0:00 Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them too.
0:09 I'm Feifei and I'm here with Phil.
0:12 Hello, how are you, Feifei?
0:14 I keep hearing you humming tunes around the office.
0:17 Are you happy about something?
0:19 I am. I'm really getting into music.
0:22 I've started playing the piano.
0:24 It was difficult at first, but now I'm really finding my groove.
0:29 That's good to hear.
0:30 And ‘find your groove’ is the expression that we're learning in this programme.
0:36 What does it mean?
0:37 Let's start with ‘groove’.
0:40 We can use it to talk about a rhythm or a piece of music that's easy to dance to.
0:45 When you ‘find your groove’, it means 'you find you can do something easily and you really start to enjoy it', whether that's playing music or something else.
0:55 I'm glad you found your groove with the piano, but as you said, it's not just music.
1:01 So at work recently, I've started editing a lot of videos.
1:06 It was difficult at first, but I've really found my groove with it.
1:09 It's becoming a lot easier.
1:11 Oh, that's good.
1:12 Now let's listen to some people using the expression ‘find your groove’.
1:21 So I moved house a few weeks ago and my commute to work changed.
1:25 I now have to get two trains to work and I kept getting lost.
1:28 But recently I found my groove.
1:30 It's much easier now.
1:32 I've got a new job. I have to present to clients on a daily basis.
1:36 I found it difficult at first, but I'm finally starting to find my groove.
1:41 I've joined a new football team.
1:43 We didn't really know each other well, but now we do and we play really well.
1:48 We finally found our groove and um, won some games.
1:57 So we've said 'finding your groove’ is about getting good at something and starting to really enjoy it.
2:04 Are there any other ways to use it?
2:07 Well, a similar way that we use it is to talk about finding an activity that you enjoy.
2:12 So you could say: "You should try something creative – music, painting, dancing – you've just got to find your groove."
2:20 I'm glad you found your groove with the piano.
2:23 Now I think I need to find my groove.
2:26 Maybe I should try dancing.
2:29 Hmm. I'm not sure you're ready for that, but give it a try.
2:33 Maybe you will find your groove.
2:35 Okay, that's all from us.
2:37 We'll be back next time with another useful English phrase.
2:41 See you then.
2:42 Bye.
2:45 Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them as well.
2:54 I'm Feifei and I'm joined by Beth.
2:56 Hi Feifei, how are you?
2:58 I'm very well, thank you, Beth.
3:00 So I saw an interesting expression online the other day.
3:04 It's ‘in my travel era’.
3:07 It's a very creative expression, isn't it?
3:09 I've also seen ‘in my gothic literature era’, ‘in my sporty era’, things like that.
3:15 Beth, what does it mean?
3:17 Well, people use it to describe the main thing that they are focused on at the moment.
3:23 So for example, if you saw ‘in my travel era’, well if you're travelling for a few months and upload pictures as you travel, then you might write this caption: 'I'm in my travel era.'
3:34 It's really common to see it online, but people do say it as well.
3:38 So it's a fun and creative way of saying you're really into something in a particular period of life.
3:46 It could be for a short time or a longer time.
3:49 Are you in any era at the moment, Beth?
3:51 Uh, I don't know.
3:53 Well, I've been reading some books about art recently and I've visited some art galleries, so I guess I could say I'm in my art era.
4:04 Yeah, maybe.
4:05 What about you, Feifei?
4:07 Last year I was really into knitting, so I could say I was in my knitting era.
4:14 Oh, very nice.
4:15 Well, here are some more examples of the expression ‘in my era’.
4:23 I recently joined a choir, so I guess you could say I'm in my singing era.
4:29 Right now, I think I'm in my gardening era.
4:32 The weekend comes around and I just can't wait to start digging.
4:36 I spent the whole weekend baking cupcakes and pies.
4:40 I must be in my baking era.
4:47 So this can be quite a jokey expression and it shouldn't be taken too literally.
4:52 You might stay at home and watch films all day in your pyjamas and tell your friends that you are in your lazy era.
4:59 It doesn't mean you're actually spending an era being lazy.
5:03 No, it just means you're really into one particular thing at the moment – almost like giving it a chapter title in the book of your life.
5:12 That's right.
5:12 So to recap, we've learnt ‘in my era’, which describes what you're focused on at a particular time in your life.
