Learning English

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Introduction

If there are no ways about something, you want to emphasise that it's true. Learn how to use this expression with Feifei and Phil.

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 too. I'm Feifei.

Phil
And I'm Phil. And I'm a bit out of breath.

Feifei
Really, why's that?

Phil
I've just cycled into the office. It's a beautiful day, I sailed past all the traffic jams, I didn't have to pay a train fare, and I got some exercise – it's the best way to get round London – no two ways about it.

Feifei
OK, I believe you, but I'm not sure if I want to get a bike, but I do want to learn the idiom you used – 'no two ways about it'.

Phil
OK, yes, 'no two ways about it' is an idiom we use to say that there is no doubt about something. We use it to emphasise that something is true, or that we believe it is.

Feifei
Yes, so I could say "If you're cycling to work and it rains, you'll get very wet – no two ways about it." and that's why I'm not going to get a bike.

Phil
OK, well, I don't think we're going to agree on this one, so let's hear some other people using 'no two ways about it'.

Examples
The cafe at the end of my road has the best coffee in town – no two ways about it.
Summer is better than winter. There's no two ways about it.
This book is the best book I have ever read – no two ways about it.

Feifei
We've been learning the idiom 'no two ways about' to emphasise that something is definitely true.

Phil
Informally in speaking, we often just say 'no two ways about it', but if we want to put it in a sentence, we can use 'there' and the verb to be – but usually only as 'is' – 'there's no two ways about it'.

Feifei
Well, there's no two ways about it, it's a useful idiom to learn!

Phil
And that's it for this programme. But listening regularly is a sure way to improve your English – there's no two ways about it!

Feifei
That's right. See you next time! Bye.

Phil
Bye.

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