Jiaying Hello and welcome to The English We Speak with you, Neil…
Neil …and you, Jiaying. And today, Jiaying, as it’s your birthday, I’m going to make the coffee…
Jiaying But…
Neil No, I insist. And I’m going to buy the biscuits – not the cheap ones this time…
Jiaying Really?! Hmm, promises, promises!
Neil That’s right – two promises – make the coffee and buy nice biscuits – it is your birthday after all.
Jiaying When I said ‘promises, promises’, I was being sarcastic!
Neil Oh!
Jiaying When we say ‘promises, promises’ to someone, we are being sarcastic because we don’t really believe that someone will do what they said they would do. Sorry, Neil, I was saying I don’t believe you’ll do it. Let’s hear these examples….
Examples
Promises, promises! The plumber said he’d be here at 8am – but he isn’t.
A: Next time, I will remember to bring some money to pay for dinner.
B: Promises, promises!
My boyfriend says he’ll take me to Venice for a mini break. Promises, promises!
Jiaying This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we’re talking about the expression ‘promises, promises!’ which we can say to someone if we don’t believe they will do what they say they will do. So, Neil, what about this coffee and biscuits you’re getting – are they ready yet?
Neil Well, I haven’t got much time at the moment, and I need to borrow some money to buy the biscuits.
Jiaying Like I said, promises, promises! But it doesn’t matter, I’ve been trying to tell you that it’s not my birthday today.
Neil Oh. Why didn’t you say! Well, when it is your birthday, I will make the coffee and buy the biscuits.
Jiaying Not the cheap ones?
Neil No, the expensive ones. I promise!
Jiaying Really?
Neil Yep, I never break a promise.
Jiaying OK Neil, if you say so. Bye for now.
Neil Bye.