[00:01.89]Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Rob.
[00:05.42]And hello I'm Li.
[00:06.97]Shh shh Li, quiet please. I need to concentrate, the race is about to finish and I've got a bet on. Yeah yeah. I've won. I've actually won. I'm rich.
[00:20.80]Well done Rob. So what have you won Rob?
[00:22.96]Ten pounds.
[00:24.46]Oh just ten pounds. Ah well, that's quite useful actually.
[00:30.35]Oh, is it. Why is that?
[00:32.55]Well, you owe me five pounds and you did say you would buy me a glass of champagne if you won a race.
[00:40.18]Oh right, did I? So, that will leave me with. 50 pence. Maybe I'm not a winner after all. Honestly! Every time I make some money I have to give it away.
[00:53.10]Sorry Rob, it's a no-win situation or a lose-lose situation. Rob, you can't gain any money because you'll always lose it on something else.
[01:04.49]So even though I did win something, I have also lost. So that's a no-win situation is it?
[01:11.36]I'm afraid it is. A no-win situation is one in which a favourable outcome is impossible. You are bound to lose whatever you do.
[01:21.30]You can also use this phrase to describe situations that aren't just to do with money, like this.
[01:28.20]I can get the bus or train to work, either way I'm going to be late. It's a no-win situation.
[01:36.40]The cafe only served ham or beef sandwiches but as a vegetarian I was in a no-win situation.
[01:43.15]If she helps in the garden, Mum won't be pleased and if she helps in the kitchen, Dad won't be pleased. She really is in a no-win situation.
[01:55.34]So a no-win situation is one that is certain to end in failure and disappointment. So Rob I can see you are disappointed because you have spent your winnings on me.
[02:08.36]Um, I am I'm afraid. It seems impossible to win money just for myself.
[02:14.40]Actually I also won some money, 50 pounds, so I'll buy you a drink, in fact I'll buy you something to eat too and you don't need to pay me back that five pounds.
[02:28.17]Really? Li that's very kind of you. So now I'm in a win-win situation.
[02:34.80]Yes, the opposite of a no-win situation is a win-win situation. This is where there is a favourable outcome for everyone involved. Like this.
[02:45.94]The house buyer got a good price and the seller was happy to sell quickly so it was a win-win situation.
[02:53.70]If I get to invest your money in the company and you get to share the profits, it's a win-win situation.
[03:01.79]So, in a win-win situation everyone is happy. Just like our situation now. So, where are you taking me for dinner Li?
[03:10.31]Did I say dinner? I was just going to buy you a sandwich.
[03:15.32]Oh. That's not such a good win-win situation, is it?
[03:19.51]Maybe I'll buy you some chips too.
[03:21.89]OK great. Come on then, let's go. Bye bye.
[03:25.74]Bye bye.