Conversation:

Shirley:  Hi, Juan.  Do you mind if I sit here?

Juan:  Be my guest.  It’s a free country.

Shirley:  Would you rather I leave you alone?

Juan:  No, no.  I have to kill time anyway before my dentist appointment.  I hate to bring this up, but I don’t think I’ve forgiven you for standing me up that time you asked me over.  Where did you go, and why didn’t you call me?

Shirley:  Actually, that’s the reason I wanted to talk to you in person.  Do you remember when I told you about Stan, my old boyfriend?

Juan:  Yes, I remember.  I thought you were over him?  How is old Stanley anyway?

Shirley:  It’s not Stanley.  Stan is short for Stanton, remember?  He came back last week, and we got back together again.  That’s why I haven’t phoned you.

Juan:  Well isn’t that just fine!  I guess I can rule out a relationship between us now.   Is there anything I can say to change your mind?

Shirley:  No Juan, save your breath.  I’ve made up my mind.  Stan is the one for me.

Juan:  Well, I hope you two will be very happy together.

Click on the audio recording  below to hear the lesson.

Vocabulary:

rather:  prefer
forgiven:  stopped being angry
fine:  okay
one:  person

Idioms:

• be my guest                                                       do what you want without getting permission
• leave (someone/something) alone      don’t disturb
• kill time                                                              spend time waiting
• bring up                                                             introduce (a topic) / raise (a child)
• stand (someone) up                                   cancel a date without telling the other person
• ask (someone) over                                    invite (someone) to one’s home
• in person                                                          in front of one another
• be over (someone)                                       no longer love (someone)
• short for                                                           a shorter name (nickname) for
• rule out                                                             eliminate as a possibility
• save one’s breath                                         saying anything will have no effect
• make up one’s mind                                  decide

Notes:

Be my guest and feel free are similar in meaning, but be my guest is used alone.  Feel free can be used alone or with an infinitive phrase.  Example:  Feel free to eat what you want in the kitchen.

kill time and have time to kill have similar meanings, but have time to kill means “have extra time.” Example:  I have time to kill before my interview.  Do you want to go for coffee?

Bring up has 2 meanings:  The other meaning is “raise (a child).”  Example:  I was brought up in Riverside, California..

In person and face to face have the same meaning.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

Conversation:

Hiroco:  Hi Sonja.   Do you want to come with me this afternoon and see me audition for the school play?  I thought I would go for it and try out for the lead role.

Sonja:  I’d love to, but I don’t feel up to going.  I think I’m running a temperature.

Hiroco:  I’m sorry you’re not feeling well, but I can’t stick around.  The auditions only take place between 1:00 and 3:00 this afternoon.

Sonja:  It’s too bad I can’t go.  I’d love to see you show off your talent.

Hiroco:  I just hope I’m not too rusty.  I want to give them such a great audition that I stand out from all the others.

Sonja:  I’m sure you’ll do just fine.  Don’t let me hold you up.  I don’t want you to run late.

Hiroco:  Yes, I shouldn’t push my luck.  I’ve been late too many times for auditions.

Vocabulary:

audition:  a trial performance by an actor
play:  a story actors do on stage
lead role:  the most important character in a play
talent:  skills, things you are good at

Idioms:

• go for it:                             do something one would normally be afraid to do
• try out for:                        show one’s skills to become part of a group
• feel up to:                           be well enough (to do something)
• run a temperature:      have a fever
• stick around:                   stay here
• take place:                         happen
• show off:                            attract attention with unusual behavior
• be rusty:                             need practice
• stand out:                          be noticeable, be obvious
• hold up:                              delay / rob
• run late:                              be in a hurry (for work, class)
• push one’s luck:             continue taking chances

Notes:

Hold up has 2 meanings.  The second meaning is “rob.”  Example:  The man who held up the convenience store escaped before the police came.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot

Conversation:

Maria:  Did you hear that my brother has decided to drop out of school?

Sam:  You’re pulling my leg.  Has he really?

Maria:   Yes.  I told him he was better off staying, but he doesn’t listen to me.

