BBC Learning English - Feature: The English We Speak

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Yap

Learn a slang word to use when someone is talking a lot

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Flow state

Time to enter flow state

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Got you

Don't worry, I've got you.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A bit of a stretch

Have you ever said something that was a bit of stretch

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Kick the can down the road

When do people kick the can down the road?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Cut corners

Cutting corners is about taking the easiest, quickest or cheapest route

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Short-change

Have you ever felt short-changed?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Go through a rough patch

Have you ever been through a rough patch?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Learn the hard way

What did you have to learn the hard way?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A big ask

What's a big ask for you?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Facepalm moment

What was your last facepalm moment about?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Shoot off

What does 'shoot off' mean?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Hot on the heels

What does 'hot on the heels' mean?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Aura farming

Is 'aura farming' good or bad?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Lock in

Why is Beth locked in?

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 / Turn over a new leaf

Turn over a new leaf with this episode!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / You can't go wrong with

You can't go wrong with this episode!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / The flip side

What does 'the flip side' mean?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / In my travel era

What does it mean if you're 'in your travel era'?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Give it some welly!

Learn a fun, encouraging British English expression.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Shoehorn something in

My friend shoehorns that topic into every conversation...

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / On the fly

Can you learn new phrases on the fly?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / That's on you

Not learnt this phrase yet? That's on you!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Warts and all

I love my dog, warts and all!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Off the scale

This lesson is off the scale!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Throw one's toys out the pram

Come on! Don't throw your toys out the pram...

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Makes my skin crawl

What makes your skin crawl?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / An uphill task

What do you find an uphill task?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Bide someone's time

When is it good to bide your time?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / From the get-go

I loved English from the get-go!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Stomping ground

Really? That's my old stomping ground!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Tug at the heartstrings

When was the last time something tugged at your heartstrings?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Clutch at straws

When were you last in a desperate situation?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Crank up

Crank up your vocabulary knowledge with this programme

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Find your groove

Have you found your groove?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Top-notch

Have you eaten anything top-notch recently?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Off the cuff

What have you done or said off the cuff?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Take the wheel

What’s the metaphorical meaning of ‘take the wheel’?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / The works

Have you ever ordered a pizza with ‘the works’?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Dip your toe into

How does it feel to dip your toe into something new?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Ham-fisted

Are you ever ham-fisted?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Second nature

What's second nature to you?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Take the plunge

Take the plunge and learn this new expression

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Peaks and troughs

This phrase will help you talk about the ups and downs of life.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Heavy lifting

Do you have to do all the heavy lifting?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / stir the pot

How do you feel when people are stirring the pot?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / wishy-washy

Here's an expression to use when things are just too vague

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Shook

A word to express surprise or shock. Learn more here.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Let loose

An expression that means relax and celebrate. Learn more here

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Zing

How can you give your English learning a bit of zing?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Do the trick

Learn the expression 'do the trick'

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Beige flag

I find it weird. It's a beige flag.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Lay it on thick

The best book in the world? That's laying it on a bit thick.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Telling porkies

Learn the expression 'telling porkies'

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / In on it

Can we let you in on this phrase?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Walk someone through

Let us walk you through how to use this phrase.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Brick by brick

There are some things that you have to build up gradually. This phrase will help you talk about them.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Cook up an idea

A phrase that means to come up with an idea carefully.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Read the room

A phrase that means to work out how people feel.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Rinse repeat

It's the same every day! Rinse, repeat

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A million to one

Don't take this literally

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Cash in on something

Do you have anything you can cash in on?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Makes your hair stand on end

What makes your hair stand on end?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / On the go

A phrase to describe how busy you are

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A blow

It'll be a blow if you don’t watch this lesson

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Rear its head

What things can rear their ugly heads?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Elbow grease

What do we use elbow grease for?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Bring to the party

A phrase about offering something positive

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Light up like a Christmas tree

An expression to describe your happy face

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / I don't buy it

Learn an informal way of saying 'I don't believe you'

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Touch grass

Do you know anyone who needs to touch grass?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / I'm out

A phrase about not having anything left

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Plan B

A phrase for when you need another option

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Sound out

When do you think it's important to sound someone out?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Fly by night

What do you call a business that disappears overnight and leaves you with a lot of problems?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / One-up

A phrase about showing off

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Tread on someone's toes

An expression all about doing something you're not responsible for.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Mental gymnastics

