A sting in the tail: The English We Speak

Feifei: Hello I’m Feifei and welcome to The English

We Speak – and joining me is Rob.

Rob: Hello everyone.

Feifei: So Rob, I hear you have a new a hobby?

Rob: Yes that’s right – it’s very exciting –

let me show you…

Feifei: Arghh! Bees! I don’t like them – shut the door!

So you’re new hobby is bee keeping?

Rob: Yes I’m a bee keeper – and I love it –

but there is a sting in the tail.

Feifei: Of course there’s a sting in the tail –

bees sting – and it hurts, that’s why I don’t like bees.

Rob: They only sting when they’re angry Feifei –

and anyway, when I said ‘there’s a sting in the tail’

I wasn’t referring to the bees.

I meant something unpleasant

comes with something that is meant to be pleasurable.

Feifei: Yes, as I said – looking after bees means

you’re likely to get stung.

Rob: That’s true – but what I meant was bee keeping is

fun but I wasn’t expecting it to cost so much money –

I had to buy all these hives

and these special protective clothes.

Feifei: Yes, you do look silly! So you’re saying

bee keeping is fun but the unexpected

cost of it is the sting in the tail?

Rob: Exactly. Let’s hear some examples

while I go and get some honey…

Examples: We had a great holiday

but it had a sting in the tail – when we got home

we discovered our house had been broken into.

I love her new book – the story is funny and romantic –

but there’s a sting in the tail when someone dies.

Yeah, we all got a pay rise this month,

but there’s a sting in the tail –

we’re expected to work longer hours.

Feifei: So that’s ‘a sting in the tail’ –

a phrase that means something unpleasant and

sometimes unexpected happens

when doing something good or fun.

Rob: OK Feifei, one of the good things about bee

keeping is you get this delicious honey

– and that’s free – go on Feifei, try some.

Feifei: Hmmm honey, delicious!

Oh no, you’ve brought something else with you…

it’s a bee!

Rob: Don’t panic – I’ll try to catch it… ouch! That hurt.

Feifei: Oh dear – it looks like bee keeping

has more than one sting in the tail!

Rob: Very funny!

Feifei: Bye!