BBC Learning English - Feature: The English We Speak

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A fresh start

Are you going to make a fresh start in the new year?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A little something

We've got a little something for you

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Moment of truth

I'm about to open my exam results... It's the moment of truth

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Keep someone on their toes

Having a different work schedule each week keeps me on my toes

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / duck out

Why did Beth duck out of Georgie's party?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / off base

"You think I don't like chocolate? You're way off base!"

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Take someone under your wing

Have you ever taken someone under your wing?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / No two ways about it

You need to listen to this – no two ways about it!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / -coded

That internet meme is so you-coded!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Make a pig's ear of something

What does it mean to make a pig's ear of something?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / -core

What words can you make with -core?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Cook

"He cooked that performance!"

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Neck of the woods

What’s happening in your neck of the woods?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Teething problems

Are you having teething problems with anything?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / No leg to stand on

This phrase means that someone's argument is weak

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Speak someone's language

Sushi for lunch? You're speaking my language!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Ate

You ate and left no crumbs!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Muddle along

What's the difference between muddle along, muddle on and muddle through?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Tough it out

Have you ever tried to tough it out?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A you problem

What does 'that's a you problem' mean?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Can't put my finger on it

Use this when you can't quite remember something

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / All hands on deck

Shout 'all hands on deck' if you want everyone to help with something

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / The CEO of

What are you the CEO of?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Up to my eyes in

What does ‘up to your eyes in’ mean?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Dabble in

What do you dabble in?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Rope someone in

What does it mean to rope someone into an activity?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Scratch the surface

If you've only listened to one of our podcasts, you've barely scratched the surface!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Step into the shoes

Whose shoes are you ready to step into?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Drop

If a new song 'drops', is it good or bad?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / All you like

What does 'all you like' mean?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Around the clock

Have you been working around the clock?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Have in your locker

What have you got in your locker?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Come full circle

What's a 'full circle moment'?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Grind someone's gears

What does it mean to 'grind someone's gears'?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Feel seen

What does it mean to 'feel seen'?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / It's giving

What does 'it's giving' mean?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Dial down

Don't dial down your efforts to learn English!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / The name of the game

What do you think is 'the name of the game' when you're learning English?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Do it for the plot

Do it for the plot! Do something spontaneous to make life more exciting

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Let something slide

You're late! I'll let it slide just this once...

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Twist someone's arm

What does it mean to 'twist someone's arm'?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Have someone on

What does it mean if you're 'having someone on'?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Can-do attitude

If you have a can-do attitude, you don't let anything stop you.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Go-to

Your 'go-to' is your preferred option.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Skedaddle

Look at the time! We'd better skedaddle

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Fall on stony ground

We hope our advice doesn't fall on stony ground

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Make a rod for your own back

Have you ever made a rod for your own back?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Ship

What does it mean if you 'ship' two people?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Twig

I finally twigged who she was!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Mooch

I love mooching around the market

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / By the book

What does it mean to 'do things by the book'?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak

The English We Speak is your chance to catch up on the very latest English words and phrases. In under 3 minutes, we help you stay ahead of the pack by giving you 'must have' phrases that you can use in your everyday conversation. Amaze your friends, impress your teachers and delight your parents with these fantastic words and phrases.

For programmes from 2025, visit our The English We Speak 2025 archive

For programmes from 2024, visit our The English We Speak 2024 archive

For programmes from 2023, visit our The English We Speak 2023 archive

For programmes from 2022, visit our The English We Speak 2022 archive

For programmes from before 2022, visit our The English We Speak archive