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  • Hello and welcome to The English We Speak with me, Feifei

  • and me, Rob.

  • We may sound a little different. That's because we are not able to record in our normal studios during the coronavirus pandemic.

  • Now, Rob, why are you wearing those funny rubber shoes today?

  • It's in preparation for today's phrase, Feifei!

  • What? Our English expression today has nothing to do with wearing shoes!

  • Ah, but these are special rubber shoes to stop me sliding down any slippery slopesthat is what we're talking about, isn't it?

  • Hmm, well, sort of. But it's not really about slipping down a slopeonly metaphorically.

  • Right, so it has got something to do with easily descending downhill into something?

  • Yep. We describe a situation that is getting worse and will end in disaster unless it is stopped, as a slippery slope. Listen to these examples.

  • Having a glass of wine with your dinner is a slippery slopeyou'll end up finishing the whole bottle by the end of the evening.

  • Juan was on a slippery slope to getting the sack when he started missing important meetings with clients.

  • He's on the slippery slope to failure if he keeps missing the deadlines for his assignments.

  • This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we're talking about the expression 'a slippery slope', which describes a situation that is only going to get worse.

  • It's basically a situation or problem that is going downhill!

  • OK, so I won't be needing these slip-resistant shoes, then. Hmm, but they are very comfortable.

  • I might keep wearing them actually.

  • Oh no, Robit'll be a slippery slope.

  • Why's that?

  • Well, if you keep wearing them without socks

  • everyone will laugh at me?

  • No. Your feet will smell and then nobody will want to sit next to you!

  • Charming! Well, it's a good job I'm self-isolating!

  • Bye, Feifei.

  • Bye, Rob.

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak with me, Feifei

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