Page 24 - Conversation 3

(12) Walk someone through

Introduction

Here's an expression to talk about guiding someone through something, or explaining something
to them. Learn how to use it in this programme.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak_2024/ep-240325

Transcript

Phil
Welcome to The English we speak, with me Phil…

Feifei
And me, Feifei.

Phil
Today's expression is about showing people how to do things, or explaining something to them
it’s ‘walk someone through’.

Feifei
'Walk someone through' – when would you use this?

Phil
It's most commonly used at work, it means to guide, explain, or practise something step-by-step.
So, if there's something new, and you don't know how to do it – you need someone to walk you
through it.

Feifei
I remember when you started working here – we had to walk you through everything. Luckily,
it's all on computers, so there much wasn't much actual walking at all.

Phil
No, it's not really about walking, it's about doing everything slowly and carefully, one step at a
time together with someone else. We often use it with different processes. As you were saying,
it's very common for when someone starts a new job.

Feifei
Well, until you walk someone through something, they never really understand it properly. It's
good to look at each step in turn.

Phil
True! As well as processes it can also be used more generally to mean 'explain something
carefully'. Listen to these examples.