Feifei Hello and welcome to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. I’m Feifei…
Neil And I’m Neil. Hang on a minute, Feifei. Your champagne and caviar will be arriving in just a minute.
Feifei Champagne and caviar? But we’re recording a programme.
Neil Yes, and when we’re finished, your Rolls Royce will be arriving to take you back to the palace.
Feifei Rolls Royce? Palace? Are you OK?
Neil Oh would you prefer a limousine?
Feifei Right, Neil. What’s going on?
Neil I’m giving you the royal treatment.
Feifei Ah, I see. To ‘give someone the royal treatment’ means to behave towards them as if they are very important.
Neil Exactly. It means to treat someone in the way a member of a royal family would expect. Now let’s hear some examples of this expression in use.
Examples I met my boyfriend’s parents for the first time last week and they gave me the royal treatment. We went out for a beautiful meal and then the theatre afterwards.
You get the royal treatment when you book hospitality tickets in the Premier League. Free food and drinks and an amazing view of the match.
I can’t stand the new boss. He really expects the royal treatment from everyone. He’s not THAT important.
Feifei You’re listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. In this programme, we’re marking Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee – that’s 70 years as British monarch – with a royal expression.
Neil If you ‘give someone the royal treatment’, you treat them very well – as if they were a king or a queen.
Feifei Exactly. So, Neil, where’s the champagne and caviar?
Neil What champagne and caviar?
Feifei That you promised at the start of the programme.
Neil Oh, I just made that up – in order to teach our listeners a useful expression.
Feifei So, I guess I’ll be getting the train home as usual.
Neil Sorry – no royal treatment for you today. Bye!
Feifei Bye.