with me Feifei and joining me is Rob.

Hello Rob.

Hello. Now, I was thinking.

You always start the programme.

It's never me.

That's right, I have always started the programme.

That's the way I like it.

Really? And you always introduce the examples.

I do Rob, it's just the way I like to do it

and I know what's best.

Hmm, you do you.

I do me?

No. You do you. It means you do your own thing.

You know your own mind and

you probably won't change.

You do you?

Hmm, yes thanks for clearing that up Rob.

I guess you're right.

Thanks but can I introduce the examples today please?

No.

Look, we can agree on this.

You do you and we'll talk about this again later.

I told my girlfriend to do more exercise

but she wouldn't listen so I told her:

"You do you, I'm off for a run".

I like the way you do you.

You stick to what you think is right and are

not influenced by what other people's comments.

This is The English We Speak

from BBC Learning English and

we're talking about the expression 'you do you',

which can be said to someone to mean they

always behave in the same way and they won't change.

Of course Rob, I couldn't do things your way.

Oh, why?

You're always late so it's best if I start the programme.

And there's another reason why I always do me.

I'm always right.

Oh, in that case maybe I can do you too?

It's ok Rob, it's best if you do you and I'll do me.

Who me? This is very confusing.

I'll tell you what you can do.

You can finish the programme because I've got to go. Bye!

Right, that's all for this The English We Speak. Bye.

Feifei, where have you gone?

Welcome to The English We Speak.

I'm Neil.

And I'm Feifei.

You're a pretty polite person, aren't you, Feifei?

Well, thanks. I don't know. I try to be!

That was a very polite answer!

But sometimes we want to say things that are

very honest, or that others  might not want to hear.

For example, I ask you: "Do I look tired today?"

Well, I could directly say:

"Yes, you do look a bit tired."

Or you could start with this

slang expression 'not gonna lie'.

Not gonna lie Feifei, you do look a little tired.

I know, I need to get to bed earlier!

'Gonna' of course, is short for 'going to'.

Using this phrase indicates that you're

choosing to be honest rather than polite.

It's not only used for honest criticism,

we might also use it before something

we're very proud of,

or something we boast about.

For example: I love recording these programmes.

Though I'm not gonna lie, I'm the

best presenter in this team.

Woah, that's enough. I'm sure everyone

listening agrees that I'm the best presenter.

Of course you're a fantastic presenter, Feifei.

Just an example!

Talking of examples, let's hear a few more.

Fancy coming round for dinner tomorrow?

Absolutely. If you're making your famous roast?

Oh yes. Not gonna lie, it's  the best roast in town!

Slow down! You really are a terrible

driver Mark, not gonna lie.

Not gonna lie, I absolutely love my job.

I feel so happy when I walk through

the office door every day.

That last example sounds just like me.

Especially as I'm (coughs) the best presenter.

OK, OK, that joke is getting old now.

You're right. OK, one more thing.

This phrase 'not gonna lie'...

Yes?

Not gonna lie, I think some people use it too much!

Yes, it's become a popular phrase on social media.

Usually accompanied by a photo of someone

on holiday at the beach with a post saying:

"Not gonna lie, it's stunning here!"

The kind of post that makes me feel

jealous when I'm stuck in the office.

But I thought you loved your job?!

Oh, I do.

And yes, you are a very good presenter, Neil.

That makes me feel much better, not gonna lie.

Bye. Bye.

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak

with me, Feifei.

And me, Roy.

We may sound a little different.

That's because we are not able to record in our

normal studios during the coronavirus outbreak.

In this programme, we have a phrase that

means to keep talking about something,

usually in a boring or annoying way.

You kept talking about some band this morning.

What were you banging on about?

What do you mean 'banging on'?

I wasn't hitting anything this morning with a pan!

I was just talking about music with Neil.

Exactly! You were talking about it so much,

and I was trying to work.

'Banging on about something' isn't literal,

and why would you mention a pan?!

It means you were talking about something

to a level that it became annoying.

Ahhh, the way in which you kept talking about

that film 'Unicorns Eat Bananas in the Stars'!

You banged on about it so much last

week that people left the room.

That film is amazing.

Feifei, you kept giving people spoilers, and

nobody went to see the film in the end because

you kept banging on about

everything that happened.