5:20 And that's all from us.
5:22 We'll be back next time with another useful English phrase.
5:26 – Bye. – Bye.
5:29 Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them too.
5:38 I'm Feifei and I'm joined by Georgie.
5:40 How are you doing?
5:41 Well, I'm feeling calm now, but this morning all the trains to work were cancelled, so I had to get the bus instead.
5:48 It really grinds my gears when that happens without warning or explanation.
5:53 Oh, tell me about it.
5:55 Well, ‘grind someone's gears’ is the expression we're looking at in this programme.
6:00 Train cancellations without warning grind your gears, Georgie.
6:04 So what does it mean?
6:06 Well, if something ‘grinds your gears’, it really annoys you.
6:10 What grinds your gears, Feifei?
6:12 Hmm.
6:12 When people eat really crunchy things sitting next to me in the office, that really grinds my gears.
6:20 Yeah, I can understand that one.
6:21 Now, this phrase is usually used in the present simple to talk about things which generally annoy you.
6:27 So you can start a sentence with: 'It grinds my gears when...'
6:31 Or you could say: 'That really grinds my gears.'
6:34 Yes, you wouldn't usually hear it in other forms, like 'It ground my gears', or 'It was grinding my gears', to talk about things that happen once.
6:43 Use it for things which happen often.
6:45 Let's hear some more examples.
6:52 Every evening when I go home, there's just so many tourists in the train station. It really grinds my gears.
6:57 They get in the way with their suitcases, and I'm in a rush and just want to get home.
7:02 Okay, I'll tell you what really grinds my gears – when people have got something for the dishwasher and they don't put it inside, they put it next to the dishwasher, so someone, me, has to come along and put it in for them.
7:18 So I go to this coffee shop with my friend, and every time I go there, it's like they've increased the price again.
7:24 It really grinds my gears.
7:31 Now there are some other useful phrases to use when things annoy you.
7:35 A ‘pet peeve’ is a noun, and it's 'something that annoys you'.
7:39 They're usually quite personal.
7:40 So, for example, one of my pet peeves is people calling me without saying they're going to call me.
7:46 Whereas I don't mind it when people do that.
7:49 Another phrase we can use is ‘it drives me up the wall’.
7:53 It drives me up the wall when Neil crunches his apples all the time in the office.
7:58 Yeah, that is so annoying.
8:00 Okay, let's recap.
8:01 We learnt ‘grind someone's gears’, which means 'annoy someone’.
8:05 Thanks for joining us. Bye!
8:06 Goodbye.
8:10 Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them too.
8:19 I'm Feifei.
8:20 And I'm Phil.
8:21 What were you doing this morning?
8:23 I didn't see you in the office, Phil.
8:25 Oh, I was helping a friend design their website.
8:27 I've been studying design.
8:29 Design skills? I didn't realise you had that in your locker.
8:33 My locker?
8:34 I think this could be the expression we learn in this programme.
8:38 If you 'have something in your locker’, you have a skill, idea or something that you can use if needed.
8:45 It's not usually about your actual locker where you leave your things.
8:49 No, it's often something that other people don't know about, like your design skills.
8:54 They're definitely useful to have in your locker.
8:57 Now, the important thing is that they are something that you can bring out of your locker and use when needed.
9:04 For example, if you go into a job interview, it's good to have some examples of your work in your locker.
9:09 Do you have anything in your locker to help people understand this expression, Phil?
9:14 Well, I've got some examples of people using the expression.
9:17 Let's listen.
9:22 Everyone looked really bored with my karaoke song choices, but then I remembered I had a really good party song in my locker.
9:29 Everyone got up and danced.
9:31 I didn't realise you had those dance moves in your locker.
9:34 I wouldn't have challenged you to a dance-off if I'd known.
9:37 So I've invited my colleagues over for dinner.
9:39 They think I can't cook, but they're going to be surprised because I've got some great pasta recipes in my locker.
9:48 We've been learning the expression ‘have in your locker’.
9:52 It means 'having something extra you can use if needed'.
9:57 And there is a similar expression – ‘to have one shot in your locker’.
10:01 This means 'you only have one chance left to do something'.
10:05 Yes. Think about researchers who've been trying to make an experiment work and there's one more chance to succeed.
10:12 They would have one more shot in their locker.
