FOMO: The English We Speak

Rob: Hello and welcome to The English We Speak

from BBC Learning English. I’m Rob…

Feifei: And hello, I’m Feifei. We’re here to teach you

a real English phrase…

Rob, what’s that you’re holding there?

Rob: Oh this… just a ticket to see one of my

favourite rock bands in concert – The Rolling Thrones.

Feifei: Oh great – and I see you’ve got more

than one ticket.

Rob: Yes, that’s right, a few of us

from the office are going – it’s tonight!

I’m very excited.

Feifei: Oh right – Rob, it sounds fun –

maybe I could get a ticket and join you?

Rob: Why? You don’t like rock music

and you always stay in and wash your

hair on a Thursday

– or so you tell me anyway.

Oh Feifei, I think you’ve got FOMO.

Feifei: I’ve got ‘FOMO’? Is that bad?

Is that why you didn’t invite me?

Oh dear, should I go and see a doctor?

Rob: No, don’t see a doctor. FOMO is an acronym

for ‘fear of missing out’.

It’s a worried feeling you have that other people

are doing fun things when you are not –

you’re missing out!

Feifei: Oh, we’d better hear some examples

of other people with FOMO…

Examples: I know Martha’s got FOMO,

she’s been moaning about not being invited to

Wang’s karaoke party –

but she doesn’t even like karaoke!

All my friends are going on holiday together

but I can’t afford it so I’ve got FOMO.

There’s a message on Facebook

that all the tickets to that gig are sold out

– now I have a feeling of FOMO!

Feifei: So that’s FOMO – fear of missing out

– which describes a feeling you might have

when you feel other people are doing something

fun, when you are not. Well Rob, now I know

what it means, I know I haven’t got it.

I just wanted to be sociable,

and have some fun with you all.

Rob: Sorry Feifei, even if you could get a ticket,

it’s boys only I’m afraid.

Feifei: Oh look, I’ve got a message on my social

media feed… is the lead singer of your band

called Mick Dagger?

Rob: Yes, that’s him – the finest rock singer

around – why?

Feifei: It says here, he’s fallen down the stairs

and broken his leg.

The rock concert is cancelled!

Rob: Cancelled? Oh no.

Err, what did you say you were doing tonight?

Feifei: Washing my hair.

Rob: Any chance I could come round…

watch a movie, get a takeaway?

Feifei: Oh dear Rob. Have you got FOMO now?

Bye.

Rob: Bye.