Learning English

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• wood for the trees
• yap
• flow state

Introduction

Sometimes you need to think quickly. That's when you have to think on your feet. Learn how to use this expression with Feifei and Phil.

Transcript

Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases and expressions used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them too. I'm Feifei. 

Phil
And I'm Phil. Feifei, what would you rather be, an eagle or a bear, and why?

Feifei
What?

Phil
Quickly, what's your answer? How do you explain it?

Feifei
Erm, maybe a bear, but what on earth was that, Phil?

Phil
Well, I've just been reading a book about the world's worst job interview questions. And apparently, that's a good one to see how well people think on their feet.

Feifei
Ha ha! Did I get the job? Never mind maybe we should learn that expression – 'think on your feet'? I'm sitting down, so can you think on your feet, when you're not on your feet?

Phil
I mean it's a good question? But yes, you can – it's not literal. If you can think on your feet, it means you can think quickly and make a decision when you're under pressure.

Feifei
Yes, I'm not sure about that interview question, but being able to think on your feet is really important in a lot of jobs – it means you can deal with fast-moving, stressful environments.

Phil
Yeah, and it's not just work either, if you want to be good at playing sport or even video games, you often need to think on your feet to beat your opponent.

Phil
Let's hear some other people using 'think on your feet'.

Examples
I really hate when plans change. I'm not great at thinking on my feet.

I lost my whole presentation just before the meeting, so I had to think on my feet and invent the whole thing.

My three-year-old niece asked lots of difficult questions and I always have to think on my feet to answer her.

Feifei
We've been learning the expression 'think on your feet' to mean 'think and make decisions quickly'.

Phil
Yes, we can also use 'think on the spot' to mean the same – immediately decide what to do. 

Feifei
OK. And that's it for this programme, but join us next time to learn more English phrases and expressions.

Phil
Because having a wide vocabulary is really helpful when you need to think on your feet.

Feifei
That's right! Goodbye!

Phil
Bye!

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