A shock to the system: What does it mean? – The English We Speak

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!