Page 23 - Conversation 3

I'm not sure we should let Piotr in the group chat. He's always trying to stir the pot and cause
trouble.

Why are you here? You've got nothing important to say. You're just stirring the pot.

Feifei
You’re listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English, and we are learning the
expression ‘stir the pot' which means to cause trouble or be provocative.

Neil
It might be easy to remember if you think of it as a metaphor. When you're cooking, you put
things in a pot, and when you stir them together things happen.

Feifei
So, stirring the pot is putting things into a conversation, looking to make bad things happen.

Neil
Yes. If I'm trying to explain all the good reasons that I was late for work this morning, and then
you come up very deliberately and ask me "How was the party last night?" in front of the boss,
you'd be putting some ingredients into that conversation and stirring it until something bad
happened!

Feifei
Don't worry, I'm not a pot-stirrer. How was that party anyway?

Neil
I'm saying nothing - see you next time!

Feifei
Bye.

Neil
Bye.