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

Full of the joys of spring

What time of the year describes a good mood? Learn this lively and cheerful phrase

Mar 15, 2016•3 min

Six of one, half a dozen of the other

Is this expression related to numbers? If half a dozen is six, what does this expression mean? Listen to the programme

Mar 01, 2016•2 min

Test the water

How can you make sure a new project is going to be a successful? Here's a piece of good advice

Feb 23, 2016•2 min

To lie through your teeth

Not telling the truth is not a good thing to do. Learn a phrase to describe your actions

Feb 16, 2016•3 min

To make a monkey out of me

Rob's been asked to dress up like a monkey but it seems like someone is literally making a monkey out of him!

Feb 09, 2016•3 min

There's method to my madness

Although other people may think you are behaving rather strangely, you know what you are doing. There's a reason and a phrase to describe your behaviour

Jan 26, 2016•3 min

In good nick

Learn a phrase to describe something in top condition

Jan 19, 2016•2 min

Cheap and cheerful

Most people like a present that is cheap and cheerful. But no one likes something that is cheap and nasty

Jan 12, 2016•2 min

A bitter pill to swallow

When a situation is hard to accept, what do you say? This phrase could be for you

Jan 05, 2016•3 min

I'm game

Neil is dying for a game of squash but Li is not game. Find out why...

Dec 22, 2015•2 min

That'll put hairs on your chest!

Learn a humorous expression that is used when someone is going to have a strong alcoholic drink

Dec 15, 2015•3 min

Down the pan

When things are not going as planned, we can say they've gone ‘down the pan’, but which pan is it?

Dec 01, 2015•2 min

Sweet tooth

Do you have a sweet tooth? Is it something that you are born with or do you develop it?

Nov 17, 2015•2 min

Bumper-to-bumper

When a car bumper is almost touch another car bumper, you know the situation on the road is bad

Nov 10, 2015•2 min

Eye candy

How can you describe someone good looking but not interesting?

Nov 03, 2015•2 min

Thingy

Oh no, you've forgotten the word for something! Don't worry, this expression might help

Oct 27, 2015•2 min

Across the pond

Are London and New York separated by a pond? Learn this expression people say on both sides of the Atlantic

Oct 20, 2015•3 min

People person

Are you good at working with other people? This expression might describe you

Oct 13, 2015•2 min

It's a steal!

Have you paid very little money for something normally expensive? Learn an expression for when you find a bargain

Oct 06, 2015•3 min

Bull and bear market

Learn what you say when share prices rise and when they fall. We help you to understand financial terms

Sep 29, 2015•3 min

Social media words

'Trolls' and 'haters' are the people who want to annoy you. The names are part of the new vocabulary of social media

Sep 22, 2015•3 min

Don't give up the day job

If you don't think someone is very good at doing something what should you say? Here's a phrase to help you

Sep 15, 2015•3 min

A barrel of laughs

What object is full of laughs? This is a phrase that describes someone who is fun

Sep 08, 2015•3 min

To know something like the back of your hand

Do you know a place very well? Are you able to find your way in a place without looking at any maps? Here is a way of saying it with help from your hand

Sep 01, 2015•2 min

Give me credit

Learn a phrase that's full of praise. You won't need a credit card to use this one

Aug 18, 2015•3 min

To keep the wolf from the door

Who's that knocking at the door? Someone's here to tell you you're in financial trouble

Aug 11, 2015•3 min

Red tape

Fed up with rules and regulations? You must learn this expression

Jul 14, 2015•3 min

To drink someone under the table

Drink to celebrate the good things in life, drink to forget the bad. Here's an expression for people who like an alcoholic drink

Jun 30, 2015•2 min

Cyberbullying

Is there someone tormenting you online? Here's an expression for when people hide behind a computer to attack others

Jun 16, 2015•3 min

A close shave

What's a razor got to do with Rob's bike ride to work? Here's an expression for when you've had a narrow escape.

May 19, 2015•2 min

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