The English We Speak: Do it for the plot

Learning English Conversations

BBC

Education, Language Learning

4.6 • 1.1K Ratings

🗓️ 8 April 2025

⏱️ 2 minutes

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Summary

An expression for when you make spontaneous life decisions for entertainment.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	Hello and welcome to the English We Speak, where we explain expressions used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them too.
0:09.7	I'm Faye Faye and I'm joined by Georgie. How are you, Georgie?
0:13.2	I'm very well. Thank you, Fafi. How are you?
0:15.2	I'm very well. Now, Georgie, I came across an expression on the internet and I wasn't entirely sure what it meant.
0:23.0	I wonder if you can help me.
0:24.8	Sure. What is it?
0:26.4	Well, it was a video of a woman debating whether to quit her job to go travelling around South America.
0:33.1	At the end, she said she might just do it for the plot.
0:37.0	Okay, do it for the plot. This is quite a new internet expression. It means making a choice,
0:42.9	often quite a bold, chaotic or unexpected choice to do something that will make life more
0:48.5	exciting or interesting, like your life is a film.
0:52.0	Ah, okay, so that's where plot comes in.
0:56.2	It's about seeing yourself as the writer, producer, director and star of the film.
1:01.7	That is your life.
1:03.6	Maybe you want to give the people around you something to talk about.
1:07.2	Exactly.
1:08.3	You can use it to talk about your own life.
1:10.4	For example, I once ran into the sea,
1:12.9	fully closed in winter with my friend. It was freezing, but we did it for the plot. But you can
1:19.2	also use it to encourage other people. Go on, do it for the plot. Let's hear more examples.
1:28.4	No, I've decided I'm dyeing my hair green.
1:31.3	Don't look at me like that.
	...

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