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The English we speak.

From BBC learning English.

com. Learning English. dot com. Hello Rob, I didn't know I would find you here.

I love this laundrette.

The washing machines are very efficient.

Oh, I hope so.

I bought a very expensive washing machine for my house,

but when I put my clothes in, they ended up dirtier.

What do you mean?

Well, apparently there's some oil leaking in the motor and it's stained all the washing.

So I'm trying to wash them again here in this laundrette.

Oh, I can see all the yellowish stays.

This white shirt, it's an expensive designer one.

Yes, it is. That was my best shirt. It's probably ruined now. If this stain doesn't come out, I'll sue the washing machine manufacturers. I'll take them to the cleaners.

Calm down, Rob. It's the shirt that has to be cleaners. Calm down, Rob.

It's the shirt that has to be taken to the cleaners.

Not exactly, Helen.

In English, when we say we're going to take someone to the cleaners,

we mean we're going to take a lot of money from them.

So you want to ask the company to give you a lot of money, maybe all they've got, to compensate you for the loss of your very expensive shirt.

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