Jiaying Hello, I’m Jiaying, and this is The English We Speak…
Neil …and hello. I’m Neil.
Jiaying What’s that awful sound?
Neil Are you referring to my violin playing? This is my new hobby – learning to play a new instrument.
Jiaying But it sounds like you’re murdering a cat! Is there a cat in the studio?
Neil I get the message, Jiaying! I’m just trying to learn another skill, in case I lose my current job. I could make some money as a musician.
Jiaying So, you are adding another string to your bow?
Neil Am I? Is that what I need to improve my violin playing?!
Jiaying No, Neil! When we talk about having ‘another string to your bow’ we mean having an additional skill that can be used if the first one doesn’t work out. So, think of another string as another skill – so how many strings do you have, Neil?
Neil Hmm, let me count while we hear some other examples of the phrase ‘another string to your bow’…
Examples Bookkeeping is another string to my bow – I’ve learnt it in case I lose my job at the bank.
It looks like I’ll never be a singer, but luckily, I have another string to my bow – dancing!
Gemma is so talented – she has so many strings to her bow.
Jiaying This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we’re talking about the phrase ‘another string to your bow’ which describes having an additional skill to use if the first skill doesn’t work out. We can also say ‘to have more than one string to your bow’ to mean having lost of skills. Neil’s additional skill is playing the violin – but sorry, Neil, you need more practice!
Neil Maybe I do, Jiaying – I think I might try a different skill – one that still needs a bow.
Jiaying Neil, you don’t need a bow to use this phrase - it’s just metaphorical.
Neil I know – but if learn this new skill, I can be like Robin Hood – it’s archery.
Jiaying Bows and arrows?!
Neil Mind you head!
Jiaying Watch out – that just missed me! I think you need one fewer string to your bow now – it’s too dangerous.
Neil No, this is great. Let’s have another go!
Jiaying I’m off. Bye.
Neil Bye.