2017-05-23 Not half – The English We Speak

Summary

Feifei loves darts. Neil loves pizza. But what does it mean if you say you ‘don’t half’ love something? Learn this useful expression in the programme.

Transcript

Feifei
Welcome to The English We Speak. I’m Feifei.

Neil
And I’m Neil.

Feifei
And today we’re teaching a British slang expression – or maybe just half an expression!

Neil
The phrase is not half. Two simple words – but you need to know what they mean when used together.

Feifei
Let’s try it out first and see if you can work out what it means. For example, Neil, you really enjoyed that pizza, didn’t you?

Neil
Not half! I love pizza. And Feifei, you love playing darts, don’t you?

Feifei
Darts, not half! I play every night. So – what does not half mean? It means ‘very much’ in these answers. When I replied “not half” I meant: ‘Yes, very much.’ I really like darts.

Neil
And do you?

Feifei
What?

Neil
Like darts?

Feifei
Erm, that’s not the point. I’m trying to give an example.

Neil
For the record, I do love pizza.

Examples
A: That party was awesome!
B: Not half, mate. The music was incredible.

A: Not half is a useful phrase, huh?
B: Not half.

Feifei
Ahh, that was a funny example. Now, before we go – let’s teach a variation of this phrase.

Neil
In this version, we have not half followed by an adjective. For example: I just got back from Singapore. It’s not half expensive.

Feifei
So – that means it’s very expensive! Not half expensive. Similarly, if I were to say: “Your new haircut’s not half nice, Neil!” 

Neil
You would be saying my haircut is very nice. Was that just another example?

Feifei
Oh no, I meant it.

Neil
Too kind. 

Feifei
Er, thanks! So there we are – not half meaning ‘very much’.

Neil
And not half with an adjective.

Feifei
See you next time.

Neil
Bye…