185.- Throw shade. PROFESOR.

Summary

Has anyone you know been ‘throwing shade’ recently? Learn what this English expression means and how we use it. Also, you can find out why Feifei has been throwing shade at Roy in the English We Speak!

Transcript

Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak with me, Feifei…

Roy
…and me, Roy.

Feifei
We may sound a little different – that’s because we are not able to record in our normal studios during the coronavirus outbreak. In this programme, we have an expression that is used to describe publically criticising someone. Roy, why are you hiding under the desk?

Roy
Well, I’m a bit scared at the moment. Neil said you were throwing shade at me, so I don’t want to get hit. I guess it was you who smashed the window throwing all that shade around.

Feifei
Roy! I’m not throwing anything physically. I was throwing shade at you – that means I was publically criticising you. I was telling everyone how terrible your favourite T-shirt is. You always wear it, but the film on it is so uncool. Who likes ‘Gibbons by the Sea’?

Roy
I do – it’s a brilliant film. You should stop throwing shade. I love this T-shirt; it’s a classic.

Feifei
It’s not a classic – it’s old. Also, I did smash that window as I literally threw a bag of your other terrible T-shirts out of the window.

We’ll talk about it more after these examples…

Examples

Ece got really angry when she caught her friend throwing shade at her.

Hey! Don’t throw shade at my job! It may not pay well, but I enjoy it!

Joan never throws shade. She’s so chilled out.

Feifei
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we’re talking about the expression ‘throw shade’, which describes the act of publically criticising someone.

Roy
I can’t believe you threw my bag of T-shirts out the window. I know you don’t like my T-shirts, but you should stop throwing shade at me.

Feifei
OK, I will. I’m sorry, Roy. Actually, do you want to know a secret? I love your T-shirts. I wanted to buy one, but I couldn’t find one.

Roy
Well, I have a spare in the bag. You can have my other ‘Gibbons by the Sea’ T-shirt and then we can have matching T-shirts in the office. We’ll look so cool.

Feifei
Yes we will! Bye, Roy.

Roy
Bye, Feifei.