Take the biscuit: The English We Speak - YouTube

Feifei: Welcome to The English We Speak.

It's Feifei here with Rob.

Rob: Hi everyone.

Feifei: So Rob, help yourself to a biscuit.

I know how much you love them, so I

bought some for us to share today.

Rob: Oh right. That's very kind, Feifei, but

very odd. You don't normally buy me

things. Are you feeling guilty? Have you

done something wrong?

Feifei: Of course not! Well… sort of. I hope

you don't mind, but I used up all your

coffee when I made drinks for the team

this morning.

Rob: What?! You used up all my coffee

and you didn't make me one? That really

takes the biscuit!

Feifei: I haven't taken any biscuits – just

your coffee.

Rob: No, Feifei! When I say someone

really takes the biscuit, I mean what you

have done is really surprising, annoying or

sometimes just silly.

Feifei: Oh dear. You're not happy? Sorry, Rob.

Let's hear some examples while you

calm down…

I can't believe she copied my work and

pretended it was her own – now that

really takes the biscuit.

You're really taking the biscuit if you're

expecting me to take you to the match

and wait outside until it's finished!

Your plan to turn the spare bedroom into

a snooker room really takes the biscuit!

Feifei: This is The English We Speak from

BBC Learning English and we're finding

out about the phrase 'to take', or 'to really

take the biscuit', which means we are

surprised or annoyed by someone's

actions. Oh Rob, I'll buy you some

more coffee.

Rob: I hope so. By the way, we can say

'something' as well as 'someone' takes

the biscuit. So you take the biscuit by

using up my coffee but there is

something that really takes the biscuit.

Feifei: Oh yes? What's that?

Rob: These biscuits you bought are ginger

nuts – I hate ginger biscuits. Didn't you

know? Oh that really takes the biscuit!

Feifei: OK, Rob. You are really taking this

badly. Pass them over here then and I'll

eat them.

Rob: Oh crumbs, I've dropped them. Sorry!

Feifei: It looks like I won't be taking any of

my biscuits today! Come on, Rob. I'll buy

you a coffee.

Rob: Thanks. Bye.

Feifei: Bye.