210.- Know the score. Profesor.

Know the score

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak_2023/ep-230206

Introduction

Sometimes you understand the reality of a situation and how it might affect you. There’s a phrase to describe this and Rob’s about to hear it – that’s if he can stay to the end of the programme!

Transcript

Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. You are Rob…

Rob
…and you are Feifei. And if I may say so, what a great presenter you are.

Feifei
Oh, thank you very much.

Rob
You’re welcome. And you are so talented, I don’t think you need me here to present this programme.

Feifei
Hmm, why is Rob being so nice to me?

Rob
Err, so perhaps I could go now, and you just carry on by yourself?

Feifei
Oh, hold on! I know the score!

Rob
What? You know the score?! Already? But the match doesn’t start for another 30 minutes.

Feifei
What are you talking about? I just meant I know what you are trying to do! If we say we know the score, it means we understand the situation well or we know what is really going on. Let’s hear some examples of this phrase…

Examples
You know the score – you can’t leave work until you’ve finished all your tasks.

I think she knew the score – she didn’t have the right grades to get into university.

We know the score – money is tight, so we won’t be getting a bonus this year.

Feifei
In this programme from BBC Learning English, we are using the phrase know the score, which means we understand the situation or we know what is really going on. It has nothing to do with football! And, Rob, I know the score with you – you want me to finish this programme on my own so you can leave early!

Rob
Yeah. It’s true, Feifei. I do need to be somewhere.

Feifei
And this has got something to do with football?

Rob
Yes, it has. I have a ticket to see my favourite team play – and the match starts in half an hour. So, if I could just…

Feifei
Sorry, Rob – no. I’ve got a ticket to the theatre, and the show starts soon, so I need to go now as well. See you tomorrow.

Rob
Oh. Bye, Feifei. Hmm, now I know the score – she gets to leave early, and I don’t! Bye.