Learning English

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Introduction

This expression is a way to say don't interrupt someone because they're doing well. Learn it here.

Transcript

Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them as well. I'm Feifei, and I'm joined by Beth. Hello Beth!

Beth
Hi Feifei. I learnt a new phrase recently – my friend said 'let her cook'.

Feifei
Interesting. Were you in the kitchen?

Beth
No. I was telling a long story and my friend kept saying to my other friends 'let her cook'.

Feifei
And what does it mean?

Beth
Well, in modern slang it means someone is doing well at something and that you should let them continue until the end of what they're doing.

Feifei
I see. So when your friend said 'let her cook', they meant 'don't interrupt - she is doing great, let her keep going'. It's really funny. A friend of mine's dad likes telling really long jokes – sometimes it takes days – but we know he's really good, so we let him cook.

Beth
Days? Wow!

Feifei
Yes. Well, let's listen to more examples of 'cook'.

Examples
I've been decorating my house for ages, and now it's really coming together. We're really cooking now.

In the meeting, Barry was speaking for about ten minutes when it really should have been about two, but we just let him cook. He had so many good ideas.

I've never seen anyone play that well in their first game. She just cooked.

Beth
You might have noticed that we had examples there with 'cooking' and 'cooked', rather than 'let them cook', and it can be used as a verb in this way too.

Feifei
And remember, using 'cook' with this meaning is casual. It's often used in a playful and supportive way when speaking with friends or on social media, but you wouldn't use it at work.

Beth
Well, I think you've been cooking in this episode, Feifei.

Feifei
Thanks! We'll be back next time with another useful English phrase. See you soon!

Beth
Bye!

Learn another phrase with 'cook' - cook up an idea.

Interested in food? Try our food topic page.

Check out the A-Z list of all our programmes.

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