BBC Learning English The English We Speak 28 May 2013

Haven't slept a wink

Neil: Feifei: Neil: Feifei: Neil: Feifei: Neil: Feifei: Neil:

(Yawning) Welcome to The English We Speak with me - a very tired Neil and Feifei. (Yawning) Hi, I'm Feifei. Oh, Feifei, I'm so tired. Me too. The kids? Ah, the kids kept me awake all night. As soon as one of them went back to sleep, the other one started screaming. What's your excuse? A mosquito. A mosquito? Yes, there was a mosquito in my room. Every time I turned the light off and tried to go to sleep I heard buzzing in my ear. I haven't slept a wink. And I haven't slept a wink either! A wink is when you close and open one of your eyes very quickly once - usually to show friendliness or that you are having a joke with someone. It's also a verb - to wink. So, if you say 'I haven't slept a wink' it means that you've had so little sleep, your eye didn't even close once! That's right. It's an exaggeration. Here are some examples:

Feifei: Neil: Examples

A: You look terrible! What's the matter? B: I haven't slept a wink. It was a really bad idea to move to a flat next to a pub. A: How about a trip to the cinema tonight? B: Sorry I can't. I haven't slept a wink. There were cats outside fighting all night. Neil: So, we can use 'I haven't slept a wink' to say that we are very tired because we haven't had much sleep. (Yawns) I can't wait to get home tonight and just jump into bed I don't know how I'm going to get through the rest of this programme, let alone the rest of the day. Me neither. Nice and quiet in here, though, isn't it? And dark.

Feifei: Neil: Feifei:

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Neil: Feifei: Neil:

Do you think anyone would notice if we just That's a great idea! I'll just put these two chairs together. And I'll rest my head on this desk and (snoring).

(Sound of babies screaming and mosquitos buzzing) Both: Argh! Kids! Mosquitos! Is there anywhere to sleep? Argh!

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