Page 19 - Conversation 3

I thought they were crazy. It's a long way. There's bad traffic. Why would you do that? But, I
thought I'd try it, so I got an old bike, and I just tried it to see if I'd like it. I was dipping my toe
into cycling, and it turned out to be really good.

Feifei
Yes. So, Phil was dipping his toe into cycling. Here are some more examples of the expression
'dip your toe into'.

Examples
I really like reading romance novels, but I think I might dip my toe into true crime and read one
of those next.

I've always done ballet, but I've decided to dip my toe into tap, and I'm starting a class next
week.

My mum's always worked as an estate agent, but recently, she's been thinking about dipping her
toe into hairdressing.

Phil
In the examples we've heard, people are dipping their toe into different new activities. Are there
other ways of saying it?

Feifei
Yes, we also say 'dipping a toe into the water', or 'dipping my toe into the water'. Now, this is
when it's clear from the conversation what the new activity is. It's also possible to use the verbs
'stick' or 'put'.

Phil
OK. So, we can be sticking, putting, or dipping our toe into the water, or whatever it is that we've
just started to do.

Feifei
That's right. Now, to recap, we've learned the phrase 'dip your toe into', which is used to mean
starting something new gradually.

Phil
That's all from us. We'll be back next time with another useful English phrase. See you then.

Feifei
Bye bye.