Listen
William says he's going to bounce but Li wants to know what this slang phrase means. Why doesn't it have anything to do with ball games? Listen to this programme to find out.
When William says he's going to bounce he's not talking about basketball
The script for this programme
William: Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. My name is William Kremer.
Li: I'm Yang Li.
William: Li, do you mind if we don't look at a phrase today?
Li: Don't look at a phrase? So what do you want to do today instead?
William: Erm, nothing actually. I've got to go and meet a friend at the airport.
Li: So what are you saying, William? That you don't have time for today's programme?
William: Is that all right?
Li: Oh well...
William: Well, thanks Li! I'm just going to bounce.
Li: Hey, William, wait, wait! What do you mean? What did you say just now?
William: I'm just going to bounce; I'm going to leave.
Li: I think we need to hear another example of that phrase.
Man: Hey Tom – where are you going? The party's just getting started!
Man 2: Ah sorry dude, I gotta bounce. I'm on an early shift tomorrow.
Li: In that clip we heard someone saying he had to leave a party.
William: Yes, that's right. He said "I gotta bounce".
Li: To bounce usually means for something to go up and down. But where does this slang usage come from, William?
William: Well, 'bounce' meaning 'to leave' comes from the USA and it's urban slang, so it's something that young cool kids might say.
Li: Not you, then.
William: What do you mean?
Li: Well you're not young or cool. You are a middle-class Englishman in his thirties.
William: Li, that's not fair! I listen to hip hop. And one of my jumpers has a hood.
Li: Anyway, we have talked about a phrase now. So if you like, you can bounce now.
William: Right. Bouncing.
Li: Now that he's gone let's relax with some nice music...
