A different kettle of fish
Fishing for a phrase? This could be the one for you
Episodes
Learning English Conversations
Everyday expressions and real English conversations to help make your everyday conversations easier.
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Episodes
At the drop of a hat
What would Rob do at the drop of a hat? Find out more about this expression
Brass neck
What does being confident but rude have to do with your neck? Learn an expression that should not be taken literally
Reinvent the wheel
Wasting time doing something that's been done before? There's a phrase to explain this
Frenemy
Do you have a false friend? In The English We Speak we get to hear how one of Feifei's best friends isn't a friend at all and discover that there's a great word to describe them
To be fair
Give both sides of the argument with this phrase
On the box
Watching a ‘box’ can’t be very enjoyable, can it?
Got your number
Understanding someone's true intentions
Clickbait
Learn a word that describes tempting online links
Mash-up
Dan and Feifei are in the studio and Dan has been working on a new music track. Will it be good? Let's find out
Air kiss
How do you kiss someone without kissing them? Neil and Feifei explain a word which describes a popular way of greeting and saying goodbye to friends
Mansplaining
A word for when a man explains to a woman something in a way which suggests she's stupid.
Rolling in it
Neil is rolling on the floor to teach a phrase connected to wealth. Feifei explains
Photobomb
Feifei and Sian discuss a word to use when something unexpectedly appears in your photo.
Cyberchondriac
Do you look up every symptom on the internet and then imagine you have a serious illness? Here's an expression to describe what you're doing
To wash your dirty linen in public
Are you discussing your private life in public? Here's an expression to describe what you're doing
Cat got your tongue?
There's a cat about and Feifei's not talking. Learn an expression that questions her quietness
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
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
To have an axe to grind
An expression with three related but slightly different meanings connected to strong opinions
Close, but no cigar
Why is Neil trying to smoke a cigar in the studio? Learn an English expression about almost succeeding
Get somebody's goat
Neil's goat Fred is a bit smelly but useful for teaching an English expression. Feifei's not happy
Bust a gut
Neil's wearing a vest in the studio to teach an expression about effort. Feifei's concerned he'll injure himself
Old-school
Feifei has written a letter to her family. Find out why Sian finds this old-school
Shedloads
Sian has received lots of emails! Learn another way to say 'lots'
Hangry
Sian is irritable today because she skipped breakfast! Learn an adjective to describe people who feel angry when they get hungry
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
Off the hook
Are you obliged to do something you can't or don't want to? We teach you what to say
Barefaced
Is someone telling an outrageous lie? Here's an expression we can use
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