More Speak English Like an American » Lesson 15: Mark and Sara Discover Delicious Dumplings
Example: Mmmmm, this chocolate cake is to die for!
Example: On a hot summber day, a cold beer really hits the spot.
Example: The economy is slowing down. Do you think a recession is in the cards?
Example: We asked the owner of the used bookstore where we could get our hands on a first edition of The Grapes of Wrath.
Example: Tom loves horror movies, so Dawn of the Dead was right up his alley.
Example: After the bank reported bad earnings, the journalist took a cheap shot a its CEO by writing, "Some leadership might help."
Example: "Who left the science experiments in the company refrigerator? All kidding aside, please tell the employees to throw our their old food."
Example: "Do you think Paul would let me borrow his motorcycle?" - "Not a chance! He never lets anybody else use it."
Example: Martin loves football. He would not miss the Superbowl for all the tea in China.
Example: Ivan got an investement proposal by email, but he smelled a rat when he read the line, "Please deposit $25,000 into my account by next Friday."
Example: The furniture store is selling everything at 60% off. I can see the writing on the wall: soon they'll be going out of business.
Note: You may also see the variation "handwriting on the wall."
Example: When the English language school heard about the demand for English in Korea, they set up shop in Seoul.
Example: "I hope you're not planning to stay at this job for a few months, get information, and then start your own company." - "That's the furthest thing from my mind!"
Choose the most appropriate response to each sentence:
Mark and Sara successfully locate Madame Chu, the woman selling dumplings by the Great Wall. The dumplings are so delicious, Mark offers Madame Chu $500 for her recipes. A suspicious Madame Chu says no to the offer.
Mark: There it is - Madame Chu's Dumpling Stand.
Mme Chu: What can I get for you?
Sara: What do you recommend?
Mme Chu: The variety plate is popular. It has pork and vegetable dumplings.
Mark: That sounds good.
Sara: Mmmm, these dumplings are to die for!
Mark: They do hit the spot.
Sara: I wish we could bring Madame Chu to California with us, but that's probably not in the cards.
Mark: I wonder if we can get our hands on her recipes.
Sara: Getting secret information out of women is right up your alley! You had great success with Cindy!
Mark: That was a cheap shot!
Sara: All kidding aside, maybe she'd be willing to share her recipes. Just ask her.
Mark: Excuse me, would you give me your recipes?
Mme Chu: Not a chance! These recipes have been in my family for over 100 years.
Mark: I'll pay you.
Mme Chu: I'm not interested, not for all the tea in China!
Mark: How about for $500?
Mme Chu: I smell a rat. Why are you offering so much.
Mark: Because I want to make these delicious dumplings at home!
Mme Chu: I can see the writing on the wall. You and your wife will set up shop down the road and compete with me!
Mark: No, that's the furthest thing from my mind!
Mme Chu: I have customers waiting. Good-bye.
If you already speak some English and now would like to speak more like a native, “Speak English Like an American” will help you. One of the keys to speaking like a native is the ability to use and understand casual expressions, or idioms. American English is full of idioms. Speak English Like an American will help you understand and use idioms better. It contains over 300 of today's most common idioms.
Speak Business English Like An American covers over 350 idioms and expressions you're likely to encounter in today's business world. Familiarize yourself with all of them.
English idioms, proverbs, and expressions are an important part of everyday English. They come up all the time in both written and spoken English. Because idioms don't always make sense literally, you'll need to familiarize yourself with the meaning and usage of each idiom. That may seem like a lot of work, but learning idioms is fun, especially when you compare English idioms to the idioms in your own language.