Feifei This is The English We Speak, I’m Feifei…
** Rob** And hello, I’m Rob.
** Feifei** Rob, it’s very kind of you to bring me to this cafe and to buy me a milkshake – I love milkshakes.
Rob Did I say I was paying? Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about work…
Feifei ….mmm, strawberry, my favourite.
** Rob** Errr, yes, me too…. But back to talking about work – you know we’re moving the desks around?…
** Feifei** …Why do milkshakes taste so good?…oh look I’ve finished mine.
** Rob** …as I was trying to say, it looks like you’ve got the short straw.
Feifei Oh, that’s why I’ve drunk my milkshake quicker than you – I had a short straw!
Rob No, Feifei. Forget the milkshake – if you get – or draw - the short straw, it means you’re the person in a group who gets the most unpleasant outcome in a situation.
Feifei Right, and why have I got the short straw?
Rob Well, I’m afraid they’re moving your desk to just outside the toilet!
Feifei We’ll see about that – let’s hear some examples of other people who’ve got the short straw…
Examples It looks like I’ve got the short straw – I’m doing the late shift while everyone else goes to the pub!
Oh dear, Dan’s got do the washing up after our dinner party – looks like he’s got the short straw.
We were given free tickets to the theatre, but I got the short straw because my seat was right at the back – I couldn’t see a thing!
** Feifei** This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we’re talking about the expression ‘to get the short straw’, which describes a person in a group who gets the most unpleasant or difficult outcome in a situation. You can also say ‘to draw the short straw’. And Rob, you’re saying I’ve got the short straw in the office reshuffle?
Rob Yep – that’s why I thought I’d take you for a milkshake as a way of making you feel better about it.
** Feifei** You mean, as a way of saying sorry more like. I’ve seen the new office plan and you were supposed to sit by the toilet but you changed the name to mine – what a cheek!
** Rob** Well… errr… How about if I pay for your milkshake?
** Feifei** Maybe, if you buy me another milkshake.
** Rob** Oh OK then… remind me what flavour?
** Feifei** Strawberry – with TWO long straws.