The English We Speak - To have all your Christmases come at once - BBC Sounds

Fireworks

Learn a New Year-related expression

• 2 mins

To be all downhill

Rob's done all his work! Find out here if it's all downhill until the weekend for him.

• 2 mins

A bright spark

Here's a clever expression that can describe someone doing something stupid.

• 2 mins

Small talk

Here's a phrase that describes making informal conversation about not much.

• 2 mins

From pillar to post

Moving from place to place can be chaotic. Learn a phrase to describe the situation

• 2 mins

A shock to the system

A sudden and unpleasant change can come as a shock. Learn a phrase to describe this.

• 2 mins

Giant killer

Here's a phrase to describe the success of a small team.

• 3 mins

To make a song and dance (about something)

If things don't go your way, how can singing and dancing help?

• 2 mins

To have a soft spot

How do you feel if you really like something or someone? This phrase might help you.

• 2 mins

Hard-nosed

What is a hard-nosed person like? Find out in this episode of The English We Speak.

• 2 mins

Take the rough with the smooth

Learn an expression about experiencing bad things to enable you to enjoy good things.

• 2 mins

To pull the wool over someone's eyes

Here's a phrase about preventing someone from discovering something.

• 2 mins

Keep a lid on it

Learn the right English phrase about having to put a stop to something.

• 2 mins

The joke is on you

Find out more about a seriously funny English phrase.

• 3 mins

Laughing all the way to the bank

When can going to the bank be funny? We've got a phrase that will leave you laughing.

• 2 mins

Give someone the runaround

A phrase about being unhelpful.

• 2 mins

Dead

If something is 'dead good' is that a positive or negative thing?

• 3 mins

On fire

Can you be on fire without any flames?

• 2 mins

Like riding a bike

Learn an English expression about skills we never forget.

• 2 mins

Couch surfing

Looking for a sofa to sleep on? Learn a phrase to describe your actions.

• 2 mins

Clever clogs

Will wearing new shoes make Feifei more intelligent? Join her and Rob in this programme.

• 2 mins

Soft skills

These are job skills needed to deal with the public, and very much in demand.

• 2 mins

Get the short straw

A phrase that sucks!

• 3 mins

Vanish into thin air

Learn an expression about disappearing

• 2 mins

It's a small world

Learn an expression about coincidences.

• 2 mins

To fight tooth and nail

Learn a phrase about working hard to get just what you want.

• 3 mins

To cherry-pick

We’ve picked the best phrase for you to learn!

• 3 mins

Milk it

A phrase about taking advantage of a situation to gain sympathy or respect

• 2 mins

Fat chance

Learn an expression about likelihood.

• 2 mins

Across

When is 'across' not a preposition?

• 2 mins