Neil shows up with a very sophisticated mobile phone and he plays a joke on Feifei. He said it was 'a steal' will he be arrested? Listen to the programme to find out.
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript
Feifei
Hello, this is The English We Speak, with me Feifei…
Neil
… and me Neil. Hello!
Feifei
Neil, what a nice mobile phone you have with you! Wow! Very flashy! Gold colour!
Neil
It's brilliant! The battery lasts a long time. It's got loads of memory—it has plenty of room for apps, pictures, videos… And the camera is great too!
Feifei
It must have cost a fortune!
Neil
Not at all, it was a steal!
Feifei
Neil!!!! Oh, you shouldn't have done that! You're such a nice guy. Why would you do something like that? You could have taken out a loan to buy it or something, but…
Neil
What do you mean?
(Sound of a police car siren)
Feifei
They are here! They've come for you!
Neil
No that was just a sound effect. I'm just having a joke with you—I'm not going to be arrested! In English, when you say something is 'a steal' you mean it's a bargain—so cheap that it's almost as if you haven't paid anything for it.
Feifei
Oh, you're so naughty!
Neil
Sorry Feifei, it was just a joke. Let's hear examples of how this expression is used.
Examples
I got this designer shirt in the sales. At £100 cheaper than the original price it's a steal!
This is the latest model, sir. You won't find this new computer cheaper in any other shop in the high street. It's a steal!
Neil
See?
Feifei
Yes. 'It's a steal' means it's a bargain.
Neil
So, as I was saying, my phone was so cheap. My phone!!! Where is it?! I had it right here where has it gone?!
Feifei
Yeah—where is it? … It was right there…
(Sound of a police car siren)
Neil
Yes! Now I really do need to call the police.
Feifei
No, you don't. Your phone is here! I hid it when you got distracted.
Neil
Nice one Feifei—revenge for my phone joke at the beginning. And for the listeners—don't steal anything. 'It's a steal' is just an expression.
Both
Bye!