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Learning English Conversations

en us

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

Follow us at bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus

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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

Follow us at bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus

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Episodes

Page 14 · 50 per page
Published 2014-01-13

Skeleton in the closet

3 min
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Finn and Li go to his late uncle's house. What is Li afraid of? We hope this expression won't frighten you.

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Finn and Li go to his late uncle's house. What is Li afraid of? We hope this expression won't frighten you.

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Published 2014-01-06

To have words

2 min
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Why is Finn cross with Li? Here's a good expression for when you're out of patience.

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Why is Finn cross with Li? Here's a good expression for when you're out of patience.

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Published 2013-12-30

Crystal clear

3 min
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If something is crystal clear, how clear is it? Rob and Feifei find out when they build a wardrobe.

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If something is crystal clear, how clear is it? Rob and Feifei find out when they build a wardrobe.

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Published 2013-12-23

Ginormous

3 min
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The glass and steel buildings of modern Shanghai are ginormous. What does this mean?

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The glass and steel buildings of modern Shanghai are ginormous. What does this mean?

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Published 2013-12-16

Take the mickey

3 min
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Who is laughing at Rob? Is it Li or is it Mickey Mouse? Here's an expression with a twist

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Who is laughing at Rob? Is it Li or is it Mickey Mouse? Here's an expression with a twist

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Published 2013-12-02

Go round in circles

3 min
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Which way are you going if you're not making any progress? Discover a phrase to use when you keep coming back to the same problem.

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Which way are you going if you're not making any progress? Discover a phrase to use when you keep coming back to the same problem.

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Published 2013-11-25

Bottomless

2 min
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Li starts to get worried when her colleagues talk about going for a 'bottomless' meal. What does it mean? Find out more by listening to this programme.

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Li starts to get worried when her colleagues talk about going for a 'bottomless' meal. What does it mean? Find out more by listening to this programme.

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Published 2013-11-18

Full of beans

3 min
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Are you feeling tired today? Or are you full of beans? Learn more about this phrase in this programme.

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Are you feeling tired today? Or are you full of beans? Learn more about this phrase in this programme.

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Published 2013-11-11

To go with a bang

3 min
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You don't need fireworks to say a party is going really well.

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You don't need fireworks to say a party is going really well.

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Published 2013-11-04

Other half

2 min
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Do you always consult with your other half before you make important decisions?

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Do you always consult with your other half before you make important decisions?

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Published 2013-10-28

Bits and bobs

3 min
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Neil says he has a lot of 'bits and bobs' to sort out. What does he mean?

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Neil says he has a lot of 'bits and bobs' to sort out. What does he mean?

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Published 2013-10-21

Nosh

2 min
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Feifei spots a celebrity in the lift who says he's going to get some nosh. Rob has to explain exactly what he's going to get.

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Feifei spots a celebrity in the lift who says he's going to get some nosh. Rob has to explain exactly what he's going to get.

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Published 2013-10-14

Ace

3 min
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Do you like playing cards? Are you ace at playing cards? Join us for an 'ace' programme.

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Do you like playing cards? Are you ace at playing cards? Join us for an 'ace' programme.

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Published 2013-10-07

Beef

3 min
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Beef is meat that comes from a cow, right? Yes, but there is another meaning... Find out more here.

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Beef is meat that comes from a cow, right? Yes, but there is another meaning... Find out more here.

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Published 2013-09-30

Out of the picture

3 min
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Finn has got his camera. Who does Feifei want to see in the picture?

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Finn has got his camera. Who does Feifei want to see in the picture?

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Published 2013-09-23

Cut to the chase

2 min
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Who's chasing Finn and Feifei? Here's a good expression for when you're running out of patience

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Who's chasing Finn and Feifei? Here's a good expression for when you're running out of patience

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Published 2013-09-16

Have a ball

3 min
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Feifei has just returned to the office after a really relaxing holiday. So why does Finn ask her if she had a ball? Find out in the programme.

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Feifei has just returned to the office after a really relaxing holiday. So why does Finn ask her if she had a ball? Find out in the programme.

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Published 2013-09-09

Don't make a scene!

3 min
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Neil and Feifei are about to watch a play but there is a lot of drama outside the theatre. What is going on?

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Neil and Feifei are about to watch a play but there is a lot of drama outside the theatre. What is going on?

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Published 2013-09-02

Phone slang

4 min
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When is a bell not a bell, and a dog not a dog? Find out in our programme about phone slang.

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When is a bell not a bell, and a dog not a dog? Find out in our programme about phone slang.

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Published 2013-08-26

Can of worms

3 min
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In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at the phrase 'a can of worms'.

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In this series you can learn authentic English words and phrases. This week's programme looks at the phrase 'a can of worms'.

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Published 2013-08-19

What's his face?

2 min
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What do you say in English if you can't remember someone's name? Listen to this programme to learn lots of different phrases you can use.

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What do you say in English if you can't remember someone's name? Listen to this programme to learn lots of different phrases you can use.

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Published 2013-08-12

Straight from the horse's mouth

3 min
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Learn English with horses. In fact, learn it 'straight from the horse's mouth' in this programme.

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Learn English with horses. In fact, learn it 'straight from the horse's mouth' in this programme.

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Published 2013-08-05

After

3 min
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Join Li and Finn for a drink in the bar and learn a new way to ask someone what they want.

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Join Li and Finn for a drink in the bar and learn a new way to ask someone what they want.

