Exercise

1. Is the expression over the hill about:

 a) walking up hills

 b) age

2. How old is Nina? 

Answers

1. age

2. 25 

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 over the hill. Let’s listen to the dialogue.

A: Do you think Beckham should still play for England?

B: No, he's way over the hill now. They should get some youngsters in.

So what does the expression over the hill really mean? Well, as you may guess from the dialogue it has something to do with age and nothing to do with walking up hills. If you are too old to do something well you may be described as being over the hill. For example, a pop star, who is in their thirties or forties could be described as being over the hill.

I’m still only 25, so hopefully I’ve got a few more years before I’m over the hill!

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.

Exercise

1. Who first used the expression mum's the word?

2. What does it mean if you say mum's the word? 

a) my mother is talking

b) I can keep a secret

c) I can't keep a secret 

3. What does mum actually mean in this expression  

Answers

1. Shakespeare

2. b) I can keep a secret

3. It's a humming sound mmmm

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 mum’s the word. Let’s listen to the dialogue.

A: Can you keep a secret?

B: What?

A: We’re going to throw a surprise party for Gary at the weekend. Can you make it?

B: Sure. Mum’s the word.

Well, this is a bit of Shakespearian English. If you promise to keep quiet about something you say mum’s the word. The word mum is not actually mother but the humming sound made with the closed mouth mmmmmm.

This appeared in Shakespeare in Henry VI, Part 2:

Seal up your lips and give no words but mum.

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.

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.

Exercise

1. If you pull someone's leg, what are you doing?

  a) having a fight

  b) joking with them

2. What does Nina say she is doing this evening?

Answers

1. Joking with them

2. Going on a date with David Beckham. 

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 to pull someone’s leg.

Let’s listen to the dialogue.

A: I met David Beckham in a pub last night and he bought me a drink.

B: Are you pulling my leg?

I’ve noticed that the British people I work with are always joking and teasing each other. If you tell someone something that is not true as a way of joking with them, then you are said to be pulling their leg.

Anyway, I have to go now I have a date with David Beckham this evening….nahh …just pulling your leg!

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.

Exercise

1. Does the expression the bees knees mean:

a) something is the best

b) something is the worst

2. When did the expression originate?

Answers

1. Something is the best.

2. The 1930s. 

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 bee’s knees.

Let’s listen to the dialogue.

A: I like your new computer. Is it a Mac?

B: Yes, it’s the bee’s knees - I love it.

The bee’s knees what a funny expression – can you guess what it means? It’s actually used to describe something that is the best or most desirable. Apparently it originates from the 1930s when it was quite fashionable to make funny little expressions like this one.

Do you like this website - I think it’s the bee’s knees?

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.

Answers

1. Have a chat.

2. To move from side to side (a dog wags its tail).

3. The action of talking.

Exercise

1. What is a similar expression to have a chinwag?

2. What does wag mean?

3. What does chinwag describe? 

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 have a chinwag.

Let’s listen to the dialogue.

A: Hey Dan. Not seen you for a while.

B: I’m meeting Claire in 5 minutes, but are you busy next week? Let’s have lunch.

B: Sure, we can have a bit of a chinwag. Tuesday?

A: Works for me.

A: See you Tuesday then.

Well, have a chinwag is real British slang, can you guess what it means from the dialogue? Maybe you are more familiar with the expression have a chat. If we break down the expression we have 2 words chin and wag. Chin is your lower jaw and wag means to move from side to side, so I suppose chinwag describes the action of talking or chatting.

Oh that’s my phone - excuse me while I have a chinwag with my friend.

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.

Exercise

1. If you are dressed to the nines, how are you dressed?

2. What did the number 9 symbolise a few hundred years ago?

3. How much cloth did a tailor need to make a suit?

4. Where is Nina going at the weekend? 

Answers

1. Smartly dressed/ formal clothes.

2. The best or perfection.

3. 9 metres.

4. To a friend's wedding.

Read

Today on Language Snacks we take a look at the expression dressed to the nines.

Let’s listen to the dialogue.

A: Do you want to see my wedding photos?

B: OK, let's have a look. Wow look at you - dressed to the nines.

A: I know. I hired the suit especially for the wedding.

If you go to a party or perhaps a formal occasion you may go dressed to the nines, or in other words, smartly dressed in formal clothes. Nobody knows exactly where the expression comes from, although a few hundred years ago, 9 symbolised the best or perfection. A theory I quite like though, is that 9 metres of cloth was needed by a tailor to make a suit.

Whatever the meaning, I’ll be dressed to the nines when I go to my friend’s wedding next week.

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.

Exercise

1. If you get out of the wrong side of the bed in the morning how fo you feel?

2. In the dialogue how does the coffee taste?

3. What superstition exists in the UK connected with getting up in the morning?

Answers

1. In a bad mood.

2. Like dish water (water used to wash the dishes).

3. It's bad luck if you put your left foot on the floor first when you get out of bed.

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 get out of the wrong side of the bed. Let’s listen to the dialogue.

A: I don’t want to go to work today, I hate it, it’s so boring and this coffee tastes like dish water and …

B: What’s the matter with you? Did you get out of the wrong side of the bed?

Well, she’s not exactly in a good mood is she? If someone asks you if you got out of the wrong side of the bed, they are indicating that you seem to be in a bad mood.

Incidentally, did you know that some people in the UK consider it bad luck if you put your left foot on the floor first when you get out of bed in the morning? How strange!

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.

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 thanks, but no thanks.

Let’s listen to the dialogue.

A: Tom, we’re all going out for a drink after work. Fancy joining us?

Well we know that British people like to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ a lot, but this expression seems like a bit of a contradiction doesn’t it? ‘Thanks, but no thanks’.

In fact, it’s just a friendly way of refusing or turning down an invitation and sounds much better than just saying ‘no’, which can be a little abrupt.

So next time you feel like a night in front of the TV and your friend invites you to karaoke, you know what to say ‘thanks, but no thanks – maybe next time’.

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.

Answers

1. Yes, it is.

2. 'Please' and 'thank you'

3. Just saying 'no' is a little abrupt. 

Exercise

1. Is 'thanks, but no thanks' a polite expression to use? 

2. What do British people say a lot?

3. Why is it better to use this expression than just saying 'no'?