174.- Botch job. Profesor.

 

Summary

Neil’s been trying to put up some bookshelves but it hasn’t gone well. Luckily, Jiaying can help with an English phrase to describe what he’s done – but it won’t help stop his leaking water pipe! Find out more about a ‘botch job’ and when it’s a good time to use it!

Transcript

Jiaying
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I’m Jiaying but there’s no Neil. I’m waiting for him to arrive…

Neil
Sorry I’m late. I’ve had a bit of a disaster.

Jiaying
Oh no.

Neil
Yes, I’ve been doing some DIY…

Jiaying
DIY – that means ‘do-it-yourself’ – you’ve been doing your own building and repair work. That sounds dangerous!

Neil
Not really. All I was doing was putting up some bookshelves. But I put one of the nails through a water pipe – and water started spraying everywhere.

Jiaying
Disaster!!! It sounds like a botch job.

Neil
Oh, is that bad?

Jiaying
Very bad! A botch job is a job or task that is done badly or without much care. You can also ‘make a botch of something’. It looks like you’ll need to call in a plumber, but let’s hear some examples first…

Examples
Oh no! You’ve made a botch job of the decorating. We’ll have to start again.

My girlfriend made a botch job of the cake – she used the wrong ingredients and then baked it too long. I guess it’s the thought that counts!

Our builder came highly recommended, but when the ceiling fell in, I knew he’d done a botch job.

Jiaying
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. We’re learning about the phrase ‘a botch job’ which describes a task that’s done badly or carelessly. It’s what Neil has done putting up some bookshelves. So, Neil, did you call a plumber?

Neil
No, far too expensive. I just put some sticky tape over the hole.

Jiaying
Oh no, you’ve botched it again. Why did you try to do this DIY job in the first place?

Neil
To save money, of course.

Jiaying
Oh dear, I think your botch job will become an expensive job. Anyway, here’s a book to put on your new bookshelf.

Neil
Oh, thanks! What is it?

Jiaying
‘Your Guide to Better DIY’.

Neil
Quick, where is the section on plumbing?

Jiaying
Ha, ha. Bye, Neil.

Neil

Bye.

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