We Speak. I'm Feifei

and joining me is Rob...

Rob: Hello! Hey, Feifei.

Have you heard the news?

Feifei: Gossip, you mean.

Rob: No, no - it's true! We've been given

the day off! So, sorry,

I'm not going to hang

around - I'm off to the beach.

Feifei: Hold on! Who says?

Rob: Neil. He said the boss told him that

we've all worked so hard we don't have to

work today!

Feifei: Hmm. It sounds like a wind-up

to me - a wind-up is another way

of saying 'a trick or joke'.

I'm sure Neil was joking!

Rob: April Fool, Feifei! I was joking!

I wanted to trick you - to see

if you'd leave the office

and... take the day off.

Feifei: Ha ha, very funny.

Well, actually, I have

got the day off today. So the joke is

on you, and it starts now. Goodbye.

Rob: Feifei, where are you going? Come

back and explain what 'the joke is on you'

means... please!

Feifei: ...OK, Rob! When 'the joke is on

someone', it means the person

who has tried to make you look silly has

ended up looking silly themselves.

The joke has backfired. And now

you look silly, Rob.

Rob: Point made, Feifei. Here are some

more examples of this phrase in action...

Daisy laughed at my 'terrible' dress sense,

until she found out I was

wearing a designer dress -

I guess the joke's on her now!

Ha, you thought I'd never beat your

time for completing the marathon.

But I have, so the joke's on you!

I know you were trying to be funny

by saying I'd never pass my exam.

But now you're the only one who hasn't,

so the joke's on you, I'm afraid!

Feifei: This is The English We Speak from

BBC Learning English and we're looking at

the phrase 'the joke is on someone,'

which means someone has tried

to make someone else look silly but

ended up looking silly themselves!

So this perfectly describes you, Rob - the

joke about taking a day off is 'on you'.

Rob: I was just having a laugh at

April Fool's Day. But, hold on.

Where is everybody? The

office is empty.

Feifei: Ha - not another one

of your 'jokes'?

Rob: No, seriously - look, there's an email.

It says 'Due to a power failure the office

is out of action. You can all take the day

off.' Ha, looks like we've all got a day off

after all - the jokes on you, Feifei!

Feifei: Ah well, enjoy your free time.

Rob: Fancy going to the beach?

Feifei: No, thanks. Bye, Rob.

Rob: I was joking. Bye.