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The English We Speak

Intermediate level

The royal treatment

Episode 220530 / 30 May 2022

Summary

We’re marking Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee – that’s 70 years as British monarch – with a royal expression. Learn how to describe being treated like a very important person.

Transcript

Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. I’m Feifei…

Neil
And I’m Neil. Hang on a minute, Feifei. Your champagne and caviar will be arriving in just a minute.

Feifei
Champagne and caviar? But we’re recording a programme. 

Neil
Yes, and when we’re finished, your Rolls Royce will be arriving to take you back to the palace.

Feifei
Rolls Royce? Palace? Are you OK?

Neil
Oh would you prefer a limousine?

Feifei
Right, Neil. What’s going on?

Neil
I’m giving you the royal treatment. 

Feifei
Ah, I see. To ‘give someone the royal treatment’ means to behave towards them as if they are very important.

Neil
Exactly. It means to treat someone in the way a member of a royal family would expect. Now let’s hear some examples of this expression in use.

Examples
I met my boyfriend’s parents for the first time last week and they gave me the royal treatment. We went out for a beautiful meal and then the theatre afterwards.

You get the royal treatment when you book hospitality tickets in the Premier League. Free food and drinks and an amazing view of the match.

I can’t stand the new boss. He really expects the royal treatment from everyone. He’s not THAT important.

Feifei
You’re listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. In this programme, we’re marking Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee – that’s 70 years as British monarch – with a royal expression.

Neil
If you ‘give someone the royal treatment’, you treat them very well – as if they were a king or a queen.

Feifei
Exactly. So, Neil, where’s the champagne and caviar?

Neil
What champagne and caviar?

Feifei
That you promised at the start of the programme.

Neil
Oh, I just made that up – in order to teach our listeners a useful expression.

Feifei
So, I guess I’ll be getting the train home as usual.

Neil
Sorry – no royal treatment for you today. Bye!

Feifei
Bye.

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