How do we talk about complicated tasks done by your brain?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Call dibs

When did you last call dibs on something?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Run for the hills

A phrase about avoiding something

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Hard at it

A phrase about working hard

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Each to their own

Who do you know who does things differently?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Fill your boots

When did you last fill your boots?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Join the club

Expressing your bad situation

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Go with the flow

The easy option!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Cakeism

Is there any cake in this phrase?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Drip feed

How to use ‘drip feed’

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Scatterbrain

Are you a scatterbrain?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Be in with a shout

A phrase about possibility!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / On point

A phrase about being perfect

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Kiss something goodbye

A phrase about accepting loss.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Productivity theatre

A phrase about pretending to work

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Pet hate

How to describe your annoyance

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / On the table

A phrase for business.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Jump through hoops

Not everything is easy to achieve.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Famous last words

A phrase about telling someone they'll be wrong.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Hard pass

A phrase about saying 'no'

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Level up

A phrase about making things equal

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Get with the programme

A changing phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Shout-out

A praising phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Fitspiration

Get fit with this new word

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Hats off

A phrase about impressing people

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Under your breath

Make sure you're heard with this expression.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Be at a loss

Don't be at a loss with this expression!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Go off on one

An phrase about getting angry

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Wiggle room

A phrase for negotiating

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / (It's the) story of my life

A phrase about bad luck

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / No ifs or buts

A phrase to say that something has to be done

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Caught red-handed

Have you ever been caught doing something bad?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Rabbit on

A phrase about talking too much

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Thanks a bunch

Saying thanks but you don't mean it!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Slow walk

Learn a slow phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Take something to heart

A sensitive phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Know the score

A phrase about understanding the situation

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Jog your memory

A phrase about remembering

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

A phrase about an amazing start

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Steal someone's thunder

Give this phrase some attention

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Call it a day

A phrase about doing enough

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Off the top of my head

A quick-thinking phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Change for the better

What changes do you want to make?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / The gift that keeps on giving

Do you like receiving presents?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Quiet quitting

A phrase about just doing enough.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Hang in there

A phrase about encouragement

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Bite your tongue

Don’t take this phrase literally!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Win hands down

An easy phrase for an easy win!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Fever pitch

Are you crazy with excitement about the World Cup?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Twiddle your thumbs

A phrase for boring times

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Get your act together

A phrase about good organisation

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Dog's dinner

You need to learn this messy phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Sitting pretty

A phrase to describe a good situation

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Feast your eyes

A phrase worth looking at.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Put the brakes on

Stop! You need to learn this expression.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Second-guess

Can you guess what this phrase is about?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Ins and outs

Here's a phrase about learning more details about something

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Yes and no

Not all answers in life are 'yes' or 'no'!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Eat your words

Learn a phrase about being wrong

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Bug someone

Don’t get too irritated!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Willy-nilly

A random phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Gnarly

A word for something disgusting

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Smash it

A phrase to give encouragement

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / a doddle

Is this phrase easy to learn?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / It's now or never

A phrase about doing something immediately

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Happy days

Here's a way to respond to good news

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Double down

Learn a phrase about extra effort

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Game face

A phrase about determination

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Bitten by the bug

Is this a phrase to get excited by?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / It escapes me

A phrase about forgetting something

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Onboarding

New job, new word!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Thereby hangs a tale

A Shakespearean phrase for when there's more to something than you think

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / The royal treatment

Are you ready to feel like a king or a queen?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Tell me about it

Learn an agreeable phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Creatively bankrupt

Learn a phrase about being unoriginal

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / As if

Learn an unlikely phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Ish

Learn an imprecise phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Bad hair day

Is this an unattractive phrase?!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Promises, promises

Is a promise a promise?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Not see hide nor hair

Have you seen this phrase?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Curate's egg

Learn a phrase that is good and bad at the same time.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / That'll be the day

When will be ‘that day’?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Gathering dust

What’s gathering dust in your house?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Easier said than done

This phrase shouldn’t be complicated!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / The plot thickens

A mysterious phrase!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / All at sea

Don’t let this phrase confuse you

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Don't mind me

Don’t ignore this phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Cramp my style

Who’s cramping your style?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / You couldn't make it up

You couldn’t make up this phrase!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Cool cat

Do you know someone who is hip and trendy?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / There's nothing to it

Learn a simple phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / As sick as a parrot

