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

Crunch time

When the time comes to make an important decision, what do you say?

Jul 31, 2018•3 min

Have a pop

Learn a phrase about having a go at something

Jul 24, 2018•3 min

A necessary evil

Can you accept something you don't like?

Jul 17, 2018•3 min

If the cap fits

Learn an expression about accepting criticism

Jul 10, 2018•2 min

My bad

Learn a phrase about accepting blame

Jul 03, 2018•3 min

To have a good nose (for something)

Rob and Feifei sniff out a new phrase to learn

Jun 26, 2018•3 min

Friends in High Places

Learn a phrase about important people

Jun 19, 2018•3 min

Catch-22

Learn an expression for a no-win situation.

Jun 12, 2018•3 min

Let the dust settle

Learn a phrase about allowing a situation to become calm again

Jun 05, 2018•2 min

Nothing to shout about

Learn a phrase about not saying much

May 29, 2018•2 min

Let sleeping dogs lie

Learn about a trouble-free phrase

May 22, 2018•3 min

Bleed someone dry

An expression for a financial injury

May 15, 2018•3 min

Small change

A phrase for trivial things

May 08, 2018•2 min

That'll teach you

Learn from what you've done

May 01, 2018•3 min

An old hand

Someone who's skilled and experienced

Apr 24, 2018•3 min

Out of the loop

Learn a phrase about missing out.

Apr 17, 2018•3 min

Rub it in

Learn an expression about enjoying someone's misfortunes.

Apr 10, 2018•2 min

Smombie

Are you a smartphone zombie?

Apr 03, 2018•2 min

Freegan

Are you someone who only eats food that has been wasted or thrown away? Learn a word that describes what you are

Mar 27, 2018•3 min

Barking up the wrong tree

Have you ever made the wrong assumption? Here's a dog-related phrase to describe your actions

Mar 20, 2018•3 min

Cloud cuckoo land

Can you make the impossible possible? This phrase implies you can't but what's it got to do with a cuckoo?

Mar 13, 2018•3 min

A taste of your own medicine

Payback time

Mar 06, 2018•3 min

Happy-go-lucky

Relaxed about the future? Here's a phrase that might describe your character

Feb 27, 2018•3 min

Whizz-kid

Young, clever and successful: find out a phrase that describes someone like this

Feb 20, 2018•2 min

The best of both worlds

Can you enjoy the advantages of two different situations at the same time? You can if you use this phrase

Feb 13, 2018•3 min

Bone idle

Are you taking it easy or just being lazy? Here's a phrase to describe your condition

Feb 06, 2018•3 min

To cut a long story short

Have you got a story to tell? Here's a phrase about just telling the important bits

Jan 30, 2018•3 min

A thing

Beards have been 'a thing' for a while. Is it now time to shave them off?

Jan 29, 2018•2 min

Just the ticket

Rob and Feifei help teach a phrase to describe something you really want or need

Jan 23, 2018•3 min

Do a runner

Is it time to go? Here's a phrase about avoiding a tricky situation

Jan 09, 2018•2 min

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