Feifei: ...and hello, I'm Feifei and welcome

to The English We Speak.

Neil: Now Feifei, here's a question for you.

If you had some news what would do?

Feifei: Hmm, I would tell someone of course.

Neil: Yes but some good news, some amazing,

incredible news about yourself -

like for example, I'm having a baby.

Feifei: Are you really?

Neil: Of course not - but if you had exciting news

like that, how would you tell people?

Feifei: I'd use social media... tell all my friends...

tell everyone in the office...

I would shout about it - but not literally.

Neil: Exactly! Which is why, in English, we say

we would 'shout it from the rooftops'

which means we would share some information

publicly so everyone knows.

Feifei: I guess this is how people shared important news

before TV, radio and the internet had been invented.

Neil: Exactly. They would climb up somewhere high

and shout it out! Let's hear some examples...

Examples: Congratulations for getting a first in your

degree, you should go and shout it from the rooftops!

I know you won the lottery but don't shout it from the

rooftops; otherwise everyone will be after your money!

We all know Ming is in love with JiYuen,

he's been shouting it from the rooftops!

Feifei: So to shout something from the rooftops

means to tell everyone your good news.

Hold on a minute Neil, I do have some good news...

I am getting a pay rise!

Neil: Sorry, what did you say?

Feifei: I am getting a pay rise!

Neil: OK, no need to shout. Feifei, be careful,

there are some things you don't want to shout

from the rooftops - that news will just upset people.

Feifei: Like who?

Neil: Like me. I didn't get one.

But congratulations anyway.

Both: Bye.