BBC Learning English
The English We Speak
12 February 2013
Act your age, not your shoe size
Abigail: Hello, I'm Abigail and I'm with Rob and we're doing some shoe shopping.
Rob: Yes I'm looking for some new trainers.
Abigail: Well, we're not really supposed to be looking for your trainers, Rob. We're
here because we have an amusing phrase which our listeners might like to
learn.
Rob: Oh well, I know that, but while we're here, I can look at trainers.
Abigail: Well, I suppose you can look at some trainers. But let 's not forget why
we're here.
Rob: & [long pause]
Abigail: Rob? Why we're here?
Rob:
Oh, yes of course  look that lady has really funny hair!
Abigail: Rob, you're being very childish today. But that's useful because I can use
our phrase for today  act your age not your shoe size.
Rob: 'Act your age, not your shoe size' it's a good phrase. How shall we explain
it?
Abigail: I think you have explained it beautifully already, through everything you've
said and done Rob. But here are some more clues to what it means:
Examples
I was really upset. She just told me to act my age not my shoe size!
These people are so childish. They need to act their age not their shoe size.
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(Laughing in background)
Will you please act your age not your shoe size?!
Rob: If someone thinks you're being childish, immature, too young for your age,
they can tell you to act your age, not your shoe size.
Abigail: Mmm, yes they can.
Rob: But look at these trainers here  it says size 44. My age is 30. So I have to
act younger?
Abigail: Ah  yes well, 44 - that's a European size. This saying, 'act your age not
your shoe size', only works for British and American sizes. So, for example
in UK sizes, your feet are size 10.
Rob: I see. So I shouldn't act like I'm ten.
Abigail: Exactly.
Rob: Maybe to be accurate we should change the phrase to 'act your European
shoe size, not your British shoe size.'
Abigail: Hmm. Well, we could. It's not quite as catchy&
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