Page 40 - Conversation 3

(20) Tread on someone's toes

Introduction

Have you ever done something that wasn't your responsibility? Oh dear! It sounds like you need
this phrase.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak_2023/ep-231031

Transcript

Beth
Welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Beth.

Jiaying
And I'm Jiaying.

Beth
We have an expression about upsetting or annoying someone by involving yourself in something
that is not your responsibility – the expression is 'tread on someone's toes'.

Jiaying
'Tread on someone's toes'. When you're dancing, it’s not right to tread on someone else's toes –
it’s not what you're supposed to do. Although, we're not actually talking about really treading on
someone's toes here. Can you give us some context here, Beth?

Beth
Well, remember when I was upset last week...it was because you lead the meeting that I was
supposed to lead.

Jiaying
Oh no! I'm sorry. I guess I did tread on your toes. It wasn't my job to lead the meeting, but I did
it anyway.

Beth
Don't worry, it's OK. I trod on your toes last summer.

Jiaying
True. It was my job to organise the BBC Learning English barbecue. You knew that but you
organised it anyway without talking to me. You shouldn't have trodden on my toes.

Beth
I'm really sorry about that! Now, that was not a very serious problem, but treading on someone's
toes can be a serious thing. It could ruin your chances at work, for instance. Let’s hear some
more examples.