The English We Speak: Short-change
Learning English Conversations
BBC
4.6 • 1.2K Ratings
🗓️ 3 March 2026
⏱️ 4 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
If you give someone less than they deserve, you short-change them. Learn the literal and metaphorical use of this expression with Feifei and Georgie and hear more examples.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:06.0 | Thanks for listening to this podcast from BBC Learning English. |
| 0:10.4 | Do you use English at work? |
| 0:12.7 | In our podcast series Office English, we talk you through what to say and what not to say at work. |
| 0:19.4 | Need to run a meeting? |
| 0:23.3 | Not sure how to talk about rules at work, |
| 0:26.2 | or want help disagreeing politely with colleagues. |
| 0:29.8 | Office English is your podcast guide to the world of work. |
| 0:33.6 | Search Learning English for Work in your podcast app or visit BBC LearningEnglish.com to listen. |
| 0:37.4 | Hello and welcome to the English we speak where we're explaining explain. app or visit BBC LearningEnglish.com to listen. |
| 0:42.9 | Hello and welcome to the English We Speak, where we're explaining expressions used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them too. I'm Faye Faye and I'm joined by Georgie. |
| 0:49.3 | How's it going? |
| 0:50.2 | Ugh, I'm a bit annoyed actually because this morning I decided to treat myself with a really nice takeaway coffee and I ordered a large cappuccino but when I looked at it, it was only half full. I was shortchanged. |
| 1:02.0 | Oh no, you should go back. So you just use the expression short change. Let's learn it in this program. |
| 1:10.0 | Shall we start by explaining its origin? |
| 1:12.4 | I think that's a good idea, Faye Faye. So the word change can refer to the money you get back |
| 1:18.3 | after you've paid too much for something. So imagine I pay £10 for something that costs £7. I should |
| 1:26.0 | get £3 change. Right, but if the cashier only |
| 1:29.8 | gives you two pounds back, they have short changed you. They give you less than they should have. |
| 1:35.6 | And that is the very literal meaning of the expression, isn't it, Georgie? It is, but this |
| 1:41.2 | expression is often used in a metaphorical sense as well. |
| 1:44.6 | It means that you've been given less than you deserve or that you've been treated unfairly. |
... |
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