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The English We Speak.

From BBC Learning English.

Hello and

welcome to the English we speak.

I'm Rob and joining me today is Faye.

Hello everyone.

Hey, what about that new guy who started in the office?

Oh, you mean Brian? Yes. What about that new guy who started in the office?

Oh, you mean Brian?

Yes, he's very funny, always telling jokes.

And yesterday he started juggling with three oranges.

He was very good. Hmm, if you say so. He was very good.

Hmm, if you say so. He might be funny though, but I haven't seen him do much work.

I think he's a bit of a wild card.

A wild card? You mean he is like a playing card? A heart, a spade or maybe a diamond?

Oh no no nothing like that, although the expression does come from playing cards. Here it means he is unpredictable.

He's someone we don't know much about so we're not sure how he's going to behave in the future.

Oh do you think so? Well, yes, Rob. Brian is unpredictable.

Okay, well let's hear some examples of this phrase.

We're taking a gamble. She's a wild card, but let's hope she delivers what she promises.

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