2017-06-20 Fuddy-duddy – The English We Speak

Summary

Rob’s in for a shock. He may think he’s 21 but some of his attitudes make him seem much older – and Feifei has the right expression to describe him! Listen to the programme to find out what it is!

Transcript

Rob
Hello, I’m Rob… 

Feifei
… And I’m Feifei and this is The English We Speak. Hey, happy birthday for last week Rob.

Rob
Thanks Feifei, yes 21 years old – where has the time gone? 

Feifei
Are you sure – you don’t act like a 21-year-old. 

Rob
What are you saying, Feifei? 

Feifei
Well, errr, look at your clothes – they’re not very trendy, they’re a bit boring! 

Rob
Boring? 

Feifei
Yes… and come on, you’re not very youthful.

Rob
Youthful?! Just because I haven’t got any tattoos – who wants a tattoo anyway, they look silly, don’t they? And they damage the skin as well… 

Feifei
There you go – old fashioned attitudes – no way’re you 21! 

Rob
So you’re saying I am a fuddy-duddy? 

Feifei
A fuddy-duddy – that’s an informal phrase to describe someone who is boring, dull and has old-fashioned attitudes. Let’s hear some examples of this phrase. 

Examples
Ling thinks I’m an old fuddy-duddy because I don’t drive a flashy sports car.

My dad’s a bit of a fuddy-duddy – he still listens to music on cassette tapes.

The bank has lost many customers over the years, probably due to its fuddy-duddy image.

Feifei
So a fuddy-duddy is someone who is old-fashioned and sometimes pompous. But Rob, being a fuddy-duddy isn’t all bad.

Rob
Oh yes? Boring, old-fashioned – how can that be a good thing?

Feifei
Well, you make us all laugh.

Rob
Yes but for the wrong reasons – I’m off. 

Feifei
Oh dear, it seems like a fuddy-duddy doesn’t even a sense of humour. Where are you going?

Rob
To get a tattoo done.

Feifei
It’ll hurt. Bye!