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.
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.
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.