Subtitles section Play video
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Feifei: Welcome to The English We Speak, I'm Feifei...
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Rob: And I'm Rob. Quick Feifei, shut that door.
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Feifei: OK, calm down Rob, what's the problem?
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Rob: Well there's something going on in the office -
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everyone's shouting and arguing about who broke
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the computer - you know, the new one
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with all that fancy software on it.
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Feifei: Oh yes, that really expensive one.
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So you've run away from the situation -
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that makes you look very guilty.
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Rob: That's true - but the problem is, I am guilty.
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But the boss seemed so angry;
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I thought it best to... well... sort of...
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Feifei: Do a runner!
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Rob: If you mean to leave a place in order to avoid
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a difficult or unpleasant situation -
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then I suppose you're right.
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Feifei: I am!
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Rob: Oh no, is someone coming? I'll just hide under
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the desk while we hear some examples of this phrase in action...
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Examples: The new trainee did a runner after the first
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day - I don't think he could cope with
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the high-pressure environment.
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When they started to blame me for the mistake,
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I felt it best to do a runner and keep out of the way.
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Feifei: So that's the phrase, to do a runner,
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which means leave a place quickly in order to avoid
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a difficult or unpleasant situation.
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But Rob, this phrase has another similar meaning too?
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Rob: Yes. You can 'do a runner' from a place
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to avoid paying for something.
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Feifei: Like a restaurant. Have you done that Rob?
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Rob: Of course not! You know how honest I am.
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Feifei: Honest? Is that why you are hiding in this studio,
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rather than admit you broke the new computer?
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Rob: Well, it was an accident. Oh no...
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the boss is heading straight for the studio.
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I had better dash... see ya.
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Feifei: Bye Rob. It looks like he's done a
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runner... again. Bye.