Feifei: Hello I'm Feifei and welcome to
The English We Speak.
Rob: And hello, I'm Rob.
Feifei: You're looking pleased with
yourself, Rob.
Rob: I am. I've just booked
these dirt cheap – I mean really cheap –
flights to Ibiza!
Feifei: Wonderful!
Rob: Look at the price - 20 pounds return!
That means extra money to spend on
food, drink and partying.
Feifei: Let's have a look… hold on. The
basic price is 20 pounds, but look at the
tax you have to pay on top. One hundred
pounds!
Rob: Eh? Let me see. You're right.
Grrr, I hate paying tax.
Feifei: I guess you could say it's a
necessary evil.
Rob: Hmm, you could say that – if you
mean it's something bad that can't be
avoided, and you have to accept it in
order to achieve a good result.
Feifei: That's exactly what I meant, Rob.
If it can't be avoided, like paying tax on a
plane ticket, then it's a necessary evil.
Let's hear some examples, shall we?
For me, exams are a necessary evil – you
have to do them to get a place at
university.
Sitting in traffic for hours is a
necessary evil if I want to drive to the
seaside on a public holiday!
I hate running, but having to exercise is
a necessary evil if I want to stay fit and
healthy.
Feifei: This is The English We Speak from
BBC Learning English and we're finding
out about the phrase 'a necessary evil'. It
describes something that you have to
accept in order to achieve something
else. And Rob, that tax on your
plane ticket is unavoidable – so not so
cheap now, is it?
Rob: No. Less money for eating, drinking
and partying.
Feifei: Can you get a refund? Stay at
home and eat, drink and party?
Rob: I could but if I stayed at home,
there's another necessary evil I have to deal with.
Feifei: What's that?
Rob: I'll have to spend more time with
you.
Feifei: Hmm! What time is your flight
exactly?
Rob: Did I say something wrong?
Feifei: Bye.
Rob: Bye.