Finn: Hello, I'm Finn and we're presenting today's The English We Speak on horseback. I'm joined by…
(Horse whinny)
Finn: Sorry about that – by Feifei…
Feifei: Hello. Yes, we're taking a horse-riding holiday in the beautiful mountains of Wales.
Finn: Isn't it glorious?
Feifei: Beautiful. A million miles away from London.
(Horse whinny)
Finn: Eh, talking about London – you know our friend Mark, did you hear his news?
Feifei: No, what happened?
Finn: Great news for him. He sold his ice-cream delivery company.
Feifei: Wow!
Finn: And he made £500,000.
Feifei: Really? That's great news. Where did you hear that?
Finn: Straight from the horse's mouth.
(Horse whinny)
Feifei: Eh – from our horse? Our horse told you about Mark?
Finn: No, straight from the horse's mouth means...
Feifei: I know what it means, just kidding! Straight from the horse's mouth means directly from the source of the news or information – so in this case our friend Mark told Finn himself about the ice-cream business. Right, Finn?
Finn: Absolutely. Listen to these examples:
A: Our university is going to start teaching courses in oceanography. B: Really? How do you know that? A: Straight from the horse's mouth – the head of the university told me.
A: Are you sure Michael is coming tomorrow? I haven't seen him for ages. B: Yes, straight from the horse's mouth. He phoned me yesterday to tell me!
Feifei: Anyway, what's Mark going to do next?
Finn: Apparently he's starting a new ice-cream business – with lots of crazy flavours.
Feifei: Like what?
Finn: Grass-flavoured ice-cream.
Feifei: Really?
Finn: Sure - straight from the…
Feifei: Horse's mouth!
(Horse whinny)
Feifei: Well, I think our horse friend might enjoy grass-flavoured ice-cream, but I'm not so sure myself. Anyway do check out bbclearningenglish.com for more phrases.