Some people just love causing trouble. This expression is about them! (Image: Getty) TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak_2024/ep-240603 FIND BBC LEARNING ENGLISH HERE: Visit our website ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish Follow us ✔️ https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/followus LIKE PODCASTS? Try some of our other popular podcasts including: ✔️ 6 Minute English ✔️ News Review ✔️ Office English They're all available by searching in your podcast app.
Welcome to the English we speak with.
Me Neil and me fei fei.
We have an expression which is about causing trouble or being provocative.
It's stir the pot.
Stir the pot.
When could we use this?
Okay, so let's picture two people having an argument about who should come into work on Saturday to finish off a project.
Oh, right.
Nobody wants to do that.
And I can see why they might be arguing about this.
So how could someone stir the pot?
Well, if I just happened to walk over and point out that person a had been really helpful and had come in to help me lots of times while person b always left early, then I'd be stirring the pot.
It might make the argument worse.
I'm not entirely sure that helped the situation.
Would stirring the pot like that be a little immature?
It might well be, and I'm not really one to stir.
But listen to these examples of people who love to stir the pot.
Oh, I don't mind what you did.
I'm just saying it here to stir the pot.
I'm not sure we should let Piotto in the group chat.