Learning English

Inspiring language learning since 1943

Summary

Something unexpected happened to Feifei on her way to the studio. Neil wants an explanation and they both teach you a phrase for when there is a story behind what you see. It's an expression used by Shakespeare!

Transcript

Feifei
Hello, and welcome to The English We Speak. I’m Feifei…

Neil
… and hello, I’m Neil. Err, sorry to mention it, Feifei, but why is there a big coffee stain on your top?

Feifei
Because I spilt coffee all over me!

Neil
That was a bit silly… and did I notice when you arrived that you were limping?

Feifei
Yes, I was - and thereby hangs a tale.

Neil
Where? Did you trip over a tail?

Feifei
No, Neil! I mean there is more to tell you. When we say, ‘thereby hangs a tale’ we mean what I have told you involves a longer explanation – or there is more to tell you. It’s an expression, taken from As You Like It by William Shakespeare.

So, let me explain why I have a coffee stain and a limp.

Neil
If it involves me, then no!

Feifei
It does.

Neil
Oh. Shall we have some examples of ‘thereby hangs a tale’?

Examples
A: Why are you covered in mud?
B: Well, thereby hangs a tale.

I won that medal for bravery – and thereby hangs a tale.

What a journey! All the main roads were closed so we had to drive cross-country – and thereby hangs a tale.

Feifei
You’re listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. I’ve been telling Neil about the phrase ‘thereby hangs a tale’. It means there is more to say about what I have already told you. Neil, can you guess what’s happened?

Neil
Hmmm, so you have a limp, and you have a coffee stain on your top – were you dancing with a full cup of coffee?

Feifei
I wasn’t. In fact, I was walking to the studio, carefully carrying my coffee, when I tripped over a bag of potatoes in the corridor.

Neil
Ah, that’s my bag of potatoes!

Feifei
I thought so. But why is there a bag of potatoes in the corridor?

Neil
Well, thereby hangs a tale!

Feifei
I’m all ears!

Neil
I’ll tell you later. It’s time to go now. Bye.

Feifei
Bye.

تازه ترین The English We Speak

Off the top of my head
Episode 230102 / 02 Jan 2023
A quick-thinking phrase
Change for the better
Episode 221226 / 26 Dec 2022
What changes do you want to make?
The gift that keeps on giving
Episode 221219 / 19 Dec 2022
Do you like receiving presents?
Quiet quitting
Episode 221212 / 12 Dec 2022
A phrase about just doing enough.
Hang in there
Episode 221205 / 05 Dec 2022
A phrase about encouragement
Bite your tongue
Episode 221128 / 28 Nov 2022
Don’t take this phrase literally!
Win hands down
Episode 221121 / 21 Nov 2022
An easy phrase for an easy win!
Fever pitch
Episode 221107 / 14 Nov 2022
Are you crazy with excitement about the World Cup?
Twiddle your thumbs
Episode 221107 / 07 Nov 2022
A phrase for boring times
Get your act together
Episode 221031 / 31 Oct 2022
A phrase about good organisation
Dog's dinner
Episode 221024 / 24 Oct 2022
You need to learn this messy phrase
Sitting pretty
Episode 221017 / 17 Oct 2022
A phrase to describe a good situation
Feast your eyes
Episode 221010 / 10 Oct 2022
A phrase worth looking at.
Put the brakes on
Episode 221003 / 03 Oct 2022
Stop! You need to learn this expression.
Second-guess
Episode 220926 / 16 Sep 2022
Can you guess what this phrase is about?
Ins and outs
Episode 220919 / 19 Sep 2022
Here's a phrase about learning more details about something
Yes and no
Episode 220912 / 12 Sep 2022
Not all answers in life are 'yes' or 'no'!
Eat your words
Episode 220905 / 05 Sep 2022
Learn a phrase about being wrong
Bug someone
Episode 220829 / 29 Aug 2022
Don’t get too irritated!
Willy-nilly
Episode 220822 / 22 Aug 2022
A random phrase
Gnarly
Episode 220815 / 15 Aug 2022
A word for something disgusting
Smash it
Episode 220808 / 08 Aug 2022
A phrase to give encouragement
a doddle
Episode 220801 / 01 Aug 2022
Is this phrase easy to learn?
It's now or never
Episode 220725 / 25 Jul 2022
A phrase about doing something immediately
Happy days
Episode 220718 / 18 Jul 2022
Here's a way to respond to good news
Double down
Episode 220711 / 30 May 2022
Learn a phrase about extra effort
Game face
Episode 220704 / 04 Jul 2022
A phrase about determination
Bitten by the bug
Episode 220627 / 27 Jun 2022
Is this a phrase to get excited by?
It escapes me
Episode 220620 / 20 Jun 2022
A phrase about forgetting something
Onboarding
Episode 220613 / 13 Jun 2022
New job, new word!
Thereby hangs a tale
Episode 220606 / 06 Jun 2022
A Shakespearean phrase for when there's more to something than you think
The royal treatment
Episode 220530 / 30 May 2022
Are you ready to feel like a king or a queen?
Tell me about it
Episode 220523 / 12 May 2022
Learn an agreeable phrase
Creatively bankrupt
Episode 220516 / 16 May 2022
Learn a phrase about being unoriginal
As if
Episode 220509 / 09 May 2022
Learn an unlikely phrase
Ish
Episode 220502 / 02 May 2022
Learn an imprecise phrase
Bad hair day
Episode 220425 / 25 Apr 2022
Is this an unattractive phrase?!
Promises, promises
Episode 220418 / 25 Mar 2022
Is a promise a promise?
Not see hide nor hair
Episode 220411 / 11 Apr 2022
Have you seen this phrase?
Curate's egg
Episode 220404 / 04 Apr 2022
Learn a phrase that is good and bad at the same time.
That'll be the day
Episode 220328 / 28 Mar 2022
When will be ‘that day’?
Gathering dust
Episode 220321 / 21 Mar 2022
What’s gathering dust in your house?
Easier said than done
Episode 220314 / 24 Feb 2022
This phrase shouldn’t be complicated!
The plot thickens
Episode 220307 / 07 Mar 2022
A mysterious phrase!
All at sea
Episode 220228 / 28 Feb 2022
Don’t let this phrase confuse you
Don't mind me
Episode 220221 / 21 Feb 2022
Don’t ignore this phrase
Cramp my style
Episode 220214 / 14 Feb 2022
Who’s cramping your style?
Cool cat
Episode 220131 / 31 Jan 2022
Do you know someone who is hip and trendy?
There's nothing to it
Episode 220124 / 24 Jan 2022
Learn a simple phrase
As sick as a parrot
Episode 220117 / 17 Jan 2022
A phrase about disappointment
Eke out
Episode 220110 / 10 Jan 2022
Don’t waste this phrase!
Say no more
Episode 220103 / 03 Jan 2022
Do you get me?