English Conversation Part 3

They've probably been held up by the traffic !!!
Tom	You're not looking too cheerful.
Henry	Well, I arranged with Bob and Chris to meet me here for a drink at seven o'clock. It's now a quarter to eight and neither of them has turned up.
Tom	I wouldn't give up hope. They've probably been held up by the traffic. It's been very heavy for the past hour.
Henry	Even so, they should have turned up by now.
Tom	Well, I'd give them another quarter of an hour or so.
Henry	OK, but after that I'm going home.

Explanation :

To hold somebody or something up means to delay somebody or something.

Example : Traffic was held up for several hours by the accident.

It really gets up my nose !!!
Teddy	It's been a pretty tight game so far, don't you think ?
Martin	Yes, neither side have looked like scoring a goal so far.
Teddy	Except that one time when our striker was almost through but was fouled by the fullback. The referee didn't see it.
Martin	Yes, it really gets up my nose when something like that happens.
Teddy	Well, let's hope that the ref will be looking right way if that fullback tries playing dirty again.
Martin	And then we'll get a penalty.

Explanation :
If you say that someone or something gets up your nose, you mean that they annoy you.
Example : He's just getting up my nose so much at the moment.
Stick at it !!!
Niall	Don't you find these rowing machines hard work ?
Harry	I certainly do, but they're supposed to be.
Niall	How often do you come to the gym for a workout ?
Harry	Three times a week at least if I can manage it.
Niall	No wonder you look so fit and trim.
Harry	Thanks. Stick at it and you can be the same.

Explanation :

If you stick at a task or activity, you continue doing it, even if it is difficult.

Example : He became more and more irritated by her inability to stick at anything.

Let's go for a spin !!!
Clyde	I'm feeling energetic today. Let's go for a spin.
Al	OK. I need some exercise.
Clyde	Where shall we go ?
Al	Let's go around the lake, over the hill and come back through the wood.
Clyde	Fine, that's about 15 kilometers, enough for one day.
Al	Don't forget your puncture outfit and crash helmet.

Explanation :

If you go for a spin, or take a car for a spin, you make a short journey in a car just to enjoy yourself.

 

	Go at steady pace !!! James Where are you going on the weekend ? Harry I'm going hiking with some classmate. James Hiking ? Isn't that rather strenuous ? Harry Not if you go at a steady pace and take the occasional break. James Oh, that doesn't sound too bad. Harry Why don't you join us ? You'll have a great time. Explanation : If you do something at a steady pace , you do it at a speed that is comfortable for you.

My battery must be low !!!
Girl	"Hello " ?
AJ	"Hi it's me what's up baby ? I'm sorry ! Listen ! I'm gonna be late tonight so don't stay up and wait for me OK ?"
Girl	"Where are you ?"
AJ	"Wait wait ! Say that again ?"
Girl	"Hello ?"
AJ	"You're coming in and out I think my battery must be low.  Listen ! If you can hear me we're going to a place nearby, alright ?  Gotta go " ( click )

Explanation :
That battery is low means you are running out of battery.
Work like a charm !!!
Salesman	Lowest prices! Best quality! Hello, sir!
Buyer	Oh, hi. I'm just looking. I have a computer already.
Salesman	How long have you had it?
Buyer	Years. Works like a charm.
Salesman	Years? What a dinosaur! I can't believe you still use it.
Buyer	It's fine for writing letters and ...

Explanation :
If you say that something worked like a charm, you mean that it was very effective or successful.
Example :
Economically, the policy worked like a charm.
He is a good catch !!!
Joe	Guess who else is falling into the love trap.
Judy	It better not be Bobbie. I don't want to lose another friend to the death of love.
Joe	It's Marie. With the guy from New York..
Judy	No wonder! I saw her wearing a promise ring.
Joe	I encouraged her. I think he's a good catch.
Judy	It better not be just 'cuz he looks like Tom Cruise. Marriage is more than a fling with a movie-star look-alike.

