[Images: Getty Images]

Summary

Rob has a new hobby that involves the risk of getting stung, which fills Feifei with fear. But 'the sting in the tail' with this new activity has nothing to do with the insects. Find out what this phrase really means.

Transcript

Feifei
Hello I'm Feifei and welcome to The English We Speak – and joining me is Rob.

Rob
Hello everyone.

Feifei
So Rob, I hear you have a new a hobby?

Rob
Yes that's right – it's very exciting – let me show you…

Feifei
Arghh! Bees! I don't like them – shut the door! So you're new hobby is bee keeping?

Rob
Yes I'm a bee keeper – and I love it - but there is a sting in the tail.

Feifei
Of course there's a sting in the tail – bees sting – and it hurts, that's why I don't like bees.

Rob
They only sting when they're angry Feifei – and anyway, when I said 'there's a sting in the tail' I wasn't referring to the bees. I meant something unpleasant comes with something that is meant to be pleasurable.

Feifei
Yes, as I said – looking after bees means you're likely to get stung.

Rob
That's true – but what I meant was bee keeping is fun but I wasn't expecting it to cost so much money – I had to buy all these hives and these special protective clothes.

Feifei
Yes, you do look silly! So you're saying bee keeping is fun but the unexpected cost of it is the sting in the tail?

Rob
Exactly. Let's hear some examples while I go and get some honey…

Examples
We had a great holiday but it had a sting in the tail – when we got home we discovered our house had been broken into.

I love her new book – the story is funny and romantic – but there's a sting in the tail when someone dies.

Yeah, we all got a pay rise this month, but there's a sting in the tail – we're expected to work longer hours.

Feifei
So that's 'a sting in the tail' – a phrase that means something unpleasant and sometimes unexpected happens when doing something good or fun.  

Rob
OK Feifei, one of the good things about bee keeping is you get this delicious honey – and that's free - go on Feifei, try some.

Feifei
Hmmm honey, delicious!  Oh no, you've brought something else with you… it's a bee!

Rob
Don't panic – I'll try to catch it… ouch! That hurt.

Feifei
Oh dear – it looks like bee keeping has more than one sting in the tail!

Rob
Very funny!

Feifei
Bye!