Kaz: Hi. You're listening to The English We Speak. I'm Kaz and today I'm having dinner at Li's house.
Li: Hi, I'm Li and I've prepared some chocolate mousse for dessert.
Kaz: Oh thanks. I love chocolate mousse. Mmm, it's delicious.
Li: Good! Anyway, what was I saying? Oh yes, I don't know if I want to stay in this house. I mean, Chris thinks it's haunted and that there are ghosts here! He says he can sense their presence...
Kaz: Really? I can't sense anything.
Li: Shhh... listen? Can you hear something?
Kaz: No Li, I can't hear anything - just the wind outside. If you want my advice, you should take it with a pinch of salt.
Li: OK, I will... Yuck! That's disgusting.
Kaz: Li, what are you doing?
Li: I just ate my chocolate mousse with a pinch of salt, as you suggested, and it's absolutely disgusting.
Kaz: Li, I was talking about what Chris said about ghosts in your house. In English, if you take something with a pinch of salt, it means you don't completely believe it.
Li: Really? What a weird expression. So if I take something with a pinch of salt, it means I doubt whether something is true.
Kaz: Yes, and sometimes Chris does exaggerate, so you shouldn't always believe everything he says.
Li: Let's hear some examples:
Apparently they're going to sell the company and make everyone redundant. You should take it with a pinch of salt; it's only a rumour.
The other day he told me he speaks 23 languages fluently. I take everything he says with a pinch of salt because I know he likes to exaggerate.
Li: Ah, right. So when Chris told me there were spirits or ghosts in my house, I should take it with a pinch of salt. Maybe he's just making it up to scare me!
Kaz: I'm sure he just said it as a joke. Do you want some more chocolate mousse - without a pinch of salt this time?
Li: Good idea. Mmm, it does taste really nice without salt.
(Sound of banging, creaking)
Li: What was that?
Kaz: It's probably the wind?
(Ghost sounds - oooooo ooooooo)
Li: It's not the wind. Someone's in the house! Look, there's someone coming into the room!
Voice: Ooooo, Oooooooo, I'm a ghost!
Kaz: What the...? Hang on a minute, I recognise that voice.
Li: Chris, Chris? Is that you? Why are you covered in a white sheet?
Chris: I'm a ghost that's come to haunt you... I heard you made some chocolate mousse, Li, so I came over to eat some... Ooooo...
Li: You scared us! I really do have to take what you say and do with a pinch of salt.