Summary

Rob wants Feifei to give him a bell. Why does he want one and how is Feifei going to carry it? Or is this another example of confusing authentic real English? Listen to the programme to find out what he really means.

Transcript

Rob
Hello, I'm Rob…

Feifei
… and I'm Feifei and this is The English We Speak.

Rob
So Feifei, what are you doing this weekend?

Feifei
I thought I'd do some sightseeing in London – I never get time to see my home city, so that's what I'm going to do.

Rob
Good idea. You mean the Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, Westminster Abbey…

Feifei
….yes and especially Big Ben. I've always wanted to stand underneath and hear the clock strike 12.

Rob
Do you know what, I might the do same thing. When you're there, give us a bell and I'll come and meet you.

Feifei
'Give us a bell'? There is no way I can give you a bell – do you know how heavy it is?

Rob
Errr, I don't want a bell from the clock tower. I just meant, give me a call – on your phone. Give us a bell!

Feifei
Why didn't you just say that!

Rob
'A bell' originates from the days when phones had a bell that rang when someone called it. So when I say 'a bell', I mean 'a call'. So will you 'give us a bell'?

Feifei
Let me just think about that, while we hear some more examples…

Examples
When you get there, give us a bell and tell us what it's like.

Just give us a bell and I'll tell you how to get here.

After our blind date, he told me to give him a bell but every time I call it his phone diverts to voicemail.

Feifei
That's give me – or give us – a bell, meaning phone me! But Rob, you said give US a call – are you going to be with someone else?

Rob
No. In informal English we tend to say 'us' even when there's just one of us – just me. But of course 'us' can mean more than one person.

Feifei
Right. But this weekend you want me to call you because you'll be on your own and you've got nothing else to do – so you want to spend the day sightseeing with me?

Rob
Yes. Just give us a bell and I'll be there.

Feifei
Hmmm, well sorry I can't – I haven't got your number.

Rob
Well, I could give you a bell – what's your number again?

Feifei
Ah, saved by the bell – sorry, got to go, maybe next time. See ya.

Rob
Oh. Bye