put this city on the map
as a great place to come for a holiday.
So that's to put someone or something
on the map - to become famous,
popular or more prominent.
I suppose it suggests that becoming famous means
you are now important enough for your name
to be seen or heard by everyone.
That's right. In the old days when a place was
too small and unimportant it wasn't
shown on a map - but when it became more important
it was 'put on the map'.
Right. Anyway, Neil, let me look
at that map again...
OK.
Look! That singer I saw really is
on the map - right there.
Really? What was he called?
'Man-chester'.
Man-chester? Manchester. Of course!
Bye.
Goodbye.
Hello, this is The English We Speak.
I’m Feifei…
…and hello, it’s me, Rob.
Hey, Rob.
How are your plans going to get fit?
Oh, Feifei, they are a disaster!
Oh no!
What’s gone wrong?
Well, I went for a five-mile run last night,
but I gave up after just one mile – I was exhausted.
And then I went for a ten-mile bike ride,
but only got to the end of the street.
I give up – getting fit is not fun!
Don’t give up, Rob! You need to take things one step at a time.
You mean walk – don’t run?
Not exactly – just improve your fitness gradually, in stages.
When you do things ‘one step at a time’,
you improve them gradually in stages – step by step.
So, Rob, improve your fitness ‘step by step’,
which means the same as ‘one step at a time’.
Here are some examples…
I know the instructions look confusing, but
take them one step at a time and they should make sense.
If you want your cake making to be a success,
you need to follow the instructions one step at a time.
Don’t panic! I’ve written a step-by-step guide on how
to turn the heating on, so you should be fine.
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English,
and we’re talking about the expression ‘one step at a time’ –
it means to improve something gradually, in stages – step by step.
So, Rob, to get fit, you need a plan – improve your fitness in stages.
OK, so where do I begin?
Well, don’t run before you can walk –
so do lots of walking and then a little bit of running.
OK, and after that?
The next stage is to run a bit further and then walk a little.
Set yourself a goal, like from your couch to running a 5K.
Oh, did you say ‘couch’? Great, I’m off.
Where are you going?
Well, I’m going to run to my couch – put my feet up and eat lots of biscuits.
Bye.
Bye, Rob!
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, with you Rob…
...and you, Feifei.
Hey Rob, how are you enjoying your new life in the countryside?
It's great Feifei. When I get home at night,
I get to smell the fresh air and look out on green fields. Yes, the country life is for me.
But come on Rob, you must miss the bright lights and the excitement of living in the city?
Well, I get that by coming to work right here in the centre of London. I have a great night
out and then slip off to the peace and quiet of the country. Perfect!
Perfect? I don't think so – the countryside is too quiet. The city is the only place for me.
No way. I've got the best of both worlds - excitement in the city, relaxation in the country.
The best of the both worlds – you think you get the advantages of
two very different things at the same time.
Yes, that's right. Let's hear some examples of the phrase 'the best of both worlds' in action…
Working part-time means I get the best of both worlds: time with the kids and a steady income.
Our hotel is by the beach and just a short train ride away from the city,
so we get the best of both worlds. We get the best of both worlds with
our new car: excellent fuel efficiency and great acceleration and speed.
So, the phrase 'the best of both worlds' means you have the benefits of two different things and none
of the disadvantages. But surely Rob there must be some negative things about living in the country?
Such as?
No shops, no pubs or clubs, having a long commute to work every day.
I can cope – and anyway, commuting by
train is fine – time to relax and shake off the stress of the city.
Maybe not today, Rob.
Why?
My news feed says there's been a major signal failure – all
trains to your village are cancelled!
Cancelled? Grrr. So I can't get home! Err, any chance I could sleep on your sofa tonight?
Ha, so maybe it's not always possible to have the best of BOTH worlds, Rob?
Maybe!
Bye.
Bye bye.
Hello and welcome to The English
We Speak with me, Feifei...
...and me, Rob. Thanks for joining
me in the kitchen today, Feifei, for the
unveiling of my new cake.
It's just a cake, Rob, but if it's
good, I'm happy to try a slice.
Well, let's get it out of the oven now...
There we go... Ta da!
Err... looks great, Rob,
but let's try it...
It's a bit stodgy, heavy... even lumpy.
Right. So you don't actually like it!
I followed the recipe exactly, although
perhaps I forgot
to do something to the flour. I seem to ...
Oh I seem to have a memory like a...
A sieve.
That's it! I didn't sieve the flour - that
explains the lumps.
No, Rob, I meant you have
a memory like a sieve. When we say
someone has a memory
like a sieve, we mean they have
a very bad memory and forget
things easily! Your memory
is bad, Rob - you can't forget things
when you're cooking.
Well, I'm not the only one.
Listen to these examples.
I've been making my own lunch to take
to work, but I've got a memory
like a sieve and I keep
leaving it at home!
My husband's got a memory
like a sieve - he keeps going out and
leaving the iron switched on.
I've got a memory like a sieve - I left
the house without my keys
this morning and now
I'm locked out!
You're listening to The English
We Speak from
BBC Learning English, and
we're talking about the phrase
'to have a memory like a sieve'.
It basically means bits of information
fall through your memory
and get forgotten, just
like flour falling through the sieve
that Rob should have used
when baking a cake! So,
are you going to try again, Rob?
No, I think my baking days are over,
but luckily I bought one from the shop just
in case. That's OK. A shop-bought cake will
do - so get it out and I'll put the kettle on.
