Hello and welcome to The English We Speak.
I'm Feifei. And hello, I'm Rob.
Hey Rob, do you know what's going on in the office today?
The boss has been shouting, Helen's crying and
Neil doesn't look very happy either.
Beats me. Ouch.
What did you do that for?
You said 'beat me'.
No, no. I mean it beats me. Ouch!
You are strange Rob. No Feifei.
I said 'it beats me', to mean I don't know or I don't understand something.
I knew that Rob, I just liked hitting you with this stick!
Very funny. Shall we hear some examples?
It beats me how Stephanie ever got that promotion.
Can you believe that Dave
and Andrea are still married?
He's always bossing her around. It beats me why she stays with him.
It beats me how Jen can afford a new sports car
when she only works works part time.
So that is 'it beats me' -
a phrase used for saying that you do not know or understand something.
So, there's no beating involved!
Definitely not.
So now I can safely say, it beats me what's going on in the office
- I haven't got a clue.
Well the situation seemed very tense
and the boss was shouting something about mice.
Mice? Ah yes...
Well, in that case, it could be that I left my lunch on my desk overnight
and it's possible the mice have found it and eaten it.
They do get everywhere.
Mice? In our office?
I hate mice.
Ouch. Why are you you beating me again?
I think it's time to go. Bye. Bye.
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak with me, Feifei… …
And me, Roy.
Have you heard that new song
by your favourite band ‘The Spinning Lizards of Doom’?
Yes, it slaps!
What do you mean? The song slapped you? Are you OK?
Yes, I’m fine.
We the use use the expression ‘it slaps’ or
that ‘something slaps’ to say that we think something is amazing.
Oh right – wait,
you think that song is good?
It sounds like a squirrel fighting with a tin can in a bin.
Roy! All of their songs slap!
You don’t appreciate it because you have terrible taste in music.
I knew you were going to say that.
I’m not even going to start speaking about films.
Good! Well, let’s talk about things that slap right after these examples.
That new film is amazing!
All of the films by that director slap!
Have you seen the latest episode where Charlotte gets abducted by aliens?
It slaps!
Their new song really slaps!
I don’t know how they keep producing hit after hit.
You’re listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English,
and we’re talking about the expression ‘it slaps’.
If something ‘slaps’, it means that it is amazing
and really good.
For example, my T-shirts and video games that I love!
They all slap!
I’m afraid to say that nothing you like slaps.
But have you heard this secret song by the ‘The Spinning Lizards of Doom’?
It really slaps!
It’s their best song yet!
Ha! I knew it!
When you said you loved their music, I thought I’d test it!
That’s not a song by ‘The Spinning Lizards of Doom’.
It’s a song by my favourite group – ‘Rob’s Biscuit Band!’
What?! No – it can’t be!
What have I said!?
I’ve always believed that my taste in music slaps – and now I have proof!
Just admit it – it slaps!
Fine! I suppose this song isn’t terrible! Bye, Roy. Bye!
Welcome to The English We Speak with me, Jiaying...
...and me, Rob.
Hey, Jiaying, have I told you
about my amazing weekend? No.
Well, I met some friends, played football in the park, had one
of those delicious ice creams from that new shop, then went shopping
and bought some new jeans and this jacket.
Rob! Stop!
Why?! I'm wearing my new jacket now; don't you like it?
It was such bargain and then, what I did aft...
Rob! Just zip it!
Zip it? Oh, OK, I'll zip it up if that ll cheer you up.
No - zip it.
Stop talking!
When we ask someone to 'zip it', we simply mean, be quiet, stop talking.
It's a bit rude but sometimes necessary if someone keeps on talking.
Listen to that - peace and quiet...
that's better. Oh, OK.
Maybe we can hear some examples now?
I had to ask her to zip it - nobody else could say what they thought.
Just zip it will you, please?
We've listened to you enough, and what you're saying is rubbish!
Eventually, I told him to zip it -
I'd heard enough of him complaining about how much work he had to do.
You're listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English,
and we're talking about the expression 'zip it'.
It's what we can tell someone who is talking too much to do - be quiet!
But be careful - it's not very polite!
Can I talk now? Yes, Rob. OK.
Do you not like my new jacket?
I love it, but I've got a headache and you were talking too much.
