196.- Second-guess. Profesor.

Second-guess

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak_2022/ep-220926

Summary

If you don’t know what’s going to happen next, you have to guess. And Feifei has to guess what the English phrase is in this programme but luckily, it’s all about guessing – twice! Can you guess what it is?

Transcript

Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, I’m Feifei…

Neil
…and me, Neil. Hey Feifei, I have a little guessing game for you.

Feifei
Well, I like games, but is this the right time to be playing games? We’re presenting a programme.

Neil
This game is about the programme! You need to guess what today’s piece of authentic real English is.

Feifei
Do I get any clues?

Neil
No!

Feifei
Oh, come on, Neil! You want me to second-guess what today’s expression is?

Neil
No, just one guess – not a second guess.

Feifei
I didn’t mean that, Neil – I said second-guess. When you ‘second-guess’ something, you try to guess in advance what someone will do or what will happen – or in Neil’s case, I have to guess our expression for today. Neil, is ‘second-guess’ the expression you wanted me to guess?

Neil
No, but it’s a good one. Could we hear some more examples of it, please?

Feifei
Of course. You don’t need to second-guess our examples….

Examples
As the weather is so unpredictable, we have to second-guess what customers will be eating in our cafe.

I had to second-guess what my manager was planning and make my own decisions.

There’s no point second-guessing the score, both teams are playing really well.

Feifei
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. We’re learning about the phrase ‘second-guess’, which means to guess what someone will do. So, there’s a new expression for you Neil. Do you still want to play your guessing game?

Neil
Yes, go on – it’ll be fun.

Feifei
Is the answer ‘a wild guess’?

Neil
Yes, amazing! Right first time. A wild guess is a guess based on no knowledge. But, how did you know the answer so easily?

Feifei
I second-guessed you – but it was an easy guess! Now, guess what?

Neil
What?

Feifei
It’s the end of the programme. Shall we go and have a coffee?

Neil
I guess so!