NeilHello and welcome to The English We Speak, I’m Neil and joining me is Feifei…
Feifei Hello.
Neil I’ve got a medical experiment to perform on you in this programme, Feifei.
FeifeiRighhhhht…
NeilCome on – it’s for our listeners. We’ve got an expression which means to react to something without thinking about it carefully first. So, cross one leg over the other, like that.
FeifeiWhat are you doing with that hammer?
NeilKeep calm – it’s OK, I’m not going to hurt you. And I’ll just tap your knee… And… it worked!
FeifeiYes Neil, well done. You’ve just tested my reflexes. When you hit my knee with the hammer, my leg kicked automatically. I didn’t even think about it.
NeilIt was a knee-jerk reaction. And in English we can say that someone has a knee-jerk reaction when they act after an event without thinking carefully.
FeifeiLet’s hear some examples of ‘knee-jerk reaction’.
ExamplesAfter the terrorist attack, the government should be careful to avoid a knee-jerk reaction. A declaration of war could lead to even bigger problems later.
He left his wife after he saw her having a drink with another man but it was a knee-jerk reaction. He’ll be back.
Putting up interest rates because of inflation is a knee-jerk reaction. They haven’t thought of the other consequences.
FeifeiA knee-jerk reaction. Acting automatically, without thinking about the consequences.
NeilLet’s try that again with the other knee. Here we go… (Smacking sfx) Argh – you kicked me in the face!
FeifeiSorry Neil – it was just a knee-jerk reaction.
NeilOw…
BothBye!