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Learning English Conversations

Take it with a pinch of salt

Learning English Conversations

BBC

Education, Language Learning

4.61.1K Ratings

🗓️ 26 May 2014

⏱️ 3 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Helen takes Neil out for tea but why does she put salt in his cup? Find out more

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This is a feature from BBC learning English.

0:03.0

For more information and our terms of use go to BBCworldservice.com

0:09.0

forward slash podcasts.

0:11.0

The English we speak.

0:13.0

We Speak.

0:15.0

Hello Helen, thanks for inviting me here.

0:20.0

It's a lovely cafe, isn't it?

0:22.0

Yes it is, Neil Neil actually I wanted to ask you a

0:25.6

favour I know you play the piano and I'd like you to teach me here's your tea

0:32.0

Madam, sir.

0:34.0

Oh, thank you. I'll pour it.

0:37.0

I'd be happy to teach you the piano. Are you buying one?

0:42.0

No, our colleague John is giving me one.

0:45.0

Giving you a piano? Yes, he said he's moving to Australia and will give me his piano.

0:51.0

Sugar in your tea? I'd take that with a pinch of salt. Oh, okay.

0:57.0

What are you doing? You said you would take that with a pinch of salt. So I'm putting some in your tea.

1:04.1

No, I didn't mean put salt in my tea. I was talking about our colleague John.

1:10.0

You need to take what John says with a pinch of salt.

1:14.0

Uh, I'm confused.

1:17.0

In English, when we say, take it with a pinch of salt, we mean don't believe in it completely because it might not be true.

1:25.0

Oh, so John's not going to give me his piano.

1:29.0

John's always planning to move abroad and promising things.

...

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