Learning English

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Introduction

Sometimes in life we are presented with an opportunity, and someone tells us to make the most of it! Maybe it's eating as much as you want in a restaurant or watching as many films as we'd like to. We have an expression you can use in this situation.

Transcript

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

Feifei
...and me, Feifei.

Neil
We’re explaining the phrase 'fill your boots'. It means 'take advantage of a situation, or to get as much of something as possible'.

Feifei
'Fill your boots'. It sounds like you're telling someone to load their boots with as much as they possibly can.

Neil
That's a very good way of looking at it, but it's not literal. So, for example, when a supermarket has a big sale, you might want to fill your boots with all the deals.

Feifei
Yes, you'll buy as much as you can. Or, you have an amazing library, Neil. Can I read some of your books?

Neil
Fill your boots – read as many as you want. Let’s have some examples!

Examples
I love my local restaurant. It has an 'all you can eat' buffet - you can fill your boots.

Have you watched our videos? Fill your boots and learn as much as you can.

My mum is cooking Christmas dinner. She asked me to go to the supermarket to get food. She told me to fill my boots and buy as much food as I want!

Feifei
In this The English We Speak, we’re looking at the phrase 'fill your boots'. It’s used to tell someone to make the most of an opportunity and take as much of something as they can.

Neil
Speaking of which, have you seen those cakes at the BBC cafe?

Feifei
Yes, they look amazing. Really colourful with so much cream! Have you tried one?

Neil
Yes, it was amazing. I think it was one of the best things I've eaten in my life!

Feifei
Stop! You're making me hungry! Don't tell me anymore – I think I'll go and fill my boots and find out for myself.

Neil
Well, I'll just finish some work and then I'll come with you and we can fill our boots together. Bye for now.

Feifei
Bye.

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