Things are looking up
| Chris: | Hi, I'm Chris, and welcome to The English We Speak. It's a nice day here in London, so I've come outside to meet Helen. Ah, there she is! Helen, how are you? |
| Helen: | I'm ... fine ... thanks. |
| Chris: | What are you doing? What are you looking at? |
| Helen: | I'm looking up. |
| Chris: | R-Right. But I can't see anything. |
| Helen: | Neither can I. |
| Chris: | Have you seen an aeroplane or something? |
| Helen: | Not sure ... |
| Chris: | Maybe a bird? |
| Helen: | Well, apparently things are looking up. |
| Chris: | Things are looking up? |
| Helen: | Yes, Rosie told me that the weather has been sunny for the last three days, so things are looking up. I thought I'd come and see for myself ... But there's not much going on to be honest. |
| Chris: | Ah, I think you've misunderstood. Rosie didn't mean there are things up in the sky. |
| Helen: | Really? What do you mean? |
| Chris: | It's an expression. You use the phrase 'things are looking up' when you want to suggest that conditions are getting better or more positive. |
| Helen: | Oh, right ... |
| Chris: | Here are some examples: |
| My wife and I both found great new jobs last month, so things are looking up. | |
| Things are finally looking up now that he's recovered from his illness. | |
| Helen: | So when Rosie told me that things were looking up, she meant that the weather has been getting better at the moment. |
| Chris: | Yes, she's suggesting that it looks like the weather in general is improving. So what do you think? Do you think the weather is getting better? |
| Helen: | So far, yes, yesterday was really hot. I hope it lasts for the weekend ... But if things get worse, would you say, 'things are looking down'? |
| Chris: | Not really. Instead, you could say: "It's taken a turn for the worse". |
| Helen: | It's taken a turn for the worse. That's a useful phrase. |
| Chris: | Oh, but hang on ... look at that black cloud in the sky. It looks like it might rain after all. That's typical English weather! |
| Helen: | Oh great. Things really have taken a turn for the worse! Quick, let's get back to the office before it rains. |
| Chris: | Let's go! Do join us again for another edition of The English We Speak and visit our website, bbclearningenglish.com. Bye! |
| Helen: | Bye! |