Hello and welcome to The English We Speak
with me, Feifei…
…and me, Rob.
We may sound a little different – that’s
because we are not able to record in our
normal studios during the coronavirus pandemic.
Now, Rob, why are you wearing those
funny rubber shoes today?
It’s in preparation for today’s phrase, Feifei!
What? Our English expression today has nothing
to do with wearing shoes!
Ah, but these are special rubber shoes to
stop me sliding down any slippery slopes
– that is what we’re talking about, isn’t it?
Hmm, well sort of but it’s not really about
slipping down a slope – only metaphorically.
Right, so it has got something to do with
easily descending downhill into something?
Yep. We describe a situation that is getting
worse and will end in disaster unless it is
stopped, as a slippery slope. Listen to
these examples…
Having a glass of wine with your dinner is
a slippery slope – you’ll end up finishing
the whole bottle by the end of the evening.
Juan was on a slippery slope to getting the
sack when he started missing important meetings
with clients.
He’s on the slippery slope to failure if
he keeps missing the deadlines for his assignments.
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning
English and we’re talking about the expression
‘a slippery slope’, which describes a
situation that is only going to get worse.
It’s basically a situation or problem that
is going downhill!
OK, so I won’t be needing these slip-resistant
shoes, then. Hmm, but they are very comfortable.
I might keep wearing them actually.
Oh no, Rob – it’ll be a slippery slope.
Why’s that?
Well, if you keep wearing them without socks…
…everyone will laugh at me?
No – your feet will smell and then nobody
will want to sit next to you!
Charming! Well it’s a good job I’m self-isolating!
Bye, Feifei.
Bye, Rob.