The English We Speak

Intermediate level

The English We Speak is your chance to catch up on the very latest English words and phrases. In under 3 minutes, we help you stay ahead of the pack by giving you 'must have' phrases that you can use in your everyday conversation. Amaze your friends, impress your teachers and delight your parents with these fantastic words and phrases.

Let us know how you get on using them on Facebook.

For programmes from 2023, visit our The English We Speak 2023 archive

For programmes from 2022, visit our The English We Speak 2022 archive

For programmes from before 2022, visit our The English We Speak archive

  • completed

    You can't go wrong with

    Episode 241223 / 23 Dec 2024

    You can't go wrong with this episode!

  • completed

    The flip side

    Episode 241216 / 16 Dec 2024

    What does 'the flip side' mean?

  • completed

    In my travel era

    Episode 241209 / 09 Dec 2024

    What does it mean if you're 'in your travel era'?

  • completed

    Give it some welly!

    Episode 241202 / 02 Dec 2024

    Learn a fun, encouraging British English expression.

  • completed

    Shoehorn something in

    Episode 241125 / 25 Nov 2024

    My friend shoehorns that topic into every conversation...

  • completed

    On the fly

    Episode 241118 / 18 Nov 2024

    Can you learn new phrases on the fly?

  • completed

    That's on you

    Episode 241111 / 11 Nov 2024

    Not learnt this phrase yet? That's on you!

  • completed

    Warts and all

    Episode 241104 / 04 Nov 2024

    I love my dog, warts and all!

  • completed

    Off the scale

    Episode 241028 / 28 Oct 2024

    This lesson is off the scale!

  • completed

    Throw one's toys out the pram

    Episode 241021 / 21 Oct 2024

    Come on! Don't throw your toys out the pram...

  • completed

    Makes my skin crawl

    Episode 241014 / 14 Oct 2024

    What makes your skin crawl?

  • completed

    An uphill task

    Episode 241007 / 07 Oct 2024

    What do you find an uphill task?

  • completed

    Bide someone's time

    Episode 240930 / 30 Sep 2024

    When is it good to bide your time?

  • completed

    From the get-go

    Episode 240923 / 23 Sep 2024

    I loved English from the get-go!

  • completed

    Stomping ground

    Episode 240916 / 16 Sep 2024

    Really? That's my old stomping ground!

  • completed

    Tug at the heartstrings

    Episode 240909 / 09 Sep 2024

    When was the last time something tugged at your heartstrings?

  • completed

    Clutch at straws

    Episode 240902 / 02 Sep 2024

    When were you last in a desperate situation?

  • completed

    Crank up

    Episode 240826 / 26 Aug 2024

    Crank up your vocabulary knowledge with this programme

  • completed

    Find your groove

    Episode 240819 / 19 Aug 2024

    Have you found your groove?

  • completed

    Top-notch

    Episode 240812 / 12 Aug 2024

    Have you eaten anything top-notch recently?

  • completed

    Off the cuff

    Episode 240805 / 05 Aug 2024

    What have you done or said off the cuff?

  • completed

    Take the wheel

    Episode 240729 / 29 Jul 2024

    What’s the metaphorical meaning of ‘take the wheel’?

  • completed

    The works

    Episode 240722 / 22 Jul 2024

    Have you ever ordered a pizza with ‘the works’?

  • completed

    Dip your toe into

    Episode 240715 / 15 Jul 2024

    How does it feel to dip your toe into something new?

  • completed

    Ham-fisted

    Episode 240708 / 08 Jul 2024

    Are you ever ham-fisted?

  • completed

    Second nature

    Episode 240701 / 01 Jul 2024

    What's second nature to you?

  • completed

    Take the plunge

    Episode 240624 / 24 Jun 2024

    Take the plunge and learn this new expression

  • completed

    Peaks and troughs

    Episode 240617 / 17 Jun 2024

    This phrase will help you talk about the ups and downs of life.

  • completed

    Heavy lifting

    Episode 240610 / 10 Jun 2024

    Do you have to do all the heavy lifting?

  • completed

    stir the pot

    Episode 240603 / 03 Jun 2024

    How do you feel when people are stirring the pot?

  • completed

    wishy-washy

    Episode 240527 / 27 May 2024

    Here's an expression to use when things are just too vague

  • completed

    Shook

    Episode 240520 / 20 May 2024

    A word to express surprise or shock. Learn more here.

  • completed

    Let loose

    Episode 240513 / 13 May 2024

    An expression that means relax and celebrate. Learn more here

  • completed

    Zing

    Episode 240506 / 06 May 2024

    How can you give your English learning a bit of zing?

  • completed

    Do the trick

    Episode 240429 / 29 Apr 2024

    Learn the expression 'do the trick'

  • completed

    Beige flag

    Episode 240422 / 22 Apr 2024

    I find it weird. It's a beige flag.

  • completed

    Lay it on thick

    Episode 240416 / 16 Apr 2024

    The best book in the world? That's laying it on a bit thick.

  • completed

    Telling porkies

    Episode 240409 / 09 Apr 2024

    Learn the expression 'telling porkies'

  • completed

    In on it

    Episode 240402 / 02 Apr 2024

    Can we let you in on this phrase?

  • completed

    Walk someone through

    Episode 240325 / 25 Mar 2024

    Let us walk you through how to use this phrase.

  • completed

    Brick by brick

    Episode 240318 / 18 Mar 2024

    There are some things that you have to build up gradually. This phrase will help you talk about them.

  • completed

    Cook up an idea

    Episode 240311 / 11 Mar 2024

    A phrase that means to come up with an idea carefully.

  • completed

    Read the room

    Episode 240304 / 04 Mar 2024

    A phrase that means to work out how people feel.

  • completed

    Rinse repeat

    Episode 240226 / 26 Feb 2024

    It's the same every day! Rinse, repeat

  • completed

    A million to one

    Episode 240219 / 19 Feb 2024

    Don't take this literally

  • completed

    Cash in on something

    Episode 240212 / 12 Feb 2024

    Do you have anything you can cash in on?

  • completed

    Makes your hair stand on end

    Episode 240205 / 05 Feb 2024

    What makes your hair stand on end?

  • completed

    On the go

    Episode 240129 / 29 Jan 2024

    A phrase to describe how busy you are

  • completed

    A blow

    Episode 240122 / 22 Jan 2024

    It'll be a blow if you don’t watch this lesson

  • completed

    Rear its head

    Episode 240115 / 15 Jan 2024

    What things can rear their ugly heads?

  • completed

    Elbow grease

    Episode 240108 / 08 Jan 2024

    What do we use elbow grease for?

  • completed

    Bring to the party

    Episode 240102 / 02 Jan 2024

    A phrase about offering something positive