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The English We Speak

Intermediate level

The English We Speak is your chance to catch up on the very latest English words and phrases. In under 3 minutes, we help you stay ahead of the pack by giving you 'must have' phrases that you can use in your everyday conversation. Amaze your friends, impress your teachers and delight your parents with these fantastic words and phrases.

Let us know how you get on using them on Twitter and Facebook.

For programmes from before 2022, visit our The English We Speak archive

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Off the top of my head

Episode 230102 / 02 Jan 2023

A quick-thinking phrase

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    Change for the better

    Episode 221226 / 26 Dec 2022

    What changes do you want to make?

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    The gift that keeps on giving

    Episode 221219 / 19 Dec 2022

    Do you like receiving presents?

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    Quiet quitting

    Episode 221212 / 12 Dec 2022

    A phrase about just doing enough.

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    Hang in there

    Episode 221205 / 05 Dec 2022

    A phrase about encouragement

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    Bite your tongue

    Episode 221128 / 28 Nov 2022

    Don’t take this phrase literally!

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    Win hands down

    Episode 221121 / 21 Nov 2022

    An easy phrase for an easy win!

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    Fever pitch

    Episode 221107 / 14 Nov 2022

    Are you crazy with excitement about the World Cup?

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    Twiddle your thumbs

    Episode 221107 / 07 Nov 2022

    A phrase for boring times

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    Get your act together

    Episode 221031 / 31 Oct 2022

    A phrase about good organisation

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    Dog's dinner

    Episode 221024 / 24 Oct 2022

    You need to learn this messy phrase

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    Sitting pretty

    Episode 221017 / 17 Oct 2022

    A phrase to describe a good situation

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    Feast your eyes

    Episode 221010 / 10 Oct 2022

    A phrase worth looking at.

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    Put the brakes on

    Episode 221003 / 03 Oct 2022

    Stop! You need to learn this expression.

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    Second-guess

    Episode 220926 / 16 Sep 2022

    Can you guess what this phrase is about?

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    Ins and outs

    Episode 220919 / 19 Sep 2022

    Here's a phrase about learning more details about something

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    Yes and no

    Episode 220912 / 12 Sep 2022

    Not all answers in life are 'yes' or 'no'!

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    Eat your words

    Episode 220905 / 05 Sep 2022

    Learn a phrase about being wrong

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    Bug someone

    Episode 220829 / 29 Aug 2022

    Don’t get too irritated!

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    Willy-nilly

    Episode 220822 / 22 Aug 2022

    A random phrase

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    Gnarly

    Episode 220815 / 15 Aug 2022

    A word for something disgusting

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    Smash it

    Episode 220808 / 08 Aug 2022

    A phrase to give encouragement

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    a doddle

    Episode 220801 / 01 Aug 2022

    Is this phrase easy to learn?

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    It's now or never

    Episode 220725 / 25 Jul 2022

    A phrase about doing something immediately

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    Happy days

    Episode 220718 / 18 Jul 2022

    Here's a way to respond to good news

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    Double down

    Episode 220711 / 30 May 2022

    Learn a phrase about extra effort

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    Game face

    Episode 220704 / 04 Jul 2022

    A phrase about determination

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    Bitten by the bug

    Episode 220627 / 27 Jun 2022

    Is this a phrase to get excited by?

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    It escapes me

    Episode 220620 / 20 Jun 2022

    A phrase about forgetting something

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    Onboarding

    Episode 220613 / 13 Jun 2022

    New job, new word!

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    Thereby hangs a tale

    Episode 220606 / 06 Jun 2022

    A Shakespearean phrase for when there's more to something than you think

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    The royal treatment

    Episode 220530 / 30 May 2022

    Are you ready to feel like a king or a queen?

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    Tell me about it

    Episode 220523 / 12 May 2022

    Learn an agreeable phrase

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    Creatively bankrupt

    Episode 220516 / 16 May 2022

    Learn a phrase about being unoriginal

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    As if

    Episode 220509 / 09 May 2022

    Learn an unlikely phrase

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    Ish

    Episode 220502 / 02 May 2022

    Learn an imprecise phrase

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    Bad hair day

    Episode 220425 / 25 Apr 2022

    Is this an unattractive phrase?!

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    Promises, promises

    Episode 220418 / 25 Mar 2022

    Is a promise a promise?

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    Not see hide nor hair

    Episode 220411 / 11 Apr 2022

    Have you seen this phrase?

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    Curate's egg

    Episode 220404 / 04 Apr 2022

    Learn a phrase that is good and bad at the same time.

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    That'll be the day

    Episode 220328 / 28 Mar 2022

    When will be ‘that day’?

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    Gathering dust

    Episode 220321 / 21 Mar 2022

    What’s gathering dust in your house?

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    Easier said than done

    Episode 220314 / 24 Feb 2022

    This phrase shouldn’t be complicated!

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    The plot thickens

    Episode 220307 / 07 Mar 2022

    A mysterious phrase!

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    All at sea

    Episode 220228 / 28 Feb 2022

    Don’t let this phrase confuse you

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    Don't mind me

    Episode 220221 / 21 Feb 2022

    Don’t ignore this phrase

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    Cramp my style

    Episode 220214 / 14 Feb 2022

    Who’s cramping your style?

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    Cool cat

    Episode 220131 / 31 Jan 2022

    Do you know someone who is hip and trendy?

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    There's nothing to it

    Episode 220124 / 24 Jan 2022

    Learn a simple phrase

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    As sick as a parrot

    Episode 220117 / 17 Jan 2022

    A phrase about disappointment

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    Eke out

    Episode 220110 / 10 Jan 2022

    Don’t waste this phrase!

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    Say no more

    Episode 220103 / 03 Jan 2022

    Do you get me?