Corporate speak

Corporate speak

Author: BBC Radio June 2, 2014 Duration: 3:22

Blue-sky thinking? Pushing the envelope? Learn what these business terms mean


Produced by BBC Radio, Learning English Conversations is a practical companion for anyone navigating the nuances of a new language. This podcast moves beyond textbook grammar to focus on the living language you hear in the streets, offices, and cafes. Each episode delves into everyday expressions and authentic dialogues, breaking down how English is actually spoken in casual and professional settings. A regular highlight is the popular segment 'The English We Speak,' which unpacks a new piece of slang, idiom, or useful phrase every week, giving you the confidence to use it yourself. The series also features special deep-dive collections tackling specific challenges, such as the 'Beating Speaking Anxiety' series, which offers strategies to overcome the common fear of making mistakes in conversation. The tone is supportive and clear, prioritizing real-world application over theory. By listening, you gain access to the rhythms, shortcuts, and cultural context that make conversations flow more naturally. Tune in for a direct, accessible route to feeling more at ease and capable in your English speaking and listening journey.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 802

Learning English Conversations
Podcast Episodes
You've sold it to me [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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When you are in total agreement with ideas or suggestions from others, try a new phrase to express yourself
Full of the joys of spring [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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What time of the year describes a good mood? Learn this lively and cheerful phrase
Six of one, half a dozen of the other [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Is this expression related to numbers? If half a dozen is six, what does this expression mean? Listen to the programme
Test the water [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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How can you make sure a new project is going to be a successful? Here's a piece of good advice
To lie through your teeth [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Not telling the truth is not a good thing to do. Learn a phrase to describe your actions
To make a monkey out of me [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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Rob's been asked to dress up like a monkey but it seems like someone is literally making a monkey out of him!
There's method to my madness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:32
Although other people may think you are behaving rather strangely, you know what you are doing. There's a reason and a phrase to describe your behaviour
In good nick [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:04
Learn a phrase to describe something in top condition
Cheap and cheerful [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:05
Most people like a present that is cheap and cheerful. But no one likes something that is cheap and nasty
A bitter pill to swallow [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 2:58
When a situation is hard to accept, what do you say? This phrase could be for you