Feifei: Hello and welcome to The English
We Speak. I'm Feifei.
Neil: And I'm Neil.
Feifei: Hey Neil, would you like to try
one of my homemade cookies?
Neil: Well, we shouldn't really eat while
we're presenting but... go on then...
Feifei: I made them last night and I
thought I'd try them out on you! You've got
a sweet tooth so I know you can't resist!
Neil: OK then... Mmmm.
Feifei: Well, what do you think?
Neil: Well, they're... OK. Perhaps not the
best I've ever had.
Feifei: Oh, so you think my cooking
isn't great?
Neil: Let's say it's something to chew on.
Feifei: Right! So you're saying my
homemade cookies are chewy?
Neil: No, I'm not. In fact they're... crunchy.
But when someone says they need to
chew on something, it's an informal way
to say they need to think about it
before making a decision.
Feifei: Well, Neil, I will chew on response
to your insult about my cooking while we
hear some examples...
Our extension plans are great but we
need to chew on it before we give them
the go-ahead.
Hmm, it's very expensive to fly to
Australia for a holiday.
Let's chew on it shall we?
My boyfriend asked me to marry him and
I said I'd chew on it.
He didn't seem that pleased!
Feifei: This is The English We Speak and
Neil has been using the expression
'to chew on something' or
'something to chew on' which
means to think about something before
making a decision. And Neil, I've made
a decision about what to say to you!
Neil: Oh yes?
Feifei: If you don't like my cooking,
I will not be inviting you to
my dinner party tonight.
Neil: Oh Feifei! Ah well, at least
I'll avoid your cooking.
Feifei: I'm not cooking. We're getting
a takeaway curry and lots of wine.
I suppose you could
come... if you pay for the take away?
Neil: Hmm that is something I don't need
to chew on. The answer's 'no' - I'll stay at
home and... bake my own cookies!
See ya.
Feifei: Bye.