The English We Speak - Phone slang | Текст песни

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• The English We Speak
• Phone slang

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Finn: Hi, and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Finn.

Feifei: And I'm Feifei. This is the programme in which we teach English slang, idioms and new language in general.

(Buzzing sound)

Feifei: What was that?

Finn: Oh sorry, I was going to mention I brought along some sound effects today from the BBC sound effects cupboard.

(Buzzing sound)

Finn: That one there, was a... well how would you describe it, Feifei?

Feifei: A buzz?

Finn: Yes, a buzz, very good. Now another one, much lighter this time...

(Tinkle sounds)

Feifei: Yes - I'd call that sound a kind of tinkling sound.

Finn: A tinkle. OK, we've had a buzz and a tinkle, now listen to this...

(Bell sound)

Feifei: Well, that's easy - it's a bell.

Finn: Absolutely right. A buzz, a tinkle and a bell...

Feifei: OK - I'm hoping you're going to explain the connection with English slang?

Finn: Well, it's about this...

(Phone ringing sound)

Finn: ...phones. All three words can be used instead of the word 'call' in this sentence...

I'll give you a call later tonight.

Feifei: I'll give you a call. Right - we could say:

I'll give you a buzz later tonight.

Finn: Or:

I'll give you a tinkle later tonight.

Finn: Or, yes, you guessed it:

I'll give you a bell later tonight.

Finn: That's it, easy. Right; so you now have three new ways to talk about making phone calls. But what about the word for phone itself?

(Dog barking sound)

Feifei: OK - well, that was the sound of a dog!

Finn: That was my dog, Frankie. Shhh, Frankie! Believe it or not, 'dog' is a slang word for 'phone' - it comes from a special kind of London slang called Cockney rhyming slang...

Feifei: Yes - this is a good one. Dogs like bones, and the phrase 'dog and bone' rhymes with 'phone'... Dog and bone, phone!

Finn: It does, in some parts of the UK you'll hear it used in the same way as the phrase: 'on the phone'... So, you'll hear: 'on the dog'.

A: Where's Malcolm?
B: He's on the dog.
A: Tell him to come and find me when he finishes, ok?

(Dog barking sound)

Finn: Be quiet, Frankie! On the dog. Great, so we've heard buzzes, tinkles and bells - even a dog, and now - one more: listen very carefully...

(Finn blows on microphone)

Feifei: Finn, you're blowing onto the microphone...

Finn: I am indeed. Another word for 'phone', used in the same way as 'dog', is 'blower'...

Feifei: As in, you're on the blower...

Finn: On the blower. Perfect.

Marc's been on the blower for three hours!

Philip loves to talk on the phone. He's always on the blower.

Finn: Great - I hope we've learned some useful expressions today! And hope the lovely BBC sound effects can help you remember them...

Feifei: Actually, I have one sound effect for you:

(Lion roaring)

Finn: A lion?!

Feifei: Indeed...

Finn: Oh, I don't know this slang expression, Feifei. It must be very new! So, can we say: 'I'm on the lion'?

Feifei: No...

Finn: Or, maybe: 'Give me a lion'?

Feifei: No, again, I'm afraid...

Finn: Or: 'That's the lion ringing'?

Feifei: No. It has nothing to do with phone slang, I just like the sound of lions roaring!

(Lion roaring)

Finn: (sighs) Join us again for more The English We Speak.

Feifei: Bye.

Finn: Bye.