Learning English

Inspiring language learning since 1943

Summary

Sometimes it’s impossible to find someone – it’s like they’ve disappeared. There’s a phrase to use in this situation. Jiaying’s about to tell Rob what it is and how to find it – but first they need to find Roy!

Transcript

Jiaying
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak with me, Jiaying…

Rob
And me, Rob. Jiaying, why is it everyone in our office keeps disappearing?

Jiaying
What do you mean?

Rob
Well, every time I want to talk to someone, I can’t find them! Like Roy, for example. I need to talk to him about something, but he’s nowhere to be seen. Have you seen him?

Jiaying
No - I’ve not seen hide nor hair of him.

Rob
You mean he’s hiding from me?

Jiaying
No, Rob. If we say ‘we’ve not seen hide nor hair of someone’, it simply means we’ve not seen them anywhere for some time. Do you need to see him urgently?

Rob
Yes, I wanted him to read out some examples – but Neil will do…

Examples
I haven’t seen hide nor hair of Suki all week – maybe she’s on holiday?

We haven’t seen hide nor hair of the builders since we paid them.

We didn’t see hide nor hair of the manager the whole time we were in the office.

Jiaying
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English, and we’re learning about the expression ‘to not see hide nor hair of someone’, which means to have not seen someone around for some time – like they have disappeared. Rob, I hope Roy really hasn’t disappeared – should we look for him?

Rob
No, it’s ok, he’ll turn up.

Jiaying
He has, Rob! He’s over there and he’s had a haircut.

Rob
Oh, he’s had it all cut off – now we really won’t see hide nor any hair of him if he disappears again!

Jiaying
No. Anyway, Rob, I meant to ask you if you could have that (note of) ten pounds back, I lent you?

[DOOR CLOSES}

… oh, maybe I won’t see hide nor hair of him for some time! Bye.

Latest The English We Speak

Smash it
Episode 220808 / 08 Aug 2022
A phrase to give encouragement
a doddle
Episode 220801 / 01 Aug 2022
Is this phrase easy to learn?
It's now or never
Episode 220725 / 25 Jul 2022
A phrase about doing something immediately
Happy days
Episode 220718 / 18 Jul 2022
Here's a way to respond to good news
Double down
Episode 220711 / 30 May 2022
Learn a phrase about extra effort
Game face
Episode 220704 / 04 Jul 2022
A phrase about determination
Bitten by the bug
Episode 220627 / 27 Jun 2022
Is this a phrase to get excited by?
It escapes me
Episode 220620 / 20 Jun 2022
A phrase about forgetting something
Onboarding
Episode 220613 / 13 Jun 2022
New job, new word!
Thereby hangs a tale
Episode 220606 / 06 Jun 2022
A Shakespearean phrase for when there's more to something than you think
The royal treatment
Episode 220530 / 30 May 2022
Are you ready to feel like a king or a queen?
Tell me about it
Episode 220523 / 12 May 2022
Learn an agreeable phrase
Creatively bankrupt
Episode 220516 / 16 May 2022
Learn a phrase about being unoriginal
As if
Episode 220509 / 09 May 2022
Learn an unlikely phrase
Ish
Episode 220502 / 02 May 2022
Learn an imprecise phrase
Bad hair day
Episode 220425 / 25 Apr 2022
Is this an unattractive phrase?!
Promises, promises
Episode 220418 / 25 Mar 2022
Is a promise a promise?
Not see hide nor hair
Episode 220411 / 11 Apr 2022
Have you seen this phrase?
Curate's egg
Episode 220404 / 04 Apr 2022
Learn a phrase that is good and bad at the same time.
That'll be the day
Episode 220328 / 28 Mar 2022
When will be ‘that day’?
Gathering dust
Episode 220321 / 21 Mar 2022
What’s gathering dust in your house?
Easier said than done
Episode 220314 / 24 Feb 2022
This phrase shouldn’t be complicated!
The plot thickens
Episode 220307 / 07 Mar 2022
A mysterious phrase!
All at sea
Episode 220228 / 28 Feb 2022
Don’t let this phrase confuse you
Don't mind me
Episode 220221 / 21 Feb 2022
Don’t ignore this phrase
Cramp my style
Episode 220214 / 14 Feb 2022
Who’s cramping your style?
Cool cat
Episode 220131 / 31 Jan 2022
Do you know someone who is hip and trendy?
There's nothing to it
Episode 220124 / 24 Jan 2022
Learn a simple phrase
As sick as a parrot
Episode 220117 / 17 Jan 2022
A phrase about disappointment
Eke out
Episode 220110 / 10 Jan 2022
Don’t waste this phrase!
Say no more
Episode 220103 / 03 Jan 2022
Do you get me?