BBC Learning English
The English We Speak
19th April 2011
Touchy-feely
Li:
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Yang Li.
William:
(subdued) I'm William Kremer.
Li:
(bright) So, what English are we speaking today, William?
William:
(sigh) I don't know.
Li:
Oh what a big sigh! What's wrong?
William:
Oh, it doesn't matter.
Li:
Oh, come on! I can see something's not right. What's wrong?
William:
(sigh) It's... well, if you must know, it's Tigger... he's died.
Li:
Tigger? Who's Tigger?
William:
Tigger... Tigger is... Tigger was my beautiful cat. He was my best friend. I suppose you could say that. I'm going to miss his stripey face in the morning.
And his purr, yeah, I'm going to miss that. But, you know, these things happen. I shouldn't get so upset...
Li:
Why not? I think it's normal to be very sad when a pet dies.
William:
No, no, it's silly! I'm getting upset over an animal! I'm not a baby! I should grow up.
Li:
But you might find it helpful to talk about your feelings for Tigger.
William:
No, no, no, no! I hate all of that touchy-feely stuff!
Li:
Touchy-feely?
William:
Yeah, if something is touchy-feely it's very emotional. If you are a touchy-feely person you don't mind talking about your feelings and maybe actually hugging people.
Li:
I see. So is this a negative phrase, touchy-feely?
The English We Speak
© British Broadcasting Corporation 2011
Page 1 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com
William:
Yeah, a little bit. Let's hear a couple of examples of it in use: Man:
Do you know, I never once saw my mum and dad kiss or hug.
Man 2:
Really? Gosh, that seems incredible.
Man:
But I think they really loved each other. They just weren't all touchy-feely about it.
Woman:
Did you go to that drama group?
Woman 2:
Yeah. I don't think I'll go again.
Woman:
Oh? Why not?
Woman 2:
Well, the acting was fine. But it's all that touchy-feely stuff they do that I don't like.
Li:
Look, you English people! You just can't talk about your feelings, can you?
William:
Well, you might be right Li – we're not famous for talking about our feelings.
Now, before we finish, I have heard this phrase touchy-feely being used in a very different way too. Listen to this:
Woman:
I love your sweater!
Man:
Thanks.
Woman:
It's so soft! I love this material. It's so touchy-feely!
Man:
OK. Shall I take it off and then you can touch it properly?!
Li:
So in that example, 'touchy-feely' was being used to describe a kind of material.
William:
Yes. If something is touchy-feely it is very soft. You want to stroke it, just like Tigger. I'm going to miss stroking Tigger.
William:
The way he used to purr... And sometimes he would bring me a little present, you know. A dead mouse or maybe a little bird. So thoughtful.
Li:
Hmm. It's OK to cry you know, William...
William:
(recovering himself) No! No it's not. No touchy-feely stuff!
Li:
Oh I give up. Goodbye everyone.
William:
Bye!
The English We Speak
© British Broadcasting Corporation 2011
Page 2 of 2
bbclearningenglish.com
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