The English We Speak
ระดับกลาง
FOMO
Episode 180115 / 15 Jan 2018

Summary
Rob's off to a rock concert and Feifei's not been invited. She's not happy, especially because she thinks she's got 'FOMO'. Find out what this means and if FOMO is an illness of the body or the mind. But don't worry, Feifei's FOMO won't last long!
Transcript
Rob
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. I'm Rob...
Feifei
And hello, I'm Feifei. We're here to teach you a real English phrase… Rob, what's that you're holding there?
Rob
Oh this… just a ticket to see one of my favourite rock bands in concert – The Rolling Thrones.
Feifei
Oh great – and I see you've got more than one ticket.
Rob
Yes, that's right, a few of us from the office are going – it's tonight! I'm very excited.
Feifei
[SOUNDING JEALOUS] Oh right – Rob, it sounds fun - maybe I could get a ticket and join you?
Rob
Why? You don't like rock music and you always stay in and wash your hair on a Thursday – or so you tell me anyway. Oh Feifei, you've got FOMO.
Feifei
I've got 'FOMO'? Is that bad? Is that why you didn't invite me? Oh dear, should I go and see a doctor?
Rob
No, don't see a doctor. FOMO is an acronym for 'fear of missing out'. It's a worried feeling you have that other people are doing fun things when you are not – you're missing out!
Feifei
Oh, we'd better hear some examples of other people with FOMO…
Examples
I know Martha's got FOMO, she's been moaning about not being invited to Wang's karaoke party – but she doesn't even like karaoke!
All my friends are going on holiday together but I can't afford it so I've got FOMO.
There's a message on Facebook that all the tickets to that gig are sold out – now I have a feeling of FOMO!
Feifei
So that's FOMO – fear of missing out – which describes a feeling you might have when you feel other people are doing something fun, when you are not. Well Rob, now I know what it means, I know I haven't got it. I just wanted to be sociable, and have some fun with you all.
Rob
Sorry Feifei, even if you could get a ticket, it's boys only I'm afraid.
Feifei
Oh look, I've got a message on my social media feed… is the lead singer of your band called Mick Dagger?
Rob
That's him – the finest rock singer around – why?
Feifei
It says here, he's fallen down the stairs and broken his leg. The rock concert is cancelled!
Rob
Cancelled? Oh no. Err, what did you say you were doing tonight?
Feifei
Washing my hair.
Rob
Any chance I could come round… watch a movie, get a takeaway?
Feifei
Oh dear Rob. Have you got FOMO now? Bye.
Rob
Bye.
The English We Speak ล่าสุด






Moment of truth
Episode 251215 / 15 Dec 2025
I'm about to open my exam results... It's the moment of truth

Keep someone on their toes
Episode 251208 / 08 Dec 2025
Having a different work schedule each week keeps me on my toes



Take someone under your wing
Episode 251117 / 17 Nov 2025
Have you ever taken someone under your wing?



Make a pig's ear of something
Episode 251027 / 27 Oct 2025
What does it mean to make a pig's ear of something?








Muddle along
Episode 250901 / 01 Sep 2025
What's the difference between muddle along, muddle on and muddle through?



Can't put my finger on it
Episode 250811 / 11 Aug 2025
Use this when you can't quite remember something

All hands on deck
Episode 250804 / 04 Aug 2025
Shout 'all hands on deck' if you want everyone to help with something





Scratch the surface
Episode 250630 / 03 Jun 2025
If you've only listened to one of our podcasts, you've barely scratched the surface!











The name of the game
Episode 250414 / 14 Apr 2025
What do you think is 'the name of the game' when you're learning English?

Do it for the plot
Episode 250407 / 07 Apr 2025
Do it for the plot! Do something spontaneous to make life more exciting




Can-do attitude
Episode 250310 / 10 Mar 2025
If you have a can-do attitude, you don't let anything stop you.




Make a rod for your own back
Episode 250203 / 03 Feb 2025
Have you ever made a rod for your own back?









Give it some welly!
Episode 241202 / 02 Dec 2024
Learn a fun, encouraging British English expression.

Shoehorn something in
Episode 241125 / 25 Nov 2024
My friend shoehorns that topic into every conversation...





Throw one's toys out the pram
Episode 241021 / 21 Oct 2024
Come on! Don't throw your toys out the pram...






Tug at the heartstrings
Episode 240909 / 09 Sep 2024
When was the last time something tugged at your heartstrings?












Peaks and troughs
Episode 240617 / 17 Jun 2024
This phrase will help you talk about the ups and downs of life.









Lay it on thick
Episode 240416 / 16 Apr 2024
The best book in the world? That's laying it on a bit thick.




Brick by brick
Episode 240318 / 18 Mar 2024
There are some things that you have to build up gradually. This phrase will help you talk about them.












Light up like a Christmas tree
Episode 231226 / 26 Dec 2023
An expression to describe your happy face






Fly by night
Episode 231113 / 13 Nov 2023
What do you call a business that disappears overnight and leaves you with a lot of problems?


Tread on someone's toes
Episode 231030 / 30 Oct 2023
An expression all about doing something you're not responsible for.

Mental gymnastics
Episode 231024 / 23 Oct 2023
How do we talk about complicated tasks done by your brain?
























































Ins and outs
Episode 220919 / 19 Sep 2022
Here's a phrase about learning more details about something















Thereby hangs a tale
Episode 220606 / 06 Jun 2022
A Shakespearean phrase for when there's more to something than you think


























Not like the sound of something
Episode 211206 / 22 Oct 2021
Learn a phrase about not liking something






Not a patch on something
Episode 211025 / 25 Oct 2021
An expression for when something is far worse than something else



A legend in one's lifetime
Episode 211004 / 04 Oct 2021
Do you know a famous living person? Here’s a phrase to describe them.

Live rent-free in one's head
Episode 210927 / 27 Sep 2021
What or who do you think about all the time?








it’s the … for me
Episode 210802 / 02 Aug 2021
Learn an expression about why you love or hate something.
















Have a lot of plates spinning
Episode 210412 / 12 Apr 2021
A phrase about having a lot of things to do









































Blended working
Episode 200629 / 29 Jun 2020
A mix of home and office working has led to a new English expression.
























Microworker
Episode 200120 / 20 Jan 2020
If you do small tasks for tech firms then this new word describes your job!


Talk the talk
Episode 200106 / 06 Jan 2020
Neil can talk the talk, but does he know what he's talking about?

Out with the old, in with the new
Episode 191230 / 30 Dec 2019
A phrase to describe what you can do at this time of year!






Punch above your weight
Episode 191118 / 02 Oct 2019
It sounds violent, but this phrase might surprise you!















































To have all your Christmases come at once
Episode 181224 / 24 Dec 2018
Get that festive feeling again and again



'It leaves a bad taste in your mouth': What does it mean?
Episode 181203 / 03 Dec 2018
Great food but a bad taste



























































































A different kettle of fish
Episode 170307 / 07 Mar 2017
Fishing for a phrase? This could be the one for you


















To wash your dirty linen in public
Episode 161101 / 01 Nov 2016
An expression about not keeping matters private




To have an axe to grind
Episode 161004 / 04 Oct 2016
An expression for when someone's got a strong opinion







To pull something out of the hat
Episode 160816 / 16 Aug 2016
What surprising things come out of a hat?


Off the hook
Episode 160802 / 02 Aug 2016
Here's a phrase for when you free someone from an obligation





White-collar worker / blue-collar worker
Episode 160628 / 28 Jun 2016
What does the colour of your clothes say about your job?