A phrase about disappointment

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Eke out

Don’t waste this phrase!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Say no more

Do you get me?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Scrub up well

Learn a smart phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / You shouldn't have

Learn the gift of English!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Not looking too clever

Learn a clever phrase!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Not like the sound of something

Learn a phrase about not liking something

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / I'll give you that

Do you agree?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Another string to your bow

A skilled phrase!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Clap back

Do you clap back?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Talk through your hat

A phrase about talking nonsense

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / quote ... unquote

Try repeating this phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Not a patch on something

An expression for when something is far worse than something else

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / No cap

Do you know someone who always tells the truth?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Moreish

An expression you can use to talk about tasty food

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A legend in one's lifetime

Do you know a famous living person? Here’s a phrase to describe them.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Live rent-free in one's head

What or who do you think about all the time?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Now you're talking

Learn a phrase to get you talking

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Hits different

What hits different for you?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Extra

Who do you think is extra?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Zhuzh

Can you pronounce this word?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Lo and behold

What is surprising for you?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Bigwig

A phrase with power

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Cringe

An expression about something that makes you feel uncomfortable

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / it’s the … for me

Learn an expression about why you love or hate something.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Obvs

An obvious phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Down / up for something

How to express wanting to do something

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Savage

Possibly a cruel word

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Lit

What thing do you think is awesome? Is it lit?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Yikes!

A shocking new word!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / YOLO

Do you take risks?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Vibe

Have you got a good vibe?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Noob

Are you a newbie?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Adulting

A grown-up phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Slay

What do you think slays?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Push back

A phrase to use later

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

What are you brilliant at?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Zip it!

Stop talking!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Botch job

What do we call a job done badly?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / It slaps!

What do you think slaps?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Have a lot of plates spinning

A phrase about having a lot of things to do

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Pizzazz

Do a lot of people remark on how glamorous you are?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Oomph

Do you have a sparkle when you speak?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Snap up

A quick expression!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Nothingburger

Describing something insignificant

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Awesomesauce

An amazing phrase!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Clout

Do you have some clout?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / GOAT

Who do you think is the GOAT?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Workation

A phrase to describe an experimental project.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Moonshot

A word to describe an experimental project

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Slap-bang

A phrase to describe an exact position

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Sadfishing

A phrase that needs your attention!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Mic drop

Have you performed a mic drop?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Tone deaf

Learn when 'tone deaf' has nothing to do with music...

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A game

Have you brought your A game?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Frontliner

Do you know any frontliners?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / You do you

Doing it your way!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / On fleek

Learn a good-looking phrase!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Contact tracing

Have you downloaded a contact tracing app?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Key worker

Do you know any key workers?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Sharenting

Don't share too many photos of your children!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Plastic footprint

Here's how to describe the amount of plastic you use

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Spoiler alert!

Don't spoil the ending!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Listicle

Is it an article? Is it a list? No, it's a listicle!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Doomscrolling

Scrolling for bad news!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Crowdsourcing

Getting big ideas

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / One step at a time

Learn a 'progressive' phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Bog-standard

Learn a ‘basic’ phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A wake-up call

A warning sign!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Climate emergency

What is the 'climate emergency'?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Thirsty

A new word for social media show-offs!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Vanilla

A boring word!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Roast

How can a person be roasted?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Sticking point

What is the sticking point?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Flatten the curve

What did you do to flatten the curve?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Living in a bubble

Get out and see the world – stop living in a bubble!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Cancelled

Learn a new meaning for the word ‘cancel’

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / New normal

Do you find that daily life is a bit different now?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A slippery slope

Learn a slippery phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Throw shade

Throwing shade isn’t cool

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Bite the bullet

An English expression with bite!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Blended working

A mix of home and office working has led to a new English expression.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / JOMO

What is your JOMO?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / It happens to the best of us

A phrase about making people feel better.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Furlough

A temporary working absence.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Spill the tea

Who do you know who spills the tea?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Flexing

Who do you know who flexes?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Salty

What makes you get salty?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Skeleton crew

An expression for when there aren't many people working.

