Hello and I'm Beth. We speak.

I'm Beth.

We have an expression which is all about having an alternative option

in case your first plan doesn't work out.

The phrase is plan B.

Plan B. Can you give us some context, Beth?

Well, you know we've been trying to get tickets to that concert, Faye Faye. Ideally we want to go here in London

so we don't need to travel, but I think the London dates might sell out quickly.

Hmm, that's true. We better have a plan B. Maybe we could go to the concert in Birmingham instead. That's not too far.

Good idea. Birmingham could be our plan B. Although I suppose we could go on Sunday instead of Saturday in London still, if that works.

The tickets for Saturday will probably sell quickly, but Sunday might not.

Okay, yes, that's a better idea so Sunday in

London can be our plan B if we can't get tickets for Saturday. Great we have a few

different options then let's hear some more examples.

The hike was called off because of the weather, so we went with Plan B and play games inside instead.

We need a Plan B. I have a feeling we won't make it to the restaurant on time.

The train's been cancelled. Let's go with Plan B and get the bus.

You're listening to the English we speak from BBC Learning English and we're learning the

expression Plan B which is a way of expressing an alternative in case your first

option doesn't go as planned. It can be used in many different situations

including at work but it's always used when planning something and

suggesting alternatives. You wouldn't use it in academic writing for example. No that would be

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