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  • Welcome to The English We Speak.

  • It's Feifei here with Rob, and we're in a bit of a rush.

  • Yes yes, I've hurt my foot and we've got to get to hospital. Ouch!

  • Ooo, it looks nasty Roball red and swollen. It was a good job I was driving by when you hurt it.

  • Yes yes, thanks for the lift, Feifei. But it really is hurting, so could you step on it, please?

  • What?

  • Step on it!

  • Oh, okay. If you say so.

  • Ow! That was painfulwhat did you do that for?

  • You said 'step on it' – I thought that was an odd request, but I did.

  • No, Feifei! I meant drive fasterthat's what 'step on it' means. It's what you say to someone to ask them to hurry.

  • That hurt so much.

  • Oops, sorry! Right, well, hold on tight, Rob. I will step on it while we hear some examples

  • Taxi! Could you take me to the station, please? And could you step on it? I'm late!

  • Our coach told us to step on it if we wanted to get to the match on time.

  • Please step on it, otherwise we're gonna miss the plane.

  • This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. And we're finding out about the phrase 'step on it', which means 'go faster' or 'hurry up'.

  • Well, we're nearly at the hospital, Rob.

  • Good good, because my foot hurts so much – I need urgent medical attention.

  • How exactly did you hurt it?

  • I was playing football and another player stepped on my big toe. It was so painful.

  • What! So you've got me to 'step on it' – and drive at high speedbecause someone stepped on your big toe?

  • This isn't an emergency, Rob - you can get out and walk.

  • That's not very nice.

  • You had better step on it, Robthe casualty department shuts in five minutes. Bye.

  • Bye.

Welcome to The English We Speak.

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