Exercise

1. The best thing since sliced bread is a way of:

    a) praising an invention or gadget

    b) talking about bread

2 . When was sliced bread invented?

3. What does Nina think would be a good equivalent expression in Chinese? 

Answers

1. Praising an invention or gadget.

2. 1928.

3. The best thing since instant noodles.

Read

You’re listening to British Council’s English Online and I’m Nina. Today on Language Snacks we take a look at the expression the best thing since sliced bread.

Let’s listen to the dialogue.

A: Is that a new mobile phone?

B: Yeah, it’s got a built in camera and mp3 player and I can even browse the web and check my email – it’s the best thing since sliced bread.

A: Wow, I’ve got to get one.

The best thing since sliced bread is a commonly used way of praising an invention or a gadget. I guess when sliced bread was invented in 1928 it was something which made people’s lives a lot easier. However it still seems like a strange choice by which we judge all later inventions, - but that’s what makes English so interesting I suppose.

I wonder what we’d say in Chinese, errm maybe the best thing since instant noodles!

And that’s it for now – join us again for some more Language Snacks. You’ve been listening to English Online – the podcast for English learners in China.