Learning English

Inspiring language learning since 1943

Summary

Neil’s promised to do something nice for Jiaying, but she has her doubts – so why is she going on about promises and promises? Listen to this episode to learn a new expression about not believing someone’s promises.

Transcript

Jiaying
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak with you, Neil…

Neil
…and you, Jiaying. And today, Jiaying, as it’s your birthday, I’m going to make the coffee…

Jiaying
But…

Neil
No, I insist. And I’m going to buy the biscuits – not the cheap ones this time…

Jiaying
Really?! Hmm, promises, promises!

Neil
That’s right – two promises – make the coffee and buy nice biscuits – it is your birthday after all.

Jiaying
When I said ‘promises, promises’, I was being sarcastic!

Neil
Oh!

Jiaying
When we say ‘promises, promises’ to someone, we are being sarcastic because we don’t really believe that someone will do what they said they would do. Sorry, Neil, I was saying I don’t believe you’ll do it. Let’s hear these examples….

Examples

Promises, promises! The plumber said he’d be here at 8am – but he isn’t.

A: Next time, I will remember to bring some money to pay for dinner.
B: Promises, promises!

My boyfriend says he’ll take me to Venice for a mini break. Promises, promises!

Jiaying
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we’re talking about the expression ‘promises, promises!’ which we can say to someone if we don’t believe they will do what they say they will do. So, Neil, what about this coffee and biscuits you’re getting – are they ready yet?

Neil
Well, I haven’t got much time at the moment, and I need to borrow some money to buy the biscuits.

Jiaying
Like I said, promises, promises! But it doesn’t matter, I’ve been trying to tell you that it’s not my birthday today.

Neil
Oh. Why didn’t you say! Well, when it is your birthday, I will make the coffee and buy the biscuits.

Jiaying
Not the cheap ones?

Neil
No, the expensive ones. I promise!

Jiaying
Really?

Neil
Yep, I never break a promise.

Jiaying
OK Neil, if you say so. Bye for now.

Neil
Bye.

Latest The English We Speak

Off the top of my head
Episode 230102 / 02 Jan 2023
A quick-thinking phrase
Change for the better
Episode 221226 / 26 Dec 2022
What changes do you want to make?
The gift that keeps on giving
Episode 221219 / 19 Dec 2022
Do you like receiving presents?
Quiet quitting
Episode 221212 / 12 Dec 2022
A phrase about just doing enough.
Hang in there
Episode 221205 / 05 Dec 2022
A phrase about encouragement
Bite your tongue
Episode 221128 / 28 Nov 2022
Don’t take this phrase literally!
Win hands down
Episode 221121 / 21 Nov 2022
An easy phrase for an easy win!
Fever pitch
Episode 221107 / 14 Nov 2022
Are you crazy with excitement about the World Cup?
Twiddle your thumbs
Episode 221107 / 07 Nov 2022
A phrase for boring times
Get your act together
Episode 221031 / 31 Oct 2022
A phrase about good organisation
Dog's dinner
Episode 221024 / 24 Oct 2022
You need to learn this messy phrase
Sitting pretty
Episode 221017 / 17 Oct 2022
A phrase to describe a good situation
Feast your eyes
Episode 221010 / 10 Oct 2022
A phrase worth looking at.
Put the brakes on
Episode 221003 / 03 Oct 2022
Stop! You need to learn this expression.
Second-guess
Episode 220926 / 16 Sep 2022
Can you guess what this phrase is about?
Ins and outs
Episode 220919 / 19 Sep 2022
Here's a phrase about learning more details about something
Yes and no
Episode 220912 / 12 Sep 2022
Not all answers in life are 'yes' or 'no'!
Eat your words
Episode 220905 / 05 Sep 2022
Learn a phrase about being wrong
Bug someone
Episode 220829 / 29 Aug 2022
Don’t get too irritated!
Willy-nilly
Episode 220822 / 22 Aug 2022
A random phrase
Gnarly
Episode 220815 / 15 Aug 2022
A word for something disgusting
Smash it
Episode 220808 / 08 Aug 2022
A phrase to give encouragement
a doddle
Episode 220801 / 01 Aug 2022
Is this phrase easy to learn?
It's now or never
Episode 220725 / 25 Jul 2022
A phrase about doing something immediately
Happy days
Episode 220718 / 18 Jul 2022
Here's a way to respond to good news
Double down
Episode 220711 / 30 May 2022
Learn a phrase about extra effort
Game face
Episode 220704 / 04 Jul 2022
A phrase about determination
Bitten by the bug
Episode 220627 / 27 Jun 2022
Is this a phrase to get excited by?
It escapes me
Episode 220620 / 20 Jun 2022
A phrase about forgetting something
Onboarding
Episode 220613 / 13 Jun 2022
New job, new word!
Thereby hangs a tale
Episode 220606 / 06 Jun 2022
A Shakespearean phrase for when there's more to something than you think
The royal treatment
Episode 220530 / 30 May 2022
Are you ready to feel like a king or a queen?
Tell me about it
Episode 220523 / 12 May 2022
Learn an agreeable phrase
Creatively bankrupt
Episode 220516 / 16 May 2022
Learn a phrase about being unoriginal
As if
Episode 220509 / 09 May 2022
Learn an unlikely phrase
Ish
Episode 220502 / 02 May 2022
Learn an imprecise phrase
Bad hair day
Episode 220425 / 25 Apr 2022
Is this an unattractive phrase?!
Promises, promises
Episode 220418 / 25 Mar 2022
Is a promise a promise?
Not see hide nor hair
Episode 220411 / 11 Apr 2022
Have you seen this phrase?
Curate's egg
Episode 220404 / 04 Apr 2022
Learn a phrase that is good and bad at the same time.
That'll be the day
Episode 220328 / 28 Mar 2022
When will be ‘that day’?
Gathering dust
Episode 220321 / 21 Mar 2022
What’s gathering dust in your house?
Easier said than done
Episode 220314 / 24 Feb 2022
This phrase shouldn’t be complicated!
The plot thickens
Episode 220307 / 07 Mar 2022
A mysterious phrase!
All at sea
Episode 220228 / 28 Feb 2022
Don’t let this phrase confuse you
Don't mind me
Episode 220221 / 21 Feb 2022
Don’t ignore this phrase
Cramp my style
Episode 220214 / 14 Feb 2022
Who’s cramping your style?
Cool cat
Episode 220131 / 31 Jan 2022
Do you know someone who is hip and trendy?
There's nothing to it
Episode 220124 / 24 Jan 2022
Learn a simple phrase
As sick as a parrot
Episode 220117 / 17 Jan 2022
A phrase about disappointment
Eke out
Episode 220110 / 10 Jan 2022
Don’t waste this phrase!
Say no more
Episode 220103 / 03 Jan 2022
Do you get me?