Feifei: So this is it, Neil - the cafe
I wanted to try for breakfast.
Neil: Looks lovely, Feifei! Let's get a table.
Feifei: How about this one by the window?
Neil: Great.
Feifei: Nah, bit too bright.
How about this one in the corner?
Neil: Looks good.
Feifei: Bit too dark. And this one is close
to the coffee machine...
No, too noisy. Erm, what about...?
Neil: Feifei. Are you going to keep
Goldilocksing all day? Or can we actually
order some breakfast?!
Feifei: Goldilocksing?
You mean like Goldilocks?
Oh, I see what you mean! Sorry, Neil.
Neil: Yes, let's just sit right here while
I explain. The phrase comes from
a fairy tale about a little girl called
Goldilocks. One day she finds
an empty house in the forest.
In the kitchen there are three bowls
of porridge. She tries them one by one.
The first one is too hot, the second one
is too cold, and the third one is just right.
Feifei: She takes a long time to decide
which one she likes.
Oh, and then she chooses a
chair to sit on, doesn't she?
Neil: Yes, and that takes a long time too.
And finally she sees
three beds... and takes
a long time to choose which one to sleep in!
Feifei: So, you're saying I'm like Goldilocks
- slowly deciding which table
to sit at, trying
to find the perfect one?
Neil: Exactly. And I'm hungry.
And you know what happens
to Goldilocks?
Feifei: Yes. The house belongs
to three bears, and they come home
while she's asleep. OK, let's play some
examples, while we start looking
at the menu. It might take... a long time.
Ling, can you stop Goldilocksing
and just decide what to drink?
Happy hour is almost finished!
Juan took a Goldilocks approach
to decorating his apartment - everything
had to be just right.
They say our planet is in the
Goldilocks zone - it's not too hot and
not too cold to support life.
It's just the right temperature.
Feifei: You're listening to The English
We Speak from BBC Learning English.
Our word is 'Goldilocks'.
So, in those examples we heard
Goldilocksing as a verb:
Ling was Goldilocksing.
Neil: And as an adjective:
a Goldilocks approach,
the Goldilocks zone.
Feifei: Anyway, Neil, have you
decided what to eat?
Neil: Er, actually... not yet!
Feifei: Now who's the Goldilocks?!
Let me order for both of us.
Two bowls of porridge please!
Neil: And not too hot!
Feifei: Bye.
Neil: Bye.