Learning English

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• take it as a given
• think on your feet
• can't see the wood for the trees

Introduction

Is it a true or os it just a hunch? Learn when and how to use ‘a hunch’ with Becca and Feifei. 

Transcript

Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak, where we explain phrases and expressions used by fluent English speakers so that you can use them too. I'm Feifei.

Becca
And I'm Becca. Before we start, Feifei, I have to tell you something. I have a feeling about something…

Feifei
Oh, what is it Becca? What kind of feeling?

Becca
Well, I have a hunch that we'll have to do some extra work today.

Feifei
And, what makes you think that?

Becca
Well, the last time we had such a big project coming up, we had to produce a lot more programmes very quickly. I'm not entirely sure though, it is just a hunch.

Feifei
Ah I see. But, what is a hunch?

Becca
Well, a hunch is a feeling or a guess about something. You might have an idea about it, but you don't have clear evidence or proof.

Feifei
Ah, I see. So, let's hear some other people using 'a hunch'.

Examples

Someone keeps stealing my sandwiches from the fridge at work. I don’t definitely know who it is, but I’ve got a hunch.

It’s my birthday coming up and my colleagues are being really suspicious. I’ve no idea what they’re up to, but I’ve got a hunch they’re planning a surprise.

Hmm, this is a very difficult quiz question. I don’t really know what the answer is, but I’ve got a hunch.

Feifei
So, it's like an intuition you have about something. When you think something is true, even if you can’t explain why.

Becca
Yes. We can have a hunch, follow a hunch or act on a hunch. It's not so much that we try to prove our hunch is true, but we go along with it. It inspires our action. It's also used a singular noun.

Feifei
So, we wouldn't say, I've got some hunches?

Becca
No, you wouldn’t say you’ve got some hunches. Although it’s grammatically correct, when we describe that feeling or intuition, we say we have ‘a hunch'.

Feifei
That's it for this programme but join us next time to learn more English phrases and expressions. But for now, it's goodbye!

Becca
Bye!

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