BBC Learning English - Feature: The English We Speak

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

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 Facebook.

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