Sam:  Maybe he’s feeling burned out.  After all, he has a heavy load this term.

Maria:  He told me he was looking into joining the army.

Sam:  That doesn’t make sense.  Doesn’t he realize that once he joins the army, he can’t

back out?  I know he can’t do without his freedom.

Maria:  I agree.  I don’t think much of his idea either.  Maybe we should have a talk with him.

Sam:  That’s a good idea.  I think he just wants to be on his own, but he’s going about it the wrong way.

Maria:  Let’s see if we can talk him into finishing grade 12.

Click on the audio recording  below to hear the lesson.

Vocabulary:

• heavy load:  a large amount of work to do
• realize:  understand, know

Idioms:

• drop out (of)                                           stop attending (classes/meetings)
• pull one’s leg                                          joke with someone
• better off                                                 better than before
• burn out                                                   become completely exhausted
• look into                                                   investigate to find information
• make sense (of)                                    be logical / understand logically
• back out (of)                                          withdraw from, not do
• do without (something)                 be able to live without (something)
• not think much of (something)  think (something) is not very good
• on one’s own                                         by oneself, alone
• go about                                                   plan a way to do (something)
• talk (someone) into                           persuade, convince (someone to do something)

Notes:

Drop out is used with ‘of’ if there is an object after it.  If not, then there is no ‘of.’
Example:  I haven’t seen Bill at the chess club for weeks.  He must have dropped out.

Look into and find out have the same meaning.

Make sense is used 2 ways.  It means to be logical, as used in the dialogue.
It also means to understand logically and must be used with ‘of’.
Example:  I can’t make sense of this recipe.  Could you help?

Talk (someone) into has an opposite:  Talk (someone) out of, which means “convince (someone) not to (do something).
Example:  I wanted to go swimming, but she talked me out of it because she wanted to go shopping

Conversation:

Andrei: Sven, I’ve always looked up to you. Would you give me some advice?

Sven: Sure. How can I help?

Andrei: I’m trying to get up the nerve to ask Victoria out.

Sven: Really? The girl in your math class who looks like a movie star?

Andrei: That’s right. I want to ask her to the dance this Friday, but my shyness gets in the way.

Sven: I know what you mean. It takes a lot of nerve to ask a beautiful girl out. My advice is to start talking to her and play it by ear.

Andrei: But what if she doesn’t warm up to me?

Sven: Don’t worry. On the whole, girls like it when a guy shows courage.

Andrei: Maybe, but I have butterflies in my stomach. I guess I’ll just have to put aside my fear and ask her.

Sven: Good luck. I hope everything works out.

Vocabulary:

• advice:  what you tell someone they should do
• shyness:  feeling like other people won’t like you
• guy:  man, boy
• courage:  going through your fear to do something
• fear:  feeling of being afraid

Idioms:

• look up to (someone)                               admire, respect
• get up the nerve                                          find the courage
• ask (someone) out                                     invite (someone) on a date
• look like                                                           resemble
• get in the way                                               make it difficult to do something
• take a lot of nerve                                       require a lot of courage
• play it by ear                                                 do something without a plan
• warm up to (someone)                            become friendly with (someone)
• on the whole                                                 generally
• have butterflies in one’s stomach     be nervous
• put aside                                                          save for later
• work out                                                          bring to a successful conclusion / solve / exercise

Notes:

Work out has three meanings. The other two are:
(solve) Example:  First, we had to work out the problem of transportation.
(exercise) Example:  I don’t have time to work out at the gym anymore.

© 2004 Ambien Malecot

Conversation:

Mary:  Hi Julie.  What’s up?  You look tired.

Julie:  I got up early this morning to put together this new bicycle that I’m giving to Jamie for his birthday.

Mary:  Oh, that’s sweet of you.  I’m sure he’ll like it.  Listen, the reason I stopped by is to ask you to come shopping and help me pick out something to wear to John and Susan’s wedding.

Julie:  I thought they broke up, and the wedding was called off.

Mary:  That’s right, but they made up yesterday, and the wedding is on again.  I heard they cried so much, they used up a whole box of tissue.

