Phil Welcome to The English We Speak, with me, Phil…
Feifei And me, Feifei.
Phil We have an expression that you can use if you think that someone is spending just a bit too much time online – it’s ‘touch grass’.
Feifei ‘Touch grass’. So can you explain that?
Phil My friend keeps sending me all these memes – I don’t understand any of them. I don’t know where he gets them from. I really think he needs to touch grass!
Feifei This sounds like someone who spends far too much time on a screen. I can see why you think he needs to touch grass!
Phil It is a metaphor, but you can see how ’touch grass’ is something that you can only do outside. We use this expression to suggest that someone has lost their connection to the real world and that they should put their phone down. To be fair, I’m almost as bad. I can spend hours scrolling through social media - and I don’t even like it. Maybe someone needs to tell me to touch grass!
Feifei Touch grass, Phil! Put your phone down, go outside, get some fresh air!
Phil Maybe you’re right – I do need to touch grass! OK, listen to these examples.
Examples You spend all day playing video games! I think you need to touch grass.
I check my phone twenty times every hour. I really need to stop and touch grass!
I’m finding it hard to concentrate. I need to touch grass and relax.
Feifei You’re listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English, and we are learning the expression ‘touch grass’. This is what you can say to someone who you think spends too much time online or on their phone.
Phil We usually use it to say to suggest that someone’s technology use is affecting them negatively. We should point out here that this expression is definitely for informal situations only.
Feifei Yes, it’s a slang expression. But I think it can often be good advice. There’s so much to see and do in this city, but if you don’t get off social media and touch grass – you’ll miss it!
Phil OK, you’re right. I’m putting my phone away. – But you know what? I’m going to go to the countryside and touch grass for real!
Feifei That sounds like a good idea! See you next time.
Phil Bye!