Finn: Hi, and welcome to The English We Speak. I’m Finn.
Feifei: And I’m Feifei. This is the programme in which we teach English slang, idioms and new language in general.
(Buzzing sound)
Feifei: What was that?
Finn: Oh sorry, I was going to mention I brought along some sound effects today from the BBC sound effects cupboard.
(Buzzing sound)
Finn: That one there, was a… well how would you describe it, Feifei?
Feifei: A buzz?
Finn: Yes, a buzz, very good. Now another one, much lighter this time…
(Tinkle sounds)
Feifei: Yes – I’d call that sound a kind of tinkling sound.
Finn: A tinkle. OK, we’ve had a buzz and a tinkle, now listen to this…
(Bell sound)
Feifei: Well, that’s easy – it’s a bell.
Finn: Absolutely right. A buzz, a tinkle and a bell…
Feifei: OK – I’m hoping you’re going to explain the connection with English slang?
Finn: Well, it’s about this…
(Phone ringing sound)
Finn: …phones. All three words can be used instead of the word ‘call’ in this sentence…
- I’ll give you a call later tonight.
Feifei: I’ll give you a call. Right – we could say:
- I’ll give you a buzz later tonight.
Finn: Or:
- I’ll give you a tinkle later tonight.
Finn: Or, yes, you guessed it:
- I’ll give you a bell later tonight.
Finn: That’s it, easy. Right; so you now have three new ways to talk about making phone calls. But what about the word for phone itself?
(Dog barking sound)
Feifei: OK – well, that was the sound of a dog!
Finn: That was my dog, Frankie. Shhh, Frankie! Believe it or not, ‘dog’ is a slang word for ‘phone’ – it comes from a special kind of London slang called Cockney rhyming slang…
Feifei: Yes – this is a good one. Dogs like bones, and the phrase ‘dog and bone’ rhymes with ‘phone’… Dog and bone, phone!
Finn: It does, in some parts of the UK you’ll hear it used in the same way as the phrase: ‘on the phone’… So, you’ll hear: ‘on the dog’.
- A: Where’s Malcolm?
- B: He’s on the dog.
- A: Tell him to come and find me when he finishes, ok?
(Dog barking sound)
Finn: Be quiet, Frankie! On the dog. Great, so we’ve heard buzzes, tinkles and bells – even a dog, and now – one more: listen very carefully…
(Finn blows on microphone)
Feifei: Finn, you’re blowing onto the microphone…
Finn: I am indeed. Another word for ‘phone’, used in the same way as ‘dog’, is ‘blower’…
Feifei: As in, you’re on the blower…
Finn: On the blower. Perfect.
- Marc’s been on the blower for three hours!
- Philip loves to talk on the phone. He’s always on the blower.
Finn: Great – I hope we’ve learned some useful expressions today! And hope the lovely BBC sound effects can help you remember them…
Feifei: Actually, I have one sound effect for you:
(Lion roaring)
Finn: A lion?!
Feifei: Indeed…
Finn: Oh, I don’t know this slang expression, Feifei. It must be very new! So, can we say: ‘I’m on the lion’?
Feifei: No…
Finn: Or, maybe: ‘Give me a lion’?
Feifei: No, again, I’m afraid…
Finn: Or: ‘That’s the lion ringing’?
Feifei: No. It has nothing to do with phone slang, I just like the sound of lions roaring!
(Lion roaring)
Finn: (sighs) Join us again for more The English We Speak.
Feifei: Bye.
Finn: Bye.