Well, that's your opinion, Roy.

Anyway, let's listen to these examples.

My friend keeps banging on about where he's

going to go when he buys his new car.

It's really frustrating.

That person on the bus was really annoying.

She kept banging on about

how the prices had gone up.

Will you please stop banging on about my project!?

If you think you could do a better job,

you can do my work for me.

This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning

English and we're talking about the expression

'bang on about something', which is used

to say that someone is talking about something

so much that it is annoying or irritating.

Sorry, Feifei. I didn't mean to say you

were banging on about that film.

Everyone did love your enthusiasm about it.

I'm sorry too, Roy. I just wanted to know

more about the band you were talking about,

so I found it annoying that I didn't understand.

Ah, well, next I'll tell you more about it.

That's OK. I think I've heard enough about

your taste in music for one lifetime,

but thanks anyway. Bye, Roy.

Bye.

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak

with me, Feifei.

And me, Roy.

In this programme, we have an expression

which describes when someone has read the

message you've sent them, but hasn't replied.

That reminds me, Roy, did you get my

message yesterday?

Oh… yes, I did. I read it and then

totally forgot to answer you.

Was it something important?

I can't believe it! You completely ignored

my message. I got left on read!

What's the colour 'red' got to do with

the fact I forgot to reply?

Red is actually my favourite colour.

Not red the colour, but 'read' as in the past of 'read'.

Ahh, got you.

Sorry, I didn't mean to leave you on read.

It's just I was in the middle of something…

and then I got distracted… and then…

OK. Roy. I understand! What was so

important that you couldn't reply?

I was eating a really nice banana

and then I just forgot… sorry.

That's a terrible excuse.

It's a good thing we're friends or I

might think you were ignoring me.

Anyway, let's listen to these examples.

I can't believe I was left on read.

I sent him a message and I can see

he's looked at it, but he hasn't replied!

My partner always leaves me on read.

They get really distracted and

then don't message me back.

You shouldn't assume the worst

if you get left on read.

If someone reads your message

and doesn't reply, they might be really

busy and planning to respond later.

This is The English We Speak from

BBC Learning English and we're talking

about the expression 'left on read'.

We use this when someone has

read a message but hasn't replied.

So, were you really eating a banana

and that's why you left me on read?

Yeah, sorry. Well, I was also playing video

games which might have been the main reason.

Ha, I knew it! Well the next time I want

to offer you free tickets to the 'Rob's

Rolling Biscuit' rock concert, hopefully

you'll reply and not just leave me on read!

What!?! Free tickets?! Let me read the message

again! Can I still have the tickets?

Sorry, it's too late now. I gave them to Neil.

He didn't leave me on read. Bye, Roy.

Bye.

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak.

I'm Feifei.

And I'm Neil.

And Neil, we have a musical expression.

Do you like rock music?

Rock. Yeah I love it.

Really?

Yeah, when I was younger I was in a rock band.

We had it all: long hair, loud guitars,

even louder drums, leather... all that jazz!

Jazz? Hang on, was it a jazz or a rock band?!

Aha, very funny. 'All that jazz' is our phrase.

And it has nothing to do with jazz.

Indeed, it simply means 'and so on',

or 'and other similar things'.

You often use it after listing things.

For example: I love Christmas dinner.

You've got turkey, Brussels sprouts, roast potatoes,

gravy, all that jazz. It's just great.

You're not wrong. I love all that jazz too.

And now you've made my mouth water,

so let's take a break and listen to these examples.

I had a super lazy weekend.

I woke up late, got some coffee, went for a walk

watched a couple of movies, all that jazz.

It was great.

I don't read celebrity gossip.

You know: who's going out with who,

who got plastic surgery, all that jazz.

I'm just not interested!

It's often used in a list of unpleasant or boring things.

For example: This morning I cleaned the whole

house: washing, scrubbing, vacuuming, all that jazz!

Yes, by using "jazz" to describe dull things,

it's ironic and brings some humour.

It does, Feifei. Especially when we compare

it with the phrase to "jazz up".

You can 'jazz up an outfit' or

'jazz up a meal' for example,

which means to make something

more interesting and even glamorous.

Before we go, we should of course mention

the phrase is also the name of a song from the