Summary 

For many, Christmas makes us feel happy and excited. Imagine getting that feeling many times over – well you can with the phrase that Rob's about to explain. Find out how having good fortune means having all your Christmases at the same time!

Transcript

Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Feifei…

Rob
And I’m Rob. And I am so excited.

Feifei
Oh yeah? Why's that, Rob?

Rob
You know, Feifei – it's that festive time of year – presents, parties, time with the family, snow… did I mention presents?

Feifei
Yes, Rob. It's Christmas time.

Rob
Come on, Feifei – aren't you excited? Imagine if we had lots of Christmases all at the same time!

Feifei
Oh no, think of the cost of buying all those presents.

Rob
But hopefully you'd receive lots of presents too! Anyway, do you know that for some people, all their Christmases can come at once? 

Feifei
I don't think so!

Rob
OK, well, they're not really Christmases, but if someone has extreme good fortune, it's like the feeling of having lots of Christmases all at the same time.

Feifei
Got it. Having all your Christmases come at once just means 'having lots of good luck'. 

Rob
Yes! Let's hear from some people who've had all their Christmases come at once – lucky them!

Examples
Yeah! I got a pay rise and I'm off on holiday tomorrow, and I've won the lottery! It seems like all my Christmases have come at once!

The day I got married, I heard I'd passed my exams and got a promotion, so it felt like all my Christmases had come at once.

All my Christmases have come at once: my parents bought me a new car, I got a place at university and I've got a new girlfriend!

Feifei
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we're learning about the phrase 'to have all your Christmases come at once' – which means 'to have extreme good fortune'. Did you know, Rob, that I've had lots of good luck?

Rob
No, what's happened?

Feifei
Well, I've been invited to a big swanky Christmas party tonight, I'm going skiing at the weekend and you've bought me an amazing Christmas present.

Rob
Have I?

Feifei
Yes, in that box over there.

Rob
Oh, that's not for you. Sorry. It looks like not all of your Christmases have arrived!

Feifei
Oh well, you may as well have your present now.

Rob
Hmm, a book of English phrases – how useful!

Feifei
It will be. Happy Christmas, Rob!

Rob
Same to you, Feifei.