BBC Learning English

The English We Speak

14 May 2013

I wasn't born yesterday





Feifei:

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, I'm Feifei. And, as usual, I'm waiting for Neil, who's late. I think I'm going to get some revenge by playing a few jokes on him - especially as he forgot my birthday yesterday.

Neil:

Hi there, sorry, I'm late. Welcome to The English We Speak, I'm Neil and with me today is Feifei.

Feifei:

I've done all of that.

Neil:

OK, how are you, Feifei?

Feifei:

Notâ€Åš goodâ€Åš

Neil:

Oh dear. What's the matter?

Feifei:

I can't believe you forgot.

Neil:

Forgot? Oh no, what have I forgotten?

Feifei:

What haven't you forgotten? Well, for a start, you were supposed to meet me an hour ago.

Neil:

Really? I thought I was only five minutes late.

Feifei:

An hour and five minutes late. Secondly, you were supposed to be dressed smartly as we are meeting that very famous guest later.

Neil:

Famous guest?

Feifei:

Yes, our very famous guest.

Neil:

Who's that, then?

Feifei:

How could you forget that Justin Bieber is coming in?!

Neil:

What!? My hero, Justin Bieber?! Where?! When?! Hang on a minute, Justin Bieber isn't coming in. I wasn't born yesterday, Feifei.

Feifei:

You weren't born yesterday but I was – well, twenty-something years ago. It was my birthday! And you forgot! In English, if you want to tell someone that they haven't made you believe an obvious lie, you can say I wasn't born yesterday. Here are some examples:





The English We Speak

© British Broadcasting Corporation 2013



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Examples

A: Did you know that I was the third man on the moon?

B: I wasn't born yesterday. You're British and I know that no British people have walked on the moon.

A: (Radio advert) Learn Russian in 3 days with just one minute's study an hour!

B: Those adverts are so stupid! The only way to learn a language is years of hard study and practice. I wasn't born yesterday.

Feifei:

So, you can say "I wasn't born yesterday" to show that you are not easily fooled.

Neil:

And I wasn't born yesterday, so I know that Feifei's claim it was her birthday yesterday isn't true.

Feifei:

No, that bit is true.

Neil:

Yeah, right. As I say: I wasn't born yesterday.

Feifei:

I was! I really was born yesterday. I had a party and everything. Where's my card and present?

Neil:

You're not going to fool me.

Feifei:

Argh, you're so annoying! I never forget your birthday, Neil.

Neil:

I know it wasn't your birthday yesterdayâ€Åš

Feifei:

It was!





The English We Speak

© British Broadcasting Corporation 2013



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bbclearningenglish.com