Feifei Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I’m Feifei.
RobAnd I’m Rob! Now, for this programme, we are going to need two sounds! A slap…and, a bang…
FeifeiVery strange! A slap…and a bang…
Rob Yes! It’s a clue for our authentic English expression.
FeifeiSlap-bang – is that an expression?
Rob It is when you want to describe something that is directly or exactly in a particular place. It’s often used with the short phrase ‘in the middle of’ something.
FeifeiVery precise. So the expression ‘slap-bang’ is an informal way of saying ‘exactly in a certain place’? So not a bit to the left, or a bit to the right?
Rob No, ‘slap-bang’ - means ’exactly’. And we are slap-bang in the middle of this programme, so let’s have some examples…
ExamplesHe scored an amazing goal – the ball went slap-bang into the middle of the net!
I couldn’t find my phone anywhere, and there it was - slap-bang in the middle of the table!
If you take the train to Edinburgh, you’ll see the castle slap-bang in front of you when you come out of the station.
FeifeiThis is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English, and we’re talking about the expression ‘slap-bang’ which means exactly or directly in a particular place.
RobAnd you don’t need to make the slap…or bang… sound every time you say it!
FeifeiWell, Rob, I’m off to meet some friends at a pub which is slap-bang in the middle of town.
RobOK – anybody I know?
Feifei Oh just Neil, Roy, Sam and Georgina from the office.
RobAnd I’m not invited? Well, that is a bit of a slap in the face.
Feifei‘A slap in the face’ – good phrase, Rob, meaning an insult that you weren’t expecting. But, sorry. You’re still not invited.
RobOK, then. I’ll stay here and play with these sound effects. Bye.
FeifeiBye, Rob.