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  • Feifei: Morning Neil. In a rush today, were you?

  • Neil: Just a bit, Feifei. You know, kids,

  • breakfast, commute. The usual. Why?

  • Feifei: Well - I noticed your shirt isn't ironed.

  • Neil: Very attentive of you.

  • Feifei: And your shirt has ... ketchup on it?

  • Neil: Oops, yes - beans for breakfast.

  • Feifei: And you haven't shaved, have you?

  • Neil: Well, no. Erm...

  • Feifei: You really do need to make more of an effort.

  • Neil: Feifei, why are you having a go at me?

  • Feifei: Relax, Neil. I'm just giving you the opportunity

  • to use the phrase, we are teaching which is: 'have a go'!

  • Neil: Well that's a relief.

  • Feifei: 'To have a go at someone', as we've just seen,

  • means to criticise someone.

  • Neil: That's right. Here are some examples.

  • Examples: The boss really had a go at Michaela after she offended our clients.

  • Susie had a go at her husband last night.

  • He'd forgotten all about her birthday.

  • Why do you always have a go at me?

  • Why can't you say something nice?

  • Feifei: That's our phrase.

  • 'To have a go at someone' - which means

  • to criticise someone.

  • Neil: There. Can we be nice to each other now?

  • Feifei: Well, we can have a go!

  • Neil: Ah, very clever.

  • 'To have a go' has another meaning - 'to try'.

  • Feifei: Yes - if you have a go at something, you try it.

  • Neil: Why don't you have a go at

  • making an example sentence, Feifei?

  • Feifei: Ok then. I'm going to have a go at cooking a Thai curry from scratch.

  • Neil: Tasty. 'To have a go' meaning 'to try'.

  • And one last thing, Feifei.

  • Do I really look scruffy?

  • Feifei: Not at all.

  • Though you could shave once in a while.

  • Neil: I'll have a go. Just for you Feifei.

  • Feifei + Neil: Bye.

Feifei: Morning Neil. In a rush today, were you?

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A2 UK feifei phrase breakfast shirt michaela meaning

Have a go - The English We Speak

  • 9 1
    Samuel posted on 2018/01/25
Video vocabulary

Keywords

phrase

US /frez/

・

UK /freɪz/

  • other
  • To express something in a particular way.
  • To express something in a particular way.
  • noun
  • A short expression that is commonly used.
  • A group of words that form a conceptual unit, though not a complete sentence.
  • A musical unit, often part of a larger melody.
  • Common expression or saying
  • A short expression that is commonly used.
  • A group of words that form a conceptual unit, though not necessarily a complete sentence.
  • Section of musical notes in a piece of music
  • A set of words used together
  • verb
  • To choose words to say what you mean clearly

A2

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opportunity

US /ˌɑpɚˈtunɪti, -ˈtju-/

・

UK /ˌɒpə'tju:nətɪ/

  • noun
  • Time, situation when a thing might be done; chance
  • A favorable or advantageous circumstance or combination of circumstances.
  • A chance to do or achieve something in business.
  • A set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something.
  • A favorable time or occasion for doing something.
  • A favorable juncture of circumstances.
  • A situation or condition that provides a job prospect.
  • A possibility of employment or promotion.
  • A situation or occasion affording some advantage.
  • Scope for exercising a talent or skill.
  • A time or situation in which something can be done.

A2 TOEIC

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effort

US /ˈɛfət/

・

UK /ˈefət/

  • noun
  • Amount of work used trying to do something
  • A conscious exertion of power; a try.
  • Conscious exertion of power; hard work.
  • The use of force to do something.
  • other
  • Exertion of physical or mental energy.

A2 TOEIC

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scratch

US /skrætʃ/

・

UK /skrætʃ/

  • verb
  • To rub your skin with your fingernails to relieve itching.
  • To rub your skin with your nails to stop an itch
  • To mark or damage the surface of something with a sharp object.
  • To make a small cut or mark on a surface
  • To withdraw from a competition.
  • noun
  • Action of rubbing your skin when itchy
  • A small cut or mark on a surface
  • The beginning or starting point.
  • A shallow mark or cut on a surface.

