Part of the furniture

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I’m Helen and joining me today is Neil.

Hello everyone.

Neil, guess who I met yesterday?

No idea. Anyone I know?

The name is Jonathan Kendall - he said you guys worked together a long time ago.

Oh yes, we did. Gosh, it must have been nearly 15 years ago if my memory is right.

Wow, that is a long time ago.

So what’s he doing now?

He works at Radio Melody. He’s now the station manager.

Is he still there? Wow, he really is part of the furniture.

What do you mean ‘he’s part of the furniture’? He is a person, not a sofa or a table.

Oh, I don’t mean it literally. It’s an expression we use to describe someone or something that’s been in the same place for a very long time. You almost that think they’ll be there forever. Let’s listen to a few examples.

John has been the school caretaker for nearly twenty years. He’s become part of the furniture.

We come here so often, it’s almost as if we are part of the furniture.

She’s had a seat in parliament for over 50 years - she’s part of the furniture in the House of Commons.

Right, I’ve got it. So how long have you been at the BBC?

I’ve lost count. Let me see, I left school at 18, did an apprenticeship for 2 years and then I joined the BBC in 1995.

That’s twenty years. My goodness! So you are part of the furniture at the BBC!

Yes, you are absolutely right. Where have all the years gone?

Will you be here for the next twenty years?

Who knows? Let’s wait and see.