10:14 Now, I'm sure you want to have some great English expressions in your locker, so make sure you come back next time to learn a new one.
10:22 – Bye. – Bye.
10:26 Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them too.
10:35 I'm Feifei.
10:36 And I'm Phil.
10:38 I just had a fantastic weekend.
10:40 How about you, Phil?
10:41 Me? Fun, but busy.
10:43 My wife's cousin is staying with us.
10:45 He hasn't been to London before, so I've taken him under my wing and shown him all the things you can do here.
10:51 You can do a lot in London, can't you?
10:53 Tell me about it.
10:54 That's why I'm so tired.
10:56 Actually, I wanted to have a closer look at the expression you just used: ‘take someone under your wing’.
11:03 Yes. It's the idea of helping or guiding someone through something, or protecting them.
11:09 Think about the image of a bird looking after their chicks.
11:12 They use their wings to protect their young.
11:14 Yes, it has the idea that the person taking someone under their wing is more experienced.
11:20 For example, when you start a new job, it can be helpful if there is someone experienced who takes you under their wing.
11:28 Let's listen to some more people using this expression.
11:32 Take someone under your wing.
11:37 I've been in a choir for a couple of years now, and someone new has just joined, so I've kind of taken her under my wing.
11:43 I've introduced her to some of the other people.
11:46 When I was about ten years old, I moved country and had to go to a school where I didn't know anyone.
11:53 And there was a really friendly boy called James.
11:55 He took me under his wing.
11:57 He became my friend. He showed me everything, and he was great.
12:01 When I was at university, I was quite shy, but I had some confident friends who took me under their wing, and that made it better.
12:11 We've been learning the expression ‘take someone under your wing’, to describe 'guiding or protecting someone through something’.
12:18 A similar expression could be ‘to put your arm around someone's shoulder’.
12:23 It means that 'you're helping or supporting someone'.
12:26 Yes. Whether you're taking someone under your wing or putting an arm around their shoulder, it's always good to help people.
12:34 Well, we can help with English.
12:36 Let us take you under our wing.
12:38 That's it for this programme.
12:39 But join us next time to learn more English phrases and expressions.
12:43 That's right.
12:44 See you next time.
12:45 – Bye. – Bye.
12:48 Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them too.
12:57 I'm Feifei.
12:58 And I'm Phil.
12:59 Ugh, I'm in such a rush Feifei.
13:02 Can we do this quickly?
13:03 I need to run home and pack.
13:05 I'm going on holiday tomorrow, and I haven't packed anything yet, or worked out how to get to the airport, or got any travel money.
13:13 You haven't done any of that?
13:15 Phil, I'd help out, but I think this is more of a you problem.
13:19 You should have planned things better, but let's record this programme properly and take the time it needs.
13:27 Well, at least you've given an expression we can talk about: ‘a you problem’.
13:32 We say this to someone to say that their problem is something for them to sort out themselves.
13:38 Yes, and often we use it to remind people, when they complain about something, that they could have avoided.
13:44 Like your rushed holiday preparations.
13:47 You're right.
13:48 That is a me problem. I'll sort it.
13:50 It's not always rude to say, but it is quite informal.
13:55 Another way we use it is to say that a problem is something that no one else thinks is important.
14:01 You know how you don't like sitting on the left side of the studio, Feifei?
14:05 That's right. I don't like it.
14:07 Well, I think that's a you problem, Feifei.
14:09 No one else minds.
14:11 Let's hear some other people using this expression.
14:17 Beth, you look so tired!
14:19 I am. I stayed up till two o'clock last night.
14:23 Well, that's a you problem.
14:24 Alright...
14:27 Oh no! I've lost my ticket to tonight's concert.
14:30 Well, that's a you problem. I'm going. You're going to have to buy a new one.
14:35 I've been at the beach all day, so now I haven't got any time to finish my work.
14:38 Um, can you help me?
14:40 Well, that's a you problem really.
14:48 We've been learning the expression ‘a you problem’, to mean 'this is a problem that you need to sort out’, or ‘this is only a problem for you’.
14:57 You'll often hear people say: "I think that's a you problem," or "That sounds like a you problem."
15:04 Yes. So you needing more time to pack sounds like a you problem.
15:09 We need to stop here, so we'll see you in the next programme.
15:13 Goodbye.
15:13 Bye.
