This week we're having an unscripted chat about what we would do if we won the lottery! This week's idiom is 'Crawling out of the woodwork.'Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, an

Proper English S2 E47: More Pesky Prepositions

Jun 8th, 2021 10m 16s

This week, we're tackling the thorny issue of prepositions associated with location - and the Idiom of the Week is 'At the drop of a hat.'Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and

Proper English S2 E46: A Few More Bits and Bobs and Odds and Ends

Jun 1st, 2021 11m 34s

In this episode we're considering some more of those little confusions of pronunciation and grammar that come up every now and then. Sylvia is giving her friend Mabel some much-needed encouragement in this week's Idiom of the Week, which is 'Bu

Proper English S2 E45 - The Art of Apologising

May 25th, 2021 11m 58s

This week, we're examining the very British habit of apologising - and the little old ladies find themselves in 'a sorry state of affairs', this week's idiom…Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) o

Proper English S2 E44 - TIAs and Other Abbreviations

May 18th, 2021 13m 7s

This week, we're all about abbreviations - and our intrepid detectives, Davidson and Roberts are illustrating the idiom 'On the QT' while on a stakeout.Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouT

Proper English S2E43: More Phrasal Verbs About Health

May 4th, 2021 9m 50s

This week, Mabel and Sylvia are helping us come up with some more phrasal verbs to do with health matters. The Idiom of the Week 'A Bitter Pill to Swallow.'Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or

Proper English S2 E42: Room 101

Apr 27th, 2021 14m 37s

This week, we're having an unscripted chat about pet hates - things you really don't like - and Sylvia and Mabel, the two little old ladies, are illustrating the idiom 'To blow the whistle on someone.'Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), a

Proper English S2 E41: One Hundred!

Apr 20th, 2021 11m 32s

We did it! We got to episode 100! So in this week's episode, we're looking back on the last two years of Proper English, talking about the use of the word 'hundred' - and in this week's Idiom of the Week, one of our intrepid detectives appears

Proper English S2 E40: Save The Elephant!

Apr 13th, 2021 9m 11s

This week, we're talking about Ali's favourite animals - elephants (I bet you thought I was going to say cats)! The Idiom of the Week is 'A White Elephant.'Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or

Proper English S2 E39: Annoying, Irritating and Irksome

Apr 6th, 2021 11m 2s

This week we're talking about all the different words, phrases and idioms we have in English describe things or people that we find annoying. We use quite a few in this episode! And those two little old ladies, Mabel and Sylvia are back illustr

Proper English S2 E38 This vs That and Other Controversies

Mar 30th, 2021 10m 26s

Questions, questions, questions. We have been asked so many - and we're taking the opportunity to answer some of them this week. And those lovely old ladies are back, illustrating this week's idiom: 'All over bar the shouting.'Like us on Faceb

Proper English S2 E37: What's The Difference?

Mar 23rd, 2021 12m 51s

This week, we're devoting a whole episode to answering a bunch of grammar-related questions that start 'What's the difference between…?' Meanwhile, our hapless detectives, Davidson and Roberts, are trying to solve of the mystery of who spilt th

Proper English S2 E36: Adverbs and Adverbials

Mar 16th, 2021 11m 20s

This week we're looking at words and phrases that enhance the meaning of verbs and other major word groups. Meanwhile, Roxy and Sergeant Roberts are defining the idiom 'Sticking your head above the parapet', in the aftermath of a disastrous tea

Proper English S2 E35: Theatre Terminology

Mar 9th, 2021 11m 11s

This week, we're looking at vocabulary associated with the theatre - and this week's idiom is 'Let's get this show on the road!'Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and if you hav

Proper English S2 E34: World Book Day

Mar 2nd, 2021 12m 19s

This month sees World Book Day being celebrated all round the world, so we thought we'd have an unscripted chat about books this week. The Idiom of the Week is 'Comparing apples with oranges.'Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow

Proper English S2 E33: Shopping Around with Phrasal Verbs

Feb 23rd, 2021 9m 12s

This week's episode is another in our occasional series concerned with phrasal verbs - this time we're looking at vocabulary associated with shopping! The two Yorkshire ladies are talking about clumsy grandchildren to illustrate the idiom 'A bu

Proper English S2 E32: Three Little Words

Feb 16th, 2021 12m 17s

Despite the title, this is not a Valentine's Day special - it's all about three little words in the English language that can sometimes be a bit of a handful - this week's idiom is 'Sick as a parrot.'Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), an

Proper English S2 E31: Words You Can Say In Front Of Your Mother

Feb 9th, 2021 12m 42s

This week, we're talking about rude words - we're talking about them, but we're not saying them! Davidson and Roberts are back this week, talking about problems at work and the idiom 'To let off steam.'Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019),

Proper English S2 E30: Word Order

Feb 2nd, 2021 12m 19s

This week, we're looking into the rules governing adjective order. You didn't know about them? Well, you will after this episode. The Idiom of the Week is 'Every cloud has a silver lining.'…and listen to the end for Misha's poem!Like us on Fa

Proper English S2 E29: How the British Complain

Jan 26th, 2021 10m 20s

This week, we're talking about kicking up a fuss, being critical - yes, we're talking about complaining. Meanwhile, Roxy and Sgt Roberts are illustrating this week's Idiom: 'To nip it in the bud.'Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and fo

Proper English S2 E28: Fun and Funny

Jan 19th, 2021 9m 22s

This week, we're looking at two words: fun and funny - and we do our level best to explain the difference in meaning, and also their history and origins. The Idiom of the Week is 'a barrel of laughs.' No, really, it is.Like us on Facebook (pro

Proper English S2 E27: Practically Perfect

Jan 12th, 2021 11m 13s

In this week's episode we're all about the perfect tenses - and those two little old ladies are back in the café, gossiping over their cups of tea about this week's idiom, 'A perfect storm.'Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow u

Proper English S2 E26: The Adventures of Davidson and Roberts

Jan 5th, 2021 21m 19s

It's a bumper episode this week! We're looking back on the antics and escapades of our resident detectives, Davidson and Roberts as they investigate intriguing cases and discover exciting idioms and phrasal verbs along the way.Like us on Faceb

Proper English S2 E25: The End of 2020

Dec 29th, 2020 10m 33s

It's the end of the year, and so we're looking back on 2020 and looking forward to 2021. The idiom of the week is 'Another string to your bow.'Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh,

Proper English S2 E24: Happy Holidays!

Dec 22nd, 2020 12m 49s

So here is it is - Merry Christmas! It's the festive episode, and this year we're talking about some of the Christmas traditions around the world - and those two old ladies are back, illustrating what we mean by the idiom 'All one's Christmases