To have all your Christmases come at once: The English We Speak

Feifei: Hello and welcome to The English We Speak.
I’m Feifei…
Rob: And I’m Rob. And I am so excited.
Feifei: Oh yeah? Why’s that, Rob?
Rob: You know, Feifei – it’s that festive time
of year – presents, parties, time with the
family, snow… did I mention presents?
Feifei: Yes, Rob. It’s Christmas time.
Rob: Come on, Feifei – aren’t you excited?
Imagine if we had lots of Christmases all
at the same time!
Feifei: Oh no, think of the cost of buying
all those presents.
Rob: But hopefully you’d receive lots of
presents too! Anyway, do you know that
for some people, all their Christmases
can come at once?
Feifei: I don’t think so!
Rob: OK, well, they’re not really Christmases,
but if someone has extreme good fortune,
it’s like the feeling of having lots of
Christmases all at the same time.
Feifei: Got it. Having all your Christmases
come at once just means ‘having lots of
good luck’.
Rob: Yes! Let’s hear from some people
who’ve had all their Christmases come at once
– lucky them!
Yeah! I got a pay rise and I’m off on holiday tomorrow,
and I’ve won the lottery!
It seems like all my Christmases have come at once!
The day I got married, I heard I’d passed
my exams and got a promotion, so it felt like
all my Christmases had come at once.
All my Christmases have come at once:
my parents bought me a new car, I got a
place at university and I’ve got a new girlfriend!
Feifei: This is The English We Speak from
BBC Learning English and we’re learning
about the phrase ‘to have all your
Christmases come at once’
– which means ‘to have extreme good fortune’.
Did you know, Rob, that I’ve had lots of good luck?
Rob: No. What’s happened?
Feifei: Well, I’ve been invited to a big
swanky Christmas party tonight, I’m going
skiing at the weekend and you’ve bought
me an amazing Christmas present.
Rob: Have I?
Feifei: Yes, in that box over there.
Rob: Oh, that’s not for you. Sorry. It looks
like not all of your Christmases have arrived!
Feifei: Oh well, you may as well have
your present now.
Rob: Hmm, a book of English phrases –
how useful!
Feifei: It will be. Happy Christmas, Rob!
Rob: Same to you, Feifei.