Summary
Being a grown-up can be hard – you have so many responsibilities. Now there’s a word to describe behaving like an adult and you can find out what it is in The English We Speak.
Transcript
Jiaying
Welcome to The English We Speak, with me, Jiaying…
Neil
… and me, Neil.
Jiaying
Hey, Neil. How was your weekend?
Neil
Oh, very dull – I was just doing housework.
Jiaying
Housework is dull but it’s just part of life, Neil.
Neil
I wish I could just do whatever I want! Like hiking or binge-watching my favourite TV series.
Jiaying
You can still do these things, Neil – but housework is all part of ‘adulting’.
Neil
You mean being a grown-up?
Jiaying
Yes, I do! The word ‘adulting’ or ‘adulting’ describes behaving in a way that’s typical of an adult – particularly doing boring, mundane tasks. Let’s face it, Neil, you’re not a child anymore!
Neil
Thanks for reminding me. Let’s hear some more examples of ‘adulting’…
Examples
My kids are cooking dinner for me so I get a break from adulting!
I told my friend to stop behaving like a teenager and start adulting!
Paying the bills is boring but a necessary part of adulting.
Jiaying
You’re listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English, and we’re talking about the word ‘adulting’ – which describes behaving like an adult and doing mundane tasks that only adults do. It’s from the noun ‘adult’. But, Neil, despite being an adult, doing housework is child’s play!
Neil
Child’s play! You mean it’s easy to do. Well it is, but it’s so boring.
Jiaying
Well, if you do it quickly, you’ll have more time to do other things.
Neil
Like paying the bills, repairing the broken cupboard, doing the gardening – it’s all so unfair!
Jiaying
Neil, now you’re acting like a baby – not an adult!
Neil
OK, OK… I’ll treat my responsibilities like a grown-up.
Jiaying
That’s more like it – good luck ‘adulting’! Bye for now.
Neil
See ya.