To have a soft spot

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2019-02-25

Summary 

What is a soft spot and where can you find it? Feifei thinks she knows where Rob's is but as you can discover, it's not an actual physical thing but a way of describing your feelings about something and someone. Watch the programme to find out more… 

Transcript

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

Rob
And hello, I'm Rob.

Feifei
Rob, didn't you know it's very rude to eat while talking?

Rob
Sorry! It's just… somebody left these doughnuts here and I had to eat them – I have a soft spot for doughnuts.

Feifei
Couldn't you wait?

Rob
No, sorry I can't – ooo, is that chocolate I can see in your bag – you couldn't spare a few chunks could you? I have a soft spot for chocolate as well.

Feifei
No Rob, you can't but can I assume a 'soft spot' refers to your large and soft belly you have as a result of eating too many sweet things?

Rob
How dare you! Having a soft spot does not mean having a fat belly – not that I have one anyway. If you have a soft spot for something, it means you have the feeling of really liking something or someone.

Feifei
Right. And it's quite a strong feeling?

Rob
It is. When you have a soft spot for someone it means you have a lot of affection for them. Is there anyone you have a soft spot for, Feifei?

Feifei
Hmmm. At the moment I just have soft spot for some examples!

Examples
He always had a soft spot for the woman in accounts – and guess what? Now they're getting married!

She has a soft spot for designer shoes – her cupboard is crammed with hundreds of pairs, some she's never even worn!

She's got a soft spot for her English teacher and keeps buying him presents – and she's always the first to turn up for his lessons.

Feifei
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we're learning about the phrase 'to have a soft spot' – which is a feeling of really liking something or someone. So Rob, you asked if I had a soft spot for someone and I do!

Rob
Ooo, go on.

Feifei
He's tall and handsome…

Rob
Oh yes.

Feifei
A little beard…

Rob
Of course…

Feifei
And a natural performer.

Rob
I knew it! You only had to say, Feifei…

Feifei
Yes, it's the great actor, Scott Foley.

Rob
Oh I see. You have a soft spot for him?

Feifei
I do. And how about you, Rob?

Rob
There's nobody – just doughnuts – soft, round, sweet and squidgy in the middle – what's not to like?

Feifei
Ah, just like you then!

Rob
Time to go Feifei. Bye!

Feifei
Bye bye!