Speak English Around Town » LESSON 13 - At a Dinner Party
Lori: I'm sorry we're late. We got held up in traffic on Route 95.
Mike: There was a pile-up on the highway involving three cars. A deer ran across the highway.
Lori: We were sitting in traffic for an hour. We would've been better off walking here!
Lisa: What a nightmare! Come on in and chill out now. Join the party!
Lori: (handing Lisa a bottle of wine): This is for you and Todd.
Lisa: Thank you.
Lori: (handing Lisa a toy car): And this is a little something for your son.
Lisa: Oh, how kind of you! You shouldn't have.
Lori: It's our pleasure.
Todd: Can I get you a drink?
Mike: A drink would hit the spot. What do you have?
Todd: You name it, we've got it.
Lori: I'll take a Bloody Mary.*
Mike: Lori, if you took Tylenol for your toothache, you'd be better off not drinking any alcohol!
Lori: Make that a virgin** Bloody Mary! Hold the vodka.
Todd: And what can I get you, Mike?
Mike: I'll take a vodka on the rocks.
Todd: Coming right up!
* Bloody Mary - a drink containing vodka, tomato juice, and usually other spices or flavorings
** A virgin drink is a mixed drink that does not include the alcohol.
Use "better off" to:
=> Give advice to someone
=> Say what should be done
Examples:
◼ Your son would be better off studying in Paris instead of Lyon.
◼ Frank would be better off taking the train instead of the bus to Manhattan.
◼ You'd be better off visiting Italy in November, after all the tourists have gone.
◼ You'd be better off working another year before applying to business school.
=> Use "would have been better off" to say what one should have done (in the past). This is sometimes used to express regret.
Examples:
◼ We went to Spain in September, and it rained the whole time. We would have been better off going to Chile instead.
◼ Sharon would've been better off getting her MBA instead of a law degree.
◼ The fish at the Creekside Restaurant was lousy. I would've been better off ordering a hamburger.
◼ My college was very small. I would've been better off going to a larger school.
Example:
Joe: Should I take a taxi or the subway to the museum?
You suggest the subway:
Answer: You'd be better off taking the subway.
Example: Doug bought a house. He should have rented instead.
Answer: He would've been better off renting instead.
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