Jiaying Welcome to The English We Speak, with me, Jiaying…
Neil … and me, Neil.
Jiaying Hey, Neil. How was your weekend?
Neil Oh, very dull – I was just doing housework.
Jiaying Housework is dull but it’s just part of life, Neil.
Neil I wish I could just do whatever I want! Like hiking or binge-watching my favourite TV series.
Jiaying You can still do these things, Neil – but housework is all part of ‘adulting’.
Neil You mean being a grown-up?
Jiaying Yes, I do! The word ‘adulting’ or ‘adulting’ describes behaving in a way that’s typical of an adult – particularly doing boring, mundane tasks. Let’s face it, Neil, you’re not a child anymore!
Neil Thanks for reminding me. Let’s hear some more examples of ‘adulting’…
Examples My kids are cooking dinner for me so I get a break from adulting!
I told my friend to stop behaving like a teenager and start adulting!
Paying the bills is boring but a necessary part of adulting.
Jiaying You’re listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English, and we’re talking about the word ‘adulting’ – which describes behaving like an adult and doing mundane tasks that only adults do. It’s from the noun ‘adult’. But, Neil, despite being an adult, doing housework is child’s play!
Neil Child’s play! You mean it’s easy to do. Well it is, but it’s so boring.
Jiaying Well, if you do it quickly, you’ll have more time to do other things.
Neil Like paying the bills, repairing the broken cupboard, doing the gardening – it’s all so unfair!
Jiaying Neil, now you’re acting like a baby – not an adult!
Neil OK, OK… I’ll treat my responsibilities like a grown-up.
Jiaying That’s more like it – good luck ‘adulting’! Bye for now.
Neil See ya.