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Lowkey

What do you lowkey love?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Live for something

What’s are you living for?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Cabin fever

What is cabin fever?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Bang on about something

What are you banging on about?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Fire

This phrase is fire!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Running on fumes

So tired!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Left on read

Received, but not replied!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Sheeple

A phrase to follow!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Hater

Don’t hate this phrase!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Talk shop

Something to talk about!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Snackable

Something to snack on

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A memory like a sieve

An English phrase to remember

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Nomophobia

No phone – no-mophobia!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Peacocking

A phrase to show off with

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / To kick (something) into the long grass

Give your English a kick!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Rat race

Join the rat race for the 'Year of the Rat'

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Microworker

If you do small tasks for tech firms then this new word describes your job!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Serial returner

Feifei's had a new coat every day this month. How?!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Talk the talk

Neil can talk the talk, but does he know what he's talking about?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Out with the old, in with the new

A phrase to describe what you can do at this time of year!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / The more the merrier

Learn a merry phrase with friends!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Take one for the team

Three tickets, four people. What to do?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Mind your Ps and Qs

Don’t forget these letters at an important meeting

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Dad dancing

Swing those arms, shake those hips!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Big data

Data is everywhere… But what to do with it?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Punch above your weight

It sounds violent, but this phrase might surprise you!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Social media influencer

What exactly is a social media influencer?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Goldilocks

Too hot? Too cold? Or just right?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Ghosting

Is someone ignoring all your calls and messages? 👻

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Slow TV

Because life doesn’t need to be fast, fast, fast

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Tiger mother

What’s the best way to help your kids succeed in life?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Buzzkill

One minute you were feeling happy, then…

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Buyer's remorse

Have you ever regretted an expensive purchase?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Freecycle

When you don't want to sell, freecycle!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Carbon footprint

Love to travel, but worried about the environment?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Cough up

When is a cough not a cough?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Brain fade

Where did I leave my keys?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Fib

A little word for a little lie

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Hot under the collar

Cool off and learn this phrase with us

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Eat your heart out

Could this be the scariest phrase we’ve ever taught?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Across

When is ‘across’ not ‘across’?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Fat chance

An expression about likelihood

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Milk it

Are you looking for sympathy?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Cherry-pick

Picking the best!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / To fight tooth and nail

A phrase about determination

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / It's a small world

An expression about coincidences

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / To vanish into thin air

A disappearing phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Get the short straw

A phrase that sucks!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Soft skills

This phrase isn’t hard!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Big deal

An unimpressive phrase!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Clever clogs

Intelligent footwear!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Couch surfing

A phrase for moving around

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Like riding a bike

An 'easy' phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / On fire

Why is Neil 'on fire?'

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Out of order

What actions are considered out of order in your country?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Dead

Learn a new way to say ‘very’ in this week’s The English We Speak!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Give someone the runaround

A phrase to describe being unhelpful

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Laughing all the way to the bank

Learn a funny phrase!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / The joke is on you

It's no joke!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Keep a lid on it

Keep this phrase a secret!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / To pull the wool over someone's eyes

A deceiving phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / To take the rough with the smooth

A good and bad phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Hard-nosed

A tough phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / To have a soft spot

A phrase you'll really like

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / To make a song and dance (about something)

A phrase to sing about

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Giant killer

A phrase about big vs small

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A shock to the system

Prepare to be shocked!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / From pillar to post

A moving phrase!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Small talk

Informal chat

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A bright spark

Is this a clever phrase?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / To be all downhill

An easier phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Fireworks

A phrase to shout about

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / To have all your Christmases come at once

Get that festive feeling again and again

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / It's the thought that counts

A phrase for bad presents

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Digital detox: What's the meaning?

A detox of a different kind

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / 'It leaves a bad taste in your mouth': What does it mean?

Great food but a bad taste

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Pea-souper

Is it a meal or a type of weather?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Throw in the towel

Time to give up

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A walk in the park

An easy expression

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Dumbphone

A less intelligent phone

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / No fear

Who's scared?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Something to chew on

An indecisive phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Waffle on

Believe it or not, not all waffles are good!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / skew-whiff

When things aren't quite straight

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / To play a blinder

Doing something amazing

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Miffed

Has someone annoyed you?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Humblebrag

What’s worse than bragging?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Out of your depth

A deep phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Mardy

A moody expression

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Curry favour

A spicy expression

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Take the biscuit

A sweet phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Step on it

Hurry up!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Ping

Press 'send'

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Crunch time

No biscuits required

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Have a pop

A trying expression!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A necessary evil

Unavoidable situations

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / If the cap fits

A truthful phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / My bad

It was me!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / To have a good nose (for something)

No smelling needed!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Friends in high places

A phrase about knowing important people

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Catch-22

A no-win situation

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Let the dust settle

Dust off an old English phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Nothing to shout about

A quiet phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Let sleeping dogs lie

A trouble-free phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Bleed someone dry

Blood money

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Small change

A trivial phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / That'll teach you!

