illustrated Everyday Expressions with Stories 2 » Lesson 3 - On the highway

Word List
  • bring up
    start to talk about something
    I hate to bring it up, but some of the others said that there is something strange about you.
    I hate to bring this up, but you have some food between your teeth.
    When my mother is mad at me she always brings up the time I forgot her birthday.
    A: I really don't like the new coffee machine.
    B: You should bring it up at the next staff meeting.
  • by all means
    said to encourage a person do to something
    May I have another piece? By all means!
    "May I have some more chicken?" "By all means!"
    By all means, take your time and look around the store.
    A: Could I borrow your pen?
    B: By all means!
  • by chance
    not planned; luckily
    They met, by chance, at the supermarket.
    By chance, the first birthday card she read was from e brother.
    They met by chance while they were both vacationing in Hawaii.
    A: Where did you get your cat?
    B: I found him by chance in the park.
  • carry on
    continue
    OK, now there's nothing to see here. Please carry on with your day.
    When the storm passed, we carried on painting the house.
    When the announcement was finished, the class carried on with the lesson.
    A: Is everyone back from lunch?
    B: Yes. Let's carry on with the meeting.
  • draw the line at
    say some point is the limit
    Son, isn't there somewhere we should draw the line?
    My parents let me use the car, but they draw the line at allowing me to take long trips.
    I don't mind sharing a room, but I draw the line at sleeping in the same bed.
    A: Lets go to a nightclub.
    B: OK, but I draw the line at doing disco!
  • fix up
    repair; make nice or good again
    It's a good car, but you may need to fix it up a bit.
    They fixed up the office by putting in new carpet and painting the walls.
    It would cost more to fix up this old boat than to buy a new one.
    A: I John going to buy a new house?
    B: No, he s going to fix up his old one.
  • get lost
    become confused about one's location
    The got lost in the snow storm.
    We got lost on the way to the theater.
    The directions were not clear, so we got lost.
    A: Why are you late?
    B: I got lost on the way.
  • high time
    time for some action that has been postponed too long
    It's high time we got out of here!
    I think it's high time we fix the heater. I'm freezing!
    My mother said it was high time that I got my hair cut and found a job.
    A: It's high time you cleaned your room!
    B: Yes, Mom. I'll do it right away.
  • lose one's temper
    become angry
    Don't make me lose my temper!
    He lost his temper and hit the table with his fist.
    It is dangerous to lose your temper while driving.
    A: What happened to your hand?
    B: I lost my temper and punched the wall!
  • pull over
    move one's vehicle to the side of the road and stop
    Could you pull over? I need to use a washroom!
    She pulled over to take a picture of the beautiful scenery by the highway.
    The police officer yelled at the driver, "Pull over!"
    A: I think we're lost.
    B: Let's pull over and look at the map again.
Practice

Choose the best answer.

  1. After a short coffee break we ________ with the meeting.
    • a. carried on
    • b. fixed up
    • c. pulled over
  2. I hate to ________ this subject now, but do you have the money you owe me?
    • a. bring up
    • b. carry on
    • c. get lost
  3. If you are tired, ________ take a nap on my bed.
    • a. by chance
    • b. high time
    • c. by all means
  4. My uncle is generous, but he ________ lending money to relatives.
    • a. by all means
    • b. draws the line at
    • c. high time
  5. She can be very scary when she ________ .
    • a. gets lost
    • b. carries on
    • c. loses her temper
  6. ________, I found ten dollars under the table at the restaurant.
    • a. Draw the line at
    • b. By chance
    • c. High time
  7. The bus driver ________ because one of the passengers got sick.
    • a. pulled over
    • b. fixed up
    • c. got lost
  8. They wanted to ________ the old apartment, but they did not have enough money.
    • a. lose his temper
    • b. fix up
    • c. carry on
  9. We ________ in London and drove around for hours in the fog.
    • a. fixed up
    • b. brought up
    • c. got lost
  10. He was surprised when his boss told him, "I think it's ________ you got a raise."
    • a. high time
    • b. draw the line at
    • c. by chance
Answer Key
Choose the best answer.
  1. a
  2. a
  3. c
  4. b
  5. c
  6. b
  7. a
  8. b
  9. c
  10. a
Answer Key
Dialog

Fill in the blanks.

  • by all means
  • got lost
  • by chance
  • high time
  • carry on
  • pull over

On the highway:

Tom: Yes, Officer?

Policeman: I asked you to because your brake light is broken. May I see your license and car registration?

Tom: ! Here they are.

Policeman: Well, I think it's you had that fixed. It's not safe to drive around with a broken brake light.

Tom: Yes, sir.

Policeman: I won't give you a ticket this time. Get that light fixed.

Tom: I will, Officer. Um, I wonder if you could help. I met my friend at the post office this morning and we planned to meet at Le Chez for lunch. I thought it was on Lexington Street, but I took a wrong turn and .

Policeman: At the next stoplight, turn left. Lexington will be the third street on the right.

Tom: Thank you, officer! the good work you are doing!

Read the following story

Everybody knows that men hate to stop and ask for directions. My husband is no different. Every time we get lost, we drive around for hours before he finally pulls over and asks for help.

One Saturday we saw an ad in the newspaper for a country dance and picnic at a farm outside of town. We fixed up our old cowboy hats, cut out the map from the newspaper and started driving. After a few hours, I brought up the fact that we were lost. Of course my husband lost his temper when I suggested we ask someone for directions.

"I can find it!" he yelled.

I didn't see any point in fighting about it, so I just told him, "By all means, carry on."

After another hour of driving, I decided it was high time to ask for help. By chance we passed a little gas station with an old man sitting out by the pumps. My husband agreed to stop because we needed gas, but he drew the line at asking for directions. I got out of the car and walked over to the old man. Before I asked him anything he smiled and said.

"The map is wrong. It's Highway 23, not 32."

"How did you know?" I asked in surprise.

"You're the fifth woman whose husband has gotten lost in the last hour!"

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