Speak. I'm Feifei.

Neil: And I'm Neil. Hey Feifei, shouldn't we be celebrating?

Feifei: Why?

Neil: Haven't we presented a hundred of these

The English We Speak programmes together?

Feifei: A hundred? Oh no, we've done way more than that. I could

present these programmes standing on my head!

Neil: That I would love to see!

Feifei: Not literally. I mean do it easily

- without difficulty.

Neil: I know that Feifei – but you probably

could present this programme standing on your

head because you're an old hand at this.

Feifei: Excuse me? I may have presented this

programme for many years but I do NOT have

old hands. How rude!

Neil: Don't worry, I wasn't referring to your

hands – they look lovely. If you are an

old hand at doing something, it means you

are very skilled and experienced. It was a compliment!

Feifei: Oh right. Thanks. Let's hear some

examples of this phrase in action…

Examples: Let's get Mike in to solve our IT

problem, shall we? He's an old hand at fixing computers.

Miguel is an old hand at map reading, so let's

make him the leader on our mountain trek.

I can see you're an old hand at project management;

it would have taken me days to create a spreadsheet like that!

Feifei: This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and

we're learning about

the phrase 'an old hand', which describes

someone who is skilled and

experienced at doing something.

Neil: It's a handy phrase, isn't it! But come

on Feifei, as you are such 'an old hand',

why not have a go at really presenting

standing on your head?

Feifei: OK Neil, as you're paying me a

compliment. Here goes… give a hand…

Feifei: Ouch!

Neil: Are you OK? I think you should stick

to doing what you are most skilled and experienced at.

Feifei: You mean not listening to your silly suggestions.

Neil: I'm an old hand at

making silly suggestions, Feifei!

Feifei: Hmmm, let's forget our celebration

shall we? Bye!

Neil: Bye.