BBC Learning English The English We Speak 12 February 2013 Act your age, not your shoe size

Abigail: Hello, I'm Abigail and I'm with Rob and we're doing some shoe shopping.

Rob: Abigail:

Yes I'm looking for some new trainers. Well, we're not really supposed to be looking for your trainers, Rob. We're here because we have an amusing phrase which our listeners might like to learn.

Rob:

Oh well, I know that, but while we're here, I can look at trainers.

Abigail:

Well, I suppose you can look at some trainers. But let 's not forget why we're here.

Rob:

[long pause]

Abigail: Rob:

Rob? Why we're here? Oh, yes of course look that lady has really funny hair!

Abigail:

Rob, you're being very childish today. But that 's useful because I can use our phrase for today act your age not your shoe size.

Rob:

'Act your age, not your shoe size' it's a good phrase. How shall we explain it?

Abigail:

I think you have explained it beautifully already, through everything you've said and done Rob. But here are some more clues to what it means:

Examples I was really upset. She just told me to act my age not my shoe size! These people are so childish. They need to act their age not their shoe size.

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(Laughing in background) Will you please act your age not your shoe size?!

Rob:

If someone thinks you're being childish, immature, too young for your age, they can tell you to act your age, not your shoe size.

Abigail: Rob:

Mmm, yes they can. But look at these trainers here it says size 44. My age is 30. So I have to act younger?

Abigail:

Ah yes well, 44 - that's a European size. This saying, 'act your age not your shoe size', only works for British and American sizes. So, for example in UK sizes, your feet are size 10.

Rob:

I see. So I shouldn't act like I'm ten.

Abigail: Rob:

Exactly. Maybe to be accurate we should change the phrase to 'act your European shoe size, not your British shoe size.'

Abigail:

Hmm. Well, we could. It's not quite as catchy

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