| [00:02.92] |
Hi Helen. I thought I would pop round to talk to you about today's Authentic Real English, but err, it looks like you're busy. |
| [00:10.14] |
What are all these police cars doing here? |
| [00:12.64] |
Quick, come in, shut the door, now this is very serious. There has been a murder. |
| [00:19.31] |
What? |
| [00:20.13] |
A murder. I know it's not very nice, but to be honest the police can't find any blood or a body. It's like a murder mystery. |
| [00:31.66] |
Hmm,a murder mystery,well we need to do our own investigation. So what exactly happened? |
| [00:38.20] |
Well, my friend came to see me this morning. |
| [00:41.10] |
I see. |
| [00:42.35] |
And we were having a nice chat when she said I could murder a coffee and then she disappeared and I haven't heard from her since. |
| [00:53.27] |
Right. Well Helen, I think you can relax, I think she's still alive and everything is ok. |
| [01:00.30] |
There's no murder? |
| [01:02.26] |
No murder. When people say they could murder something it's an informal way of saying they are starving or thirsty and are desperate to have something to eat or drink. |
| [01:12.28] |
But murder is a strong word. |
| [01:14.00] |
Yes. It stresses how desperate someone is for something. A direct translation would mean you are so desperate for something you would kill it. |
| [01:22.49] |
But in reality, we don't go that far. |
| [01:24.80] |
Thank goodness. |
| [01:26.50] |
Here are some more examples. |
| [01:28.74] |
It's been a really tough day at work, I could murder a beer or two, anyone want to join me at the pub? |
| [01:36.10] |
I'm starving, I could murder a curry. |
| [01:40.85] |
the English we speak |
| [01:44.25] |
It's amazing what people will commit murder for. But in reality when we would murder for something, we just have a desperate need for something. |
| [01:53.80] |
People also describe a situation or a feeling as murder, but again there is no killing involved. They are just trying to explain that something is bad or uncomfortable. |
| [02:04.12] |
So the word murder is also used to emphasise a bad situation or uncomfortable feeling. Such as Rob? |
| [02:11.98] |
Such as in these examples. |
| [02:14.35] |
Running a marathon is murder on my knees. |
| [02:18.70] |
I've been decorating all day and my back is murder. |
| [02:23.61] |
Don't go on the London underground during the rush hour, it's murder. |
| [02:28.57] |
the English we speak |
| [02:31.23] |
So by saying "it's murder" he means it's awful. It's terrible. Anyway Helen, now we know there's not been a real murder, I think we should tell these policemen to go home now. |
| [02:42.93] |
Good idea. Excuse me, there's been a terrible misunderstanding. There's not been a murder so you can all go home. |
| [02:52.33] |
Oh right. So we've been wasting our time then? But hold on, I think there might be another murder soon. |
| [03:00.10] |
Oh, why's that? |
| [03:02.37] |
Well, I could murder a cup of tea. |
| [03:05.42] |
Of course. |
| [03:08.45] |
I'll put the kettle on. Bye. |
| [03:10.60] |
Bye. |
| [03:12.30] |
Policeman: Milk, two sugars please! |
