Learning English Conversations

Cinderella meets Prince Stephen who only speaks in English idioms, creating a humorous interaction. The story unfolds at the ball with romantic moments and a search for the owner of the glass slipper, leading to a cliffhanger for the final part of the pantomime.

Listen to the first part of Cinderella, our special pantomime. Cinderella dreams of escaping her ugly sisters, but how will she ever be able to go to Prince Stephen's Ball? Part two is next week.

Exploring the slang term 'bottle' in British English, from representing courage to cowardice, with a touch on its Australian slang variations. John Ayto delves into the origin, meaning, and implications of 'bottle' and 'bottler' in the final episode of the series.

In this week's episode, John Ayto explores the origin, meaning and use of the expression 'early doors'.

In this week's episode, John Ayto explores the origin, meaning and use of the phrase 'go commando'.

In this week's episode, John Ayto explores the origin, meaning and use of the phrase 'go postal'.

Delve into the intriguing phrase 'fit for purpose' and its origins in consumer protection law. Discover how this concept has evolved and what it signifies today. The discussion encourages listeners to assess their own language skills through the lens of this metaphor. It's a unique exploration of language's role in society and its practical applications.

In this episode, John Ayto examines the meaning of the word 'issue' and how it can sometimes be used instead of the word 'problem'.

In this week's episode, John Ayto explores the origin, meaning and use of the prefix 'hella'.

In this episode, John Ayto examines the meaning of the word 'chugger'.