More Speak English Like an American » Lesson 21: Mark Tells Ron about the Dumplings
Example: This party is so boring! I can't believe I let you drag me here.
Example: Getting fired from Microsoft was a blessing in disguise for Chad. He went on to start his own business and became a millionaire.
Example: "I can't believe you bought such a big refrigerator! Do you know how much electricity that's going to use?" - "Get off your high horse! Look at your big-screen TV."
Example: Ellen is really struggling with her English literature class. She can't keep up with the reading.
Example: Falling Leaf Vineyards is experimenting with different ways of packaging its wines to try to get a leg up on the competition.
Note: This idiom comes from horseback riding. A helper offers a cupped hand so the rider can step in and put his or her leg up and over the horse's back.
Example: "The bookstore is giving away free reading lamps? What's the catch?" - "The catch is that you have to pay for their membership plan to get the lamp."
Example: Susan's chocolate chip cookies are so good, they melt in your mouth.
Example: The filet mignon at Rick's Steakhouse just melts in your mouth.
Example: The flat-screen television we bought two years ago pales in comparison to the models available today.
Example: We thought we were going to buy a small software company, but suddenly the company has doubled their asking price. I don't think they want to play ball.
Example: The reality TV show "The Apprentice" was the brainchild of Donald Trump.
Example: "We've made you the job offer. The ball is in your court now."
Choose the most appropriate response to each sentence:
Mark tells Ron that he believes the company should start making dumplings. Mark explains that Madame Chu's dumplings are the best, but Madame Chu won't share her recipes. Mark asks Ron for ideas. Ron says that if Mark wants to pursue the dumplings, Mark will have to figure out a solution for himself.
Ron: How was China?
Mark: Even though I was exhausted, Sara dragged me to the Great Wall when we got there. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise.
Ron: How so?
Mark: All that climbing made us very hungry, so we bought some dumplings from a cook named Madame Chu. We realize that those dumplings are our company's future.
Ron: Meal kits are our company's future!
Mark: Sure, we can make meal kits too, but that's just copying what Grand Foods is doing.
Ron: Of course it's copying them. Get off your high horse! Business is all about keeping up with the competition!
Mark: Well, these dumplings are a way to get a leg up on the competition.
Ron: So how do you make these dumplings?
Mark: There's the catch. Madame Chu wouldn't give us her recipes. She wouldn't even sell them to us for 500 bucks.
Ron: Couldn't you find another dumpling recipe in China?
Mark: Madame Chu dumplings are so good. They just melt in your mouth. All other dumplings paled in comparison!
Ron: But you just told me that Madame Chu won't play ball. So what do you suggest we do?
Mark: I don't know. I was hoping you would have some ideas.
Ron: These dumplings are your brainchild. The ball's in your court.
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.