Rob and Feifei take to the road to learn a new phrase. Rob sits in the back to demonstrate the phrase but Feifei soon realises you don't need a car to use this expression. Get your seatbelt on and join them in Authentic Real English.
Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript.
Feifei
Hello, it's Feifei and Rob here with today's The English We Speak.
Rob
Feifei, keep your eyes on the road! Look where you're going.
Feifei
OK, OK! Rob is making me drive around while we present today's programme. Rob, why exactly am I driving my car?
Rob
Well, I really wanted you to understand the phrase we're going to learn today. But I'm going to leave it all to you.
Feifei
So what are you going to do then?
Rob
Oh nothing. I'm just going to a take a back seat today. You carry on, I'll just watch.
Feifei
Take a back seat? Hmmm—so you're going to let me take control—do all the work—while you sit there and watch?
Rob
Yes—look, I'm just sitting here—on the back seat
Feifei
Oh I get it! 'To take a back seat' is an idiom that means to give up control and let someone else take responsibility.
Rob
That's it Feifei. Let's hear from some other people who are 'taking a back seat'…
Examples
Mary was happy to take a back seat and let Jim run the meeting.
I'm going to take a back seat this year and let you decide where we go on holiday.
Now he's getting older he's decided to take a back seat in running the company.
Feifei
So, to take a backseat means to choose not to take control and let someone else be in charge. Rob, does this mean you're just being lazy?
Rob
Of course not, Feifei. It just means I'm letting you have a turn at being in charge—I trust you—although ... What are you doing?!
Feifei
Letting you take the back seat while I show you how to really drive!
Rob
Feifei! Watch out for that roundabout ... and that traffic light ... aren't you driving a bit fast?
Feifei
Rob—don't be such a back seat driver!
Rob
A what?
Feifei
A back seat driver—someone who offers unwanted advice—someone who tells the driver how to drive. But we'll leave that expression for another day!
Rob
OK OK—but you are going really fast—can I take the front seat now?
Feifei
Stay where you are!
Both
Bye.