Feifei This is The English We Speak with me Feifei…
Rob …and I’m Rob. Hey Feifei, you know this is the programme where we teach an authentic English phrase?
Feifei Yes, Rob.
Rob Well, I just wondered if today, we didn’t. We did something else?
Feifei No! We have to teach an English phrase – no ifs or buts.
Rob But if we sang a song for a change, it might be more fun.
Feifei
No ifs or buts. We’re here to teach English, and that’s the phrase we’re teaching this time.
Rob But couldn’t we just…
Feifei
No ifs or buts, Rob – no compromises! When we say to someone ‘no ifs or buts’ it means there is no negotiation, no compromise, and no excuses - it just has to be done. It can also mean there is no doubt.
Rob Hmm, and do we have to have some examples?
Feifei
No ifs or buts, we do…
Examples
No ifs or buts - you have to be in bed by ten o’clock.
We’ve all got to work really hard to complete this project by the deadline – no ifs or buts.
No ifs or buts – this is the best restaurant I have ever eaten at.
Feifei In this The English We Speak from BBC Learning English, we’re talking about the phrase ‘no ifs or buts’ which can be said to mean ‘no negotiation, compromise or excuses’ – what has been said has to be done. It can also mean there is no doubt – So, Rob, no ifs or buts, we are here to teach an English phrase.
Rob OK, I’ve got it – no singing, no dancing, just teaching.
Feifei Rob, if you want to do some dancing go ahead, but we should invite everyone to come and watch.
Rob Hmm, you’re right, no ifs or buts – let’s stick to teaching an English phrase.
Feifei Very wise. And no ifs or buts, we have to go now. Bye.
Rob Bye bye.