in that bed sheet?

Feifei: Oh, just getting my costume ready

for tonight, Neil. I'm coming as a ghost.

What about you?

Neil: I don't really feel like it, Feifei.

Feifei: I thought you were bringing

your new girlfriend?

Neil: Sadly not. She hasn't replied

to any of my messages for a whole week.

Feifei: Oh, sorry Neil. Looks like

she's ghosting you.

Neil: No. Like I said, she's

not coming tonight. You'll be

the only ghost at the party, I'm afraid.

Feifei: Neil, 'ghosting' is a slang word.

If you ghost someone, it means

you suddenly stop all communication

with them, with no explanation.

Neil: Ah right. Yes, she doesn't answer

my calls, doesn't reply to my texts.

Feifei: That's ghosting. Some people do it

to end a relationship.

Neil: So, are you saying she wants

to split up with me?

Feifei: I don't know, but it's not a very

nice way to treat people. We even use the

word 'ghosting' between friends when one

stops contacting the other, it's not only

for romantic relationships.

Anyway, help me cut this second eye

out of my ghost costume while

we play some examples.

Katia felt awful for weeks after being

ghosted by a guy she really liked.

Keiko wanted to break up with

her boyfriend but didn't want to upset him.

So when he suddenly started

ghosting her, she actually felt relieved.

Jorge and Rafa used to hang out all

the time at school. But once

they started university,

Jorge just ghosted Rafa.

Feifei: You're listening to The English

We Speak from BBC Learning English.

The expression we're looking at

in this programme is 'ghosting'.

And, Neil... there we are!

One ghost costume.

Thanks for your help.

Neil: I just want to know why, Feifei. Why

is she ghosting me? What did I do wrong?

Feifei: Neil, that's the difficult thing about

ghosting. You won't get those answers.

Sorry.

Neil: Oh, it's her.

Feifei: What is she saying?

Neil: "Sorry Neil. I lost my phone last week

and only just found it again. Call me.

Kiss."

Feifei: There you go!

Neil: She sent a kiss! Feifei, let's make

her a costume - I'm going to invite her to

this party.

Feifei: OK! One more ghost costume?

Neil: No, I think I've had enough ghosts for

one day.

Both: Bye.