
Learning English Conversations
827 episodes — Page 11 of 17

It comes with the territory
Some things have to be expected. Learn a phrase to describe this situation

It won't wash
Heard something unconvincing? Maybe it's time to get out the washing powder!

Jack-of-all-trades
Can you do lots of different things? This could be the phrase to describe you

The coast is clear
Doing something you shouldn't? Here's a phrase about not being caught

Pull a fast one
Make the English you speak sound more natural

Suck it and see
Learn a phrase about having new experiences

To cut your teeth
Starting out in a new profession? Here's an expression about gaining experience

Shrinkflation
Getting less for your money? Could you be the victim of 'shrinkflation'?

La-la land
Is someone making unreasonable requests? Here's where they live

A different kettle of fish
Fishing for a phrase? This could be the one for you

At the drop of a hat
What would Rob do at the drop of a hat? Find out more about this expression

Brass neck
What does being confident but rude have to do with your neck? Learn an expression that should not be taken literally

Reinvent the wheel
Wasting time doing something that's been done before? There's a phrase to explain this

Frenemy
Do you have a false friend? In The English We Speak we get to hear how one of Feifei's best friends isn't a friend at all and discover that there's a great word to describe them

To be fair
Give both sides of the argument with this phrase

On the box
Watching a ‘box’ can’t be very enjoyable, can it?

Got your number
Understanding someone's true intentions

Clickbait
Learn a word that describes tempting online links

Mash-up
Dan and Feifei are in the studio and Dan has been working on a new music track. Will it be good? Let's find out

Air kiss
How do you kiss someone without kissing them? Neil and Feifei explain a word which describes a popular way of greeting and saying goodbye to friends

Mansplaining
A word for when a man explains to a woman something in a way which suggests she's stupid.

Rolling in it
Neil is rolling on the floor to teach a phrase connected to wealth. Feifei explains

Photobomb
Feifei and Sian discuss a word to use when something unexpectedly appears in your photo.

Cyberchondriac
Do you look up every symptom on the internet and then imagine you have a serious illness? Here's an expression to describe what you're doing

To wash your dirty linen in public
Are you discussing your private life in public? Here's an expression to describe what you're doing

Cat got your tongue?
There's a cat about and Feifei's not talking. Learn an expression that questions her quietness

It takes two to tango
Neil's doing a partner dance on his own in the studio to help you learn English. Learn an expression which means two people need to accept the blame for a bad situation

Knee-jerk reaction
Feifei kicks Neil in the face after he hits her knee with a hammer. It's all to teach you a useful English expression

To have an axe to grind
An expression with three related but slightly different meanings connected to strong opinions

Close, but no cigar
Why is Neil trying to smoke a cigar in the studio? Learn an English expression about almost succeeding

Get somebody's goat
Neil's goat Fred is a bit smelly but useful for teaching an English expression. Feifei's not happy

Bust a gut
Neil's wearing a vest in the studio to teach an expression about effort. Feifei's concerned he'll injure himself

Old-school
Feifei has written a letter to her family. Find out why Sian finds this old-school

Shedloads
Sian has received lots of emails! Learn another way to say 'lots'

Hangry
Sian is irritable today because she skipped breakfast! Learn an adjective to describe people who feel angry when they get hungry

To pull something out of the hat
What can you pull out of a hat? Learn an expression that describes doing something that saves the day

Off the hook
Are you obliged to do something you can't or don't want to? We teach you what to say

Barefaced
Is someone telling an outrageous lie? Here's an expression we can use

To make a mountain out of a molehill
Someone making a big fuss about something small? Here's a phrase to describe what they're doing

The last straw/final straw
When friendship is under test, something tiny and as light as a straw could cause a huge problem

The university of life
Want to learn about life? Here's a place most of us have studied at

White collar worker / blue-collar worker
What does the colour of your clothes say about your job?

Drama queen
No need to be in the theatre to find a drama queen. We teach you where to find them…

It's on the cards
An expression for when something is likely to happen. What's on the cards for you?

Until you're blue in the face
Is nobody listening to you? Learn a colourful phrase to explain the situation

Clean up your act
Someone behaving badly? Here's a phrase that tells them what to do

You're pulling my leg!
Want to trick someone? Here is a phrase that involves pulling a part of your body!

One good turn deserves another
A helpful phrase for doing something good

To fall at the first hurdle
Got an idea that's never going to work? Here is a phrase to describe the situation

Pain in the neck
Learn the phrase Helen needs to describe the headache her mobile phone company is causing her