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Hello and welcome to the English we speak. I'm Faye, and I'm Rob.

Rob, why are you sounding so fed up?

Well, I've just had a meeting about my work with my boss and his feedback wasn't very good.

Oh no, what did he say? He said I had a very relaxed attitude to work.

Oh Rob, don't take it to heart. He's not good at giving constructive feedback.

My heart is fine, thanks, Vafe.

It's just my feelings that are hurt.

I'm sure, but I wasn't referring to your heart literally.

If someone takes something to heart it means they react to

someone's criticism or advice personally and seriously so that they become

upset by it.

Cheer up, Rob, you're not the only one who's been taking things to heart.

Listen to these examples. Don't take her comments to heart. I thought your performance at the show was excellent.

He was only joking about your shoes. Don't take it to heart.

Freya tends to take things to heart, so be careful how you deliver your feedback.

This is the English we speak from BBC Learning English. Rob has had some negative feedback from the boss and taken it to heart, which means he's taken advice

or criticism personally and very seriously. But Rob, don't worry, maybe the boss was trying to be kind.

But he said I had a relaxed attitude to work and that means lazy.

Not necessarily. Maybe he meant you don't find work stressful.

Really? Do you think so?

Hmm, maybe you're right.

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