Listen
Jennifer's stuck on a video game. It's doing her head in! But can Li help, or will she make the situation worse?
The script for this programme
Jennifer: Hello and welcome to The English We Speak from 大象传媒 Learning English. My name is Jennifer and Li is with me here in the studio.
Li: Hello everyone. What have you been doing this morning, Jen?
Jennifer: Oh I've been playing on this great new game on my smartphone. It's a puzzle where you have to find matching pictures of fruit. Now it sounds easy, but it's really addictive.
Li: I love puzzles like this, especially when they're really addictive. Can I have a go?
Jennifer: Yes, you can. In fact, I'm stuck on level 33. I can't complete it at all. Why don't you see if you can do it for me? It's doing my head in!
Li: OK, give it to me and I'll see what I can do. Jen said that the computer game is 'doing her head in'. If something is 'doing your head in', it means it is frustrating or annoying.
Jennifer: It's a phrase which is often used by young people, it's a slang phrase. Let's hear some examples of how you might use it:
- (shouting) Can you please turn that music down? It's so loud and it's really doing my head in!
- I've done all my maths homework, except question two. I can't work out the answer and it's really doing my head in.
- I hate it when people drop litter in the street - it does my head in to see so much rubbish everywhere.
Jennifer: So the computer game is doing my head in because I find it difficult. It's frustrating.
Li: You can also say that people are doing your head in, if they annoy you in some way.
- I don't want to invite Sonia to the Christmas party. She gossips all the time. She really does my head in.
Jennifer: So 'doing your head in' is a really useful phrase to know, wouldn't you agree, Li?
Li: (ignoring Jen but playing computer game) Yes! Yes!
Jennifer: Li, I said: 'doing your head in is a really useful phrase'.
Li: (still playing the game) Hang on... If I can just match these pictures... Yes! Level 34!
Jennifer: Li, it's been five hours. I need my phone back now.
Li: But I'm on to level 79 - just let me get to level 80 and I'll give it back to you.
Jennifer: Oh Li, you're really doing MY head in. Join us again for another edition of The English We Speak from 大象传媒 Learning English. Bye!
