You may have heard of the word ‘potty', especially if there are babies around. But do you know what makes Neil ‘go potty'? Find out in the programme.
Helen
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Helen and joining me today is Neil.
Neil
Hello everyone.
Helen
Neil, tell me about your first ever job.
Neil
I worked in a supermarket stacking shelves when I was sixteen.
Helen
How was it?
Neil
It was quite boring: just moving things from one place to another. But I was very happy when I got my first week's pay.
Helen
And how long did you stay in your first job?
Neil
Not very long: about three months during the summer holiday. If I'd stayed there any longer, I would have gone potty.
Helen
What? Potty? Did you have to get permission to use the toilet?
Neil
Oh no, nothing like that. Nobody needed permission to go to the toilet.
Helen
Well, you said you would have gone potty. My baby son has to be reminded about his potty every day.
Neil
No, they are two very different things. If someone is potty or is going potty, that means they are crazy or going crazy. Here are a few examples:
Examples
My boss wants me to work on New Year's day for no extra money. He must be potty.
She's potty to sell off her car so cheaply.
Neil
There is another meaning to ‘potty'. If someone is really keen on something we can use the phrase ‘to be potty about something'. For example, I really like Japanese comic books, so I'm potty about them.
Helen
I see. I'm potty about miniature owls: I've got nearly one hundred of them at home.
Neil
Well, I am glad we cleared up the meaning of that. It wouldn't do us any good if people heard us arguing over potties.
Helen
Oh no. They'd think we've gone potty.
Both
Bye.