Learning English Conversations

Close, but no cigar

27 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Why is Neil trying to smoke a cigar in the studio? Learn an English expression about almost succeeding

Get somebody's goat

20 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

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

Bust a gut

13 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

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

Old-school

06 Sep 2016

Contributed by Lukas

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

Shedloads

30 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

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

Hangry

23 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

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

16 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

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

Off the hook

04 Aug 2016

Contributed by Lukas

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

Barefaced

26 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

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

To make a mountain out of a molehill

19 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Someone making a big fuss about something small? Here's a phrase to describe what they're doing

The last straw/final straw

12 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

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

The university of life

05 Jul 2016

Contributed by Lukas

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

White collar worker / blue-collar worker

28 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

What does the colour of your clothes say about your job?

Drama queen

21 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

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

It's on the cards

14 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

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

Until you're blue in the face

07 Jun 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Is nobody listening to you? Learn a colourful phrase to explain the situation

Clean up your act

31 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Someone behaving badly? Here's a phrase that tells them what to do

You're pulling my leg!

24 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Want to trick someone? Here is a phrase that involves pulling a part of your body!

One good turn deserves another

17 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

A helpful phrase for doing something good

To fall at the first hurdle

10 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Got an idea that's never going to work? Here is a phrase to describe the situation

Pain in the neck

03 May 2016

Contributed by Lukas

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

Burn a hole in your pocket

26 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

When you are in the habit of spending all your money as soon as it comes in, you can use this phrase to express yourself

To turn something upside down

19 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

How to describe doing a thorough search for something in a very messy way

Going forward

12 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

How do you ask someone to change the way they do things in the future? Learn this phrase connected to motion

A recipe for disaster

05 Apr 2016

Contributed by Lukas

When things go wrong and the outcome isn't good, what kind of recipe are you following? Learn a phrase that has nothing to do with cooking

Crash course

29 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

When you need to learn something very quickly, it’s worth considering a super fast learning programme, but it’s not for everyone

You've sold it to me

22 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

When you are in total agreement with ideas or suggestions from others, try a new phrase to express yourself

Full of the joys of spring

15 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

What time of the year describes a good mood? Learn this lively and cheerful phrase

Six of one, half a dozen of the other

01 Mar 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Is this expression related to numbers? If half a dozen is six, what does this expression mean? Listen to the programme

Test the water

23 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

How can you make sure a new project is going to be a successful? Here's a piece of good advice

To lie through your teeth

16 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Not telling the truth is not a good thing to do. Learn a phrase to describe your actions

To make a monkey out of me

09 Feb 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Rob's been asked to dress up like a monkey but it seems like someone is literally making a monkey out of him!

There's method to my madness

26 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Although other people may think you are behaving rather strangely, you know what you are doing. There's a reason and a phrase to describe your behavio...

In good nick

19 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Learn a phrase to describe something in top condition

Cheap and cheerful

12 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

Most people like a present that is cheap and cheerful. But no one likes something that is cheap and nasty

A bitter pill to swallow

05 Jan 2016

Contributed by Lukas

When a situation is hard to accept, what do you say? This phrase could be for you

I'm game

22 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Neil is dying for a game of squash but Li is not game. Find out why...

That'll put hairs on your chest!

15 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Learn a humorous expression that is used when someone is going to have a strong alcoholic drink

Down the pan

01 Dec 2015

Contributed by Lukas

When things are not going as planned, we can say they've gone ‘down the pan’, but which pan is it?

Sweet tooth

17 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Do you have a sweet tooth? Is it something that you are born with or do you develop it?

Bumper-to-bumper

10 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

When a car bumper is almost touch another car bumper, you know the situation on the road is bad

Eye candy

03 Nov 2015

Contributed by Lukas

How can you describe someone good looking but not interesting?

Thingy

27 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Oh no, you've forgotten the word for something! Don't worry, this expression might help

Across the pond

20 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Are London and New York separated by a pond? Learn this expression people say on both sides of the Atlantic

People person

13 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Are you good at working with other people? This expression might describe you

It's a steal!

06 Oct 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Have you paid very little money for something normally expensive? Learn an expression for when you find a bargain

Bull and bear market

29 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Learn what you say when share prices rise and when they fall. We help you to understand financial terms

Social media words

22 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

'Trolls' and 'haters' are the people who want to annoy you. The names are part of the new vocabulary of social media

Don't give up the day job

15 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

If you don't think someone is very good at doing something what should you say? Here's a phrase to help you

A barrel of laughs

08 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

What object is full of laughs? This is a phrase that describes someone who is fun

To know something like the back of your hand

01 Sep 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Do you know a place very well? Are you able to find your way in a place without looking at any maps? Here is a way of saying it with help from your ha...

