Splash Out

Sometimes it's good to splash out.

Listen

Li's on holiday in the Caribbean. She's staying in an expensive hotel with a big swimming pool. She's very surprised to find Finn there too, and has some bad news for him. Listen to the programme to find out why.

Download audio

The script for this programme

(Li bumps into Finn at an expensive hotel in the Caribbean)

Li: Glorious sunshine, lovely swimming pool... Ah, this is the life! Oh, isn't that Finn? Finn! What are you doing here?

Finn: Hello Li! I'm on holiday! You, too?

Li: Yes! I am.

Finn: Don't you love the Caribbean? And it's a great hotel, isn't it? Come on, sit by the pool with me here... have some champagne...

Li: Oh, champagne?!

Finn: Yes. What better than enjoying a little bubbly - a little champagne - here under the tropical sun?

Li: But Finn... last week you told me you had no money - you said you were skint. This is a pretty expensive holiday!

Finn: Yeah. That's true. But you know what? Our boss called me into his room and said I was up for a promotion! So I thought - you only live once and you've got to splash out! Actually, I do fancy a swim. Here we go!

(Finn dives into the pool)

Li: Well, that big splash was Finn diving into the pool. Looks like he's enjoying his holiday! He also said it's good to 'splash out' now and again.

Finn: Hi, Li. It's lovely here in the water!

Li: Good, good! But his phrase 'to splash out' has nothing to do with diving. It means to spend a lot of money on pleasant things you don't really need - and it's our phrase in The English We Speak today. Let's hear some examples:

·         I was feeling sad last week, so I splashed out on a new computer and... I felt great!

·         I had to queue for ages to get my shopping yesterday. The shops were full of people splashing out after pay day.

Li: Here he comes. I hope he enjoyed his swim as I have some bad news for him.

Finn: Ah, what a swim! It's great being here on holiday, isn't it Li?

Li: Finn...

Finn: Yes?

Li: You know you said our boss offered you a promotion...?

Finn: Yes?

Li: Well, did he actually offer it to you?

Finn: Not exactly. He said I'm a very good worker, and... well, he didn't actually offer me anything. But I thought... well, he would...

Li: You see Finn, the promotion... he offered it to me!

Finn: Oh... Li... well... congratulations and... Well, I'd better pack and leave tomorrow... It's an expensive hotel...

Li: Well, you're probably right. But our boss might consider you for a bonus later in the year.

Finn: That would be good. Yes.

Li: Sorry Finn. But let's not let the Caribbean sun go to waste. How about another splash - just a swim, I mean?

Finn: OK.

Li: I can race you to the other end. Come on!

Finn: OK! Alright! Here we go! Bye.

Li: Bye.

(Li and Finn run to the pool and dive into the water)

Download the text

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2014/09/140909_tews_192_splash_out.shtml

Talking Business: Telephone - Messages

Talking Business: Telephone - Messages: Introduction In this section we'll learn some phrases you might hear if the person you wish to speak to is ...

Talking Business: Telephone - Connecting

Talking Business: Telephone - Connecting: Introduction This section features phrases you might hear when you telephone a company hoping to talk to someone. T...

Talking Business: Introduction

Talking Business: Introduction: Introduction This course gives you useful language and phrases to improve your spoken communication skills in English in diffe...

English at Work: Episode 7: Mr Lime's grapefruit

English at Work: Episode 7: Mr Lime's grapefruit: Mr Lime is not happy. He ordered grapefruit from Tip Top Trading, but he got pineapples. Anna has to apologise and sort ever...

English at Work: Episode 6: Double-booked

English at Work: Episode 6: Double-booked: It's chaos at Tip Top Trading. Tom is in a panic; he has arranged more meetings than he can cope with and is going to h...

6 Minute English: Brazilian economy

6 Minute English: Brazilian economy: New notes were printed in the 1990s. Brazil is one of what we call the 'BRIC' countries, along with Russia, India and...

Butter up

Many idioms are inspired by food.

Listen

Feifei needs to be nice to her landlady in order to prevent a rise in her rent. Finn suggests that she butters up the woman. How can she do this? Listen to the programme to find out.

The script for this programme

(Feifei and Finn bump into each other at the supermarket)

Finn: Hello Feifei. I didn't know you shopped at this supermarket too.

