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Learning English Conversations

To wash your dirty linen in public

Learning English Conversations

BBC

Language Learning, Education

4.61.2K Ratings

🗓️ 1 November 2016

⏱️ 2 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Are you discussing your private life in public? Here's an expression to describe what you're doing

Transcript

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0:00.0

This is a download from BBC Learning English.

0:03.0

To find out more, visit our website.

0:06.0

The English we speak.

0:09.0

From BBC learning English.

0:12.0

com. Hello and me Rob. expression to wash your dirty linen in public? Yes, the expression to wash your

0:25.3

dirty linen in public describes someone who talks about private matters in

0:29.8

public so everyone can hear them. You wouldn't catch me doing that.

0:34.0

Nor me. I always keep private matters private.

0:37.0

But anyway, it's exactly what Daisy and Tom have been doing.

0:41.0

What? They've been washing their dirty linen in public you mean they've been arguing well

0:46.2

not exactly but yesterday they were out in the garden making lots of noise oh I

0:50.9

see actually Rob I think and I'm sure Daisy he said something about hanging Tom out to drive

0:56.7

Rob Rob there's a simple explanation but let's hear some more examples of this

1:02.4

phrase first.

1:03.4

Tim kept discussing his brother's drinking problem at the pub

1:10.4

but I told him not to wash his dirty linen in public.

1:15.0

I know he's having an affair, but do they have to wash their dirty linen in public?

1:20.0

Don't wash your dirty linen in public. Save your argument for when you get home.

1:25.0

So the expression to watch your dirty linen in public means you discuss private matters in public. But Rob I don't think Daisy and

1:36.1

Tom were talking about their family problems in the garden. Well I could hear what was

1:40.8

going on. Are you sure? Because I spoke to Daisy and she said

1:45.3

their washing machine had broken down and they were actually washing their clothes

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