We Speak with me, Feifei...

Neil: There you go, Feifei - one

skinny cappuccino for you...

Feifei: Thanks, Neil. It's good to get away

from the office, and I like this cafe... it's

very stylish, for you!

Neil: I will take that as a compliment.

Now, shall we get down to business?

Feifei: 'Get down to business'?

Do we have to talk about business?

I thought we'd forget

about work, relax, talk about...

your holiday plans. Where are

you going this year?

Neil: Sorry, Feifei, we need

to talk shop for a minute.

Feifei: Shoppping! I'd love

to talk about shopping.

Neil: No. Talk shop.

Feifei: Which shop?

Neil: Our shop - I mean our work.

To talk shop means to talk about work,

even when you're

not at work!

Feifei|: Oh right! And do we talk shop

to just anyone?

Neil: No, Feifei, just to the people we

work with - I don't think

anyone else would be

interested. Let's hear from some more

people who are 'talking shop'...

We went to the pub to celebrate

Rob's birthday, but inevitably

we started talking shop!

I bumped into my boss on the train

home tonight and he talked shop

all the way to my stop.

We've been at work all day, let's all have

some fun and not talk shop - please!

Feifei: This is The English We Speak

from BBC Learning English,

and we're talking about

the phrase 'talk shop'. It means

to talk to people you work with

about work, even when

you're not at work. So come on then, Neil.

Let's talk about work, if we have to.

Neil: Thanks. I brought you to the cafe so

we could talk about all the scripts

I've got to write.

Feifei: You want me to write some scripts

- that's why you bought me a coffee?

Neil: Of course not. I just need some

ideas for some authentic

English phrases to write

about. That's why I needed to ...

Feifei: ...talk shop.

Neil: Exactly.

Feifei: No! 'Talk shop' - that's

an English phrase you can write about.

Neil: Brilliant, Feifei! Wow, these

scripts just write themselves.

Fancy another coffee?

Feifei: Only if we stop talking shop!

Neil: Bye.