Oh, sorry to hear that.
What you need to do is drink lots of water, stand on your head
or is it lie down?
And then eat lots of chocolate.
And then what you've got to do is...
Can you zip it again, please - you're talking too much.
Shall we just agree not to talk for now?
Yep, OK. I'll zip it if you do!
Bye. Bye, Rob.
Hello, I'm Neil...
...and hello, I'm Feifei and welcome to The English We Speak.
Now Feifei, here's a question for you.
If you had some news what would do?
Hmm, I would tell someone, of course.
Yes but some good news,
some amazing, incredible news about yourself - like for example,
I'm having a baby.
Are you really?
Of course not - but if you had exciting news like that,
how would you tell people?
I'd use social media...
tell all my friends... tell everyone in the office...
I would shout about it - but not literally.
Exactly! Which is why,
in English, we say we would 'shout it from the rooftops' which means
we would share some information publicly so everyone knows.
I guess this is how people shared important news before TV, radio
and the internet had been invented. Exactly.
They would climb up somewhere high and shout it out!
Let's hear some examples...
Congratulations for getting a first in your degree,
you should go and shout it from the rooftops!
I know you won the lottery but don't shout it from the rooftops;
otherwise everyone will be after your money!
We all know Ming is in love with JiYuen, he's been shouting it from the rooftops!
So to shout something from the rooftops means to tell everyone your good news.
Hold on a minute, Neil, I do have some good news...
I am getting a pay rise!
Sorry, what did you say?
I am getting a pay rise!
OK, no need to shout, Feifei.
Be careful, there are some things you don't want to shout
from the rooftops - that news will just upset people.
Like who?
Like me. I didn't get one.
But congratulations anyway. Bye. Bye.
Hello and welcome back to The English We Speak.
I'm Feifei. And I'm Rob.
Now, Feifei, do I have a story for you!
Oh? Do tell!
Well, I was out shopping at the weekend when I ran into Neil!
OK... Well, we decided to get some lunch together,
when who should we run into but Dan!
Dan from the office?
No way! It gets weirder!
Dan joined us for a bite to eat
and then we saw Sam and Sian getting lunch together as well!
It was a big, unplanned BBC Learning English meet up!
That's unbelievable! It's a small world, isn't it?
Feifei, what are you talking about?
It's a massive world:
Over 190 countries, more than than than 7.5 billion people
- it's enormous!
Rob, I'm not talking about the size of the world.
I'm saying that it was quite a coincidence that you all met up!
I know! What are the chances that five of us would all meet up
at the same time!
Indeed! Let's take a look at some other examples of this phrase.
Your brother works in the same office as my girlfriend!
It's a small world!
I can't believe you went to the same high school as me!
What a small world!
We haven't seen or spoken to each other
for twenty years and now you've moved into the house next to mine!
Unbelievable! It's a small world after all!
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English
and we're talking about the phrase 'it's a small world'.
It's used when we want to say that a surprising coincidence has occurred.
It's used particularly when two people meet unexpectedly,
or have a mutual friend or connection.
Rob told us how he met four of our colleagues
on the same day in the same place. That's right.
And now if we're finished, I'd like to go off and do some shopping.
Oh yeah, what are you going to buy?
A globe! All this talk of small worlds has reminded me
I need to get one for my son.
And there's a globe shop just round the corner.
Well, it really is a small world.
In this case, yes!
Bye. Bye bye.
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Feifei.
And hello, I'm Neil.
Phwa! What is that smell?
Rob's homemade cooking.
Rob cooks?! Yes, he does.
But it doesn't taste very nice.
So why do you have to eat it - and why do have to make the studio stink of it?
Well, I don't want to offend him.
He keeps giving me his homemade food and asking me for some honest feedback.
And I just tell him 'it's interesting, unique, special'.
Oh Feifei, you need to keep a lid on it.
Well, if you think that'll stop the smell, I will. That's not what I meant, although it's a good idea.
If you 'keep a lid lid on something', it means to keep something
under control - to stop the situation getting worse. OK, Neil.
Here are some examples of this phrase in action.
I couldn't keep a lid on my feelings
about the rota so I shouted at the boss!
With rising food prices,
it's hard to keep a lid on how much I spend at the supermarket.
