Drop dead gorgeous
| Jen: | Hello, I'm Jennifer. Welcome to The English We Speak. I'm joined today by Li—hi Li! |
| Li: | Hello everyone. |
| Jen: | I've been dying to see you all day. I met up with Rosie last night, and I met her new boyfriend too! |
| Li: | Oh, tell me more! What's he like? |
| Jen: | Well, he seemed very charming and intelligent, very kind too, but she hadn't told me that he is drop dead gorgeous! |
| Li: | What? |
| Jen: | Yes, don't tell her, but I'd definitely say he is drop dead gorgeous! |
| Li: | But ... he's dead ... ? Do you mean he's actually dead, like a zombie? Or maybe he just looks dead. Sometimes when I'm tired I get dark circles under my eyes and look like death! |
| Jen: | Of course he's not dead—he's very much alive. |
| Li: | So, what did you mean by 'drop dead gorgeous'? |
| Jen: | It's just one of those phrases we use in English that you can't take too literally. If someone is described as 'drop dead gorgeous', it means they are really good looking. |
| Li: | Strange phrase ... |
| Jen: | Think of it this way: Imagine someone who is so good looking, so handsome, that your heart starts beating really fast, you start to feel short of breath, and you just drop down dead! |
| Li: | Someone so good looking, so handsome ... Yes, I've thought of someone ... My heart is beating fast just thinking of him! |
| Jen: | OK, well, while you're thinking of your fancy man, let's hear some more examples of the phrase 'drop dead gorgeous' in action ... |
| Daniel Craig is in town for the premiere of the new James Bond film. I love him as Bond—he's drop dead gorgeous in a tuxedo! | |
| I'm going on a date with a girl from my university next week. I can't believe she wants to go out with me—she's drop dead gorgeous. | |
| Jen: | So you see, it's a great phrase to use when describing someone who is handsome or good looking, like Rosie's new man. |
| Li: | It's a really good phrase and I'll definitely try to use it. |
| Jen: | So, Li, are you going to tell me which handsome man you were thinking of earlier? |
| Li: | Well, I'd really rather not ... |
| Jen: | Don't be like that! Who is it? Is it someone I know ... ? |
| Li: | No! |
| Jen: | It is someone I know! Come on, Li, tell me, I won't tell anyone. Who do you think is drop dead gorgeous? |
| Li: | I can't ... Look! There he is! Going past the window! |
| Jen: | But Li ... that's ... the boss? |
| Li: | He really is drop dead gorgeous! Don't tell anyone! |
| Jen: | Well, you might think he is drop dead gorgeous, but I think I am going to die laughing! Join us again for another edition of The English We Speak from bbclearningenglish.com. Bye! |
| Li: | Bye! |