This is The English We Speak, with me Feifei.
And I'm Rob.
Hey, Feifei, you know this is the programme
where we teach an authentic English phrase?
Yes, Rob.
Well, I just wondered if today, we didn't. We did something else?
No! We have to teach an English phrase — no ifs or buts.
But if we sang a song for a change, it might be more fun.
No ifs or buts.
We're here to teach English, and that's the phrase we're teaching this time.
Oh, but couldn't we just...
No ifs or buts, Rob — no compromises!
When we say to someone 'no ifs or buts',
it means there is 'no negotiation, no compromise, and no excuses' —
it just has to be done.
It can also mean there is 'no doubt'.
Hmm, and do we have to have some examples?
No ifs or buts: we do.
No ifs or buts — you have to be in bed by ten o'clock.
We've all got to work really hard to complete this project by the deadline —
no ifs or buts.
No ifs or buts, this is the best restaurant I have ever eaten at.
In this The English We Speak from BBC Learning English,
we're talking about the phrase 'no ifs or buts',
which can be said to mean 'no negotiation, compromise or excuses' —
what has been said has to be done.
It can also mean there is no doubt.
So, Rob, no ifs or buts: we are here to teach an English phrase.
OK, I've got it — no singing, no dancing, just teaching.
Rob, if you want to do some dancing, go ahead,
but we should invite everyone to come and watch.
Hmm, you're right, no ifs or buts — let's stick to teaching an English phrase.
Very wise. And no ifs or buts, we have to go now.
— Bye. — Bye-bye.
The English We Speak.
From BBC Learning English dot com.
Hello, and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Feifei.
Argh!
And I'm Rob. Ah, Halloween!
I love Halloween, Feifei. Are you looking forward to trick or treating?
No fear!
No fear? You mean yes, fear! Halloween's all about fear!
That's what I don't like about it.
What's not to like? There's ghosts and witches and jack-o'-lanterns!
Come on, Feifei! Get on your broomstick and let's go!
No fear, Rob!
Why do you keep saying 'no fear', Feifei? You're kind of missing the point.
No, you are missing the point, Rob.
'No fear' is an expression which actually means 'certainly not', 'no way'.
Ah, I get it.
So, by saying 'no fear', you mean 'absolutely not'.
That's right. Let's hear some examples before my legs turn to jelly.
Fancy that Justin Bieber concert?
Pff! No fear! I can't stand him.
Why don't we stay in tonight and watch golf on the TV?
Golf?! No fear. I'd do anything other than watch golf.
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English.
We're learning the expression 'no fear', which means 'absolutely not', 'no way'.
So come on, Feifei, fear is fun. Let's go trick or treating!
No fear, Rob!
— Yes, fear! — No fear.
Actually, Rob, what's that thing behind you?
— What thing? — Don't move!
But it's just reaching out a bony hand and about to touch your shoulder.
Ohh, I'm outta here. Argh!
Well, at least that gets me out of Halloween for another year. Bye!
The English We Speak,
from the BBC.
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Jiaying.
And hello, it's me, Neil.
Neil! You're wearing a dressing gown to work!
You look ready to go to bed — no cap!
Ah, thanks, Jiaying.
I'm trying to look really relaxed today, so I put a dressing gown over my suit!
And of course I'm not wearing a cap!
It would look strange with a dressing gown. Why would you say that?
No, Neil! I said "no cap"!
We say 'no cap' when we want to reinforce
that what we are saying is the absolute truth.
Ahh, so you think I look relaxed then, in my dressing gown?
Well, I actually said you look like you're heading to bed,
but you do look very relaxed.
I'm not sure it's the best thing to wear at work. No cap!
Oh, dear, perhaps I should take it off and just stick to the suit.
I think I might look a bit too relaxed.
Good idea! You can do that while we listen to these examples.
No cap: they're amazing!
That new song is the best thing I've ever heard! No cap!
No cap, you're the funniest person I know. You always make me laugh!
I don't like those mushrooms. No cap, they taste awful.
You're listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English,
and we're talking about the expression 'no cap'.
We use 'no cap' to mean 'no lie' and to say something is the truth.
Yes. We can also say 'capping' to mean 'lying'.
By the way, did I tell you that I won the lottery?
Stop capping, Neil! You didn't win the lottery.
I'm not capping. I won the lottery, no cap!
So, if you won a million pounds, why are you still working?
Wouldn't you rather be on holiday?
Well, first off, I love my job, no cap. I'd do it even if I won the lottery.
And secondly, I didn't say I'd won a million pounds!
True! How much did you win?
£2! I used it to buy that dressing gown from a charity shop, no cap!
Ahh, well, congratulations on your big win! Bye, Neil.
Bye.
Hello, I'm Jiaying and this is The English We Speak.
And hello, I'm Neil. Are those new jeans, Jiaying?
Yes, they are! Do you like them? I'm not so sure about them.
They're not a patch on my old ones.
Well, I was going to say, you probably do need some patches.
They're covered in holes!
The holes are supposed to be there, Neil.
It's fashionable to have holes in your jeans these days.
Ah, right. So why are you talking about patches?
I was using our expression for this programme.
If something 'isn't a patch on' something else,
it means it's 'nowhere near as good as the thing you first mentioned'.
I see.
