Neil and Feifei talk about a colloquial expression popular with young people for when things or people are very intense.

Feifei

大家好！歡迎收聽《地道英語》。我是馮菲菲，今天和我搭檔的是 Neil。

Neil

Hello! The expression we are going to look at in this programme – which we hear a lot in colloquial speech – is 'full-on'. So, Feifei, did you have a good weekend?

Feifei

It was quiet. 我一整周末都宅在家里。I stayed home most of the time, watched a couple of old, black and white films with my grandmother on Sunday. That was the highlight really. How about you?

Neil

Well... that sounds quite quiet and relaxed. Well, my weekend was a bit different to yours. I went to the launch party of a new bar on Friday – that was quite a night! And then on Saturday my friends took me to a night club that went on until the morning!

Feifei

Wow! That sounds exciting. Clubbing? 你這年齡了？Aren't you a bit old for that sort of thing?

Neil

No, I'm not too old, but to be honest – it was a bit full-on.

Feifei

full-on? What do you mean??

Neil

Well, the loud music, the dancing, the drinking, the energy. It was very intense. I'm not old, but I'm not as young as I was.

Feifei

哦，這里 full-on 的意思是活動安排的很緊湊，連喘口氣的時間都沒有。

Neil

Yes. I think I need a few days to recover; it was so full-on.

Feifei

What else can be full-on?

Neil

Some people are a bit full-on. A bit extreme. Not very relaxing to be with.

Feifei

有時候人也可以是 full-on，意思就是說這個人做事兒有點兒過了，讓周圍的人精神緊張，感到有些負擔，a bit extreme，not relaxing。full-on 這個表達非常口語化，在日常生活中使用頻率很高。I know what you mean. Sarah's a bit full-on isn't she?

Neil

Yes, she scares me. She stands so close when she talks to me and stares right into my eyes. Work can also be full-on when it's really busy.

Feifei

另外，工作忙起來的時候，我們也可以用 full-on 這個詞。

Neil

Let's listen to some more examples.

Examples

Man:?Have a good holiday?

Woman:?To be honest, not really. We were up at 6am every day to get as much sightseeing done as possible and didn't get to bed till midnight. It was so full-on. I feel like I need another holiday.

I really don't like children's parties. All those excited, screaming kids. It's too full-on.

London's too full-on. I need to move to the countryside.

Feifei

Well, if you want a more relaxing weekend next time, come and watch some films with me and my grandmother. It's really laid back.

Neil

That sounds a lot less full-on. I'll do that. Join us again soon for some more Authentic Real English.

Feifei

Bye!