B1 TOEIC

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sentence

US /ˈsɛntəns/

・

UK /'sentəns/

  • noun
  • Official punishment given by a court of law
  • Set of words that make a whole statement
  • verb
  • (Of a judge) to decide the punishment of

A1

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bit

US /bɪt/

・

UK /bɪt/

  • noun
  • A former coin worth 12.5 cents.
  • The basic unit of information in computing.
  • The basic unit of information in computing, representing a binary digit (0 or 1).
  • A mouthful of food.
  • Device put in a horse's mouth to control it
  • A particular thing or experience.
  • A person's contribution to an effort.
  • Small piece of something
  • A short period of time.
  • A very small amount of money.
  • A small piece or amount of something.
  • A small acting role or part in a performance.
  • The part of a tool that cuts or bores.
  • other
  • To do one's part.
  • Not at all.
  • verb
  • Past tense of 'bite'.
  • (E.g. of fish) to take bait and be caught
  • adverb
  • Slightly; somewhat.

A1

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clever

US /ˈklɛvɚ/

・

UK /'klevə(r)/

  • adjective
  • Funny in a way that shows intelligence
  • Showing intelligence; quick to understand or learn

A1

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mean

US /min/

・

UK /mi:n/

  • adjective
  • Calculated as the average of a set of numbers.
  • Being good at
  • Of poor or low quality; inferior.
  • Poor in quality and appearance; shabby.
  • Nasty; unkind
  • Not liking to spend money; cheap; stingy
  • Unkind, spiteful, or unfair.
  • Reluctant to give or share; not generous.
  • noun
  • Average of a set of numbers
  • A method, course of action, or instrument by which something can be accomplished.
  • verb
  • To express a particular idea or thought
  • To intend to convey or refer to (a particular thing); signify.
  • To intend to do something in particular
  • To have a particular meaning or value
  • other
  • To have importance.
  • To intend (to do something).
  • other
  • To intend to convey, indicate, or refer to (a particular thing or notion); signify.
  • To express, represent, or stand for something.

A1 TOEIC

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relief

US /rɪˈlif/

・

UK /rɪˈli:f/

  • noun
  • Aid given to people in need as after war/disaster
  • Artwork, e.g. part of wall, that partly sticks out
  • The freeing of someone from duty or hardship.
  • A person or group of people who replace others in a shift or duty.
  • A person or group of people replacing others on duty.
  • A sculptural technique where the sculpted elements remain attached to a solid background of the same material.
  • People who replace other workers and their duties
  • Release from worry, stress or tension
  • other
  • Assistance, especially in the form of food, clothing, or money, given to those in special need or to victims of some disaster.
  • A feeling of reassurance and relaxation following release from anxiety or distress.
  • Sculptural ornamentation in which figures project from a background.
  • The variations in elevation of the earth's surface.
  • The removal or lessening of pain, discomfort, or distress.
  • The freeing of a besieged town or fortress by an approaching force.
  • The state of being freed from distress or discomfort.
  • A reduction in tax, especially to allow for particular expenses.

B1 TOEIC

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rush

US /rʌʃ/

・

UK /rʌʃ/

  • noun
  • A period of great activity or demand.
  • A sudden charge or attack.
  • A sudden strong feeling.
  • Actions performed or finishes with speed, urgency
  • A sudden, rapid flow of liquid.
  • A rapid migration of people to a newly discovered goldfield.
  • State of hurried action
  • A situation in which you need to do something or go somewhere very quickly.
  • Sudden popularity to buy something by many people
  • A tall, slender plant that grows in wet ground.
  • Quick movement of water, e.g. in a river
  • A grassy reed
  • verb
  • To attack someone suddenly in a group
  • To perform or finish with speed and urgency
  • To move forward very quickly
  • To flow in a quick manner
  • other
  • To attack suddenly and quickly.
  • To do something quickly, often too quickly.
  • To try to recruit someone to a fraternity or sorority.
  • To transport someone or something with great speed.
  • To produce or release something quickly or ahead of schedule.
  • other
  • To flow quickly and in large quantities.
  • To move or do something with great speed.

A2 TOEIC

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