Feifei Hello I’m Feifei and this is The English We Speak. With me today is Rob…
Rob Hello everyone.
Feifei Rob, are you OK – you look in pain?
Rob I am – I’ve just been to the dentist. Ouch.
Feifei Hmm, not my favourite place – but I guess you had to go to research today’s piece of authentic English?
Rob Excuse me?
Feifei Well today’s expression is ’to cut your teeth’ - and dentists look at teeth?
Rob Sorry Feifei, that’s one tooth-related expression that doesn’t need a dentist. When you ‘cut your teeth’ you get your first experience doing something in a particular job.
Feifei Oh really. So it’s like work experience?
Rob Yes, that’s one way of learning a new skill which you might use later in your job. I cut my teeth in radio production by working in local radio….
Feifei … and you’re still cutting your teeth now Rob?!
Rob Ha ha, let’s hear some examples of this phrase shall we?
Examples Dan cut his teeth on a local newspaper before landing a job on a national daily.
He cut his teeth running the junior football club before becoming a professional referee.
Feifei So ’to cut your teeth’ means to acquire initial practice or experience in a particular job or activity. We could say it’s where you get your basic skills.
Rob Correct – so where do you think you cut your teeth for this job Fefei?
Feifei I cut my media teeth at university.
Rob Ouch!
Feifei Sorry, what did I say?
Rob No it’s not you – it’s this filling I had done – that’s why I went to the dentist. He really was rough.
Feifei Rob, I think you should go home and rest.
Rob Maybe!
Both Bye!