Feifei Hello, this is The English We Speak and I’m Feifei. And joining me is Neil.
NeilHello.
FeifeiHey Neil, how was your night out at that new restaurant last night?
Neil Oh, it was… OK.
FeifeiJust ‘OK’?
NeilThe 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?
NeilOf 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 Neil, you mean your experience was disappointing?
Neil Not exactly. I mean it was neither good or bad – just average. These examples might make the phrase easier to understand…
ExamplesThis year’s bonus is nothing to shout about but I guess it’s better than last year.
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!
FeifeiThis 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, unremarkable or just ordinary. So Neil, the restaurant was nothing special but was there anything you could shout about?
Neil Oh yes. The prices! It was so cheap – that’s probably why the food wasn’t great. And on Monday’s they do a special ’two for the price of one’ meal. That’s something to shout about.
FeifeiYou’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 Yes.
FeifeiOK then and if the food isn’t good, I’ll have someone to shout at.
Neil Who’s that?
Feifei You!
Both Bye.