Learning English Conversations

This podcast is changing its name! Don’t worry, you will still be able to learn new expressions with The English We Speak. And we’ll also have some new programmes with authentic English conversation to help you learn.

Make sure you follow this podcast: ‘Learning English Conversations’ on your podcast app to get all the latest episodes.

Or find all our podcasts on our website https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/podcasts

Zing is that special something that's hard to describe, but makes things more exciting.

Here's an expression that describes something solving a problem.

(Image: Getty)

TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak_2024/ep-240429.

FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus

LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ News Review ✔️ Office English They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

An expression that describes a habit you find strange, but doesn't make you not like someone.

(Image: Getty)

TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak_2024/ep-240422.

FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus

LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ News Review ✔️ Office English They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

An expression about exaggerating or praising someone too much.

(Image: Getty)

TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak_2024/ep-240416.

FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus

LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ News Review ✔️ Office English They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

Learn a phrase about allowing a situation to become calm again

Learn a phrase about not saying much

Learn about a trouble-free phrase

An expression for a financial injury

A phrase for trivial things

Learn from what you've done

Someone who's skilled and experienced

Learn a phrase about missing out.

Learn an expression about enjoying someone's misfortunes.

Are you a smartphone zombie?

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

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

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

Payback time

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

We love slang, idioms, phrases and all that jazz! Learn a new phrase with us

A phrase to use when you're being brutally honest

Don't know which one to use? You need to up your emoji game

Have you heard the good news? This programme has something to shout about!

No spiders involved. It's time to get lively and learn a new English phrase

Want to go to a party? This phrase might help you get an invitation

Need directions to learn a new English phrase? Here's one about a map and being famous

Feeling unhappy? Here's a phrase to describe your mood but don't take it too literally!

Rob keeps saying 'excuse me' but what does he really mean? You and Feifei are about to find out the many uses of this phrase

Rob's become a bee keeper but there's something more unpleasant to this hobby than being stung. Find out how a sting in the tail doesn't just come from bees!

Are you doing something very boring? We have just the phrase for you!

You might know the slang expression ‘LOL’, but do you know about ‘lolz’?

Poor Neil gets a lot of criticism in the programme. Of course, it’s all to help you learn English!

You know what ‘about’ means, right? But maybe not this extra meaning! Take another look with us

Learn an informal expression for when you have to improvise

Not sure what to expect? Learn a phrase about hoping your choice will turn out ok

Why does Feifei keep hitting Rob? There could be some confusion about the meaning of today's authentic English phrase. Find out what Rob really means when he says 'it beats me'

Tricks and dishonesty: Learn this phrase before it fools you!

If you do something left, right, and centre does that mean you do it everywhere? Rob's being doing just that but what's he been doing it with?

Why has Rob got a donkey in the studio?! It's probably got something with today's authentic English phrase which is about not doing something for a long time

What's that ringing sound? Is it someone giving you a bell? Find out what it all means

Echo echo echo echo…

Do you melt too easily?

Learn an expression which you can use to say you're under pressure

When can a wet weekend be dry? Find out with another authentic English expression

Some things in life are hard work. Discover a phrase that describes these situations

Going on holiday to do your job? What's it got to do with driving a bus?

Old-fashioned and set in your ways? Could you be one of these people?

Not impressed by something? Here's an expression that describes what you think

Nothing, absolutely nothing, nothing at all… Not even one little sausage!

Not everything in this life is fun. Learn a phrase to describe boring jobs!

Love pizza? Feifei and Neil bring you a phrase to show how much you enjoy something

Looked everywhere? Learn a phrase about shops that isn’t about shops!

Some things have to be expected. Learn a phrase to describe this situation

Heard something unconvincing? Maybe it's time to get out the washing powder!

Can you do lots of different things? This could be the phrase to describe you

Doing something you shouldn't? Here's a phrase about not being caught

Make the English you speak sound more natural

Learn a phrase about having new experiences

Starting out in a new profession? Here's an expression about gaining experience

Getting less for your money? Could you be the victim of 'shrinkflation'?

Is someone making unreasonable requests? Here's where they live

Fishing for a phrase? This could be the one for you

What would Rob do at the drop of a hat? Find out more about this expression

What does being confident but rude have to do with your neck? Learn an expression that should not be taken literally

Wasting time doing something that's been done before? There's a phrase to explain this

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

Give both sides of the argument with this phrase

Watching a ‘box’ can’t be very enjoyable, can it?

Learn a phrase you can use that features our feathered friend

Use this phrase involving bottles when you’re too afraid to do something

Understanding someone's true intentions

Learn a word that describes tempting online links

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

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

A word for when a man explains to a woman something in a way which suggests she's stupid.

Neil is rolling on the floor to teach a phrase connected to wealth. Feifei explains

Feifei and Sian discuss a word to use when something unexpectedly appears in your photo.

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

Are you discussing your private life in public? Here's an expression to describe what you're doing

There's a cat about and Feifei's not talking. Learn an expression that questions her quietness

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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