Feifei Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I’m Feifei.
Neil And I’m Neil.
Feifei Oh what’s that parcel you’ve got in your hands there, Neil? Looks exciting…
Neil It’s a present.
Feifei A present? For who?
Neil For you! For Christmas!
Feifei Christmas? It’s a bit early, isn’t it?
Neil Well, I saw these and I just knew you’d love them so much – so I bought them! I can’t wait till Christmas to see your face. Go on, open it now!
Feifei You’re too kind, Neil. OK… A pair of glasses… Harry Potter glasses.
Neil Aren’t they brilliant?! Go on, try them on.
Feifei I look ridiculous. And I don’t even like Harry Potter. Oh well, it’s the thought that counts.
Neil ‘It’s the thought that counts’. An excellent expression, Feifei. If someone gives you a present which you don’t like, you can say ‘it’s the thought that counts’.
Feifei It’s a polite way of saying you appreciate the effort and the kind thought a person had when they bought you a present – but you don’t like what they bought.
Neil Let’s hear some examples of this expression which is particularly useful around Christmas time.
Examples A: Wow! That Elvis Presley onesie you’re wearing is pretty weird.
B: Thanks. My grandmother gave it to me for Christmas. It’s the thought that counts, I suppose.
A: I have no idea what to get my auntie for her birthday.
B: Get her anything. It’s the thought that counts.
A: Oh no, not more tea towels. I was expecting something more exciting for our wedding presents.
B: You know what they say - it’s the thought that counts.
Feifei This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. Our expression is ‘it’s the thought that counts.’ It means the kindness someone shows when they buy you a present is more important than the gift itself.
Neil A very useful expression for politely saying that a present someone bought you is really not what you wanted. OK, Feifei, lean over.
Feifei Ouch! What are you doing with that pencil?
Neil There we go. With that flash of lightning on your forehead now you really look the part - Feifei Potter.
Feifei Hmm I need a spell to make you vanish, Neil…
Neil Bye!
Feifei Bye!