Summary 

What are Feifei's singing and dancing skills like and how important are they when she wants to complain about something? In The English We Speak we find out and learn a odd English phrase to use when you want to make a fuss.

Transcript 

Feifei
Hello, this is The English We Speak and I'm Feifei. 

Rob
And hello, I'm Rob. 

Feifei
Hey Rob, watch this… 

Rob
Yeah very impressive, Feifei. But why are you singing and dancing? 

Feifei
Well, I booked a holiday in a lovely hotel with a fantastic swimming pool. 

Rob
Right. And you're celebrating by singing and dancing? Very strange! 

Feifei
No Rob, of course not! There's a problem - the swimming pool is closed for refurbishment and I want to cancel my holiday but the hotel won't let me. 

Rob
Oh right. So you're singing about it? 

Feifei
No. Neil told me to call the hotel again and make a song and dance about my reservation – so I'm practising before I do.

Rob
Hold on Feifei. Don't waste your time. What Neil means by 'to make a song and dance about it', is to make lots of unnecessary fuss about it – basically, to overreact. 

Feifei
Got it! So, overreact – yes, I can do that!

Rob
Well, go and make that phone call while we listen to some examples… 

Examples
My boyfriend makes such a song and dance about doing the housework – but to be honest, it's not that hard! 

Don't make a song and dance about it – I only asked you to move seats so I could see the screen. 

I can't believe they lost your suitcase at the airport; you should make a song and dance about this and get a proper apology. 

Feifei
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we're learning about the phrase 'to make a song and dance about something' which means to make a lot of unnecessary fuss about something. And Rob, that's what I did when I called the hotel… 

Rob
So, you overreacted? 

Feifei
Yes. 

Rob
You made lots of fuss? You made a scene?

Feifei
i did, and guess what? 

Rob
What? 

Feifei
They apologised and offered me a free holiday when the swimming pool has reopened and said I could bring a guest for free. 

Rob
Brilliant – a free guest! So, when shall we go? 

Feifei
We Rob? No, I'm taking my best friend Maria. 

Rob
What?! I'm not your best friend?! All that time we've worked together. All the things I've given you…

Feifei
Calm down, Rob. Don't make a song and dance about it. I'll send you a postcard. 

Rob
Oh thanks.

Feifei
Bye.

Rob
Bye.