This is a download from BBC Learning English.

To find out more, visit our website.

The English We Speak

from BBC learning English.

com. Hello and welcome'm Neil.

I'm Neil.

Hey Neil, would you like to try one of my homemade cookies?

Well, we shouldn't really eat while we're presenting, but... Oh, go on then.

I made them last night and I thought I'd try them out on you. You've got a sweet tooth, so I know you can't resist.

Oh, okay then.

Well, what do you think?

Uh, well, they're okay.

Perhaps not the best I've ever had.

Oh, so you think my cooking isn't great?

Let's say it's something to chew on.

Right. So you're saying my homemade cookies are chewy?

No, I'm not. In fact, they're crunchy.

But when someone says they need to chew on something, it's an informal way to say they need to think about it before making a decision.

Well, Neil, I'll chew on a response to your insult about my cooking while we hear some examples.

Our extension plans are great, but we need to chew on it before we give them the go ahead.

Hmm, it's very expensive to fly to Australia for a holiday.

Let's chew on it, shall we?

...