Feifei: Hello and welcome to The English
We Speak with me, Feifei...
Neil: ...and me, Neil.
Feifei: In this programme, we have
an expression you can use
to describe someone who talks
confidently about a topic, but might not
actually know that much about it.
Neil: Which reminds me, Feifei.
Did I tell you that I've started
a new evening course?
Feifei: No. What's it in?
Neil: Well, see if you can guess...
My lords, ladies and gentlemen.
It is indeed an immense
honour and privilege to stand here
before you on this great occasion
and humbly offer
my thoughts...
Feifei: Er... Neil. What are you
going on about?
Neil: Public speaking! It's my new course.
Feifei: Right. Well, you can certainly
talk the talk.
Neil: Oh good - that's the whole point.
Feifei: Hmm. That's not really
a compliment. When we say
someone can talk the talk, it
means they talk a lot about a subject,
but they might not really know
that much about it - even
if they sound confident.
Neil: How dare you! Well, let's hear some
examples of this expression in action.
Oh no, not another meeting chaired
by Binh. He can certainly talk the talk
but he actually
knows nothing!
OK, go in there, talk the talk, and get out
before they realise we don't have
a clue about marketing!
It's one thing talking the talk, but we need
action. We need someone
who can walk the walk.
Feifei: You're listening to The English
We Speak from BBC Learning English.
In this programme,
we're looking at the expression
'talk the talk'. It refers to people
who talk confidently
on a topic without necessarily
knowing much about it.
Neil: That's right, Feifei. You know,
you're really quite knowledgeable
about the English
language, aren't you?
Feifei: Thanks.
Neil: I mean, you don't just talk the talk
- you can walk the walk too.
Feifei: Absolutely! As you heard in the
earlier example, and just then
from Neil, the opposite
of 'talk the talk' is 'walk the walk'.
Neil: That refers to someone who shows
their abilities through action -
not just talking.
Feifei: Like you, Neil.
Neil: You know what? I think I'll give up
that public speaking course
and join a hiking club -
to learn how to walk the walk.
Feifei: Ha! Good idea.
Neil: Bye!
Feifei: Bye!