Conversation Part 4

You are on the right track !!!

Greg	I am trying to figure out who the murderer is in this story.
Curtis	Who do you think it is !
Greg	I think it's Mr. Johnson because he was in the house at the time of the murder.
Curtis	No, but you are on the right track.

Explanation :

If you are on the right track , you are acting or progressing in a way that is likely to result in success.

Example :

Guests are returning in increasing numbers - a sure sign that we are on the right track ...

It's beyond me !!!

Anthony	How long have you been in this country ?
Seung	Two months.
Anthony	Is it hard for you to study at an American college ?
Seung	Yes, I find it very difficult. Especially when you can't follow the professor's lecture.
Anthony	That's because you just arrived. Do you like biology ?
Seung	No. It's beyond me.

Explanation :

If you say that something is beyond someone, you mean that they cannot deal with it.

Example :

Although he could give her sympathy, any practical help would almost certainly be beyond him

Whatever you say !!!

Kato	How about having dinner together after work?
Mori	Fine.
Kato	Should we have Japanese or American food ?
Mori	Whatever you say !
Kato	There is a good steak house around the corner.
Mori	That's a good idea.

Explanation :

You say whatever you say to indicate that you accept what someone has said, even though you do not really them or do not think it is a good idea.

Example :

We'll go in your car, Billy. --- ' Whatever you say '.

I am starving !!!

Yin	I think we should get something to eat.
Linda	Are you hungry ?
Yin	Hungry ? I'm starving.
Linda	There is an Italian restaurant near here.
Yin	Is the food very hot ?
Linda	It's kind of hot, but it's very tasty.

Explanation :

If you say that you are starving , you mean that you are very hungry.

Example :

Apart from anything else I was starving.

Rain Check !!!

Joe	Is he the one who writes articles for the English Post ?
Jean	Right, why don't you come over next Sunday to meet him.
Joe	I'd love to but I can't. Can you give me a rain check !!!
Jean	Sure, they'll be here for a week. So just let me know when you can come.
Joe	Ok! I will be very interested in seeing him.

Explanation :
If you say you will take a rain check on an offer or suggestion, you mean that you do not want to accept it straight away, but you might accept it at another time.
Example :
I was planning to ask you in for a brandy, but if you want to take a rain check, that's fine .......
I am broke !!!

Robert	Are you going to Hawaii on your vacation ?
James	Not this year.
Robert	Why not ?
James	For a good reason, I am broke.
Robert	Oh! Come on.
James	Seriously, I am flat broke.

Explanation :

If you are broke, you have no money.

If a company or person goes broke they lose money and are unable to continue in business or to pay their debts.

If you go for broke, you take the most extreme or risky of the possible courses of action in order to try and achieve success

Out of the question !!!

Robert	I am going to look at new cars tomorrow.
James	I wish I could have one.
Robert	Why don't you come along ?
James	I'd like to but I don't want to be tempted.
Robert	I am sure you could get a good deal.
James	No, buying a new car is out of the question for me right now.

Explanation :

If you say that something is out of the question, you are emphasing that it is completely impossible or unacceptable.

Example : -

For the homeless, private medical care is simply out of the question .......

Don't get me wrong !!!

Billy	Bill is going to sing tonight.
Lucy	Oh, no !
Billy	Don't you like his singing ?
Lucy	It's not that. Don't get me wrong !!!
Billy	What's the problem then ?
Lucy	He only knows one song.
Explanation :
If you say ' Don't get me wrong ' when you want to make sure that someone does not misunderstand what you are doing or saying, or why you are doing or saying it.
Example : -
Don't get me wrong, it's interesting work.
Does it ring a bell !!!

Shirley	Guess who I met at the grocery store.
Leonard	I can't imagine.
Shirley	Do you remember Mr. Johnson from our old neighborhood.
Leonard	That name rings a bell, but I can't place him.
Shirley	He used to live in the building next to ours.
Leonard	Oh yes, now I remember. He had dark hair and wore glasses.
Explanation :
If you say that something rings a bell , you mean that it reminds you of something else, but you cannot remember exactly what it is ......
We got stuck in an elevator !!!
Rai		You've got a wonderful fiance.
Brooke		Thanks, I think so, too.
Rai		How did you two meet ?
Brooke		Out of pure luck -- we got stuck in an elevator together.
Rai		So you met in an elevator ! Well, that certainly was a chance encounter.
Brooke		Yes, it was. Pete kept cracking jokes and making me laugh.

Explanation :

Stuck - Unable to move

Example : Seven of us were stuck in the lift for over an hour.

Let's get to the point !!!

