https:/ [bad word] englistening

Rob
 [bad word] to The English We Speak with me Rob and …. oh… oh… Feifei… Feifei, where are you?

Feifei
Hi… hi… over [bad word] quickly.

Rob
Oh… oh… what seems to be the problem?

Feifei
I think there's been a murder!

Rob
What?! Really – a murder, here? How can you be so sure?

Feifei
Well, last night I was speaking to my friend and we were talking about Jenny from our office…

Rob
Oh yes Jenny, I haven't seen her around for a while … so?

Feifei
My friend said Jenny has probably met someone, got married and moved to Australia – but then she said something very strange, she said it was 'a stab in the dark'.

Rob
'stab in the dark'? Ha - so you think she’s been murdered?

Feifei
Well possibly – she hasn't been seen for a long time and then someone was stabbed – and in the dark – so she must have been murdered at night. Oh dear, I think we should call the police!

Rob
No, don't call them yet. That phrase isn't as bad as you think. There's not been a murder. When you say you are 'taking a stab in the dark' it means you don't really know the [bad word] and you are just guessing.

Feifei
Really? Oh phew. That is good news.

Rob
Ok. Let's hear the phrase in action…

Examples
It might be a stab in the dark but I think my football team is in a good place to win the league this season.

I don't know how many people came to see the show, but I'll take a stab in the dark and say about 300.

John thought we could sell our old car for £500 – but really he was taking a stab in the dark!

Feifei
So the phrase 'to take a stab in the dark' does not involve stabbing people! But Rob, if we're not sure what did happen to Jenny, it’s still a bit of mystery.

Rob
Well maybe she didn't move to Australia… maybe she just got a new job… but I'm just taking a shot in the dark.

Feifei
shot in the dark! Now you're talking about her being shot in the dark?

Rob
No no no no - a shot - or a stab in the dark means the same thing – it means I'm guessing – I don't really know.

Feifei
Well guess no longer – look, here [bad word] #33;

Jenny
Hello you two.

Rob
Jenny!

Jenny
Why are you looking so worried – has someone died?!!

Rob
Bye!

Feifei
Bye bye!