2022-07-25 It’s now or never – The English We Speak

Introduction

Do you want to learn a new phrase? Don’t hesitate! Rob and Feifei are here to teach you an English expression about doing things immediately.

Transcript

Feifei
Hello, I’m Feifei, and this is The English We Speak. And joining me is Rob.

Rob
Hello, everyone.

Feifei
OK, Rob, let’s get on with our piece of real English, shall we?

Rob
Yes, let’s! It’s a great expression. It’s one you don’t want to forget…

Feifei
Yes, yes…. Come on, Rob. This is the moment everyone is waiting for.

Rob
Oh, I’ve forgotten.

Feifei
Rob! It’s now or never.

Rob
I don’t think that’s the expression.

Feifei
No, Rob. I mean this is our only chance to learn it. When we say, it’s now or never we mean something must be done immediately because you might not get another opportunity to do it in the future. So, Rob, get thinking, we have no time to waste!

Rob
Let’s have some examples of your phrase first, shall we?

Examples
It’s now or never if you want to buy a cheap ticket to go to the big rock festival.

If you’re thinking of taking a career break, it’s now or never because you won’t get the chance again.

It’s now or never if you want to ask her out – she’s leaving town today.

Feifei
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and, so far, we’ve heard about the saying it’s now or never, which means ‘do something immediately because you might not get a chance to do it later’. And, Rob, now is the chance to learn a new English phrase.

Rob
Can’t we do it later?

Feifei
No, it’s now or never!

Rob
Never mind! That’s it – that’s my phrase, which means ‘don’t worry about it’.

Feifei
Just in time, Rob – now we’ve learnt two new phrases that we’ll never teach again.

Rob
Great. OK, time for coffee? I’ll buy them.

Feifei
Yes, definitely – it’s now because Rob will never offer again. Bye.

Rob
Bye.