Serves you right!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / An old hand

Some who's skilled and experienced

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Out of the loop

Are you missing out?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Rub it in

Reminding someone about something they'd rather forget

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Smombie

Are you a smartphone zombie?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Freegan

Free food!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Barking up the wrong tree

Don't blame me!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Cloud cuckoo land

A ridiculous phrase!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A taste of your own medicine

Payback time!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Happy-go-lucky

A worry-free phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Whizz-kid

Young and clever

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / The best of both worlds

Two good things

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Bone idle

A lazy phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / To cut a long story short

Just give me the details

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Just the ticket

Just what I wanted!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / FOMO

A phrase about jealousy

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Do a runner

Time to get out of here!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A thing

Time to lose that beard…

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / All that jazz

When jazz isn't jazz…

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Not gonna lie

Not gonna lie: this is a great programme!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Up your game

Up your emoji game

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / To shout it from the rooftops

Shout it out

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / To blow the cobwebs away

An energetic phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A knees-up

Party time!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / To put someone on the map

Fame at last!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Down in the dumps

Is this a rubbish phrase?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Excuse me!

A polite phrase – most of the time

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A sting in the tail

Learn a phrase with a painful ending

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / So done with

Feeling bored of your work?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Lolz

Fancy a laugh?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Have a go

Why is Neil being criticised?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / About

Familiar word, new meaning!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Wing it

Learn an informal expression for when you have to improvise

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Pot luck

Take a chance!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / It beats me

What's going on?!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Jiggery-pokery

Don't be tricked by this phrase!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Left, right, and centre

Doing something everywhere

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Donkey's years

Years and ears!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Give us a bell

Someone's ringing!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Echo chamber

Echo echo echo echo…

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Snowflake

Do you melt too easily?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / The heat is on

Too much pressure!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Wet weekend

It's wet and there's no rain!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / No picnic

Learn a phrase that involves effort

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A busman's holiday

Learn a phrase about a working holiday

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Fuddy-duddy

Not cool!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / No great shakes

Not impressed!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Not a sausage

Learn a phrase that means ‘nothing’

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Long

Love ironing? Or is it ‘long’?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Not half

Learn a phrase which isn’t half useful

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / All over the shop

The phrase about shops that isn’t about shops

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / It comes with the territory

Accept the situation!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / It won't wash

A dirty phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Jack-of-all-trades

A multi-skilled phrase!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / The coast is clear

Nobody's watching!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Pull a fast one

Don’t be cheated – learn this phrase!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Suck it and see

You won’t know until you try

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / To cut your teeth

Gaining new experience

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Shrinkflation

Getting less for your money

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / La-la land

It's not Los Angeles!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A different kettle of fish

Fishing for a phrase? This could be the one for you

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / At the drop of a hat

Acting on impulse!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Brass neck

An expression about saying what you think

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Reinvent the wheel

Doing it all over again

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Frenemy

False friends

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / To be fair

Give both sides of the argument with this phrase

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / On the box

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

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Duck

When being called ‘duck’ is a good thing

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Bottle

Don’t lose your bottle!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Got your number

Understanding someone's true intentions

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / A slap in the face

Words not actions

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Clickbait

Click here for nonsense. Learn some cyber vocabulary

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Mash-up

If you mix A and B, do you get C?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Air kiss

When is a kiss not a kiss?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Mansplaining

Has a man ever over-explained something to you?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Rolling in it

How much money do you need to roll around in it?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Photobomb

Someone's in my photo!

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Cyberchondriac

Is the internet making you ill?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / To wash your dirty linen in public

An expression about not keeping matters private

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Cat got your tongue?

A phrase about not saying much

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / It takes two to tango

How many people dance the tango?

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Knee-jerk reaction

An expression connected to the knee

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / To have an axe to grind

An expression for when someone's got a strong opinion

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Close, but no cigar

A phrase about almost succeeding

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Get somebody's goat

A phrase about something annoying

BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Bust a gut

An expression that means 'to make a great effort'

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.

Let us know how you get on using them on Twitter and Facebook.