[00:00.28] |
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. My name is Rob. |
[00:04.14] |
And hello, my name is Helen. |
[00:06.60] |
Hold on Helen, hold on. We can't hear you properly. I think your microphone is playing up. |
[00:10.50] |
Playing up? |
[00:11.23] |
Sorry, I didn't quite catch that. |
[00:12.78] |
Let me just push this button. Oh There! Hello. Now, you said the microphone was playing up? |
[00:19.84] |
That's right. It wasn't working properly. If something isn't working as it should be, we sometimes say it's playing up. |
[00:26.28] |
Up – not down? |
[00:28.19] |
Nope. Playing down is a different expression that means something totally different. |
[00:32.64] |
OK. So as the picture on my TV at home is flickering, I can say my TV is playing up? |
[00:39.57] |
Exactly. Let's hear about some other things that are playing up. |
[00:44.95] |
I don't think I'll be able to give you a lift to work today, my car's been playing up. |
[00:51.50] |
Oh,my phone keeps playing up. Every time I dial a number, it just switches itself off. |
[01:00.88] |
That sounds like my phone! So if something isn't doing what is should do then it's misbehaving? |
[01:07.46] |
Ha Ha! Well, you could say that. It's just like people. When they misbehave we can say they're playing up. Like this… |
[01:15.30] |
Sorry but I'm going to be late. The children have been playing up and I've still got so much to do. |
[01:22.46] |
BBC Learning English. |
[01:25.79] |
Oh,children are very good at playing up;it's usually because they want attention. |
[01:31.46] |
Now, Helen, could I have your attention now please . |
[01:33.95] |
Because playing up is also something you can say to describe a part of your body that's not working properly. |
[01:42.50] |
Ow! Ow! I'm going to have to lie down; my back's playing up again. |
[01:51.31] |
Count me out of this weekend's football match; my leg's playing up so I need to rest it. |
[01:57.81] |
So it seems playing up refers to anything that's not working or behaving as it should. |
[02:03.80] |
Now Rob, my leg's also been playing up so I wonder if you could give me a lift home in your car? |
[02:10.60] |
No way - oh it looks like my microphone's playing up now! |
[02:14.11] |
No, Rob, it's you who's playing up - now switch it back on! |
[02:17.87] |
Oh, Oh, OK. Then, Helen! |
[02:20.15] |
Let's go then. Bye! |
[02:21.78] |
Bye. |