Neil Almost there, Feifei.
Feifei Can’t wait. What a climb it has been, Neil!
Neil And… there we are. Wow, it is beautiful!
Feifei I can see for miles…
Neil I could just sit on this mountain all day. Ahh…
What? I thought I had turned it off. Oh, it’s my dentist. Oh, man. Hello?
OK. Yeah, yeah, that’s fine. Bye.
Feifei What did she say?
Neil She said it’s time for my annual check-up.
** Feifei** That’s good, isn’t it?
Neil No, I hate going to the dentist. Sorry, I can’t enjoy this view any more. I’m heading back. What a buzzkill!
** Feifei** Neil! Neil, come back! Well, he’s off. Poor Neil was enjoying the view up here so much, but the news about his check-up completely ruined his mood. We can call something like that a ‘buzzkill’. It kills your ‘buzz’, in other words, your happy mood. I’d better catch up with him. Listen to these examples.
Examples
My holiday was amazing, but on the way back my plane was delayed for over six hours. That was a major buzzkill!
Jim was excited to move into his new apartment. But it was a huge buzzkill when he discovered mice in the bedroom.
I scored three goals last week but then got a really nasty injury in the last minute. The doctor said I can’t play for two months now. Bit of a buzzkill!
Feifei
You’re listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. The expression we’re looking at in this programme is ‘buzzkill’.
Neil! Neil! Stop!
Neil No, no, no, Feifei. It’s not the same. I’m just not in the mood any more.
Feifei Last time I went to the dentist, she said my teeth were fine. You brush every day, don’t you?
Neil Yes.
Feifei And there’s no pain?
Neil Not at the moment.
Feifei Well, it will probably be fine. Hey, don’t ruin my climb as well. Let’s go back up!
** Neil** Oh, OK. Sorry, I don’t mean to be a buzzkill. You’re right.
Feifei And I’ve got some lovely, sweets to enjoy. Here, they’re sugar-free.
** Neil** Thanks. Oh, tasty. Bye.
** Feifei** Bye.