A shock to the system

Feifei
This is The English We Speak. Hello, I’m Feifei …

Rob
And hello! I ‘m Rob.

Feifei
Hey, Rob. How was your holiday?

Rob
Absolutely fantastic - a whole week sitting around, relaxing, doing nothing. Perfect!

Feifei
It sounds great, so why are you looking so grumpy today?

Rob
Well, it’s my first day back at work and it’s been a shock to the system.

Feifei
A shock?! Did you get a shock in the office?

Rob
Well, no. Not something dangerous, like an electric shock. I mean experiencing ‘a sudden and unpleasant change from what you have been used to’. For me, it’s a change from relaxing and doing nothing on the beach to suddenly being back in the office, sitting at my desk, working hard - with you!

Feifei
That does sound like a shock!

Rob
Well, here are some other people who’ve experienced a shock to the system …

Examples
After such a long and hot summer, this cold weather has come as a shock to the system.

I hope they can fix my car quickly. Walking to work has been a bit of a shock to the system.

My daughter has found starting secondary school a real shock to the system. She gets so much homework!

Feifei
This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. We’ve discovered that ‘a shock to the system’ means experiencing ‘a sudden and unpleasant change’. It’s what Rob’s experienced coming back to work today. So, I guess your holiday is already a distant memory Rob.

Rob
Yes, it is.

Feifei
All that relaxing and doing nothing, hey? But I’m still confused.

Rob
Why’s that?

Feifei
‘A shock to the system’ is ‘a sudden change’ - but you did the same thing on holiday as you do in the office. There’s no change!

Rob
Very funny. But, hold on. If that’s what you think, I might as well wear these.

Feifei
Oh no! Swimming shorts and a hat! Please, go and cover up!

Rob
OK. See ya!

Feifei
Bye-bye!