Great... err...Now where did I put it?
I know it's around here somewhere?
Memory like a sieve again, Rob?
Looks like it. I've got a lot
on my mind, Feifei.
Don't worry, I've found it - it's
here in the fridge with the milk!
Honestly, I'd forget
my own name sometimes!
Bye, Rob.
Ah yes, that's it! Bye!
Hello and welcome to The English
We Speak. I'm Feifei and joining me is Rob...
Hello! Hey, Feifei.
Have you heard the news?
Gossip, you mean.
No, no - it's true! We've been given
the day off! So, sorry,
I'm not going to hang
around - I'm off to the beach.
Hold on! Who says?
Neil. He said the boss told him that
we've all worked so hard we don't have to work today!
Hmm. It sounds like a wind-up
to me - a wind-up is another way
of saying 'a trick or joke'.
I'm sure Neil was joking!
April Fool, Feifei! I was joking!
I wanted to trick you - to see
if you'd leave the office
and... take the day off.
Ha ha, very funny.
Well, actually, I have
got the day off today. So, the joke is
on you, and it starts now. Goodbye.
Feifei, where are you going? Come
back and explain what 'the joke is on you'
means... please!
...OK, Rob! When 'the joke is on
someone', it means the person
who has tried to make you look silly has
ended up looking silly themselves.
The joke has backfired. And now
you look silly, Rob.
Point made, Feifei. Here are some
more examples of this phrase in action...
Daisy laughed at my 'terrible' dress sense,
until she found out I was
wearing a designer dress -
I guess the joke's on her now!
Ha, you thought I'd never beat your
time for completing the marathon.
But I have, so the joke's on you!
I know you were trying to be funny
by saying I'd never pass my exam.
But now you're the only one who hasn't,
so the joke's on you, I'm afraid!
This is The English We Speak from
BBC Learning English and we're looking at
the phrase 'the joke is on someone,'
which means someone has tried
to make someone else look silly but
ended up looking silly themselves!
So, this perfectly describes you, Rob - the
joke about taking a day off is 'on you'.
I was just having a laugh at
April Fool's Day. But, hold on.
Where is everybody? The
office is empty.
Ha - not another one of your 'jokes'?
No, seriously - look, there's an email.
It says 'Due to a power failure the office
is out of action. You can all take the day
off.' Ha, looks like we've all got a day off
after all - the jokes on you, Feifei!
Ah well, enjoy your free time.
Fancy going to the beach?
No, thanks. Bye, Rob.
I was joking. Bye.
This is The English We Speak
with me, Jiaying...
...and me, Neil. Now Jiaying,
could you remind me how to
record our voices on this
machine, please?
Sure - there's nothing to it.
Open the microphone here...
No, this microphone! Then set
the volume there... Open the
computer screen here. Click
there and then click there
and then, see that 'record'
button? Just press that -
there's nothing to it!
Jiaying, you keep saying
'there's nothing to it' - do
you mean 'it's complicated'?!
No! It's the opposite. When
we say 'there's nothing to it,
we mean 'it's easy or simple
to do'. So, Neil, there's
really nothing complicated
about recording this
programme. And if you press
that button there, we can
hear some examples.
This one?
No! This one.
Making the pancakes is easy - there's nothing to
it - just add milk, eggs and flour.
There was nothing to it -
all he had to do was
collect the documents
and deliver them to the office. Unfortunately,
he got lost.
All you have to do is
push this button and the
coffee comes out here -
there's really nothing to it.
This is The English We Speak
from BBC Learning English.
We're talking about the phrase 'there's nothing
to it' which means 'it's easy
or simple to do'. So, Neil,
have you got it now?
Can we carry on now?
Yep, I think I've got it now - it's easy-peasy!
Good. So next time you
can work the studio and
record the programme?
Absolutely. There's nothing to it - just open
that, click on that, press that...
No! Don't press that!
Oh.
That was the 'delete' button.
We'll have to start again now.
Sorry! OK, what does
'there's nothing to it' mean?
Bye, Neil!
Bye.
Welcome to The English We
Speak. I'm Jiaying.
And hello, I'm Neil. Jiaying,
are you feeling OK today?
Yes, I'm fine, thanks.
Why are you asking?
Well, when we spoke yesterday
you said you were 'as sick as a parrot'.
I wasn't ill! When someone
says they are as sick as a parrot they mean they
are very disappointed about
something. I was saying
how disappointed I was
with the outcome of the
football match - my team lost!
Oh, I see - but why were you
watching the football match
with a sick parrot?
I didn't know you had one.
I haven't got one, Neil,
but I was very disappointed.
I'm sure - but I didn't know
parrots liked football as well.
Oh, Neil! Listen to these
examples and will become clear.
I was as sick as a parrot
when I saw someone had
scratched my new car!
He was as sick as a parrot
when he saw how much litter
had been left in the park.
When I heard my colleague
got a promotion over me,
I was as sick as a parrot.
This is The English We Speak
from BBC Learning English and
we're hearing about the phrase 'as
sick as a parrot', which we
can use when we are very
disappointed about something.
So, Neil, have you got it
now - there are no parrots, it's just a saying.
Got it! No parrots.
Exactly - just great disappointment.
But I wonder how sick a parrot has to be in order
to feel disappointment?
Let's not worry about it.
The phrase has got nothing
to do with sickness.
OK then. See you later.
Bye, Neil.