Feifei: Hi Finn. Usually I don't. But it's close to the office and I have to rush home to welcome an important guest.

Finn: Who is it? Someone I know?

Feifei: No, it's my landlady. She's coming to collect some of her post and… well, I want to make her like me because next month, the contract on my flat is due to be renewed and she might want to increase the rent.

Finn: Yeah, I see what you mean. So you'd better butter her up then!

Feifei: Butter? Oh, yes. But I'm a pretty bad cook. If I baked a cake it would probably be horrible!

Finn: No. I don't mean butter for a cake. In English, when you say you'll 'butter someone up', you mean you'll be especially nice to them in the hope they'll do something good for you in return.

Feifei: Oh, I see. So I'll be nice to her and pay her compliments so that she likes me and keeps the rent low. I'll 'butter her up'! But isn't it a bit insincere?

Finn: Well, it can have a negative connotation, yes. Let's hear some examples of how to use 'to butter someone up' or 'to butter up someone', which is today's expression in The English We Speak.

• Johnny: I was very impressed with your presentation, Mrs Beany. You are really intelligent and perceptive and…
  Mrs Beany: Don't waste your time buttering me up, Johnny. I'm not raising your salary anytime soon.

• The director was always ready to butter up Angelina Jolie. He knew she was looking for her next role and he wanted her in his movie.

Feifei: Oh, look. It's 6pm already. I'm very late. I might not be on time to meet my landlady and she'll be angry with me. She's a very busy woman.

Finn: Yeah, well, then you are in a jam!

Feifei: Jam?!

Finn: In English, when you say someone 'is in a jam', you mean they are in a difficult situation – but that's a different kind of jam!

Feifei: All these expressions about food!

Finn: I know. We have a huge appetite for food expressions. But let's leave some for another day. Bye!

Feifei: Bye!

Downloads

To take away:

• Audio: (2.1 MB)
• Text

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2014/09/140923_tews_194_butter_up.shtml


Next: Splash out

Cheesed off

Do you get angry when you feel hungry?

Finn's not happy. His boss has told him to write his long, boring report again. Li offers him some cheese, but it doesn't help. He's 'cheesed off'. Listen to the programme to find out what this expression means.

The script for this programme

(Finn comes into the office where Li is working and he looks very angry)

Li: Hi Finn. Oh, you don't look that happy today... Here, have a bit of cheese.

Finn: No thanks, Li.

Li: It's tasty! Italian cheese – my favourite.

Finn: Thank you, Li. But, I'm sorry, I'm just in a terrible mood today. Do you know I have to spend the whole weekend writing a report?

Li: Oh really…?

Finn: Well, the boss said my first draft wasn't good enough and asked me to do the whole thing again by Monday!

Li: Not much fun. Sorry Finn. Are you sure you don't want some cheese?

Finn: No. No cheese for me, thanks. I'm… I'm really cheesed off!

Li: Cheesed off? Is that a medical problem…? You can't eat cheese?

Finn: No. In English, 'to be cheesed off' means to be really annoyed. I'm so cheesed off! You can also say 'to cheese someone off' – so, writing reports really cheeses me off.

Li: So… now I know why you're cheesed off.

Finn: Yes, 'cheesed off' is today's expression in Authentic Real English. Let's hear some examples of how it's used.

• Working with Caroline is not easy. She gets really cheesed off when people don't agree with her.
• My sister cheeses me off. She borrows all my clothes and never returns them!

Li: No need to be cheesed off, Finn. I can help you with your report.

Finn: Oh really. You're such a sweetie, Li!

Li: But you have to do what I say…

Finn: Ok… what do I have to do?

Li: First thing: have some of this cheese!

Finn: Oh, okay. Mmm… mmmmm… this is quite delicious! Can I have some more?

Li: You see. I knew you would feel better after eating something. You weren't just angry – you were hungry! Feeling a bit better now?

Finn: Oh yes. Oh, lovely. Thank you. Now, let's get this done. Bye.

Li: Bye.

Downloads

To take away:

• Audio (2 MB)
• Text

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/theenglishwespeak/2014/09/140902_tews_191_cheesed_off.shtml

Next: Butter up