Freak
| Jennifer: | Hi, and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Jennifer and with me today is Feifei. |
| Feifei: | Hi there. |
| Jennifer: | Why do you have that big bag with you? |
| Feifei: | Oh this? I'm going to the gym after work. |
| Jennifer: | Again? But you went yesterday, and the day before that! |
| Feifei: | I need to push myself! I want to get fit. |
| Jennifer: | You're such a fitness freak. |
| Feifei: | Hey, that's not very nice. What do you mean, I'm a 'fitness freak'? You're calling me some kind of strange monster? |
| Jennifer: | I'm not calling you a monster, that's not what the word 'freak' means in this context. In English, you can use the word 'freak' with a noun to say that someone is obsessed by something which you think is strange. |
| Feifei: | So when you call me a 'fitness freak', you're saying I'm obsessed by sport and fitness? |
| Jennifer: | That's right. It's an informal phrase, usually used if the person saying it is not interested in the hobby or action. So someone might be a 'football freak' if they're watching football. My boyfriend is a 'car freak'—he's obsessed with cars and talking about them, but I'm not interested at all, I think it's weird. |
| Feifei: | I understand. Well you might call me a fitness freak, because you don't like it. I'd say I'm a fitness fanatic! |
| Jennifer: | Well, I have no intention of going to the gym today or any day. I don't like it and the thought of using the equipment really freaks me out. |
| Feifei: | Hang on, you've used the word freak again. |
| Jennifer: | Yes, in a slightly different way. 'To freak someone out' is a phrasal verb which means to make someone feel strong emotions, like panic or fear. Going to the gym freaks me out; it makes me panic. |
| Feifei: | It freaks you out! You need to toughen up. I really do think you should come and join me for a gym session tonight. |
| Jennifer: | No way! I'm too scared and too tired. I'd rather lie on the sofa and watch my favourite soap opera. |
| Feifei: | Well, I think that people who sit around and watch television every night are very strange—so I guess you're a television freak! Join us again for another edition of The English We Speak from bbclearningenglish.com. |
| Both: | Bye! |