BBC Learning English
The English We Speak
20th December 2011
Cheesy
Neil: Hello and welcome to The English We Speak I'm Neil and with me today is
Li.
Li: Hi there I'm Li. Today's word is 'cheesy' and look here Neil, I've got
something cheesy for you!
Neil: Oh cheese crackers! Yummy& don't you like them?
Li: No I find them too cheesy. As I don't eat cheese, I find the flavour a bit
too strong.
Neil: I like cheese and I love all cheesy food. (Short pause) but I don't like this
music you're playing& it's too cheesy.
Li: Too cheesy? Do you mean the music is no good? It's Christmas&
Neil: Well it's all right for this time of the year and it goes with the festive
mood. But generally speaking it's too predicable, cheap and cheerful.
Let's listen to a couple of examples:
Examples
A: Would you like to go to the pantomime next week, thought it'd be fun.
B: Em& I know children love it but I find it a bit too cheesy. I used to love it as a kid.
A: Hi everyone I am organising our Christmas dinner. How about going back to The
Cheshire Cheese pub?
B: The food was excellent, but you know what? The music there was a bit too cheesy,
A: Cheesy? Of course. Maybe that's why the pub is called ' The Cheshire Cheese'.
Li: The second speaker there came across as a bit snobbish, don't you think?
Neil: Yes the word does have a slightly negative connotation, something too
superficial and simple and &
Li: Not deep and sophisticated?
Neil: No.
Li: I see. Remember what you said about the music I m playing? So you
mean my taste in music is not very sophisticated?
Neil: No, don't get me wrong. It's only that one particular piece because I've
heard it so many times. Well I must say that your taste in clothes is
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fabulous. (Pause to get a closer look) Is this a new coat? Never seen it
before?
Li: Yes?
Neil: I think the bright colours suit you really well, your face is lit up and you
look very& attractive& and& charming& and& .
Li: Oh, stop it Neil. I never knew you can be so cheesy! Come on, please
have some cheese crackers and that'll stop your cheesy compliments&
Neil: Li, you're blushing!
Li: Bye for now.
Neil: Bye.
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