Janet	Good afternoon Bob, isn't it a lovely day ?
Bob	Yes,  it is Janet !
Janet	It is the kind of day when you want to go outside.
Bob	Janet, let's get to the point. Do you want the afternoon off ?
Janet	Yes, Bob.
Bob	Alright. As soon as you finish typing. You can go.
Explanation :
When someone comes to the point or gets to the point, they start talking about the thing that is most important to them.
I tossed and turned all night !!!

Robb	Are you ill ?
Seles	Not really ! I am just tired.
Bobb	Didn't you sleep well last night.
Seles	No, I tossed and turned all night.
Robb	I am sorry to hear that, I hope you sleep better tonight.
Seles	Thank you. I'm sure I will.
Explanation :
If you toss and turn, you move restlessly in bed and cannot sleep properly, for example because you are ill or worried.
Example : -
You feel as if you've been tossing and turning all night, and wake up feeling worn out.
It's a piece of cake !!!

Han	What kind of Chinese food would you like to have.
Joe	I'd like to have spring rolls.
Han	Fine. By the way, do you know how to use chopsticks ?
Joe	It's a piece of cake.
Han	How in the world did you learn to use them ?
Joe	I was stationed in Taiwan for five years, you know.
Explanation :
If you think something is very easy to do, you can say it is a piece of cake. People often say this to stop someone feeling worried about doing something they have to do.
Not that I know of !!!

Mei	Is Mrs. Johnson joining us for dinner ?
Susie	Not that I know of.
Mei	I was hoping she would come with us.
Susie	Why ?
Mei	I would like her to try some of our traditional Chinese foods.
Susie	That's very kind of you.
Explanation :
You say ' Not that I know of ' when someone has asked you whether or not something is true and you think the answer is; ' no ' but you cannot be sure because you do not know all the facts.
It is on the tip of my tongue !!!

Mahoney	Do you remember the restaurant we went to Friday.
Marcus	Sure I do. It was the ' Silver Castle '.
Mahoney	No, we've never been to the ' Silver Castle '.
Marcus	Maybe it was the Gold Coin.
Mahoney	No Gee. It is on the tip of my tongue.
Marcus	Never mind. The food was terrible.
Explanation :
If something that you want to say is on the tip of your tongue, you think you know it and that you will be able to remember it very soon.
Example : -
A sarcastic remark was on the tip of her tongue.
Chances are slim !!!

Carol	What are your chances of getting into Yale ?
Judy	My chances are slim.
Carol	I hear those Ivy League Colleges are tough to get into.
Judy	I know. I'd have better chance at the state University.
Carol	Sure. It's not a bad school either.
Judy	I'd rather be a big fish in a small pond.
Explanation :
If you say that someone doesn't stand a chance of achieving something, you mean that they cannot possibly achieve it.
Example : -
Neither is seen as standing any chance of snatching the leadership from him
It doesn't make any difference !!!

Mike	Shall I pick you up at 5 or 6 ?
Joei	It doesn't make any difference.
Mike	O.K, I will pick you up at 5.
Joei	No problem !
Mike	Shall we play badminton or table tennis on Sunday ?
Joei	It doesn't make any difference.
Explanation :
If something makes no difference, it does not have any effect on what you are doing.
Example : -
It is sad to see him go but it won't make any difference to the way we conduct our affairs.
It's better than nothing!!!

Jim	Did you ask Mr. Davidson for a raise ?
Carmen	Yes, I asked for 80 cents any hour more.
Jim	Did you get it ?
Carmen	No, I got 30 cents
Jim	That's too bad.
Carmen	Oh, it is alright. It is better than nothing.
Explanation :
If you say that something is better than nothing, you mean that it is not what is required, but that it is better to have that thing than to have nothing at all.
Example : -
After all, 15 minutes of exercise is better than nothing.
You can count on us !!!

Stacey	Sue, can you drive Jane and I to the doctor on Monday ?
Sue	I think so.
Stacey	We need a ride very badly, are you sure you will be able to help out ?
Sue	Sure. I will mark it on my calendar so I don't forget.
Stacey	Thanks you are a good friend.
Sue	You can always count on me when you need help.

Explanation :

If you count on someone or count upon them, you rely on them to support you or help you.

Example : -

I can always count on you to cheer me up .........

It is up to you !!!

John	Would you like to go out to dinner or to a movie ?
Karen	Either one, it is up to you .
John	What would you prefer ?
Karen	I really don't care, I just want to get out of the house.
John	Well, then how about dinner and a movie ?
Karen	That's a great idea !
Explanation :
If you say that it is up to someone to do something, you mean that it is their responsibility to do it.
Example : -
The choice was up to Paula.