Jiaying Hello and welcome to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English, I’m Jiaying…
Neil And I’m Neil… A legend in my own lifetime!
Jiaying A legend in your own lifetime? Err, Neil, are we talking about you?
Neil Yes! I’m famous and still living – that’s what I mean by ‘a legend in my own lifetime’.
Jiaying So, you’re famous just for being alive?
Neil No, no – famous for presenting this amazing The English We Speak programme.
Jiaying Hmm, you are well and truly alive but I’m not sure about famous. When we describe someone as ‘a legend in their own lifetime’ we mean they are a living person who is incredibly well-known and admired for something – or were admired when they were alive. Such as, for example, Tim Berners-Lee who invented the World Wide Web.
Neil … And me!
Jiaying Let’s have some examples about some real legends…
Examples Elvis was a legend in his own lifetime.
For some football fans, Ronaldo is a legend in his own lifetime.
The athlete has made such an impression at the Olympics that she’s become a legend in her own lifetime.
Jiaying This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we’re discussing the phrase ‘a legend in one’s own lifetime’ which describes someone who is incredibly famous for something in their lifetime. Neil, you really have to do something amazing to be a legend in your lifetime!
Neil Well, I can make a great cup of tea and bake quite tasty cakes.
Jiaying Ah! That makes you ‘a legend in your own lunchtime’!
Neil Hmm, that doesn’t sound so great.
Jiaying It’s not. ‘A legend in your own lunchtime’ is an informal, sarcastic twist on the real phrase and means you’re not as important or famous as you think you are! Keep trying, though, Neil!
Neil Oh, thanks. I guess I’ll just go and make some tea and cake then.
Jiaying Thanks. You’re a legend – to me anyway!
Neil Gee, thanks, Jiaying.
Jiaying Bye.
Neil Bye.