To have a soft spot for something or someone – The English We Speak

Feifei: Hello, this is The English We Speak
and I’m Feifei.
Rob: And hello, I’m Rob.
Feifei: Rob, didn’t you know it’s very rude
to eat while talking?
Rob: Sorry! It’s just… somebody left these
doughnuts here and I had
to eat them – I have
a soft spot for doughnuts.
Feifei: Couldn’t you wait?
Rob: No, sorry I can’t – ooo, is that
chocolate I can see in your bag –
you couldn’t spare
a few chunks could you? I have
a soft spot for chocolate as well.
Feifei: No Rob, you can’t but can I assume
a ‘soft spot’ refers to your large and soft
belly you have as a result of eating
too many sweet things?
Rob: How dare you! Having a soft spot
does not mean having a fat belly –
not that I have one anyway.
If you have a soft spot for something,
it means you have the
feeling of really liking
something or someone.
Feifei: Right. And it’s quite
a strong feeling?
Rob: It is. When you have a soft spot
for someone it means you
have a lot of affection
for them. Is there anyone you
have a soft spot for, Feifei?
Feifei: Hmmm. At the moment I just
have soft spot for some examples!
He always had a soft spot for the
woman in accounts – and guess what?
Now they’re getting married!
She has a soft spot for designer shoes –
her cupboard is crammed with
hundreds of pairs,
some she’s never even worn!
She’s got a soft spot for her
English teacher and keeps buying him
presents – and she’s
always the first to turn up for his lessons.
Feifei: This is The English We Speak from
BBC Learning English and
we’re learning about
the phrase ‘to have a soft spot’ – which is
a feeling of really liking something
or someone.
So Rob, you asked if I had a soft spot
for someone and I do!
Rob: Ooo, go on.
Feifei: He’s tall and handsome…
Rob: Oh yes.
Feifei: A little beard…
Rob: Of course…
Feifei: And a natural performer.
Rob: I knew it! You only had to say, Feifei…
Feifei: Yes, it’s the great actor, Scott Foley.
Rob: Oh I see. You have a soft spot
for him?
Feifei: I do. And how about you, Rob?
Rob: There’s nobody – just doughnuts –
soft, round, sweet and squidgy
in the middle – what’s
not to like?
Feifei: Ah, just like you then!
Rob: Time to go Feifei. Bye!
Feifei: Bye bye!