So, it's not connected to the word 'patch',
which means 'a textile cover for something which is damaged'?
That's right. I'm saying my old jeans were much better than these new ones.
Let's hear some examples of this expression in action.
My new phone isn't a patch on the old one.
The camera is rubbish.
I know some people disagree,
but, for me, the Olympics isn't a patch on the World Cup.
Football is way more exciting!
My holiday at home wasn't a patch on a trip abroad.
Overseas travel is so much more fun.
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English
and we're talking about the expression 'not a patch on something',
which is used to say that one thing is not as good as another.
Neil, what are you doing with that knife?
Oh, I'm just cutting some holes in my jeans —
you know, to be more fashionable, like you.
That looks terrible and, if you're not careful, you're going to cut yourself.
You're right, Jiaying.
These types of holes in jeans are really not fashionable, are they?
No. In this case, I think you really do need some patches.
— Bye. — Bye.
The English We Speak.
From BBC Learning English dot com.
Hello. Welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Jiaying.
And hello, I'm Neil.
Hey, Neil, have you heard what Roy has planned for our Christmas party this year?
Oh, no, not axe throwing again?!
Maybe not. We did it last year.
This year, we're doing karaoke at our Christmas party.
Roy is already practising singing some songs by Ariana Grande!
I do not like the sound of that!
What's wrong? Do you not like the sound of Roy's singing?
No, I mean, I don't like the idea of doing karaoke.
When you 'don't like the sound of something',
it means you 'don't like something you've been told or read about'.
I've got it. Well, hopefully, Neil, you'll like the sound of these examples!
We've been told to start work an hour earlier. I do not like the sound of that.
I don't like the sound of that new shopping centre.
It's going to increase the amount of traffic around here.
I didn't like the sound of Enrique's camping trip.
It involved walking ten kilometres with our tents!
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English
and we're hearing about the expression 'not like the sound of something',
which means 'you don't like something you have been told or read about'.
So, Neil, why don't you like the sound of doing karaoke?
I can't sing!
Don't be boring, it could be fun. Maybe you could do a duet with Roy?
I definitely don't like the sound of that!
Hmm, it's impossible to please everyone at the Christmas party.
Maybe we should just have a meal together and talk to each other?
Now, I do like the sound of that. Right, I'm off.
Where are you going?
To book that table at the restaurant.
— Bye. — Bye, Neil.
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Jiaying.
And I'm Neil.
Have you seen Rob today? He seems really sad.
Ah, yes — he went to the shop, but, sadly, they'd run out of biscuits and then...
Ah, that's why he's sad, say no more.
That's a bit rude! I was going to tell you about what happened next,
but I won't if you don't want me to speak any more!
No, Neil, I said 'say no more',
which is an expression used when we understand what someone is trying to say,
and there's no need for any further explanation.
That makes sense. You know what I think would be a good idea?
I could do with a coffee.
Say no more. I'll put the kettle on while we listen to these examples.
Roger's in a really bad mood? Say no more — I'll stay out of his way.
Thanks for telling me about the big meeting. Say no more — I'll be there.
When I told the decorator I wasn't happy with the colour of the walls,
he just said, "Say no more" and repainted them.
You're listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English,
and we're talking about the expression 'say no more'.
We use it to say we understand what someone is suggesting
and there's no need for further explanation.
Yes. If we're trying to tell a story, we can say "say no more"
to show we understand the listener's feelings about it.
For example, this coffee tastes a bit interesting.
Say no more. I'll make a new one.
Ha! You totally understood that I thought the coffee was terrible.
I did, but now you really did explain what you were thinking. Ouch!
Sorry, Jiaying, I really should have stopped speaking.
That's OK. Bye, Neil!
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 it 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.
Hello, and welcome to The English We Speak with me, Feifei.
And hello, I'm Neil. Welcome back from your holiday, Feifei.
Oh, thanks. To be honest, I'm very glad to be back.
What do you mean? You did have a nice time, didn't you?
Yes and no.
Yes, and no? Well, which one was it? Yes or no?
No, Neil. I said 'yes and no'.
We use this expression when we want to 'partly agree and partly disagree'.
So, what I meant was that I enjoyed my holiday a bit, but not completely.
There were some issues with it. For one, I couldn't get any work done!
Wait, you didn't enjoy it because you couldn't work?
You do know that you're supposed to relax when you're on holiday?
Yes and no. There's always time to do some work!
Do you think there's something wrong with that?
Yes and no. We can talk more about that right after these examples.
When I asked her if she was still angry with me, she just said "yes and no"!
Yes and no! What kind of answer is that?
Just tell me if you want to go out tomorrow.
The cricket coach just said "yes and no"
when she was asked if she was happy with the current team.
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English.
We're learning about the expression 'yes and no',
which we use to answer questions and show that it's not completely 'yes' or 'no'.
So, Neil, you said that there's something wrong with working on holiday?
I said "yes and no". I think it's fantastic how hard you work —
you're an amazing professional.
But we need to relax sometimes.
In fact, relaxing can actually boost some people's productivity.
That sounds fantastic!
Great, so let's go to the park!
Brilliant. I could bring my laptop to do some spreadsheets while I'm there.
Is that a good idea?
Definitely not. I'll go and get a Frisbee instead,
and I'll meet you at the park in ten minutes.
— OK, bye, Neil. — Bye!