English Listening Lessons: Norman Wisdom - A Stitch in Time (Dentist)

Last week one of England's most well liked and old comics Norman Wisdom died, his films and sketches often relied on slapstick which doesn't usually make for great language learning lessons but he did gain a cult status in Albania due to his films appearing during communism and you may enjoy him anyhow! RIP - Norman Wisdom.



RIP - Rest in Peace
slapstick - a boisterous form of comedy involving collisons and chases
philander - to flirt
heaven's sake - a phrase used when you are annoyed or surprised e.g. "For Heaven's Sake! What are you doing to my car?"
libido - (pronounced in a posh accent)
old Crankshaw - in the UK, people often use the word old to precede a name but it has little meaning and the person doesn't necessarily have to be old.. e.g. "I wonder what old Bobby is up to these days?"
associating - getting to know
hop it - go away
slung out - thrown out
rinse - to wash lightly with water
Lord Hector - a name pronounced Lord 'eckter, it's common for Londoners to lose the H

English Listening Lessons: Going Straight - Fletcher's Cafe Culture

aye - yes
tell you what, I'd do hearted lady - I tell you what, I'd put a bet on hearted lady (name of a horse)
left-half - a defensive position
Brentford - the name of a football club (also a town)
mind how you go - watch yourself
rabbit - talk a lot
get some of that inside you - drink some of that
tort as a fiddle string - very uptight
sleeping rough - homeless
runaway - a teenager/child who has run away from home
uppers - drugs like speed, ecstasty, cocaine
a quick touch up - a quick mollesting
hair do's - hairstyles

English Listening Lessons: Going Straight - Probation Officer

a coat of paint - a layer of paint
oppressive - causing discomfort by being too heavy
well you've got to ain't ya - well you have to (joke) don't you
biding your time - waiting (time is also time spent in prison)
parole - a conditional release from prison before the term is finished
bad company - spend time with bad people
villains - criminals
hard lads - tough lads
classic term - a typical sentence
GBH - Grievous Bodily Harm (purposefully injuring someone very badly)
quote - a price
distemper brush - A wide flat paintbrush with long bristles
on a leash - controlled (like a dog)
porridge - slang for time in prison
shacked up - living with
endorse - to openly approve
stable - 1) not changing 2) a place where horses are kept
but the horse has bolted - but the horse has escaped
let on - tell anyone or give someone clues
bombshell - a really bad surprise
lap of luxury - luxurious conditions
Chingford - a place name
chip in - add money
other family members have bore - bore = past of bear which means support
inside - in prison
field - 1) an area cleared of trees for agriculture 2) a branch of knowledge
getting off the ground - get something started
sign on - to start receiving dole money
but I blew that - but I wasted that
two bars of fruit and nut - fruit and nut is a kind of chocolate bar

English Listening Lessons: Going Straight - Fletcher finishes his porridge

jammy Arab - lucky Arab
I've done my porridge - I've done my time in prison
Lenny, Warren, Luke Warm - all names of former inmates
lilac - slang for gay
jar of marmite - a strong tasting spread for sandwiches
he swears - he promises
some nick or another - one prison or another
scotch - Scottish
McKay - the name of a prison officer
left something behind - forgot something
premises - this property

English Listening Lessons: Going Straight - Wedding Planning

courtesy of - thanks to
a whip round - a collection (of money)
booze - alcohol
hoards - lots of something hidden away
thimble - a rubber item used for protecting the thumb when sewing
The Dorchester - the name of a hotel
air it out - let air in to a room
it's all been taken care of - it's been sorted
shacked up - living with
werewithal - money
innit - isn't it

English Listening Lessons: Bottom - Time To Exercise

a quick deck at Desmond's plonker - a quick look at Desmond's penis
take her up to a steady 70 - increase the speed and then maintain 70
ease up gently on the running - slow down
have a bit of a lie down - lie/sleep for a bit

English Listening Lessons: Bottom - Escape plan

chopper - meaning 1 - helicopter, meaning 2 - penis
truncheon - baton
flare - meaning 1 - a type of warning signal that can be shot in the air, meaning 2 - a type of trousers
meths - methelated spirits
pernod - A French drink made of aniseed
Mr. Sheen - A type of house polish
brake fluid - the liquid used in car brakes
birds - women
stuff that in there - put it in there with force
burst - explode
bung it up - throw it up
look out - be careful!