688 episodes

Every week, we look at a different everyday English phrase or piece of slang in this fun three-minute programme. From BBC World Service

The English We Speak BBC Learning English

    • Bildung
    • 4.0 • 539 Ratings

Every week, we look at a different everyday English phrase or piece of slang in this fun three-minute programme. From BBC World Service

    Beige flag

    Beige flag

    An expression that describes a habit you find strange, but doesn't make you not like someone.
    (Image: Getty)
    TRANSCRIPT
    Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at:
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak_2024/ep-240422.
    FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE:
    Visit our website
    ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish
    Follow us
    ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus
    LIKE PODCASTS?
    Try some of our other popular podcasts including:
    ✔️ 6 Minute English
    ✔️ News Review
    ✔️ Office English
    They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

    • 2 min
    Lay it on thick

    Lay it on thick

    An expression about exaggerating or praising someone too much.
    (Image: Getty)
    TRANSCRIPT
    Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at:
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak_2024/ep-240416.
    FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE:
    Visit our website
    ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish
    Follow us
    ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus
    LIKE PODCASTS?
    Try some of our other popular podcasts including:
    ✔️ 6 Minute English
    ✔️ News Review
    ✔️ Office English
    They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

    • 2 min
    Telling porkies

    Telling porkies

    Here's a light-hearted expression about not telling the truth.
    (Image: Getty)
    TRANSCRIPT
    Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at:
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak_2024/ep-240409.
    FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE:
    Visit our website
    ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish
    Follow us
    ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus
    LIKE PODCASTS?
    Try some of our other popular podcasts including:
    ✔️ 6 Minute English
    ✔️ News Review
    ✔️ Office English
    They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

    • 2 min
    In on it

    In on it

    We have an phrase which means to know about something or to be involved in it.

    • 2 min
    Walk someone through

    Walk someone through

    TRANSCRIPT
    Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at:
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak_2024/ep-240325
    FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE:
    Visit our website
    ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish
    Follow us
    ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus
    LIKE PODCASTS?
    Try some of our other popular podcasts including:
    ✔️6 Minute English
    ✔️ News Review
    ✔️Office English
    They're all available by searching in your podcast app

    • 2 min
    Brick by brick

    Brick by brick

    TRANSCRIPT
    Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at:
    https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak_2024/ep-240318.
    FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE:
    Visit our website
    ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish
    Follow us
    ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus
    LIKE PODCASTS?
    Try some of our other popular podcasts including:
    ✔️ 6 Minute English
    ✔️ News Review
    ✔️ Office English
    They're all available by searching in your podcast app.

    • 2 min

Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5
539 Ratings

539 Ratings

AnKiKa ,

super, but …

Please continue, but if possible add always a transcript in the details.

Bee84* ,

2:3

I understand that you have to do ads as a kind of payment for your efforts put in the podcast but you do 3 minutes ads for a 2 minute lesson? Really? Annoying and make the podcast not worth to listen anymore.

Betteramac ,

Great stuff for learners

I’ve been listening to this programme for a couple of years now. First I used it for preparation for the English test at Cambridge university. Now it is just for fun. I really like it. The episodes are not too long and entertaining. Sometimes the characters are stereotypes, maybe do some more „real-world“ characters here. All in all a great piece for learning and understanding English as it is spoken on the street. Keep up the good work and thanks BBC for the content.

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