Feifei: Welcome to The English We Speak.
It's Feifei here with Rob.
Rob: Hi everyone.
Feifei: So Rob, help yourself to a biscuit.
I know how much you love them, so I
bought some for us to share today.
Rob: Oh right. That's very kind, Feifei, but
very odd. You don't normally buy me
things. Are you feeling guilty? Have you
done something wrong?
Feifei: Of course not! Well… sort of. I hope
you don't mind, but I used up all your
coffee when I made drinks for the team
this morning.
Rob: What?! You used up all my coffee
and you didn't make me one? That really
takes the biscuit!
Feifei: I haven't taken any biscuits – just
your coffee.
Rob: No, Feifei! When I say someone
really takes the biscuit, I mean what you
have done is really surprising, annoying or
sometimes just silly.
Feifei: Oh dear. You're not happy? Sorry, Rob.
Let's hear some examples while you
calm down…
I can't believe she copied my work and
pretended it was her own – now that
really takes the biscuit.
You're really taking the biscuit if you're
expecting me to take you to the match
and wait outside until it's finished!
Your plan to turn the spare bedroom into
a snooker room really takes the biscuit!
Feifei: This is The English We Speak from
BBC Learning English and we're finding
out about the phrase 'to take', or 'to really
take the biscuit', which means we are
surprised or annoyed by someone's
actions. Oh Rob, I'll buy you some
more coffee.
Rob: I hope so. By the way, we can say
'something' as well as 'someone' takes
the biscuit. So you take the biscuit by
using up my coffee but there is
something that really takes the biscuit.
Feifei: Oh yes? What's that?
Rob: These biscuits you bought are ginger
nuts – I hate ginger biscuits. Didn't you
know? Oh that really takes the biscuit!
Feifei: OK, Rob. You are really taking this
badly. Pass them over here then and I'll
eat them.
Rob: Oh crumbs, I've dropped them. Sorry!
Feifei: It looks like I won't be taking any of
my biscuits today! Come on, Rob. I'll buy
you a coffee.
Rob: Thanks. Bye.
Feifei: Bye.