MovieDict
Poster of The King's Speech (2010)

Learn English with The King's Speech (2010)

Bertie becomes King George VI of Britain when his brother gives up the throne, but he cannot speak without getting stuck on his words. With Lionel Logue, a speech teacher with unusual methods, he learns to speak to his country as a war begins.

Level
You can follow it at B2. Easy from C1.
Speech
Slow
Accent
Australian, British
Language
It has strong language.
Length
1 h 58 min

Words and phrases (15)

  1. to no avail

    C1phrase

    With no good result; without success.

    No, look, my husband has seen everyone... ...To no avail.

    9:49

    • Example: I tried to fix the old clock, but to no avail.

  2. bored stupid

    B2phrase

    Very, very bored.

    informal

    No, you must stay, bored stupid, listening to your parents' inane conversation.

    12:39

    • Example: I was bored stupid during the long talk.

  3. to be or not to be

    B2phrase

    A famous line from Shakespeare's play Hamlet.

    To be... ...or not to be, that...

    26:09

    • Example: Everyone knows the line "to be or not to be" from Hamlet.

  4. stare someone square in the eye

    B2phrase

    To look straight at something with no fear.

    Face boldly up to the bloody thing and stare it square in the eye, as would any decent Englishman.

    30:23

    • Example: He stared the big dog square in the eye and did not move.

  5. slings and arrows

    C1phrase

    The bad things and troubles of life.

    Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, or to take arms against a sea of troubles,

    33:54

    • Example: He faced the slings and arrows of a hard life with a smile.

  6. full of hot air

    B2phrase

    Saying a lot of words that mean nothing.

    informal

    Full of hot air.

    36:49

    • Example: He promised to help, but he is full of hot air.

  7. have someone's best interests at heart

    B2phrase

    To really care about what is good for someone.

    I can always trust you to have my best interests at heart.

    43:27

    • Example: My mum is strict, but she has my best interests at heart.

  8. long live the King

    B2phrase

    Words people shout to wish a new king a long life.

    Long live the King.

    44:23

    • Example: When the new king came out, the people shouted, "Long live the King!"

  9. down the drain

    B2phrase

    Lost for nothing; used with no good result.

    informal

    All that work... down the drain.

    1:00:56

    • Example: We lost the game, so all our hard work went down the drain.

  10. all hell breaks loose

    B2phrase

    Fast, all at once, there is a lot of noise and trouble.

    informal

    All hell's broken loose.

    1:03:08

    • Example: When the lights went out, all hell broke loose in the hall.

  11. overstep the mark

    B2phrase

    To say or do more than is allowed or polite.

    I might have overstepped the mark.

    1:07:10

    • Example: He overstepped the mark when he shouted at his boss.

  12. crystal clear

    B2phrase

    Very easy to see or understand.

    Prime Minister Baldwin may deny this, but Hitler's intent is crystal clear.

    1:08:26

    • Example: The teacher's words were crystal clear.

  13. Pandora's box

    C1phrase

    A thing that starts many new problems.

    It is, indeed, a Pandora's box, and I'm afraid I've also had to permit the newsreel cameras.

    1:22:09

    • Example: Asking about his family opened a Pandora's box of old fights.

  14. get cracking

    B2phrase

    To start doing something quickly.

    informal

    Let's get cracking.

    1:24:11

    • Example: We have lots of work, so let's get cracking.

  15. be yet to come

    B2phrase

    To not have happened yet; to be still in the future.

    I'm very much afraid, sir, that your greatest test is yet to come.

    1:33:35

    • Example: The best part of the show is yet to come.

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