15:16 Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them as well.
15:25 I'm Feifei and I'm here with Beth.
15:27 How are you?
15:28 Hi, Feifei. I'm OK.
15:30 Although my younger sister is staying with me at the moment, and she expects me to do everything for her.
15:37 This morning she wanted me to bring her breakfast in bed.
15:41 I said, "You can moan all you like.
15:43 I am not making you breakfast in bed."
15:45 Oh no!
15:47 Although, 'all you like’, that's an interesting phrase.
15:50 It means 'a person can do or say something as much as they want to, but it won't change the situation'.
15:57 Yes, it's used when complaints or actions won't have any effect.
16:02 Like my sister complaining — there was no way I was going to make her breakfast in bed.
16:07 Exactly. The decision was final.
16:10 This reminds me of when I was at school, when our teacher used to give us lots of homework at school holidays, and we complained.
16:18 But the teacher always told us, "You can complain all you like, but you still have to do it all."
16:24 Yeah, I think we had the same, to be honest.
16:27 Right. Let's listen to more examples of ‘all you like’.
16:35 Stop making that noise.
16:37 You can cry all you like.
16:38 I'm not going to give you that ice cream.
16:40 The players can complain to the referee all they like about that penalty, but he's never going to change his mind.
16:47 The teacher can shout all she likes, but the students are still going to behave badly.
16:55 So we've said ‘all you like’ is used to say that somebody can continue to do something, like complain, but it won't change the outcome.
17:04 And it's usually a phrase used at the end of a clause that has the modal verb ‘can’, and then a second clause is added on.
17:11 Yes, and that second clause is often linked with ‘but’.
17:15 For example: 'You can moan all you like, but I won't change my mind.'
17:20 Honestly, that's what I'm going to say to my sister later if she asks me to do any more things for her.
17:25 Oh, good luck.
17:26 We'll be back next time with another useful English phrase.
17:30 See you soon.
17:30 Bye.
17:35 Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain expressions used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them too.
17:44 I'm Feifei and I'm joined by Georgie.
17:46 How are you?
17:47 I'm fine, thank you.
17:48 But Feifei, you look quite different today.
17:50 Is it the hair?
17:52 The make-up? New skincare routine?
17:54 I can't quite put my finger on it.
17:56 Yes, Georgie, I got a haircut at the weekend.
17:59 Thanks for noticing.
18:00 Ah, yes. Well, it looks great, really suits you.
18:03 Anyway, I said "I can't put my finger on it", and that is the phrase we're looking at in this programme.
18:08 Yes we are. If you ‘can't put your finger on something’, it means 'you can't identify the cause of something'.
18:15 So you knew I looked different, but you didn't know why — you couldn't put your finger on it.
18:22 It can also be used when you can't remember something or someone.
18:25 For example, I walked past a man in the street this morning and I knew I recognised him, but I just couldn't put my finger on where I knew him from.
18:33 I'm still thinking about it!
18:35 Right. So both meanings are about not being able to recall information from your brain.
18:41 Either you can't remember something, or you can't work out the cause of something.
18:46 Right. And because of that, it's mostly used in the negative.
18:49 'I can't put my finger on something.'
18:51 It can be used in the affirmative form, but it's rarer.
18:55 For example, I was finally able to put my finger on why I don't like nuts — it's the texture.
19:00 Let's hear some more examples.
19:06 There's a really strange smell in the studio.
19:09 I can't quite put my finger on what it is.
19:12 This cake tastes weird.
19:14 I can't really put my finger on why, but I think I followed the recipe wrong. Put the wrong ingredient in.
19:20 I really feel like I've left something behind at home today but I can't put my finger on what it is.
19:31 ‘Can't put my finger on something’ is especially used when something is strange, wrong, or just different.
19:37 Yes, and it's most common in the first person.
19:41 Mostly we use it to express our own confusion about something.
19:44 One last thing to say about it is that we often say it with the word ‘quite’.
19:49 'I can't quite put my finger on it.'
19:51 It means you feel like you're close to knowing or remembering that thing, but not yet.
19:55 Okay, let's recap.
19:57 We learnt the phrase ‘can't put my finger on something’, which means ‘you can't figure out the reason for something’ or ‘you can't remember something’.
20:05 Thanks for joining us.
20:06 Goodbye.
20:07 Bye.
