More Speak English Like an American » Lesson 17: Mark Gets a Surprise Call
Example: Once she moved to the United States, Juanita decided she would only speak English. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do," she said.
Example: When Adam moved to Los Angeles, he went native and started wearing shorts and sandals to work every day.
Example: If you fill up on bread, you won't be able to eat the rest of your dinner.
Example: Be sure to save room for dessert. I baked an apple pie.
Example: Maria and I used to talk on the phone every week, but then she stopped calling and just dropped off the face of the earth.
Example: I know this is a last-minute invitation, but are you free tonight to come over for dinner?
Example: We had no plans for the weekend, so on the spur of the moment we decided to go to Altantic City.
Example: "How are you and Vera doing?" - "It's over between us."
Example: Bob and Ann got hitched last Saturday night in Las Vegas.
Example: "I waited for you Starbucks for 45 minutes this morning. Where were you?" - "We must've gotten our wires crossed. I thought our meeting was tomorrow morning!"
Example: Bart got promoted to vice president? I can't believe my ears! He is the worst manager in this company.
Example: Before you move in with Sam, make sure that he's serious about getting marrried, and he isn't just stringing you along.
1) to lose a telephone connection
Example: "Hello? Hello? I can hardly hear you. We're breaking up."
2) to end a romantic relationship
Example: Wendy and Mike fight all the time, so I wouldn't be surprised if they break up.
Fill in the blank with the missing word:
Mark and Sara are talking about going out for dumplings when Mark gets a surprise phone call. It's Cindy yelling at him for going away without telling her. Mark tells her that he doesn't need to tell her where he's going because they're not together anymore. Cindy says she thought they were going to get married.
Sara: Good morning! What's that you're having for breakfast?
Mark: Rice and pickled vegetables. When in Rome, do as the Romans do!
Sara: Wow, You've really gone native. That didn't take long.
Mark: I asked the hotel where we can get the best dumplings in town. I've got a list of places.
Sara: Don't fill up on rice now. Save room for the dumplings!
(Mark answers his cell phone)
Mark: Don't worry. Oh, there's my cell phone.
Mark: Hello?
Cindy: Mark, it's Cindy! Where have you been? You dropped off the face of the earth.
Mark: I'm in Beijing. It was a last-minute business trip.
Cindy: You went to China on the spur of the moment?
Mark: That's right.
Cindy: Well, when you be back in town? I need to see you!
Mark: Cindy, I can't see you anymore.
Cindy: What?
Mark: It's over between us.
Cindy: What? You and I were going to get hitched!
Mark: We must've gotten our wires crossed! I was never going to marry you.
Cindy: I can't believe my ears! So all this time we were just stringing me along.
Mark: We're breaking up. This is a bad connection. I'd better hang up now.
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.