Learning English

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Summary

There’s an English phrase to describe winning easily and we’re about to use it when talking about Rob’s favourite football team. That’s until Jiaying delivers some bad use and the phrase may no longer apply! Find out more in The English We Speak!

Transcript

Jiaying
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak with me, Jiaying…

Rob
…and hello, I am Rob.

Jiaying
Rob, are you excited about the big football match this weekend?

Rob
I am! Especially as my team – Manchesterpool FC United – are playing. They’ve had a great season, so they should win.

Jiaying
So, Rob, you think they’ll win hands down?

Rob
Err, well they are very good, but they won’t be playing with their hands – just their feet. Otherwise it’ll be handball!

Jiaying
I know, Rob. If we say someone will ‘win hands down’ it means they will win easily or decisively. So, if your team are as good as you say they are, there is nothing to worry about. Good luck anyway.

Rob
It’s not about luck, it’s about skill. And my team has lots of it.

Jiaying
If you say so, Rob. Let’s have some examples of ‘win hands down’, shall we?

Examples
After all the training you’ve done, you’ll win the race hands down.

The competition was tough, but in the end, you won the chess tournament hands down.

We’ve prepared very well, so we should win the match hands down.

Jiaying
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. We’re learning about the phrase ‘to win hands down’, which means to win easily. And Rob, hopefully your team will win hands down this weekend.

Rob
Yep, but without using any hands.

Jiaying
But hold on – haven’t you heard? Your main player has twisted his ankle. He’s out of the game.

Rob
No way! I was hoping he’d score a few goals. Maybe we won’t win hands down after all. What can we say instead?

Jiaying
There are lots of win-related phrases, but the most suitable one for now is ‘you win some, you lose some’.

Rob
Well, I still hope this time, we win!

Jiaying
Good luck!

Rob
Bye.

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Do you get me?