Julie:  Is that so?  You know, all of a sudden, I want to go shopping too.  I have nothing to wear either.

Mary:  Let me help you clean up and put away these tools.

Julie:  Thanks.  You know, it’ll be fun to dress up for this wedding.  I like wearing nice clothes.

Vocabulary:

• sweet:  nice
• wedding:  marriage ceremony
• on:  happening
• tissue:  soft paper used on the face
• so:  true
• tools:  instruments used to put something together, like pliers and screw drivers

Idioms:

what’s up                  what’s happening
put together             build out of parts
stop by                        visit (someone) informally
pick out                      choose
break up (with)      end (a relationship, meeting)
make up                     become friendly after a fight or argument / create (a story)
use up                         use completely, have no more
all of a sudden       without warning, suddenly
put away                   return (something) to its proper place
dress up                    put on good clothes

Notes:

Stop by and drop by have the same meaning.

Break up is followed by with if an object is used.
Example:  Paul broke up with Judy.

Break up is never followed by with when it means “end a meeting.”
Example:  The meeting broke up at 8:00.

Make up has two meanings.  The second meaning is “create (a story)”
Example:  Johnny didn’t do his homework again, so he had to make up an excuse.

All of a sudden and all at once have the same meaning.

© 2004 Ambien Malecot

Conversation:

Barb:    It’s too hot in here.  How do you turn on the air conditioning?

Bob:    It’s easy as pie.  Just push the button marked ‘start.’  Then turn the dial up to maximum.

Barb:    Okay.  But when we checked in, the desk clerk said it takes about half an hour to cool the room down.  I think I need something cold to drink now.

Bob:    Speak up.  I can’t hear you over that noisy air conditioner.

Barb:    I’m going to the vending machine in the lobby to get some pop.  Would you like anything?

Bob:    No thanks.  I’ll stick with ice water.  You could bring up some more ice, if you don’t mind.  I don’t want to run out.

Barb:    [Later]  I couldn’t get any pop.  The vending machine broke down, and they shut down the ice machine for servicing.  Let’s just check out of here and find a better motel.

Click on the audio recording  below to hear the lesson.

Pronunciation Exercise:  Listen and repeat the vocabulary on the audio file below.

Vocabulary:

• maximum:   the highest setting
• desk clerk:   the person you talk to when you register.
• vending:   selling
• lobby:   the big room inside the front door of a motel or hotel
• if you don’t mind:  if it isn’t a problem for you
• servicing:  fixing and cleaning a machine

Pronunciation Exercise:  Listen and repeat the idioms on the audio file below.

Idioms:

turn on                start the operation (of a machine, lights, etc.)
easy as pie         very easy to do
turn up                increase (sound, light, or heat) / arrive
check in (to)     register (at a motel or hotel)
speak up             speak more loudly / say something (at a meeting/in class)
stick with           continue using (something) / stay with (someone)
run out (of)       not have any more
break down       stop working (machine)
shut down          stop (a service or business) for a short time or permanently.
check out (of)   leave (a motel or hotel) / borrow (something) from a library

Notes:

Easy as pie and a piece of cake mean the same thing.

Turn up has 2 meanings.  The other one is “arrive.”
Example:  How many people turned up at the meeting last night?
It has the same meaning as show up. (Unit 03)

Speak up has 2 meanings.  The other one is “say something (at a meeting/in class).”
Example:  There are a few students who speak up in class, but most of them don’t usually say anything.

Stick with has 2 meanings.  The other one is “stay with (someone).”
Example:  When we go into the mall, stick with me.  I don’t want you to get lost.

Run out and be out are closely related.  Run out is an action, and be out is a condition (no action).
Example:  I ran out of milk, and if there’s one thing I don’t like, it’s to be out of milk.

Break down and out of order (Unit 01) are closely related.  Break down is an action, and out of order is a condition (no action).

Check out, meaning “leave (a motel or hotel),” is not followed by of if there is no object after it.
Example:  What time do we have to check out?

Check out has 2 meanings.  The second meaning is “borrow (something) from a library.”
Example:  You can’t check out reference material from the library.

© 2004 Ambien Malecot