More Speak English Like an American » Lesson 8: Cindy Invites Mark to Her Place
Example: As a rule, I stop eating two hours before I exercise.
Example: "You know our teacher doesn't allow eating in the classroom!" - "I know, but rules are meant to be broken. I haven't eaten anything all day."
Example: "Are you going to take the new job you were offered?" - "I don't know. I'm still mulling it over."
Example: Al Gore's movie, An Inconvenient Truth, provided a lot of food for thought on the problem of global warming.
Example: That's all you're having for dinner - an apple and a slice of bread? You eat like a bird!
Example: Frank drank two bottles of wine at the dinner party. He drinks like a fish.
Example: We can't let Becky drive home. She's had one too many.
Example: Come over to my house early on Saturday. We've got losts to catch up on.
Example: You look tired. It's time for you to hit the hay!
Example: You'd better stay over at my house tonight. It's snowing too hard for you to drive home.
Note: When someone asks you to "stay over," it is sometimes, but not always, meant as a sexual invitation.
Example: You don't want to go to Melissa and Brian's wedding? Suit yourself. I'll go without you!
Example: We just got to the party half an hour ago, and you want to leave already? What a party pooper!
Example: I can't remember the name of Al's company off the top of my head, but when I'm back in my office I'll email it to you.
Example: I'm trying to get more money for my studies, but the financial aid office keeps giving me the runaround.
Example: "Your name rings a bell. Have we met before?" - "Yes, we were introduced at Joe's party last week."
Choose the most appropriate response to each sentence:
Cindy asked Mark to come back to her house after dinner, but Mark says he has to go to bed early. Marks asks Cindy to give him more information on Grand Foods, but Cindy says she can't remember any more.
Mark: Cindy, as a rule, I never get back together with ex-girlfriends.
Cindy: Rules are meant to be broken!
Mark: Okay, let me mull this over. I have a lot of food for thought now.
Cindy: Speaking of food, this lobster is delicious. Want a bite?
Mark: No, thanks.
Cindy: I forgot - you eat like a bird, but you drink like a fish!
Mark: Yeah, I already feel like I've had one too many. I'm getting a headache.
Cindy: Let's go back to my place after dinner. We have a lot to catch up on.
Mark: I've got to hit the hay early tonight.
Cindy: Stay over at my place!
Mark: No, I need to wake up early tomorrow and do some work.
Cindy: Okay, suit yourself! Be a party pooper!
Mark: So can we talk about Grand Foods now and the new information you've got?
Cindy: Oh, I left my notes at home. I can't remember much off the top of my head.
Mark: I feel like you're giving me the runaround.
Cindy: No, I'm not. You can call me tomorrow at 9 a.m.
Mark: Do you know whether Grand Foods planning to offer meal kits*?
Cindy: Yes, that rings a bell! Of course, I'll have to check my notes.
* meal kits - a pre-prepared food product, typically frozen, in which each main ingredient is packaged separately and the consumer puts them all together when cooking. For example, a Chinese food meal kit might come with a bag of vegetable, a bag of chicken, a packet of peanuts, and a packet of sauce.
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.