Learning English Conversations
Episodes
No strings attached
07 May 2012
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of The English We Speak find out the meaning of the expression 'No strings attached'
A spanner in the works
30 Apr 2012
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of The English We Speak find out the meaning of the expression 'A spanner in the works'
Call it a day
23 Apr 2012
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of The English We Speak find out the meaning of the expression 'call it a day'
To take the weight off your feet
16 Apr 2012
Contributed by Lukas
Learn phrases related to feet in this week's The English We Speak.
Comfort zone
09 Apr 2012
Contributed by Lukas
Learn a phrase that has less to do with sofas and more to do with feelings in this week's The English We Speak.
Knickers in a twist
02 Apr 2012
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of The English We Speak find out the meaning of the expression 'knickers in a twist'.
To let the cat out of the bag
26 Mar 2012
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of The English We Speak find out the meaning of the expression 'To let the cat out of the bag'.
To paint the town red
19 Mar 2012
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of The English We Speak find out the meaning of the expression 'To paint the town'.
Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed!
12 Mar 2012
Contributed by Lukas
In this edition of The English We Speak find out the meaning of the expression 'Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed'.
Wake up and smell the coffee!
05 Mar 2012
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. In this edition of The English We Speak find out the meaning of the expression 'Wake...
The English We Speak: Have your cake and eat it
27 Feb 2012
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. In this edition of The English We Speak find out the meaning of the expression 'Have...
The English We Speak: Happy Bunny
20 Feb 2012
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. In this edition of The English We Speak find out the meaning of the expression 'Happ...
The English We Speak: Get your hands dirty
13 Feb 2012
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. In this edition of The English We Speak find out the meaning of the expression 'Get ...
The English We Speak: Don't get me wrong!
06 Feb 2012
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. In this edition of The English We Speak, Li finds Neil's cat 'just a bit surprising'...
The English We Speak: Dragon
30 Jan 2012
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at the meaning of the word 'Dragon'.
The English We Speak: Easy Tiger!
23 Jan 2012
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at the phrase 'Easy tiger!'.
The English We Speak: Stuffed
16 Jan 2012
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at the words 'stuff' and 'stuffed'.
The English We Speak: Bubbly
09 Jan 2012
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at the word 'bubbly'.
The English We Speak: All the trimmings
02 Jan 2012
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week we talk about Christmas and the phrase 'all the trimmings'.
The English We Speak: Cheesy
26 Dec 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at new meanings of the word 'cheesy'.
The English We Speak: Work for peanuts
19 Dec 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at the phrase 'work for peanuts'.
The English We Speak: Sinking Feeling
12 Dec 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at the phrase 'sinking feeling'.
The English We Speak: Head over Heels
05 Dec 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at the phrase 'head over heels'.
The English We Speak: Nailed It!
28 Nov 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Neil needs to put a clock on the studio wall, but can he nail it? Find out more in this week's programme.
The English We Speak: Lairy
21 Nov 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at the word 'lairy'.
Sponger
14 Nov 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Neil tells Li about his plan to live in luxury after giving up his job. Find out more about how he will pay for his expense in this week's programme.
The Creeps
07 Nov 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In our special Halloween edition Neil and Li try to give you the creeps.
Smoothie
31 Oct 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Are you a smoothie? Learn different meanings of the word 'smoothie' with Neil and Li.
The English We Speak: 'Get Lost'
24 Oct 2011
Contributed by Lukas
The English countryside is beautiful but causes problems for Helen and Rob. Find out more about this phrasal verb in this week's The English We Speak.
The English We Speak: Playing Up
20 Oct 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Everyone likes to see children playing, but do we also want them to play up? Find out more about this phrasal verb with Rob and Helen.
The English We Speak: Heavy
10 Oct 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at new meanings of the word 'heavy'.
The English We Speak: You've changed your tune
03 Oct 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at the phrase 'You've changed your tune'.
The English We Speak: Hold your horses
26 Sep 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at the phrase 'hold your horses'.
The English We Speak: Yob
19 Sep 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at the word 'yob'.
The English We Speak: To Jump the Gun
12 Sep 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at the phrase 'to jump the gun'.
The English We Speak: Mind-boggling
05 Sep 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at the word 'mind-boggling'.
The English We Speak: Brownie Points
29 Aug 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at the phrase 'brownie points'.
The English We Speak: To nick
22 Aug 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at different uses of the word 'to nick'.
The English We Speak: In the nick of time
15 Aug 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at the phrase 'in the nick of time'.
The English We Speak: On a roll
08 Aug 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at the phrase 'on a roll'.
The English We Speak: Do
01 Aug 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at a different usage of the word 'do'.
The English We Speak: Glamping
25 Jul 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's word is glamping.
The English We Speak: To Blow Your Own Trumpet
18 Jul 2011
Contributed by Lukas
William and Helen look at a musical idiom in honour of the BBC Proms, a classical music festival. Listen to find out more.
