| Abigail: | Hello, I'm Abigail and I'm with Rob and we're doing some shoe shopping. |
| Rob: | Yes I'm looking for some new trainers. |
| Abigail: | Well, we're not really supposed to be looking for your trainers, Rob. We're here because we have an amusing phrase which our listeners might like to learn. |
| Rob: | Oh well, I know that, but while we're here, I can look at trainers. |
| Abigail: | Well, I suppose you can look at some trainers. But let's not forget why we're here. |
| Rob: | ... (long pause) |
| Abigail: | Rob? Why we're here? |
| Rob: | Oh, yes of course—look that lady has really funny hair! |
| Abigail: | Rob, you're being very childish today. But that's useful because I can use our phrase for today—act your age not your shoe size. |
| Rob: | 'Act your age, not your shoe size' it's a good phrase. How shall we explain it? |
| Abigail: | I think you have explained it beautifully already, through everything you've said and done Rob. But here are some more clues to what it means: |
| Rob: | If someone thinks you're being childish, immature, too young for your age, they can tell you to act your age, not your shoe size. |
| Abigail: | Mmm, yes they can. |
| Rob: | But look at these trainers here—it says size 44. My age is 30. So I have to act younger? |
| Abigail: | Ah—yes well, 44—that's a European size. This saying, 'act your age not your shoe size', only works for British and American sizes. So, for example in UK sizes, your feet are size 10. |
| Rob: | I see. So I shouldn't act like I'm ten. |
| Abigail: | Exactly. |
| Rob: | Maybe to be accurate we should change the phrase to 'act your European shoe size, not your British shoe size'. |
| Abigail: | Hmm. Well, we could. It's not quite as catchy ... |
