Summary
Feifei wants to borrow Rob's car but she takes a long time getting to the point. Find out why Rob tells her not to go around the houses. And why doesn't Rob want her to drive his car?
Transcript
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript
Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, with me Feifei...
Rob
...and me, Rob. Hello!
Feifei
Rob, I've been meaning to ask... you've got a car haven't you?
Rob
Yes, Feifei, I have.
Feifei
Is it a quite special car? You know, a valuable, expensive one?
Rob
No no, it's just an old car - but it gets me around. Why are you asking?
Feifei
Oh no reason... you don't use it much do you?
Rob
No... Feifei there's no need to go around the houses - just say what you want to say.
Feifei
OK... can I borrow your car please? But don't worry, I won't take it around the houses - I just want to go to the supermarket.
Rob
Ha! Feifei when I said there's no need 'to go around the houses'; I wasn't referring to where you drive my car. I mean, you don't have to waste time saying lots of unimportant things before you actually say what you want to say.
Feifei
I see! So I should just say what I want to say - I should get to the point?
Rob
Yes, that's another way of putting it. Basically it means you take a long time to say or do something, when in reality it can be done or said a lot quicker. Let's hear some examples of the phrase 'to go around the houses' in action...
Examples
Don't go around the houses; just tell me straight, what have you done?
He went all around the houses talking about the match but all I wanted to know was who won?
I didn't know how to tell him he'd failed his exams so I went all around the houses before I let him know.
Feifei
So, to go around the houses means you go a long way round before asking what you want to ask. Rob, you haven't answered my question yet.
Rob
Oh yes, what was the question?
Feifei
Can I borrow your car... please?
Rob
Oh well, erm, I need to fill it up with petrol...
Feifei
Oh right...
Rob
And I need to drive to work...
Feifei
But that's not until Monday!
Rob
It's not very tidy inside...
Feifei
Rob - don't go around the houses - your answer is 'no' isn't it?
Rob
Yes Feifei. You can't borrow it. I crashed it last week - nobody can drive it!
Feifei
You certainly won't be going around any houses then Rob!
Rob
Very funny Feifei!
Both
Bye!
No comments:
Post a Comment