Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share What English phrases really mean
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
What English phrases really mean
We've all been there – we're talking to someone and they say one thing, when we know they mean something else! British people love to play with language, using it deliberately to disguise, misdirect or even change their meaning entirely. But why do we do it? And what are some of the common things to look out for? Pippa and Beth discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary.
Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260115
Learning English from the News - learn English from news headlines here: ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/learning-english-from-the-news_2026
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters
FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE:
Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish
Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus
LIKE PODCASTS?
Try some of our other popular podcasts including:
✔️ Learning English Grammar
✔️ Learning English from the News
✔️ Learning English for Work
They're all available by searching in your podcast app.
View all episodes
By BBC Radio
4.5
13041,304 ratings
We've all been there – we're talking to someone and they say one thing, when we know they mean something else! British people love to play with language, using it deliberately to disguise, misdirect or even change their meaning entirely. But why do we do it? And what are some of the common things to look out for? Pippa and Beth discuss this and teach you some new vocabulary.
Find a full transcript, worksheet and interactive quiz for this episode at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/6-minute-english_2026/ep-260115
Learning English from the News - learn English from news headlines here: ✔️https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/learning-english-from-the-news_2026
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER: ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/newsletters
FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE:
Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish
Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus
LIKE PODCASTS?
Try some of our other popular podcasts including:
✔️ Learning English Grammar
✔️ Learning English from the News
✔️ Learning English for Work
They're all available by searching in your podcast app.
More shows like 6 Minute English
View all
TED Talks Daily
11,268 Listeners
Speak English with ESLPod.com - Learn English Fast
2,515 Listeners
Learning English Conversations
1,053 Listeners
Culips Everyday English Podcast
984 Listeners
Learning English Vocabulary
515 Listeners
All Ears English Podcast
2,230 Listeners
Learning English Stories
383 Listeners
Real English Conversations Podcast – Real English for Global Professionals | Speak Clearly & Confidently at Work
399 Listeners
RealLife English: Learn and Speak Confident, Natural English
463 Listeners
Learning English Grammar
324 Listeners
Learning English from the News
253 Listeners
Thinking in English
109 Listeners
Listening Time: English Practice
537 Listeners
Learning English For Work
45 Listeners
English in a Minute
12 Listeners
Learning Easy English
114 Listeners