The English We Speak – Part of the furniture

Helen
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I’m Helen and joining me today is Neil.

Neil
Hello everyone.

Helen
Neil, guess who I met yesterday?

Neil
No idea. Anyone I know?

Helen
The name is Jonathan Kendall – he said you guys worked together a long time ago.

Neil
Oh yes, we did. Gosh, it must have been nearly 15 years ago if my memory is right.

Helen
Wow, that is a long time ago.

Neil
So what’s he doing now?

Helen
He works at Radio Melody. He’s is now the station manager.

Neil
Is he still there? Wow, he really is part of the furniture.

Helen
What do you mean ‘he’s part of the furniture’? He is a person, not a sofa or a table.

Neil
Oh, I don’t mean it literally. It’s an expression we use to describe someone or something that’s been in the same place for a very long time. You almost that think they’ll be there forever. Let’s listen to a few examples.

Examples
John has been the school caretaker for nearly twenty years. He’s become part of the furniture.

We come here so often, it’s almost as if we are part of the furniture.

She’s had a seat in parliament for over 50 years – she’s part of the furniture in the House of Commons.

Helen
Right, I’ve got it. So how long have you been at the BBC?

Neil
I’ve lost count. Let me see, I left school at 18, did an apprenticeship for 2 years and then I joined the BBC in 1995.

Helen
That’s twenty years. My goodness! So you are part of the furniture at the BBC!

Neil
Yes, you are absolutely right. Where have all the years gone?

Helen
Will you be here for the next twenty years?

Neil
Who knows? Let’s wait and see.