Learning English

Inspiring language learning since 1943

Summary

Doing certain things may seem easy or simple so how we can describe this? We have an English phrase you can use but will it apply to Neil’s ability to operate the radio studio? Find out in this episode of The English We Speak.

Transcript

Jiaying
This is The English We Speak with me, Jiaying…

Neil
…and me, Neil. Now Jiaying, could you remind me how to record our voices on this machine please?

Jiaying
Sure – there’s nothing to it. Open the microphone here…

Neil
[SILENCE]

Jiaying
No, this microphone! Then set the volume there... Open the computer screen here…. Click there and then click there and then, see that ‘record’ button? Just press that – there’s nothing to it!

Neil
Jiaying, you keep saying ‘there’s nothing to it’ – do you mean ‘it’s complicated’?

Jiaying
No! It’s the opposite. When we say ‘there’s nothing to it’, we mean ‘it’s easy or simple to do’. So, Neil, there’s really nothing complicated about recording this programme. And if you press that button there, we can hear some examples.

Neil
This one?

Jiaying
No! This one.

Examples
Making the pancakes is easy – there’s nothing to it – just add milk, eggs and flour.

There was nothing to it – all he had to do was collect the documents and deliver them to the office. Unfortunately, he got lost.

All you have to do it push this button and the coffee comes out here – there’s really nothing to it

Jiaying
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. We’re talking about the phrase ‘there’s nothing to it’ which means ‘it’s easy or simple to do’. So, Neil, have you got it now? Can we carry on now…?

Neil
Yep, I think I’ve got it now – it’s easy-peasy!

Jiaying
Good. So next time you can work the studio and record the programme?

Neil
Absolutely. There’s nothing to it – just open that, click on that, press that…

Jiaying
No! Don’t press that…

Neil
Oh.

Jiaying
That was the ‘delete’ button. We’ll have to start again now.

Neil
Sorry! OK, what does ‘there’s nothing to it’ mean?

Jiaying
Bye, Neil!

Neil
Bye.

ሐድሽ ፓድካስትታት ተመልከት The English We Speak

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