Nothing to shout about: The English We Speak - YouTube

Feifei: Hello, this is The English We Speak

and I'm Feifei. Joining me is Neil.

Neil: Hello.

Feifei: Hey Neil, how was your night out at

the new restaurant?

Neil: Oh, it was... OK.

Feifei: Just 'OK'?

Neil: The food was average. The service

was standard.

Feifei: Neil, there is no pleasing you!

Neil: Keep your voice down Feifei. It was

nothing to shout about.

Feifei: It was nothing to shout about?

Would you normally shout about a good

restaurant?

Neil: Of course not. But when something

is 'nothing to shout about', it means it's

nothing special. It's average or

unremarkable. So you wouldn't make an

effort to tell anyone about it.

Feifei: So basically, you mean your

experience was disappointing?

Neil: Not exactly. I mean it was neither

good nor bad - just average. These

examples might

make the phrase easier to understand...

This year's bonus is nothing to shout

about but I guess it's better than

last year's.

My job is nothing to shout about but at

least it pays the bills.

Her clothes are nothing to shout about -

brown, cotton, cheap-looking, not very

fashionable!

Feifei: This is The English We Speak from

the BBC and we're discussing the phrase

'nothing to shout about'. It's used to

describe something or someone that isn't

special - something unremarkable or just

ordinary. So Neil, the restaurant was

nothing special but was there

anything you could shout about?

Neil: Oh yeah. The prices! It was so cheap

- that's probably why the food wasn't

great.

And on Mondays they do a special 'two

for the price of one' meal. That's

something to shout about.

Feifei: You're easy to please!

Neil: Actually Feifei, I was wondering if

you'd like to have dinner with me next

Monday?

Feifei: At the restaurant that's

nothing to shout about?

Neil: Yeah.

Feifei: OK then and if the food isn't good,

I'll have someone to shout at.

Neil: Who's that?

Feifei: You!

Both: Bye.