Introduction
Here’s an expression that means you can do something without having to think about it, because it’s so familiar to you.
Transcript
Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them too. I’m Feifei.
Beth
And I am Beth. How are you doing, Feifei?
Feifei
I’m very well, thank you. The phrase we’re looking at in this programme is ‘second
nature’. I heard someone use it at work recently talking with a new colleague. He said although recording programmes like this looks complicated, it quickly becomes second nature.
Beth
Yes. ‘Second nature’. That is a great expression. So, when something is second nature, it is so familiar to you that you can do it really easily without having to think about it.
Feifei
I have a good example for this. I had to learn how to use a computer and a mobile
phone because when I was a child they didn’t exist. However, for my son, using technology like this will be second nature – he’s grown up with it.
Beth
And now, for you, using technology is second nature as well. For your son, he hasn’t known life without a computer and mobile phone, so it’s really easy and obvious for him. Now normally, when we use this phrase ‘second nature’, we start with the thing that is second nature.
Feifei
Yes, that’s right. For example, using technology is second nature for my son.
Beth, what is second nature to you?
Beth
I would say driving a car. So, I learnt how to drive when I was seventeen, and I’m much older than seventeen now, so I’ve been driving a car for many years. I don’t really need to think about it, and I just do it. It’s second nature.
Feifei
That does make you a very experienced driver.
Beth
Now, here are some more examples of the expression ‘second nature’.
Examples
So, the first thing I do every day when I wake up is make a cup of coffee. I don’t even think about it. It’s just become second nature.
I’m an absolutely terrible cook, but my mum is so good at cooking. It’s just second nature to her.
When I first started my job, I always lost my way in the building, but now it just feels like second nature to me. I know where I need to go.
Beth
Now, we can also use ‘second nature’ to describe a characteristic or a habit that a person has, and this is something personal to the person. So, to give you an example, my dad is very tidy and organised, and that is just second nature to him. He automatically tidies up without having to think about it, unlike me.
Feifei
Your dad is very organised, so that’s second nature to him. So, second nature can be used for anything you do like using technology or driving a car, but it can also be a characteristic. For example, neatness is second nature to your dad.
Beth
That’s right. So, to recap, we have learned the phrase ‘second nature’, which means we do something easily without thinking about it.
Feifei
We’ll be back next week with another useful English phrase. See you next time!
Beth
Bye!