English Conversation Part 1

I couldn't help it !!!

Daryl	I am upset. Somebody told my boss I have a part-time job.
Smith	And he doesn't like that ?
Daryl	No, he doesn't. He thinks that I am too tired to work.
Smith	I am sorry. I have to admit I told him.
Daryl	You told him ? Why ?
Smith	I couldn't help it. He asked me point-blank.
Explanation :
If you can't help the way you feel or behave, you cannot control it or stop it from happening. You can also say that you can't help yourself.
If you say something point-blank, you say it very directly or rudely, without explaining or apologizing.
Everything went like clockwork !!!
Mary		I've just popped in to thank you very much for organizing last weekend's trip to the seaside for the old folk.
Julia		That's very kind of you. They all seemed to enjoy it.
Mary		They certainly did. Everything went like clockwork, in fact I don't think you could have done it better.
Julia		I'm not sure about that, there were one or two things that could have been improved.
Mary		In a perfect world perhaps, but as far as I'm concerned it was a great success. So thank you again.

Explanation :
If you say that something happens like clockwork you mean that it happens without any problems or delays, or happens regularly.
Example :  He reorganized Standard Brands twice a year, like clockwork.
You've done a fantastic job !!!
Gordon	I've just been reading through your last project report.
James	I hope you didn't find too much wrong with it.
Gordon	On the contrary, you've done a fantastic job.
James	Well, I'm not sure about that.
Gordon	You're too modest. It's really well organized and written and offers some very well thought out conclusions.
James	Well, I'm glad you like it and hope it proves useful.
You look really chic !!!
Gina	Where are you off to ?
Alison	I'm going to a civic reception at the town hall.
Gina	Who's it for ?
Alison	It's for a delegation from our sister city in Germany.
Gina	Well I must say that outfit really suits you. You look really chic.
Alison	Thank you. I want to look my best for the foreign guests.

Explanation :
Something or someone that is chic is fashionable and sophisticated.
Example :  Her gown was very French and very chic.
It's a cross !!!
Josie	Have you seen Peter's new dog ?
Lara	Yes I have but couldn't recognize the breed.
Josie	That's not surprising because it's not a thoroughbred, it's a mongrel.
Lara	Ah, that explains it. What kind of a mixture is it ?
Josie	I think it's a cross between a collie and a retriever.
Lara	If that's the case it should be a very good-natured dog.

Explanation :
Something that is a cross between two things is neither one thing nor the other, but a mixture of both.
Example :  Ha ! It was a cross between a laugh and a bark ..........
Kittens are always playful !!!
Sam	Look at your brother playing with the kitten.
Lara	Yes, he really enjoys teasing her with that piece of string.
Sam	He's holding it up so she has to jump for it.
Lara	Kittens are always playful, aren't they ?
Sam	Yes they are, that's why they're such fun.
Lara	It's a pity they seem to lose much of their playfulness when they get older.

Explanation :
A playful animal is lively and cheerful.
Example :  ..... a playful puppy.
It's very attached to him !!!
Eddie	I'm sorry that the parrot is squawking its head off.
Denise	What's the matter with it ?
Eddie	Well it's just spotted a cat outside the window and it really doesn't like cats.
Denise	Do you ever let it out of its cage ?
Eddie	My father does. It's very attached to him so it perches on his shoulder and behaves itself when he's around.
Denise	Would you ever let it out ?
Eddie	Oh no, because it's more than likely to give me a nasty nip if I do.

Explanation :
If you are attached to someone or something, you are very fond of them.
Example :  She is very attached to her family and friends.
You have to walk a dog every day !!!
Tania	Why is your dog whining and looking at you so expectantly ?
Barry	It's the time of day. He always does that around now.
Tania	What does he want ?
Barry	He wants me to take him out for a walk.
Tania	Are you going to ?
Barry	Oh yes, but I like to tease him a bit by pretending not to notice.
Tania	Do you take him out every day ?
Barry	Of course, you have to walk a dog every day because it needs the exercise to stay healthy.

Explanation :
If you walk your dog, you take it for a walk in order to keep it healthy.
Example :  I walk my dog each evening around my local streets.
Heel girl, heel ! Sit !!!
Zoe	Is that your new dog ? What is it ?
Fay	Yes, she's a chow chow and only six months old.
Zoe	Are you taking her for a walk ?
Fay	That too, but I'm also giving her obedience training.
Zoe	Let's have a demonstration.
Fay	All right, here we go : [ To the dog ] Heel girl, heel ! sit !!! There's a good girl.
Zoe	That's very impressive. She came to heel and sat straight away.
Fay	Yes, she's a very obedient dog.
We had to have our cat put to sleep !!!
Cindy	What's the matter, you look as if you've been crying ?
Betsy	I have, I've just come from the vet's.
Cindy	What happened ?
Betsy	We had to have our cat put to sleep. She had a tumor which was incurable.
Cindy	Oh dear ! I'm really sorry to hear that. How old was she ?
Betsy	She was 15, which is quite old for a cat. But she really was like one of the family. That's why we're all so upset.

