Listen
Finn and Feifei are in the park on a beautiful, sunny day. Finn wants to have some beer. Can Feifei persuade him to drink something healthier? Find out in The English We Speak.
Will Finn ever get a six-pack?
The script for this programme
Finn: Ahh, this is the life. Sun shining, birds singing - beautiful day here in the park, eh Feifei?
Feifei: Ah yes, fantastic. Just one thing, Finn. I'm a bit thirsty.
Finn: Yes I could do with a drink.
Feifei: An orange juice would be magnificent.
Finn: No, no, no. On a day like today the ideal thing would be… an ice-cold beer, or maybe six…
(Looks in bag)
Finn: Ah – here we are. A six-pack! Look.
Feifei: Finn, I don't really want to see your six-pack.
Finn: What?
Feifei: Actually, you don't have a six-pack. You have a beer belly!
Finn: Oh, I get it! Very good, Feifei. In English the phrase six-pack originally refers to a way of selling cans of beer – buying six cans joined together with plastic holders.
Feifei: And now, as a slang expression, it can also describe the shape of stomach muscles... on people who are very fit you can see six round muscles – which looks like a six pack of drink. Unfortunately, not on you Finn.
Finn: What are you saying?
Feifei: Anyone can see you don't have a six-pack. You have a one-pack – one huge beer belly!
Finn: Well, I think that phrase is easy enough to understand.
Feifei: Too many six-packs of beer, I'm afraid!
Examples
- I've been going to the gym for a month now. I need to get my six-pack ready before I go to the beach this summer!
- I used to have a six-pack when I was a teenager, but it seems to have got lost under all this fat.
Feifei: So Finn, how about you leave that six-pack of beer and swap it for... a healthy fruit smoothie!
Finn: Nice idea, and I can see a fruit smoothie seller over there! I'll go and buy two. See you in a bit.
Feifei: Thanks Finn. While he's over there let me remind everyone if you want to learn more phrases like six-pack and beer belly, check out bbclearningenglish.com. And do some exercise! Bye.
Finn: (Opens and drinks from can) Don't tell Feifei!
