Feifei: Hello and welcome to The English
We Speak with me, Feifei...
Rob: ...and me, Rob. Hey, Feifei. I have
a little challenge for you.
Feifei: Oh, good. I like a challenge.
Rob: Right. Well. Can you name a bird
that has bright feathers?
Feifei: A parrot?
Rob: No. It has big colourful feathers that
it sticks up when it's showing off
and trying
to attract a mate.
Feifei: Got it! A peacock.
Why are you asking?
Rob: Well, it's a clue for this
authentic English phrase.
Can you think of an expression
which describes someone
showing off to attract attention?
Feifei: Yes, Rob. It's 'peacocking' ...
I often use it to describe you!
But, Rob, peacocking
never impresses me!
Rob: Well, Feifei, you are hard
to impress ... but maybe these
examples of 'peacocking' will...
Why does Dev have to wear
that bright shirt and walk
around the office talking and laughing
loudly? It's obvious that he's peacocking,
but to me, he's just annoying.
When we first met, I was impressed
by John's flashy clothes
and constant jokes. But he was
obviously peacocking because
now he just wears jeans and
never says anything funny!
I thought my peacocking skills
would work wonders on our
blind date. Unfortunately,
she told me I was just showing off,
and I just needed to be myself.
I don't think I'll be
seeing her again.
Feifei: You're listening to The English
We Speak from BBC Learning English.
We're talking about
'peacocking', which describes someone
showing off to attract attention
and impress people.
Rob: Originally, it described
an extreme and over-the-top way
a man might dress and the arrogant way
he might behave to attract a woman.
Feifei: Yes, I can see why you would have
been good at that, Rob!
Rob: Well, women do it now too, Feifei,
for example, by bragging
on Instagram about the
amazing things they've done.
Feifei: OK, it seems like anyone can be
guilty of peacocking these days.
Rob: Well, you'd never find me peacocking,
Feifei - I'm not the sort of person to show
off, I hate to attract attention.
Feifei: What do you mean, Rob?!
You're always centre of attention.
Rob: Thanks!
Feifei: Bye!
Rob: Bye bye!