Speak English like an American:L1-L5

Lesson 1: BOB’S DAY AT WORK

Bob work as a manager in a furniture store. Peter, his boss, is not happy about sales. Bob’s new advertising campaign hasn’t helped. Peter decided to fire him.
Peter: Bob, I hate to break the news, but our sales were down again last month.
Bob: Down again, Peter?
Peter: Yeah, these days, everybody’s shopping at our competition, Honest Abe’s Furniture Store.
Bob: But everything in there costs an arm and a leg!
Peter: That’s true. They do charge top dollar.
Bob: And their salespeople are very strange. They really give me the creeps!
Peter: Well, they must be doing something right overthere. Meanwhile, we’re about to go belly up.
Bob: I’m sorry to hear that. I thought my new advertising campaign would save the day.
Peter: Let’s face it: your advertising campaign was a real flop.
Bob: Well then I’ll go back to the drawing board.
Peter: It’s too late for that. You’re fired!
Bob: What you’re giving me the ax?
Peter: Yes, I’ve already found a new manager. She’s as sharp as a tack.
Bob: Can’t we even talk this over? After all, I’ve been working here for 10 years!
Peter: There’s no point in arguing, Bob. I’ve already made up my mind.
Bob: Oh well, at least I won’t have to put up with your nonsense anymore! Goodbye to you and goodbye this dead-end job.
Peter: Please, leave before I lose my temper.

break the news = to make st known
Ex: Samantha and Michael are getting married, but they haven’t yet broken the news to their parents.
Ex: You’d better break the new to your father carefully. After all, you don’t want him to have a heart attack!
costs an arm and a leg = to be very expensive
Ex: A college education in America costs an arm and a leg.
Ex: All of the furniture at Honest Abe’s cost an arm and a leg!
top dollar = the highest end of the price range; a lot of money
Ex: Nicole paid top dollar for a shirt at Banana Republic.
Ex: Wait until those jeans go on sale. Why pay top dollar?
give one the creeps = to create the feeling of disgust or horror
Ex: Ted’s friend Matt has seven earrings in each ear and an “I love Mom” tattoo on his arm. He really gives Nicole the creeps
Ex: There was a strange man following me around the grocery store. He was giving me the creeps!
about to = ready to; on the verge of
Ex: It’s a good thing Bob left the furniture store when he did. Peter was so angry; he was about to throw a dinning room chair at him.
Ex: I’m glad you finally home. I was just about to have dinner without you.
go belly up = to go bankrupt
Ex: Many people lost their jobs when Enron went belly-up.
Ex: My company lost $3 million last year. We might go belly-up.
save the day = to prevent a disaster or misfortune
Ex: The Christmas tree was on fire, but Ted threw water on it and save the day.
Ex: We forgot to buy champagne for our New Year’s Party, but Sonia brought some and really save the day.
(Let’s) face it = accept a difficult reality
Ex: Let’s face it! If Ted spent more time studying, he wouldn’t be failing so many of his classes.
Ex: Let’s face it! If you don’t have college degree, it can be difficult to find a high-paying job.
real flop = flop = a failure
Ex: The Broadway play closes just after 4 days- it was a real flop
Ex: the company was in trouble after its new product flopped.
go back to the drawing board = to start a task over because the last try failed; to start again form the beginning
Ex: Frank’s new business failed, so he had to go back to the drawing board.
Ex: The president didn’t agree with our new ideas for the company, so we had to go back to the drawing board.
give s.o the ax = to fire s.o
Ex: Mary used to talk to her friends on the phone all day at work, until one day her boss finally gave her the ax.
Ex: Poor Paul! He was given the ax two days before Christmas.
as sharp as a tack = very intelligent
Ex: Jay scored 100% on his science test. He’s as sharp as a tack
Ex: Anna got a scholarship to Yale. She’s as sharp as a tack
talk over = to discuss
Ex: Dave and I