The English We Speak - Like water off a duck's back | Текст песни

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• The English We Speak
• Like water off a duck's back

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(Feifei and Finn are in the park feeding the ducks.)

Feifei
It's so nice to be here in the park, Finn.

Finn
Yes, it is Feifei. I love coming here and feeding the ducks.

Feifei
Being here helps take my mind off things. I had a fight with my mother-in-law yesterday.

Finn
What was it about?

Feifei
Well, she is always criticising everything I do. Last night it was my cooking!

Finn
Well, don't take too much notice of it, Feifei. My mother-in-law is the same. But it's just like water off a duck's back to me.

Feifei
A duck's back?!

Finn
Yes, in English the phrase 'water off a duck's back' means that criticisms or negative things have no effect on you - they're just like water off a duck's back - we don't let them upset or affect us.

Feifei
What an unusual expression!

Finn
Yes, it is but, you know, it makes sense. Look at those ducks in the water...

Feifei
Ah, I get it! They have oily feathers and water can't get through them - it doesn't affect them - so I shouldn't let the criticism affect me and make me upset.

Finn
That's right. And the phrase 'water off a duck's back' is what we're teaching today in The English We Speak. Now, let's listen to some examples of how it's used.

Examples

I won't give up on my singing career just because someone said I'm no good. Criticism is water off a duck's back to me!

I told John not to drive so fast but it was like water off a duck's back. Last week he crashed his new car. Thankfully nobody was hurt.

Finn
Feifei, which dish was it that you cooked that your mother-in-law didn't like? I'm making dinner tonight and I need a recipe...

Feifei
Well, this is probably not the place to mention it...

Finn
Oh, I'm intrigued. Can't you tell me?

Feifei
I cooked Peking Duck. You'll need pancakes, spring onions, a nice juicy roast duck...

Finn
Oh, the ducks are not happy!

Feifei
I don't think they like my recipe at all. Let's go Finn. I can give you a good chicken recipe instead.

Finn
I'd like that. My mother-in-law is coming for dinner too. Bye.

Feifei
Bye.