Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I’m Feifei…
Neil …and I’m Neil.
Feifei Neil, I just want to say thanks for my present – it was exactly what I needed.
Neil Well, I know you love tea, and I heard that you smashed your favourite teapot – so, what better present than a BBC Learning English teapot?
Feifei Exactly, a teapot is the gift that keeps on giving!
Neil What?! Keep on giving gifts? I’m sorry, Feifei, I can only afford one gift for you this year! I can’t keep giving you gifts. How rich do you think I am?
Feifei No. I said, ‘the gift that keeps on giving’. We use the expression ‘the gift that keeps on giving’ to talk about a thing or situation which has benefits that are repeated over a long period of time. So, in the case of the teapot, it’s something really useful that I can keep on using!
Neil Ah, that makes sense. And it’s not just for presents, right? For example, that silly video of Roy singing always makes me laugh. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Feifei What silly video? We can talk more about this video while we listen to these examples.
Examples That subscription to the video-streaming site you gave me is the gift that keeps on giving.
That marketing campaign went viral, and people are still watching the video ten years later. It’s the gift that keeps on giving.
My investment in shares is the gift that keeps on giving. I get dividends every month.
Feifei This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. We’re learning about the expression ‘the gift that keeps on giving’, which means a present or situation which has benefits that are repeated over a long period of time. I’ve just watched that video of Roy singing. It’s hilarious!
Neil I know. It makes me laugh every time I watch it.
Feifei It really is the gift that keeps on giving! I didn’t know Roy could reach such high notes!
Neil I particularly loved when the dog started howling with him!
Feifei I think I’m going to watch it again while I have a nice cup of tea made in that teapot you gave me! Would you like a cup of tea?
Neil Yes, please! Tea is always a good idea!
Feifei Bye, Neil!
Neil Bye!