To take the rough with the smooth

Feifei Hello, this is The English We Speak and I’m Feifei.

Neil And hello, I’m Neil.

Feifei Hey great news, Neil!

Neil
Oh yes, what’s that?

Feifei I got a promotion.

Neil Oh well done. Congratulations and all that.

Feifei
Come on, Neil - you were never going to get one. And anyway, it’s not all good news.

Neil A promotion - a pay rise, more power - how is that not all good news?

Feifei Well, it means longer hours, harder work, having to work with you more. I expect you have some English expression to describe that!

Neil I do, Feifei. You have to take the rough with the smooth. It means you have to accept the bad or unpleasant things in a situation as well as the good things. In other words, you can’t have everything.

Feifei Thanks for the sympathy, Neil.

Neil
Here are some good things though, Feifei: examples!

Examples A: I’m going to use my qualification to get a really good job, but I’ve lots of studying to do before I get it.

B: Well you have to take the rough with the smooth but good luck!

Having kids is very fulfilling but it can be challenging too, especially the lack of sleep - but I guess I have to take the rough with the smooth!

Feifei This is The English We Speak from BBC Learning English and we’re learning about the phrase ‘to take the rough with the smooth’ which means you have to accept the bad things in a situation as well as the good things.

Neil
So poor you, Feifei - you’ve got a great news promotion but you’re going to have to work longer. So fewer lunches with me, less time at the pub…

Feifei
The expression for that would be ‘to take the smooth with the smooth’. But do you know what - this programme is a good example of taking the rough with the smooth.

Neil So you mean there are some good things and some bad things? Hmm, so what are they?

Feifei Well, the rough things are presenting with you…

Neil And the smooth things?

Feifei The smooth things - the good things - are it’s a short programme and it’s nearly over. It’s time to go, Neil.

Neil Thank goodness. Enjoy your promotion then - hope it goes smoothly

Feifei It will! Bye.

Neil Bye.