The English We Speak: To Nip Something in the Bud
11 Jul 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's idiom is 'to nip something in the bud'.
The English We Speak: Teetotal
04 Jul 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's word is 'teetotal'.
The English We Speak: Festival Phrases
27 Jun 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week we're looking at phrases related to festivals.
The English We Speak: Fatherhood
20 Jun 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week we're looking at some phrases relating to fatherhood.
The English We Speak: Hullabaloo
13 Jun 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's word is 'hullabaloo'.
The English We Speak: Bounce
06 Jun 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week we're looking at a new slang usage of the word 'bounce'.
The English We Speak: The special relationship
30 May 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's phrase is 'The special relationship'.
The English We Speak: 'Baby Talk'
23 May 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's phrase is 'baby talk'.
The English We Speak: 'Gatecrash'
16 May 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's word is 'gatecrash'.
The English We Speak: -gate
09 May 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at the origin and meaning of the suffix '-gate'.
The English We Speak: Touchy-feely
25 Apr 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's phrase is touchy-feely.
The English We Speak: Two Ticks
18 Apr 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week we find out what it means when someone says "I'll be with you in two ticks...
The English We Speak: Swizz
11 Apr 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week, find out how Li became the victim of a swizz.
The English We Speak: 'Sick'
04 Apr 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's word is 'sick' which can have a different meaning to the one you'd expec...
The English We Speak: 'Savvy'
28 Mar 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases that you might not find in your dictionary. This week's word is 'savvy'.
The English We Speak: ' anorak'
21 Mar 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases that you might not find in your dictionary. This week's word is 'anorak'.
The English We Speak: 'Awesome'
10 Mar 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases that you might not find in your dictionary. This week's word is 'awesome'
The English We Speak: 'Wee'
07 Mar 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases that you might not find in your dictionary. This week's word is 'wee'
The English We Speak: 'Green'
28 Feb 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases that you might not find in your dictionary. This week's word is 'green'
The English We Speak: 'Loved Up'
21 Feb 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases that you might not find in your dictionary. This week's phrase is 'loved up'
The English We Speak: 'Chillax'
14 Feb 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases that you might not find in your dictionary. This week's word is 'chillax'
The English We Speak: 'Rabbit'
07 Feb 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases that you might not find in your dictionary. This week's phrase is 'rabbit in the head...
The English We Speak: 'Tastic'
31 Jan 2011
Contributed by Lukas
This week Finn and Wang Fei talk about the usage of the suffix -tastic. What does it mean and what words can you use it with?
The English We Speak: 'Icebreaker'
24 Jan 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases that you might not find in your dictionary. This week's word is 'icebreaker'.
The English We Speak: 'Good Egg'
17 Jan 2011
Contributed by Lukas
In our new series you can learn authentic English words and phrases that you might not find in your dictionary. This week's phrase is 'good egg'.
BBC Learning English Pantomime 2010 - Cinderella - Part 3
10 Jan 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Listen to the final part of our pantomime. Last time, Cinderella had to leave the ball in a big rush. Will she really get her happy ending this week?
BBC Learning English Pantomime 2010 - Cinderella - Part 2
03 Jan 2011
Contributed by Lukas
Listen to the second part of our pantomime. This week, Cinderella meets the charming Prince Stephen. But he only speaks in English idioms! The final p...
BBC Learning English Pantomime 2010 - Cinderella - Part 1
27 Dec 2010
Contributed by Lukas
Listen to the first part of Cinderella, our special pantomime. Cinderella dreams of escaping her ugly sisters, but how will she ever be able to go to ...
English up to date 'Bottle and Bottler'
29 Nov 2010
Contributed by Lukas
In the last programme of the series, John Ayto explains the origin, meaning and use of the words 'bottle' and 'bottler'.
English up to date 'Early Doors'
22 Nov 2010
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, John Ayto explores the origin, meaning and use of the expression 'early doors'.
English up to date 'Go Commando'
15 Nov 2010
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, John Ayto explores the origin, meaning and use of the phrase 'go commando'.
English up to date 'Go Postal'
08 Nov 2010
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, John Ayto explores the origin, meaning and use of the phrase 'go postal'.
English up to date 'Fit for Purpose'
01 Nov 2010
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, John Ayto examines the meaning and usage of the phrase 'fit for purpose'.
English up to date 'Issue'
25 Oct 2010
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, John Ayto examines the meaning of the word 'issue' and how it can sometimes be used instead of the word 'problem'.
English up to date 'Hella'
18 Oct 2010
Contributed by Lukas
In this week's episode, John Ayto explores the origin, meaning and use of the prefix 'hella'.
English up to date 'Chugger'
11 Oct 2010
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, John Ayto examines the meaning of the word 'chugger'.
English up to date 'Edgy'
04 Oct 2010
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, John Ayto examines a new use of the word 'edgy'.
English up to Date 'Minging'
27 Sep 2010
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, John Ayto considers how people use the word 'minging'.
English up to date 'Bridezilla'
20 Sep 2010
Contributed by Lukas
John Ayto explains the origin, meaning and use of the word 'bridezilla'
English up to date 'Tweet'
13 Sep 2010
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, you'll find out about a word regularly used when we talk about social networking. John Ayto explores the origins and uses of the word...
English up to date 'Apps'
06 Sep 2010
Contributed by Lukas
In this first episode in a new series of Keep your English up to date, John Ayto explains the origin, meaning and use of the word 'apps'