B1 – Intermediate
The phrase “zip it” originates from literally closing a bag by zipping it. Zipping the mouth of the person talking incessantly so that he or she could stop giving more information that others shouldn’t hear. This phrase is used more as a slang since it may sound rude to others specially in a formal conversation.
Let us hear more about the phrase “zip it” in the audio below.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/features/the-english-we-speak/ep-210503
Discussion Questions:
- Are you talkative? Why or why not?
- Do you usually tell people to zip it? What are some reasons?
- Do you find it rude when someone stops you when you’re speaking?
- What are the topics that you don’t normally talk about with others?
- How do you stop someone from talking when you want them to zip it?