Give me credit

18 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Learn a phrase that's full of praise. You won't need a credit card to use this one

To keep the wolf from the door

11 Aug 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Who's that knocking at the door? Someone's here to tell you you're in financial trouble

Red tape

14 Jul 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Fed up with rules and regulations? You must learn this expression

To drink someone under the table

30 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Drink to celebrate the good things in life, drink to forget the bad. Here's an expression for people who like an alcoholic drink

Cyberbullying

16 Jun 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Is there someone tormenting you online? Here's an expression for when people hide behind a computer to attack others

A close shave

19 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

What's a razor got to do with Rob's bike ride to work? Here's an expression for when you've had a narrow escape.

My mind's gone blank

12 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Why did Rob ask Feifei to meet him in the studio? Here's an expression for when you've forgotten something.

To sleep on it

05 May 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Find out how 'sleeping on it' doesn't just mean lying on a bed!

All over the place

28 Apr 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Neil can't find his script. His pen's gone missing. He's feeling a bit confused. What's wrong with him? Find out in the programme.

To go around the houses

21 Apr 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Feifei wants to borrow Rob's car but she takes a long time getting to the point. Find out why Rob tells her not to go around the houses. And why doesn...

Done and dusted

14 Apr 2015

Contributed by Lukas

When someone says the phrase 'done and dusted', do they mean doing some proper cleaning?

Chill pill

07 Apr 2015

Contributed by Lukas

It's hard to swallow but maybe it's time for a chill pill!

Put a sock in it!

31 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Why has Helen put a sock in the toaster and how is that going to keep her quiet?

A wild card

31 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Who's the wild card in the office? Rob and Feifei use a phrase to describe an unpredictable colleague.

To take a shot / stab in the dark

17 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Feifei thinks someone's been killed but then discovers taking a stab in the dark doesn't involve using knives!

To keep a lid on it

10 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Li and Neil go for a coffee, but why do they have to keep a lid on it?

To be on the ball

03 Mar 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Learn a phrase to describe the ability to react quickly to things.

Mind-blowing

24 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Feifei and Harry use an expression for things that amaze and astound.

Out for the count

17 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Neil and Li talk about how a boxing expression can be used in everyday life.

Game changer

10 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Feifei and Harry use an expression for people and ideas that change the way we do things.

Wow factor

03 Feb 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Harry and Feifei look at an expression for when things surprise and impress you.

Full on

27 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Harry and Feifei talk about a common colloquial expression for when things are intense.

Stab in the back

20 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Harry and Feifei talk about an expression that is not as violent as it sounds.

To downsize

13 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Neil and Feifei talk about a word made popular by the economic downturn

At the movies

06 Jan 2015

Contributed by Lukas

Sci-fi, romcom, whodunnit – What kind of movies do you like?

Killing time

30 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Neil tells Helen to kill time but she smashes up a clock. Find out why and learn a useful expression.

Like turkeys voting for Christmas

23 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Do you celebrate Christmas? Do you like eating turkey? Do you think turkeys like Christmas? Learn this humorous idiom

Face the music

16 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

There's something Neil's forgotten to do and now he has to face the music. Listen to the programme to find out why.

Internet speak

09 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

'Snail mail', 'post' and 'hard copy' – learn expressions connected with computers

Viral

02 Dec 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Li's cat video has gone viral. Will she be happy about it? Learn an expression from the internet age

Give the cold shoulder

25 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Is Feifei's designer shawl a solution to her problems with Lisa? Listen to the programme to find out

Phishing

18 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Rob is deleting some emails. He won't take the bait sent in by criminals!

Take to the cleaners

11 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Rob's very expensive shirt is ruined! Who will pay for it? Listen to the programme to find out

Eat humble pie

04 Nov 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Is Rob hungry enough to win a pie-eating competition? Listen to the programme

Water off a duck's back

28 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Feifei has a thing or two to learn from the ducks in the park. So do you. Listen to the programme.

Take for a ride

21 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Li wants to invest in a car moved by air. Is she going to lose her money?

Baby phrase

14 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Is Feifei giving up her job to take care of babies? Learn an amusing idiom: 'Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater'.

Joe Bloggs

07 Oct 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Do you know Joe Bloggs? He might be just beside you.

Butter up

29 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Is this butter for a cake, for toast or... to put on a person? Finn and Feifei explain

Hair of the dog

22 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Rob had too much to drink. Is this the cure for his hangover?

Splash Out

15 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Finn is spending a lot of money. But can he afford it?

Cheesed off

08 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Finn is angry, so Li offers him some tasty cheese. Will it calm him down?

Frogmarch

01 Sep 2014

Contributed by Lukas

A style of walking that is hard to do on your own.

Proof is in the pudding

22 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

What does Rob mean when he says 'the proof is in the pudding'?

Dinosaur

18 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

What’s the link between dinosaurs and mobile phones?

Look like the back end of a bus

11 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

If someone says you look like 'the back end of a bus', is it a good thing?

Interjections

04 Aug 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Wow! Ouch! Yippee! The useful little sounds which mean a lot.

Blah blah blah

28 Jul 2014

Contributed by Lukas

Having a repetitive and boring conversation? This expression is for you.

Have a lot on my plate

21 Jul 2014

Contributed by Lukas

When is a meal not so tasty? This expression will give you the answer