Learning English

Inspiring language learning since 1943

Introduction

Learn a new phrase about pretending to work. If you’re someone who claims to be busy but in reality isn’t taking work too seriously, this could be for you. Even if not, maybe you know someone who is just a good actor. Find out more in this programme.

Transcript

Jiaying
Welcome to The English We Speak with you, Neil…

Neil
…and you Jiaying. And for today’s English phrase, we’re off to the theatre – but not literally.

Jiaying
‘The show must go on’, ‘all the world’s a stage’ – these are well-known, theatre-related phrases?

Neil
They are – but this phrase is bang up-to-date and describes the act of someone appearing to work hard when in reality they’re not being very productive. We call this productivity theatre.

Jiaying
OK, so normally ‘productivity’ relates to the rate at which goods are made, or work is completed. But ‘theatre’ implies the activity is just an act – it’s pretend.

Neil
Correct. ‘Theatre’ used as an adjective can describe someone’s exaggerated or insincere behaviour. We can call this ‘theatrical’. So, in the workplace someone may try to look busy by speaking loudly or shuffling lots of paper, but it’s an act – they are performing productivity theatre.

Jiaying
So, we shouldn’t be fooled – looking busy doesn’t mean you are busy! I think we should hear more about this in these examples…

Examples
She says she hasn’t time to write the report but I know it’s just productivity theatre.

Tidying your desk at work isn’t really being efficient, it’s just productivity theatre!

She always claims she has to work late but I know she slinks off when everyone’s gone home – it’s productivity theatre!

Jiaying
In this The English We Speak programme, we’re hearing about the new phrase ‘productivity theatre’ which describes the act of workers giving the impression of working hard when in reality, they aren’t. It’s all an act! Something you would never do, Neil?

Neil
Of course! But I have heard about people who work from home, and while watching TV, they occasionally send an email, so it looks like they're working. A great example of productivity theatre.

Jiaying
I know people who say they are very busy and I see them on their computer doing online shopping!

Neil
Productivity theatre?

Jiaying
Yes, indeed.

Neil
Hmm, you know I might give productivity theatre a try, Jiaying.

Jiaying
Not before you’ve finished all your work!

Neil
OK. More productivity and less theatre for now. See you next time.

Jiaying
Bye.

Latest The English We Speak

Light up like a Christmas tree
Episode 231226 / 26 Dec 2023
An expression to describe your happy face
I don't buy it
Episode 231219 / 18 Dec 2023
Learn an informal way of saying 'I don't believe you'
Touch grass
Episode 231211 / 11 Dec 2023
Do you know anyone who needs to touch grass?
I'm out
Episode 231204 / 04 Dec 2023
A phrase about not having anything left
Plan B
Episode 231127 / 27 Nov 2023
A phrase for when you need another option
Sound out
Episode 231120 / 20 Nov 2023
When do you think it's important to sound someone out?
Fly by night
Episode 231113 / 13 Nov 2023
What do you call a business that disappears overnight and leaves you with a lot of problems?
One-up
Episode 231106 / 06 Nov 2023
A phrase about showing off
Tread on someone's toes
Episode 231030 / 30 Oct 2023
An expression all about doing something you're not responsible for.
Mental gymnastics
Episode 231024 / 23 Oct 2023
How do we talk about complicated tasks done by your brain?
Call dibs
Episode 231017 / 16 Oct 2023
When did you last call dibs on something?
Run for the hills
Episode 231010 / 10 Oct 2023
A phrase about avoiding something
Hard at it
Episode 231003 / 02 Oct 2023
A phrase about working hard
Each to their own
Episode 230925 / 25 Sep 2023
Who do you know who does things differently?
Fill your boots
Episode 230919 / 18 Sep 2023
When did you last fill your boots?
Join the club
Episode 230911 / 11 Sep 2023
Expressing your bad situation
Go with the flow
Episode 230904 / 04 Sep 2023
The easy option!
Cakeism
Episode 230828 / 28 Aug 2023
Is there any cake in this phrase?
Drip feed
Episode 230821 / 21 Aug 2023
How to use ‘drip feed’
Scatterbrain
Episode 230814 / 14 Aug 2023
Are you a scatterbrain?
Be in with a shout
Episode 230807 / 07 Aug 2023
A phrase about possibility!
On point
Episode 230731 / 31 Jul 2023
A phrase about being perfect
Kiss something goodbye
Episode 230724 / 24 Jul 2023
A phrase about accepting loss.
Productivity theatre
Episode 230717 / 17 Jul 2023
A phrase about pretending to work
Pet hate
Episode 230710 / 10 Jul 2023
How to describe your annoyance
On the table
Episode 230703 / 03 Jul 2023
A phrase for business.
Jump through hoops
Episode 230627 / 26 Jun 2023
Not everything is easy to achieve.
Famous last words
Episode 230612 / 12 Jun 2023
A phrase about telling someone they'll be wrong.
Hard pass
Episode 230605 / 02 Jun 2023
A phrase about saying 'no'
Level up
Episode 230529 / 29 May 2023
A phrase about making things equal
Get with the programme
Episode 230522 / 22 May 2023
A changing phrase
Shout-out
Episode 230515 / 15 May 2023
A praising phrase
Fitspiration
Episode 230508 / 08 May 2023
Get fit with this new word
Hats off
Episode 230501 / 01 May 2023
A phrase about impressing people
Under your breath
Episode 230424 / 24 Apr 2023
Make sure you're heard with this expression.
Be at a loss
Episode 230417 / 17 Apr 2023
Don't be at a loss with this expression!
Go off on one
Episode 230410 / 10 Apr 2023
An phrase about getting angry
Wiggle room
Episode 230403 / 03 Apr 2023
A phrase for negotiating
(It's the) story of my life
Episode 230327 / 27 Jan 2023
A phrase about bad luck
No ifs or buts
Episode 230320 / 20 Mar 2023
A phrase to say that something has to be done
Caught red-handed
Episode 230313 / 23 Mar 2023
Have you ever been caught doing something bad?
Rabbit on
Episode 230306 / 06 Mar 2023
A phrase about talking too much
Thanks a bunch
Episode 230227 / 27 Feb 2023
Saying thanks but you don't mean it!
Slow walk
Episode 230220 / 13 Jan 2023
Learn a slow phrase
Take something to heart
Episode 230213 / 13 Jan 2023
A sensitive phrase
Know the score
Episode 230206 / 06 Feb 2023
A phrase about understanding the situation
Jog your memory
Episode 230130 / 30 Jan 2023
A phrase about remembering
A flying start
Episode 230123 / 23 Jan 2023
A phrase about an amazing start
Steal someone's thunder
Episode 230116 / 16 Jan 2023
Give this phrase some attention
Call it a day
Episode 230109 / 09 Jan 2023
A phrase about doing enough
It happens to the best of us
Episode 200619 / 19 Jun 2023
A phrase about making people feel better.