Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Rob.
And hello I'm Li.
Shh shh Li, quiet please. I need to concentrate, the race is about to finish and I've got a bet on. Yeah yeah. I've won. I've actually won. I'm rich.
Well done Rob. So what have you won Rob?
Ten pounds.
Oh just ten pounds. Ah well, that's quite useful actually.
Oh, is it. Why is that?
Well, you owe me five pounds and you did say you would buy me a glass of champagne if you won a race.
Oh right, did I? So, that will leave me with. 50 pence. Maybe I'm not a winner after all. Honestly! Every time I make some money I have to give it away.
Sorry Rob, it's a no-win situation or a lose-lose situation. Rob, you can't gain any money because you'll always lose it on something else.
So even though I did win something, I have also lost. So that's a no-win situation is it?
I'm afraid it is. A no-win situation is one in which a favourable outcome is impossible. You are bound to lose whatever you do.
You can also use this phrase to describe situations that aren't just to do with money, like this.
I can get the bus or train to work, either way I'm going to be late. It's a no-win situation.
The cafe only served ham or beef sandwiches but as a vegetarian I was in a no-win situation.
If she helps in the garden, Mum won't be pleased and if she helps in the kitchen, Dad won't be pleased. She really is in a no-win situation.
So a no-win situation is one that is certain to end in failure and disappointment. So Rob I can see you are disappointed because you have spent your winnings on me.
Um, I am I'm afraid. It seems impossible to win money just for myself.
Actually I also won some money, 50 pounds, so I'll buy you a drink, in fact I'll buy you something to eat too and you don't need to pay me back that five pounds.
Really? Li that's very kind of you. So now I'm in a win-win situation.
Yes, the opposite of a no-win situation is a win-win situation. This is where there is a favourable outcome for everyone involved. Like this.
The house buyer got a good price and the seller was happy to sell quickly so it was a win-win situation.
If I get to invest your money in the company and you get to share the profits, it's a win-win situation.
So, in a win-win situation everyone is happy. Just like our situation now. So, where are you taking me for dinner Li?
Did I say dinner? I was just going to buy you a sandwich.
Oh. That's not such a good win-win situation, is it?
Maybe I'll buy you some chips too.
OK great. Come on then, let's go. Bye bye.
Bye bye.