BBC Learning English - The English We Speak / Change for the better

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Summary

Feifei is cooking something and Neil thinks it looks and smells delicious! But why does Neil think it might be unhealthy? Learn a new phrase and find out what Feifei is cooking!

Transcript

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

Neil
…and I’m Neil. Wow! That food smells amazing! What is it?

Feifei
It’s part of my new diet! I’ve decided to start eating much more healthily as my New Year’s resolution!

Neil
You’re making me hungry! I’m really impressed with your new healthy lifestyle! Congratulations!

Feifei
Yes! It’s a change for the better!

Neil
What?! A change for the butter? You’ve started eating only butter? Nothing else?! That doesn’t sound like a balanced diet!

Feifei
No. I said, ‘a change for the better’. We use the expression ‘a change for the better’ to talk about an improvement in the state or condition of something. For example, my new diet is an improvement in the way I eat!

Neil
Ah, that makes sense. And now I can see what you’re eating! So many vegetables! Compared with the takeaway food you used to eat, it really is a change for the better! Maybe you can give me some advice about what to eat!

Feifei
We can talk more about that after these examples.

Examples
The new manager brought in some new plants and repainted the office. The new look really was a change for the better.

Many people feel that four-day working weeks would be a change for the better.

The decision to change the focus of the project was a change for the better.

Feifei
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. We’re learning about the expression ‘a change for the better’. We use this to say there’s been an improvement in the condition or quality of something.

Neil
So, when I stopped eating meat, I felt that it was a change for the better for me! I feel being vegetarian suits me.

Feifei
Yes, and getting regular exercise can also be a change for the better! Do you want to know what else would be a change for the better?

Neil
Sure? What? Less stress? Less work?

Feifei
No. If you never wear that horrible flamingo costume you wore for Hallowe’en again! That really would be a change for the better for all of us!

Neil
Well, that I can’t promise! Sorry!

Feifei
Bye, Neil!

Neil
Bye!

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