BBC LEARNING ENGLISH
The English We Speak
Talk shop
This is not a word-for-word transcript
Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak with me, Feifei…
Neil
There you go Feifei - one skinny cappuccino for you…
Feifei
Thanks, Neil. It’s good to get away from the office, and I like this cafe… it’s very
stylish, for you!
Neil
I will take that as a compliment. Now, shall we get down to business?
Feifei
‘Get down to business’? – do we have to talk about business? I thought we’d
forget about work, relax, talk about… your holiday plans. Where are you going
this year?
Neil
Sorry, Feifei, we need to talk shop for a minute.
Feifei
Shopping! I’d love to talk about shopping.
Neil
No. Talk shop.
Feifei
Which shop?
Neil
Our shop – I mean our work. To talk shop means to talk about work, even when
we’re not at work!
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Feifei
Oh right! And do we talk shop to just anyone?
Neil
No, Feifei, just to the people you work with – I don’t think anyone else would be
interested. Let’s hear from some more people who are ‘talking shop’…
Examples
We went to the pub to celebrate Rob’s birthday but inevitably we started talking
shop!
I bumped into my boss on the train home tonight and he talked shop all the way
to my stop.
We’ve been at work all day, let’s all have some fun and not talk shop… please!
Feifei
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English, and we’re talking about
the phrase ‘talk shop’. It means to talk to people you work with about work, even
when you’re not at work. So come on then, Neil. Let’s talk about work, if we have
to.
Neil
Thanks. I brought you to the cafe so we could talk about all the scripts I’ve got to
write.
Feifei
You want me to write some scripts – that’s why you bought me a coffee?
Neil
Of course not. I just need some ideas for some authentic English phrases to write
about. That’s why I needed to …
Feifei
…talk shop.
Neil
Exactly.
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Feifei
No! ‘Talk shop’ – that’s an English phrase you can write about.
Neil
Brilliant, Feifei! Wow, these scripts just write themselves. Fancy another coffee?
Feifei
Only if we stop talking shop!
Neil
Bye.
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