Category Archives: idiom

Idiom: Rabbit on

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Transcript

Rob
Welcome to The English We Speak, with me Rob… but no Feifei! Where is she?

Feifei
Sorry I’m late.

Rob
Where have you been?

Feifei
Well, I was on the way to the studio, and I bumped into Richard and – you know Richard –  he started to rabbit on about Star Wars!

Rob
Richard’s got a rabbit?

Feifei
No, Rob! I mean he wouldn’t stop talking. ‘To rabbit on’ describes someone talking continuously so that other people lose interest in what they are saying and become bored. And Richard was really going on and on and on.

Rob
So, it’s got nothing to do with rabbits?

Feifei
No, Rob. Let’s hear some examples, shall we?

Examples
Mark just won’t stop rabbiting on about the weather – it’s so boring!

Freya likes to rabbit on about how amazing her boyfriend is!

Our meeting always overruns because our boss likes to rabbit on about timekeeping!

Feifei
In this The English We Speak, we’re looking at the phrase ‘to rabbit on’ which describes someone talking so much that they become boring to listen to.

Rob
So, what was Richard rabbiting on about anyway?

Feifei
Oh, he was going on about his collection of Star Wars memorabilia.

Rob
Really? That’s fascinating. I love Star Wars – does he have the Chewbacca figure, and the limited-edition Darth Vader mask? My favourite is the Luke Skywalker…

Feifei
Rob, stop! Now you’re rabbiting on.

Rob
Oh, am I boring you? Don’t you like Star Wars?

Feifei
No.

Rob
OK, time to go, I think. I’ll go and chat to Richard. Bye.

Feifei
Bye.

idiom: Caught red-handed

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Transcript

Feifei
Welcome to The English We Speak. I’m Feifei…

Rob
…and it’s me, Rob.

Feifei
Err, Rob, are those crumbs around your mouth?

Rob
No, I don’t think so. Why do you ask?

Feifei
Well, I filled the office biscuit jar with biscuits yesterday, and today it’s empty.

Rob
Oh, I see – you think I ate all the biscuits!

Feifei
You do like biscuits… hold on, what’s that in your pockets?

Rob
Err, well… they’re biscuits.

Feifei
Caught red handed, Rob! You are the biscuit thief.

Rob
My hands aren’t red.

Feifei
I’m not worried about the colour of your hands, It’s what you were doing with them! So, when someone is ‘caught red handed’ they are discovered doing something wrong and there’s no doubt. So, Rob, you’ve been found out!

Rob
Yeah, well, I can explain. But let’s have some examples first…

Examples

Jorge was caught red-handed having a sneak peek of his presents before his birthday!

We caught Svetlana red-handed eating chocolate as she said she was giving it up.

The bank worker was sacked after being caught red-handed putting money into his bag.

Feifei
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. Rob has been caught red-handed stealing all the biscuits from our biscuit jar – which means he’s been caught doing something wrong. Let’s face it, Rob, you are guilty!

Rob
OK, OK, I did steal all the biscuits, but it’s because I didn’t have time for lunch.

Feifei
A likely story.

Rob
So, shall I put them back in the jar then?

Feifei
Yuck, no! I think you need to buy us some more. And I’m going to put a lock on the jar.

Rob
Why?

Feifei
So, you won’t be caught red-handed again.

Rob
Oh, crumbs! 

Feifei
Bye.

Rob
Bye!

idiom: Steal someone’s thunder

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Transcript

Feifei
This is The English We Speak with me, Feifei…

Rob
…and me, Rob.

Feifei
Rob, I’ve got some very exciting news to share with you and our listeners.

Rob
Well, can I just tell everyone my news first?

Feifei
Go on then.

Rob
Well, I passed my grade one guitar exam!

Feifei
Oh, well done, Rob. But you’ve stolen my thunder now!

Rob
I’m not a thief, Feifei – I was just telling everyone my good news.

Feifei
I’m not calling you a thief, although you are stealing my attention! If you ‘steal someone’s thunder’, you take the attention away from the other person, usually to your own advantage. It also means you get the praise for something someone else has done. So, Rob, well done, enjoy the attention.

Rob
Thanks. Now, will these examples steal your thunder as well?!

Examples
Joe stole my thunder by announcing his promotion before I got to tell everyone about mine!

She’s always stealing my thunder by telling people our news before I do.

I was telling a joke and he just interrupted me to tell a different one. He always steals my thunder.

Feifei
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English, and we’re learning about the phrase ‘to steal someone’s thunder’, which means to do something that takes the attention and praise away from someone else. So, Rob, you are now the focus of attention. 

Rob
Why do you sound so angry?

Feifei
Well, I had some big news I wanted to share.

Rob
Go on then, tell everyone – share your important news.

Feifei
It’s just that I’ve been studying for years, I’ve passed my final exams and I am now a fully qualified brain surgeon.

Rob
Oh, I knew that. I saw the certificate on your desk. Yeah, well done.

Feifei
Thanks. Looks like you’ve stolen my thunder… again.

Rob
Bye.

Feifei
Bye.