The English We Speak

Every week, we look at a different everyday English phrase or piece of slang in this fun three-minute programme. From BBC World Service

Tracks

Know the score Learn a phrase about understanding the situation.	02:16	07/02/2023
Jog your memory Learn a phrase about remembering.	02:08	31/01/2023
A flying start Learn an expression we use to say a new task is going very well.	02:13	24/01/2023
Steal someone's thunder If you get more attention than someone else, what are you doing? Here's a useful phrase!	02:07	17/01/2023
Call it a day A phrase about doing enough	02:10	09/01/2023
Off the top of my head When you don’t have the facts and figures at hand, you have to make a quick guess.	02:09	03/01/2023
Change for the better Do you want to make a positive change for 2023? We have an expression for you to learn.	02:17	23/12/2022
The gift that keeps on giving Learn a phrase about receiving presents.	02:25	20/12/2022
Quiet quitting Learn a phrase about just doing enough.	02:20	13/12/2022
Hang in there Times can be challenging but don’t give up. We have a phrase to spur you on.	02:17	06/12/2022
Bite your tongue What does ‘bite your tongue’ mean?	02:11	29/11/2022
Win hands down An easy phrase for an easy win!	02:11	22/11/2022
Fever pitch The men’s football World Cup is coming, and excitement has reached fever pitch!	01:44	15/11/2022
Twiddle your thumbs A phrase for boring times.	01:44	08/11/2022
Get your act together A phrase about good organisation.	02:15	08/11/2022
Dog's dinner Learn this phrase to describe a complete mess.	02:01	25/10/2022
Feast your eyes Sometimes you can be amazed at what you see. Learn an expression for these moments.	02:11	11/10/2022
Put the brakes on Learn a phrase about stopping or slowing down an activity.	02:02	04/10/2022
Second-guess If you don't know what's going to happen next, you have to guess.	01:56	26/09/2022
Ins and outs Learn about a new expression and why Feifei gets a shock!	02:13	20/09/2022
Yes and no Not all answers in life are 'yes' or 'no'. Learn why with this phrase.	02:10	13/09/2022
Eat your words Learn a phrase about being wrong.	02:29	13/09/2022
Bug someone Sometimes people or things just annoy you. Learn a phrase about this.	02:14	13/09/2022
Willy-nilly Learn an informal expression about doing things without planning.	02:19	23/08/2022
Willy-nilly A random phrase	02:19	22/08/2022
Gnarly Do you find something disgusting? Use this word to describe it.	02:06	16/08/2022
Smash it Learn a phrase to give encouragement	02:20	09/08/2022
A doddle Is this phrase easy to learn?	01:38	02/08/2022
It’s now or never Learn how to use ‘it’s now or never’	02:04	26/07/2022
Happy days Learn a phrase to use when you hear good news.	02:06	19/07/2022