This is The English We Speak
from BBC Learning English
and we're looking at the phrase 'to keep a lid
on something' which means to keep something under control
and to stop the situation from getting worse.
But this isn't the only meaning, is it?
No. If you keep a lid lid on something,
it can also mean you keep something secret.
Like this...
I've heard that Daisy is expecting a baby - but keep a lid
on it until it's official!
OK Neil, you're telling me to keep a lid on things
by telling Rob to stop giving me
his homemade food?
Yes - unless his cooking is amazing. It's not.
Right, well tell him you're on a diet or you've become vegan
and that should stop him.
And I will keep your little lie a secret.
You mean, you'll keep a lid on it? Exactly.
But in the meantime, could you actually keep a lid on that box of food please?
It stinks! OK.
Right, I'm off to speak to Rob. Bye!
Remember to be firm and say what you mean.
Hi, Neil. Feifei doesn't seem to want this delicious food I made.
Would you like it?
Err... go on then. Looks lovely. Bye.
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Feifei.
And I'm Neil.
Oh, what's that parcel you've got in your hands there, Neil?
Looks exciting...
It's a present.
A present? For who? For you!
For Christmas!
Christmas? It's a bit early, isn't it?
Well, I saw these and I just knew you'd love them so much - so I bought them!
I can't wait till Christmas to see your face.
Go on, open it now!
You're too kind, Neil. OK...
A pair of glasses...
Harry Potter glasses.
Aren't they brilliant?!
Go on, try them on.
I look ridiculous.
And I don't even like Harry Potter.
Oh well, it's the thought that counts. 'It's the thought that counts'.
An excellent expression, Feifei.
If someone gives you a present which you don't like,
you can say 'it's the thought that counts'.
It's a polite way of saying you appreciate the effort
and the kind thought a person had when they bought you a present...
but you don't like what they bought.
Let's hear some examples of this expression, which is particularly useful around Christmas time.
Wow! That Elvis Presley onesie you're wearing is pretty weird.
Thanks. My grandmother gave it to me for Christmas.
It's the thought that counts, I suppose.
I have no idea what to get my auntie for her birthday.
Get her anything. It's the thought that counts.
Oh no, not more tea towels.
I was expecting something more exciting for our wedding presents.
You know what they say - it's the thought that counts.
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English.
Our expression is 'it's the thought that counts.'
It means the kindness someone shows when they buy you a present
is more important than the gift itself.
A very useful expression for politely saying that a present someone bought you
is really not what you wanted.
OK, Feifei, lean over.
Ouch! What are you doing with that pencil?
There we go. With that flash of lightning
on your forehead now you really look the part - Feifei Potter.
Hmm... I need a spell to make you vanish, Neil. Bye! Bye!
Welcome to The English We Speak with me, Jiaying...
... and me, Neil.
What is that?
What are you eating?
Oh, just some really expensive cheese - you can tell it's expensive
because it's got lots of blue in it! I don't think it's meant to be that colour - I think it's mouldy.
It's the smell for me! What?
The smell for you?
You mean you want to smell like the cheese I'm eating?
Definitely not!
We use the form 'it's the' plus a person or thing followed by 'for me'
at the end to say that something or someone stands out -
and it's often used to highlight what's wrong!
So, like I said - it's the pungent smell for me.
You know - I think it's the fact it's covered in blue stuff for me!
I might stop eating it! Good idea, Neil!
Well, let's talk more about things that stand out after these examples.
I can't stand that new song!
It's the way she sings the high notes for me!
I really love that new TV show.
It's the way they write it for me!
It's the sound for me!
The noise he makes when eating is disgusting!
You're listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English,
and we're talking about the structure 'it's the (something) for me'.
We use this structure to say that something or someone stands out -
and it can be used to highlight things we love or hate.
Yes, so if I want to say what I love most about video games, I'd say
it's the stories for me!
Exactly! But obviously it's used more when we're complaining
about something or someone - like the cheese you're eating!
Was eating! I'm afraid you're right about the smell!
But it was the taste for me! It's disgusting!
I can imagine!
But where did you get the cheese?
Rob gave it to me - I think it was a present!
No Neil - that wasn't for eating.
He was throwing away some old cheese from the fridge!
Oh no... I think think I'd better sit down!
Good idea! Bye, Neil. Bye.