Explanation :
If you describe someone as a good catch, you mean that they have lots of good qualities and you think their partner or employer is very lucky to have found them.
Example :
I was so in love with him and all my friends said what a good catch he was.
Don't flatter yourself !!!
Jean	What is that noise ?
Harry	What noise?
Jean	I hear a girl saying "Harry, honey. Please pick up the phone, you stud..."
Harry	Oh! That's my new cell phone. It must be my latest squeeze, Jane.
Jean	Jane ?
Harry	Yeah. She's totally into me. She calls me all the time.
Jean	Don't flatter yourself!

Explanation :
If someone says to you ' don't flatter yourself ', they mean that they disagree with your good opinion of yourself.
Example :
I flatter myself that this campaign will put an end to the war.
In the air !!!
Jenny	Vanessa! Guess what. Leo proposed to me!
Vanessa	Wow. Love is in the air. Did you accept?
Jenny	Not yet. I have some doubts...like the age factor. I'm really robbing the cradle here.
Vanessa	So he's eight years younger...he's mature for his age.
Jenny	I'm worried about the cultural differences, too.
Vanessa	You guys have the same interests and similar personalities. AND you have the same dreams.

Explanation :
If something is in the air it is felt to be present, but it is not talked about
Example :
There was great excitement in the air ...
Up to something !!!
Jennifer	Yeah, great. But who recorded these for you?
Billy	My classmate, as a joke. It makes me sound like a womanizer.
Jennifer	Well, then let me record one for you.
Billy	OK. Cool. Be sexy. Here. Go!
Jennifer	Hey, jerk! Answer the phone, you idiot!
Billy	Hey! I should have known you were up to something.

Explanation :

If you say that someone is up to something, you mean that they are secretly doing something that they should not be doing.

Example :

Why did you need a room unless you were up to something.

In a row !!! Jane The new year will be here before you know it. Mei This year really went by fast. Jane It seems every year goes by faster. Mei I especially enjoy the new year, though. Jane Why ? Mei We have three holidays in a row. Explanation : If something happens several times in a row, it happens that number of times without a break. If something happens several days in a row, it happens on each of those days. Example : They have won five championships in a row.

I'll tell you what !!!

Dave	Let's go to the movies in Prickly tomorrow.
Kuno	Ok, where should we meet. Do you know where Lot 10 is ? We went there together.
Dave	No, I don't remember. Let's meet somewhere outside Prickly.
Kuno	I'll tell you what -- name the place and I'll pick you up.

Explanation :

In spoken English, you use I'll tell you what or I tell you what to introduce suggestion or a new topic of conversation.

Example :

I tell you what, I'll bring the water in a separate glass.

Give it to me straight !!!

Boss	As you know Steven, you are a highly-valued worker. However, the company has run into financial difficulty lately that are causing some unexpected repercussions.
Steven	Like what ! Give it to me straight.
Boss	I am afraid we have to lay you off.
Explanation :
If you give someone a straight answer , you speak honestly and frankly to them.
Example :
What a shifty arguer he is, refusing ever to give a straight answer to a straight question.
Don't get me wrong !!!

Marcie	Don't get me wrong ! I think Calvin is a very nice person, but you have to admit he isn't very responsible.
Teddy	I think you are right, he has got a lot of growing up to do.

Explanation :

You say 'Don't get me wrong' when you want to make sure that someone does not misunderstand what you are doing or sayng or why you are doing or saying it.

Example :

Dont get me wrong, it is interesting work .....

You can say that again !!!

Yin	I think there is a sharp contrast between Americans and Chinese. For example, the Americans are very individualistic, while the Chinese are very group-oriented.
Yang	You can say that again. Chinese are very concious of what other people think of them.

Explanation :

You use 'You can say that again' to express strong agreement with what someone has just said; an informal expression.

Example :

What a tedious job. -- You can say that again !!!