Transcript
Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I’m Feifei…
Rob
…and I’m Rob. And today, we’re going to use a common word in a slightly different way. It’s a preposition you’ve no doubt known for a long time.
Feifei
Yes, our word is across. Of course, you can say things like: Rob is sitting across from me.
Rob
Or: This food is popular across China.
Feifei
But what about this: Rob, are you across the plan for tonight’s event?
Rob
You’re not asking me if I’m sitting across or on the other side from a plan, are you?
Feifei
No, when we use across in this way, it actually means ‘to be familiar with’. If you’re across a plan, you’re familiar with it. You know what you need to know about it.

Rob
We often talk about being across a subject. Especially a subject that is complex or changing. It indicates you know all the important things about the subject.
Feifei
Let’s listen to some examples to help clarify how we use it.
Examples
Professor Zhang is a specialist in the European economy. He’s across all the latest developments.
A: Did you come to last week’s meeting?
B: Afraid not, no.
A: OK, so you’re not across the new plan. Let me give you a quick summary.
A: Pete, I want to make sure you’re across the food for tomorrow. Now, remember two of our guests are vegetarian.
B: Got it.
Feifei
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. There we are. I hope you’re now across how we use this word ‘across’.
Rob
Yes, you’re across ‘across’, so to speak!
Feifei
Anyway, as I was asking earlier, Rob, are you across the plan for tonight’s event?
Rob
That was just an example of how to use this phrase, right?
Feifei
No, you really don’t know about it?
Rob
What event?

Feifei
This isn’t good. I thought you had sent out all the invitations?

Rob
What are you talking about, Feifei?
Feifei
Oh, just kidding! There’s no event tonight.
Rob
That’s not funny! Now, getting back to the subject, if you want to stay across all the latest slang English expressions, do remember to listen to The English We Speak.
Feifei
Bye.

Rob
That really wasn’t funny.