Something has put Finn in a good mood but what has that got to do with spring when it is still winter? Rob explains a seasonal idiom to Feifei that compares the feeling of spring with someone's mood—but how long will Finn have this feeling for? Listen to the programme to find out.
Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak—I'm Feifei…
Rob
And hello, I'm Rob.
Feifei
Hey Rob, have you seen Finn today?
Rob
Yes, I saw him just a few moments ago… same old Finn.
Feifei
But when I saw him he was very cheerful… smiling and he was singing too!
Rob
Nothing wrong with singing at work.
Feifei
I know… but he just seems…
Rob
Full of the joys of spring?
Feifei
Full of the joys of spring? Erm, I don't think so—it's winter Rob—cold and wet.
Rob
No Feifei! The season might be winter but Finn's behaviour, or his mood, is cheerful and lively—like springtime—you know, bright, sunny, flowers growing, new animals being born, birds flying around…
Feifei
Mmm ... that does sound like spring. It's a nice phrase. It means someone is happy?
Rob
Happy—that's right. Shall we hear some more examples?
Examples
Emily's full of the joys of spring today—her boyfriend has just asked her to marry him!
Raj seems full of the joys of spring today—he must have some good news about his exam results.
I'm full of the joys of spring today—I've just won £1,000 in the lottery—now, what shall I spend it on?
Feifei
So if someone is full of the joys of spring they are in a good mood. So Rob, why is Finn in such a good mood?
Rob
He's happy because he's going on holiday tomorrow—swapping our cold winter for two weeks in the sun, on the beach in Thailand!
Feifei
Lucky Finn! But hold on Rob… there's a strike at the airport tomorrow. All flights are cancelled. Does he know that?
Rob
I don't think so. Shall we tell him?
Feifei
I don't know. That will make him 'empty of the joys of spring'…
Rob
…and full of the misery of winter!
Feifei
Is that another idiom?
Rob
No, I just made that one up. Come on, I'll go and tell him.
Feifei
Bye.
Rob
Bye.