One good turn deserves another
Rob has kindly offered Feifei a lift home from the station but as he turns the final corner into her street, he asks for something in return. What's the phrase he uses and has it got anything to do with driving around corners? Listen and find out what it is.
Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, I'm Feifei…
Rob
… and hello I'm Rob.
Feifei
Rob, thanks for giving me a lift home from the station tonight.
Rob
No problem Feifei. Happy to help… and look we're almost home… just turn this corner.
Feifei
Great—I would have got very wet walking home in this rain.
Rob
That's OK… but I was wondering if you could do something for me now?
Feifei
Oh! Rob, did you just give me a lift home so that I would do something for you?
Rob
Well… err… you know what they say… 'one good turn deserves another'.
Feifei
'One good turn deserves another'? Are we talking about driving? There's no need to 'turn another corner', we're already at my house.
Rob
No Feifei—I mean when someone does something to help you, you should do something helpful in return.
Feifei
Oh, is that right! We had better hear some more examples of this phrase…
Examples
A: Do you mind doing the washing up? I did do all the cooking and one good turn does deserve another!
B: Oh, OK then.
Please can you help me with my homework, I did yours last week and you know what they say: one good turn deserves another!
He helped me fix my car, so I was happy to let him borrow it if he needed to—one good turn deserves another.
Feifei
So one good turn deserves another—do someone a favour and they should return the favour. Hmm, I've been thinking Rob, you're right—you did me a kind favour and I should help you—so how can I help?
Rob
Well, if you're sure Feifei—I wondered if you could help me paint my house this weekend?
Feifei
Help you paint your house?
Rob
Not all of it—just the living room, the kitchen, the bathroom and the bedroom.
Feifei
That's not fair! Rob, I'm sure one good turn deserves another of equal value—giving me a lift home isn't the same as painting all you house!
Rob
Oh, so the answer is 'no' then?
Feifei
No! Bye.
Rob
Erm… bye. And you can walk next time!