Explanation :
If a sick or injured animal is put to sleep, it is painlessly killed by a vet.
Example :  I'm going take the dog down to the vet's and have her put to sleep.
That was for the best !!!
Dan	The parents of children in our street are a lot less worried these days.
Chris	Why's that ?
Dan	One of the neighbors had a very fierce dog which scared everyone. Last week it bit one of the children so badly, she had to be treated in hospital.
Chris	That must have been an awful experience for the little girl. But why did you say they are not worried now ?
Dan	Well they complained about the dog to the police and the police forced the owner to put it down.
Chris	Oh I see. Well I'm sure that was for the best.

Explanation :

If you say that something is for the best, you mean it is the most desirable or helpful thing that could have happened or could be done, considering all the circumstances.

Example :  In the long run, it was for the best ..............

We must keep him on a leash !!!
Martha	I'm really enjoying this walk in the country and so is the dog.
Hank	Yes, he's running here, there and everywhere.
Martha	Oh look, there are sheep in the next field !
Hank	I'll grab him straight away and put him on the leash. Here boy !
Martha	Thank goodness you managed to catch him before he spotted the sheep and started chasing them.
Hank	Yes, we must keep him on leash from now on. Farmers around here are likely to shoot on sight any dogs they catch worrying their sheep.

Explanation :
A dog's leash is a long thin piece of leather or a chain, which you attach to the dog's collar so that you can keep the dog under control.
Example :  All dogs in public places should be on a leash.
That's my aim !!!
Danny	I've just had a great piece of luck.
Fred	Don't tell me you've won the lottery this week.
Danny	Not quite, I've got a free weekly riding lesson at the local riding stables.
Fred	I know you love horses. How did you manage that ?
Danny	I offered to muck out the stables and to help groom the horses for four hours every week.
Fred	That's not a bad bargain. It won't be long before you're an accomplished horseman if you can keep the arrangement going for any length of time.
Danny	That's my aim.

Explanation :
The aim of something that you do is the purpose for which you do it or the result that it is intended to achieve.
Example : ..... a research program that has largely failed to achieve its principal
To be neutered !!!
Mary	Can I see the new kittens ?
Isobel	Of course, they're over here with their mother in this basket.
Mary	There are five ! Aren't they tiny and so sweet ?
Isobel	Yes, they're only a few hours old and their eyes haven't opened yet.
Mary	Is this the mother cat's first litter ?
Isobel	Yes it is, and happily they all seem to be healthy.
Mary	Do you expect her to have more in the future ?
Isobel	No, we'll be taking her to the vet to be neutered as soon as she has recovered from the birth.

Explanation :
When an animal is neutered, its reproductive organs are removed.
Example : We ask the public to have their dogs neutered and keep them under close supervision.
He's got a taste for exotic pets !!!
Hughes	I'm always a bit apprehensive about visiting Peter.
Jeanie	Why's that ? He's such a nice chap.
Hughes	He is, but he's got a taste for exotic pets.
Jeanie	I didn't know that, such as ?
Hughes	Well, last week when I was there he had a baby iguana running around the place.
Jeanie	A lizard ! Ugh, that would give me the creeps.
Hughes	It's not my idea of a pet. But that's not the only thing he's got. He's had a three-foot python for quite a while now as well.
Jeanie	He ought to get a job in a zoo.

Explanation :
If you have a taste for something, you have a linking or preference for it.
Example : That gave me a taste for reading.
They get out of condition !!!
Jack	You're out exercising your dog I see.
Eric	Yes, dogs have to be exercised daily, otherwise they get out of condition.
Jack	What's his name ?
Eric	Rover.
Jack	That's a good name for a dog. Why is he woofing and wagging his tail ?
Eric	Can't you see ? He wants one of us to throw that stick as far as we can for him to fetch.
Jack	I can't disappoint him. Come on boys, ( throw stick ) go fetch !

Explanation :
If someone is out of condition, they are unhealthy and unfit, because they have stopped exercising regularly.
Example : He was too out of condition to clamber over the top.
Our cat had a litter !!!
Millie	What a playful litter kitten! Is it a boy or a girl ?
Janet	It's a girl. We've decided to call her Winkie.
Millie	How sweet ! How old is she ?
Janet	Only six weeks.
Millie	Did you get her from a pet shop ?
Janet	No, our cat had a litter for four and she's the only one left.
Millie	How do you mean ?
Janet	Well we've given the other three to friends but decided to keep her, as she was the prettiest of the bunch.

Explanation :
A litter is a group of animals born to the same mother at the same time.
Example : a litter of pups
He's a thoroughbred Boxer with an outstanding pedigree !!!
Jack	Is that your new dog ?
Jill	Yes, we've only had him a week.
Jack	He's really handsome and very lively.
Jill	He should be, he cost a fortune.
Jack	Why was he so expensive ?
Jill	He's a thoroughbred Boxer with an outstanding pedigree that's why. We got him from a top breeder.
Jack	Do you intend to show him ?
Jill	We're not sure; we'll take a breeder's advice on that.

Explanation :

A pedigree animal is descended from animals which have all been of a particular type, and is therefore considered to be of good quality.

Example : a pedigree dog