Feifei: Hello, I'm Feifei, and this is The English We Speak.
You are Rob...
Rob: Yes and hello, you are Feifei!
And Feifei, if you don't mind me saying,
you're looking a bit stressed.
Feifei: Stressed! Yes, I am.
I've got to give a presentation later
and I don't feel very prepared.
Rob: Oh relax Feifei. There's nothing to worry about.
Feifei: Really... well I've booked the room,
got my laptop ready, printed out the handouts...
but there must be something else.
Rob: Well you sound very well organised to be honest
so stop worrying. It's only a presentation.
Everyone will be asleep anyway.
Feifei: It's easy for you to be so calm and relaxed
about it - you're not doing it.
Rob: Oh come on Feifei, you know me -
I'm always calm and relaxed.
You could say I'm a happy-go-lucky kind of guy.
Feifei: Happy-go-lucky?
Well I know you're always happy
but I'm not sure about lucky!
Rob: No! Happy-go-lucky describes someone
who doesn't worry about the future and just accepts
what happens. It's not really
about luck -
it's about keeping calm and not planning
everything - like you do! Now chill out
and listen to these examples...
Examples: My sister is happy-go-lucky:
she doesn't worry about a thing, not even exams!
I like you your happy-go-lucky attitude
but you're going to have make a decision
on our wedding date!
Jake's so happy-go-lucky he doesn't seem to be
worried that he's losing his job.
I guess he thinks everything
will work out well in the end.
Feifei: So that's 'happy-go-lucky' -
a phrase that describes someone
who doesn't worry about the future
and accepts what happens.
It's something that Rob claims to be
but I'm not so sure.
Hey Rob, how's your presentation coming along?
Rob: What presentation?
Feifei: The one you're doing next Monday.
Don't you remember, the boss said we have
to take it in turns to do one?
Rob: Oh yeah, I remember. Don't worry,
it'll be fine. What's the worst that can happen?
Feifei: Are you sure? Have you booked a room,
prepared your notes, got your laptop working?
Rob: Of course... there's plenty of time
to sort that out... isn't there?
I'm afraid I've just got to head off now,
I've got some things to do... Bye...
Feifei: Oh dear. It looks like his happiness
and luck have gone. Perhaps 'happy-go-lucky'
isn't the best phrase to describe Rob. Bye.