Learning English Conversations

BBC Radio•www.bbc.co.uk

Education

Language Learning

Everyday expressions and real English conversations to help make your English conversations easier.

Every week, we teach you a new phrase or word you can use in conversation with The English We Speak.

And we bring you special series to improve your English conversation.

Try Beating Speaking Anxiety to learn how to fight your fears of speaking English.

Find more at bbclearningenglish.com

Last refreshed: June 9th, 2026 at 9:33 AM ⓘ

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Episodes

It takes two to tango

Neil's doing a partner dance on his own in the studio to help you learn English. Learn an expression which means two people need to accept the blame for a bad situation

Oct 18, 2016•2 min

Knee-jerk reaction

Feifei kicks Neil in the face after he hits her knee with a hammer. It's all to teach you a useful English expression

Oct 11, 2016•2 min

To have an axe to grind

An expression with three related but slightly different meanings connected to strong opinions

Oct 04, 2016•3 min

Close, but no cigar

Why is Neil trying to smoke a cigar in the studio? Learn an English expression about almost succeeding

Sep 27, 2016•2 min

Get somebody's goat

Neil's goat Fred is a bit smelly but useful for teaching an English expression. Feifei's not happy

Sep 20, 2016•2 min

Bust a gut

Neil's wearing a vest in the studio to teach an expression about effort. Feifei's concerned he'll injure himself

Sep 13, 2016•2 min

Old-school

Feifei has written a letter to her family. Find out why Sian finds this old-school

Sep 06, 2016•2 min

Shedloads

Sian has received lots of emails! Learn another way to say 'lots'

Aug 30, 2016•2 min

Hangry

Sian is irritable today because she skipped breakfast! Learn an adjective to describe people who feel angry when they get hungry

Aug 23, 2016•2 min

To pull something out of the hat

What can you pull out of a hat? Learn an expression that describes doing something that saves the day

Aug 16, 2016•3 min

Off the hook

Are you obliged to do something you can't or don't want to? We teach you what to say

Aug 04, 2016•2 min

Barefaced

Is someone telling an outrageous lie? Here's an expression we can use

Jul 26, 2016•2 min

To make a mountain out of a molehill

Someone making a big fuss about something small? Here's a phrase to describe what they're doing

Jul 19, 2016•2 min

The last straw/final straw

When friendship is under test, something tiny and as light as a straw could cause a huge problem

Jul 12, 2016•2 min

The university of life

Want to learn about life? Here's a place most of us have studied at

Jul 05, 2016•3 min

White collar worker / blue-collar worker

What does the colour of your clothes say about your job?

Jun 28, 2016•3 min

Drama queen

No need to be in the theatre to find a drama queen. We teach you where to find them…

Jun 21, 2016•2 min

It's on the cards

An expression for when something is likely to happen. What's on the cards for you?

Jun 14, 2016•2 min

Until you're blue in the face

Is nobody listening to you? Learn a colourful phrase to explain the situation

Jun 07, 2016•3 min

Clean up your act

Someone behaving badly? Here's a phrase that tells them what to do

May 31, 2016•3 min

You're pulling my leg!

Want to trick someone? Here is a phrase that involves pulling a part of your body!

May 24, 2016•3 min

One good turn deserves another

A helpful phrase for doing something good

May 17, 2016•3 min

To fall at the first hurdle

Got an idea that's never going to work? Here is a phrase to describe the situation

May 10, 2016•3 min

Pain in the neck

Learn the phrase Helen needs to describe the headache her mobile phone company is causing her

May 03, 2016•2 min

Burn a hole in your pocket

When you are in the habit of spending all your money as soon as it comes in, you can use this phrase to express yourself

Apr 26, 2016•2 min

To turn something upside down

How to describe doing a thorough search for something in a very messy way

Apr 19, 2016•2 min

Going forward

How do you ask someone to change the way they do things in the future? Learn this phrase connected to motion

Apr 12, 2016•2 min

A recipe for disaster

When things go wrong and the outcome isn't good, what kind of recipe are you following? Learn a phrase that has nothing to do with cooking

Apr 05, 2016•3 min

Crash course

When you need to learn something very quickly, it’s worth considering a super fast learning programme, but it’s not for everyone

Mar 29, 2016•2 min

You've sold it to me

When you are in total agreement with ideas or suggestions from others, try a new phrase to express yourself

Mar 22, 2016•2 min

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