C: Hi, I'm Chris, and welcome to The English We Speak.
C: It's a nice day here in London, so I've come outside to meet Helen.
C: Ah, there she is.
C: Helen, how are you?
H: I'm fine thanks.
C: What are you doing? What are you looking at?
H: I'm looking up.
C: Right. But I can't see anything.
H: Neither can I.
C: Have you seen an aeroplane or something?
H: Not sure.
C: Maybe a bird?
H: Well, apparently things are looking up.
C: Things are looking up?
H: Yes, Rosie told me that the weather has been sunny for the last three days, so things are looking up.
H: I thought I'd come and see for myself.
H: But there's not much going on to be honest.
C: Ah, I think you've misunderstood.
C: Rosie didn't mean there are things up in the sky.
H: Really? What do you mean?
C: It's an expression.
C: You use the phrase "things are looking up" when you want to suggest that conditions are getting better or more positive.
H: Oh, right.
C: Here are some examples.
Examples: My wife and I both found great new jobs last month, so things are looking up.
Things are finally looking up now that he's recovered from his illness.
H: So when Rosie told me that things were looking up, she meant that the weather has been getting better at the moment.
C: Yes, she's suggesting that it looks like the weather in general is improving.
C: So what do you think?
C: Do you think the weather is getting better?
H: So far, yes, yesterday was really hot.
H: I hope it lasts for the weekend.
H: But if things get worse, would you say, "things are looking down"?
C: Not really.
C: Instead, you could say, "It's taken a turn for the worse".
H: It's taken a turn for the worse.
H: That's a useful phrase.
C: Oh, but hang on.
C: Look at that black cloud in the sky.
C: It looks like it might rain after all.
C: That's typical English weather.
H: Oh great. Things really have taken a turn for the worse.
H: Quick, let's get back to the office before it rains.
C: Let's go!
C: Do join us again for another edition of The English We Speak and visit our website, bbclearningenglish.com.
C: Bye.
H: Bye.