A friend says, "I missed the bus again." Many learners freeze, or they translate from their own language and say something very heavy, like "I am very sorry for your situation." That sounds like a formal letter. Others say nothing, which can feel cold. British people react to small bad news with short, warm, light phrases. In this episode: • Quick reactions to small bad news • Comforting someone • Encouraging someone before or after a challenge • Everyday setbacks, matched • Scene: a bad morning • Practice • Self-check questions with answers Key phrases from this episode: Oh no! — a quick reaction to small bad news (casual) Oh dear — gentle sympathy, a bit softer (neutral) That's rubbish — that's bad luck, that's not fair (casual) That's a pain — that's annoying and inconvenient (casual) What a nightmare — that sounds really stressful (casual) Poor you — I feel sorry for you (casual) You poor thing — very warm sympathy (casual, kind) That's so annoying — I understand why you're fed up (casual) I'm sorry to hear that — sympathy for slightly bigger news (polite) Never mind — it doesn't matter too much, forget it (casual) It could be worse — at least it isn't a bigger problem (casual) These things happen — it's normal, it's not your fault (neutral) Don't worry about it — please don't feel bad (neutral) It's not the end of the world — it's a small problem, really (casual) At least you're okay — the important thing is you're fine (neutral) Worse things happen at sea — a playful way to say it's small (casual) Chin up — stay positive (casual) Fingers crossed — I hope it goes well (casual) Real British English: the complete spoken course for learners worldwide — modern British accent, everyday grammar, phrasal verbs, idioms, slang, he/she/it for things, and real conversations at home. Listen, repeat out loud, then take the 52-question quiz. Audio voiced with AI from an original script by Dr. Rashmi R Nair.