The English We Speak – Splash out

Sep 112014

BBC Learning English: The English We Speak – Splash out phrase has nothing to do with diving. It means to spend a lot of money on pleasant things you don’t really need

Li’s on holiday in the Caribbean. She’s staying in an expensive hotel with a big swimming pool. She’s very surprised to find Finn there too, and has some bad news for him. Listen to the programme to find out why.

_______Show Transcript______

(Li bumps into Finn at an expensive hotel in the Caribbean)

Li: Glorious sunshine, lovely swimming pool… Ah, this is the life! Oh, isn’t that Finn? Finn! What are you doing here?

Finn: Hello Li! I’m on holiday! You, too?

Li: Yes! I am.

Finn: Don’t you love the Caribbean? And it’s a great hotel, isn’t it? Come on, sit by the pool with me here… have some champagne…

Li: Oh, champagne?!

Finn: Yes. What better than enjoying a little bubbly – a little champagne – here under the tropical sun?

Li: But Finn… last week you told me you had no money – you said you were skint. This is a pretty expensive holiday!

Finn: Yeah. That’s true. But you know what? Our boss called me into his room and said I was up for a promotion! So I thought – you only live once and you’ve got to splash out! Actually, I do fancy a swim. Here we go!

(Finn dives into the pool)

Li: Well, that big splash was Finn diving into the pool. Looks like he’s enjoying his holiday! He also said it’s good to ‘splash out’ now and again.

Finn: Hi, Li. It’s lovely here in the water!

Li: Good, good! But his phrase ‘to splash out’ has nothing to do with diving. It means to spend a lot of money on pleasant things you don’t really need – and it’s our phrase in The English We Speak today. Let’s hear some examples: