The English We Speak
Intermediate level
Dog's dinner
Episode 221024 / 24 Oct 2022
Introduction
Neil is cooking and Feifei is concerned about the mess. Learn why she asks about a dog’s dinner, and what it means, in this episode.
Transcript
Feifei
Hello, and welcome to The English We Speak with me, Feifei…
Neil
…and hello, I am Neil.
Feifei
Do you know who made that awful mess in the kitchen?
Neil
It’s me! I’m just cooking! I’ll clean it up as soon as I’m finished.
Feifei
Well, it looks like a dog’s dinner in there!
Neil
A dinner for my dog? Don’t be silly. I’ve already cooked for Leia, my dog. This is a meal for the whole BBC Learning English team!
Feifei
No, Neil. I didn’t say a dinner for your dog. I said ‘a dog’s dinner’. We use this expression, ‘a dog’s dinner’ to describe a complete mess. Which is why I said the kitchen looks like a dog’s dinner.
Neil
You think the kitchen looks a mess? But I’m only using one pan!
Feifei
Not that kitchen – the other one! Look at it!
Neil
Oh wow – that really is a dog’s dinner. I wonder who made all that mess.
Feifei
Let’s find out while we listen to these examples.
Examples
He made a dog’s dinner of his final project and failed the course.
She made a dog’s dinner of her hair when she tried to cut it herself.
The room looked like a dog’s dinner five minutes after my son arrived.
Feifei
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. We’re learning about the expression ‘a dog’s dinner’, which means ‘a total mess’. So, did you find out who made all that mess?
Neil
No, I didn’t. You?
Feifei
No, but what’s great is that everyone on the BBC Learning English team is working together to clear it up! They’re ready to try the meal you’re cooking!
Neil
Wow, that sounds like a bit of pressure! Hopefully I didn’t make a dog’s dinner of the recipe!
Feifei
I’m sure you haven’t. I’ve tasted your food before and it’s amazing!
Neil
Well, Leia, my dog never complains when I cook for her.
Feifei
She’s a lucky girl. Bye, Neil!
Neil
Bye.
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