It's Feifei here with Rob.

Rob: Hi everyone.

Feifei: So Rob, help yourself to a biscuit.

I know how much you love them,

so I bought some for us to share today.

Rob: Oh right. That's very kind, Feifei, but very odd.

You don't normally buy me things.

Are you feeling guilty?

Have you done something wrong?

Feifei: Of course not! Well… sort of.

I hope you don't mind, but I used up all your coffee

when I made drinks for the team this morning.

Rob: What?! You used up all my coffee

and you didn't make me one?

That really takes the biscuit!

Feifei: I haven't taken any biscuits – just your coffee.

Rob: No, Feifei! When I say someone really takes the biscuit,

I mean what you have done is really surprising, annoying

or sometimes just silly.

Feifei: Oh dear. You're not happy? Sorry, Rob.

Let's hear some examples while you calm down…

I can't believe she copied my work and pretended it was her own.

Now that really takes the biscuit.

You're really taking the biscuit if you're expecting me to take you to the match and wait outside until it's finished!

Your plan to turn the spare bedroom into a snooker room really takes the biscuit!

Feifei: This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English

and we're finding out about the phrase 'to take', or 'to really take the biscuit',

which means we are surprised or annoyed by someone's actions.

Oh Rob, I'll buy you some more coffee.

Rob: I hope so.

By the way, we can say 'something' as well as 'someone' takes the biscuit.

So you take the biscuit by using up my coffee

but there is something that really takes the biscuit.

Feifei: Oh yes? What's that?

Rob: These biscuits you bought are ginger nuts.

I hate ginger biscuits. Didn't you know?

Oh that really takes the biscuit!

Feifei: OK, Rob. You are really taking this badly.

Pass them over here then and I'll eat them.

Rob: Oh crumbs, I've dropped them. Sorry!

Feifei: It looks like I won't be taking any of my biscuits today!

Come on, Rob. I'll buy you a coffee.

Rob: Thanks. Bye.

Feifei: Bye.