Feifei Hello, this is The English We Speak and I’m Feifei.
Rob And hello, I’m Rob.
Feifei Hey Rob, watch this…
Rob Yeah very impressive, Feifei. But why are you singing and dancing?
Feifei Well, I booked a holiday in a lovely hotel with a fantastic swimming pool.
Rob Right. And you’re celebrating by singing and dancing? Very strange!
Feifei No Rob, of course not! There’s a problem - the swimming pool is closed for refurbishment and I want to cancel my holiday but the hotel won’t let me.
Rob Oh right. So you’re singing about it?
Feifei No. Neil told me to call the hotel again and make a song and dance about my reservation – so I’m practising before I do.
Rob Hold on Feifei. Don’t waste your time. What Neil means by ’to make a song and dance about it’, is to make lots of unnecessary fuss about it – basically, to overreact.
Feifei Got it! So, overreact – yes, I can do that!
Rob Well, go and make that phone call while we listen to some examples…
Examples My boyfriend makes such a song and dance about doing the housework – but to be honest, it’s not that hard!
Don’t make a song and dance about it – I only asked you to move seats so I could see the screen.
I can’t believe they lost your suitcase at the airport; you should make a song and dance about this and get a proper apology.
Feifei This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we’re learning about the phrase ’to make a song and dance about something’ which means to make a lot of unnecessary fuss about something. And Rob, that’s what I did when I called the hotel…
Rob So, you overreacted?
Feifei Yes.
Rob You made lots of fuss? You made a scene?
Feifei i did, and guess what?
Rob What?
Feifei They apologised and offered me a free holiday when the swimming pool has reopened and said I could bring a guest for free.
Rob Brilliant – a free guest! So, when shall we go?
Feifei We Rob? No, I’m taking my best friend Maria.
Rob What?! I’m not your best friend?! All that time we’ve worked together. All the things I’ve given you…
Feifei Calm down, Rob. Don’t make a song and dance about it. I’ll send you a postcard.
Rob Oh thanks.
Feifei Bye.
Rob Bye.