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Published 2013-07-29

Weather idioms

3 min
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Using weather idioms: is Jen chasing rainbows, or is it a storm in a teacup?

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Using weather idioms: is Jen chasing rainbows, or is it a storm in a teacup?

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Published 2013-07-23

Legend

3 min
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Legends are stories about people who lived long ago, right? Well, there's more to it than that.

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Legends are stories about people who lived long ago, right? Well, there's more to it than that.

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Published 2013-07-08

The bee's knees

3 min
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Finn wants to share some special food with Li. But they receive some uninvited guests who also want to eat their delicious picnic snacks.

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Finn wants to share some special food with Li. But they receive some uninvited guests who also want to eat their delicious picnic snacks.

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Published 2013-06-24

Don't make me laugh!

2 min
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It's laughable. How to say that you think something will never happen.

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It's laughable. How to say that you think something will never happen.

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Published 2013-06-10

To see red

3 min
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Seeing red: what is making Jen and Feifei so angry on their day trip?

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Seeing red: what is making Jen and Feifei so angry on their day trip?

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Published 2013-06-03

Haven't slept a wink

3 min
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Zzzz... Neil had a crying child in his room and Feifei had a mosquito in hers. That's why neither of them has slept a wink.

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Zzzz... Neil had a crying child in his room and Feifei had a mosquito in hers. That's why neither of them has slept a wink.

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Published 2013-05-27

Freak

2 min
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Are you obsessed by a hobby or sport? Feifei is but Jen's not impressed!

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Are you obsessed by a hobby or sport? Feifei is but Jen's not impressed!

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Published 2013-05-20

I wasn't born yesterday

3 min
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Were you born yesterday? Probably not, but this is a useful expression if someone's trying to fool you.

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Were you born yesterday? Probably not, but this is a useful expression if someone's trying to fool you.

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Published 2013-05-13

Six-pack

3 min
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Do you have a six-pack or a one-pack? Maybe it's time to do more exercise! Find out why in The English We Speak.

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Do you have a six-pack or a one-pack? Maybe it's time to do more exercise! Find out why in The English We Speak.

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Published 2013-05-06

To cook the books

3 min
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Neil is cooking an unusual meal in the BBC Learning English kitchen. Would you like to eat a book?

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Neil is cooking an unusual meal in the BBC Learning English kitchen. Would you like to eat a book?

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Published 2013-04-29

On the up

2 min
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Things are 'on the up' for Jennifer and Jean at work. Find out why in The English We Speak.

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Things are 'on the up' for Jennifer and Jean at work. Find out why in The English We Speak.

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Published 2013-04-22

LOL!

3 min
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Do you know what this text message abbreviation means? Find out with Jennifer and Rob in this week's programme.

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Do you know what this text message abbreviation means? Find out with Jennifer and Rob in this week's programme.

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Published 2013-04-15

Makeover

4 min
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Feifei thinks that Catherine looks better, younger, prettier. Why does Catherine look so different today? Find out more with The English We Speak.

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Feifei thinks that Catherine looks better, younger, prettier. Why does Catherine look so different today? Find out more with The English We Speak.

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Published 2013-04-08

A white elephant

2 min
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Does Finn have to look after his uncle's white elephant? Find out more with The English We Speak.

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Does Finn have to look after his uncle's white elephant? Find out more with The English We Speak.

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Published 2013-04-01

Finger on the pulse

3 min
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Finn has his finger on the pulse when Feifei says that she has no clue about some actors in a movie. What does it mean?

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Finn has his finger on the pulse when Feifei says that she has no clue about some actors in a movie. What does it mean?

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Published 2013-03-25

Cut the mustard

3 min
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Can Feifei cut the mustard to win a cooking contest? Find out more with The English We Speak.

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Can Feifei cut the mustard to win a cooking contest? Find out more with The English We Speak.

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Published 2013-03-18

To miss the boat

3 min
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Does Feifei really need a lifejacket to go to Finn's uncle's party? Find out more about this phrase in this programme.

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Does Feifei really need a lifejacket to go to Finn's uncle's party? Find out more about this phrase in this programme.

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Published 2013-03-11

To take (something) on board

3 min
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Li and Rob are going on a holiday and are getting ready at the airport. But Rob is very surprised to find Li carrying so many things that she is not allowed to take on board. Find out more with The English We Speak.

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Li and Rob are going on a holiday and are getting ready at the airport. But Rob is very surprised to find Li carrying so many things that she is not allowed to take on board. Find out more with The English We Speak.

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Published 2013-03-04

The writing is on the wall

3 min
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Vera gets angry with Dominic when Rob mentions the phrase 'the writing is on the wall'. Is Dominic being naughty?

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Vera gets angry with Dominic when Rob mentions the phrase 'the writing is on the wall'. Is Dominic being naughty?

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Published 2013-02-25

Every Tom Dick and Harry

3 min
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Kaz invites Tom, Dick and Harry to the studio and introduces them to Yang Li. Who are they?

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Kaz invites Tom, Dick and Harry to the studio and introduces them to Yang Li. Who are they?

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Published 2013-02-08

Go to town

2 min
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Why does Abigail keep saying she's 'going to town'? And what has it got to do with red food? Find out here.

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Why does Abigail keep saying she's 'going to town'? And what has it got to do with red food? Find out here.

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Published 2013-02-01

Over the moon

3 min
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Someone in the office is over the moon about getting a new job. Find out what that really means in this week's programme.

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Someone in the office is over the moon about getting a new job. Find out what that really means in this week's programme.

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