Learning English

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Introduction

Learn a new phrase about accepting loss. If you ever lose something, or you miss an opportunity and need to accept those things are gone, then this is the phrase for you. Find out more in this programme.

Transcript

Neil
Welcome to The English We Speak, with me Neil…

Feifei
And me, Feifei.

Neil
We're going to teach an informal expression which means 'to accept the loss of an opportunity or loss of something': it's 'kiss something goodbye'.

Feifei
‘Kiss something goodbye'. When did you have to kiss something goodbye, Neil?

Neil
I once left my phone on the train. I asked the train company if they had found it, but they hadn't. I had to kiss my phone goodbye.

Feifei
You accepted that you had lost your phone and would never see it again.

Neil
Yes. I also recently tried to get a promotion at work – but I didn't do very well in the interview. In the end, I had to kiss the opportunity goodbye.

Feifei
Well, hopefully you'll do better in the next interview.

Neil
Thanks. I’ll prepare more next time. Let’s hear some more examples.

Examples
I took my car to a mechanic, but sadly it couldn't be fixed. I had to kiss the car goodbye.

After the actor's latest controversial statement, he might have to kiss his film career goodbye.

Sadly, the business hasn't made a profit for three years. We’re going to have to kiss the company goodbye.

Feifei
You’re listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English, and we are learning the expression ‘kiss something goodbye', which is an informal way of saying ‘accept the loss of a thing or situation'.

Neil
Yes. It is very informal – and is often used to highlight that the person has accepted that a thing or situation is gone forever.

Feifei
Can you also use it for people?

Neil
Yes, but this would probably be more literal in the sense that you might kiss someone you love when you are saying goodbye to them.

Feifei
Well, that brings us to the end of this programme. Bye!

Neil
Bye!

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