Speak English Like an American » LESSON 11 - Bob Drives a Hard Bargain

Bob Drives a Hard Bargain

Carol from the Village Market calls Bob to discuss Susan's Scrumptious Cookies. Carol and Bob discuss how much Bob will receive for each cookie.

Carol: Hi Bob. How's it going?

Bob: Fine thanks, Carol. How are you?

Carol: Can't complain. Bob, I've had a chance to crunch some numbers. I can pay you 50c per cookie.

Bob: That's out of the question. At that price, it's not worth our while. The ingredients alone cost us 30c per cookie.

Carol: Okay, let me sweeten the deal — 60c per cookie?

Bob: Carol, my wife and I need to make a living from this business.

Carol: Okay, okay, you've twisted my arm. I'll pay you 75c per cookie. Take it or leave it!

Bob: Now you're talking! We'll take it.

Carol: You drive a hard bargain, Bob.

Bob: Yes, but we make a good cookie.

Carol: Let's get the ball rolling. Bring me 2,000 cookies on Monday morning by 9 a.m.

Idioms
  • can't complain
    → things are going well; I'm fine
    EXAMPLE 1: "How's business, Mike?" - "Can't complain. I sold a lot of computers this month."
    EXAMPLE 2: "How are things going at your new job?"- "Can't complain."
  • (to) crunch numbers
    → to perform calculations (especially financial calculations)
    EXAMPLE 1: Scott loves to crunch numbers, so he decided to become an accountant.
    EXAMPLE 2: Wendy spends all her time at work in front of the computer crunching numbers and analyzing sales data.
  • (to) drive a hard bargain
    → to be tough in negotiating an agreement; to negotiate something in one's favor
    EXAMPLE 1: I wanted to pay less for the car, but the salesman drove a hard bargain.
    EXAMPLE 2: Eric drove a hard bargain and got the company to raise their salary offer by $15,000.
  • (to) get the ball rolling
    → to get started
    EXAMPLE 1: Let's get the ball rolling on this project. We've only got one week to finish it.
    EXAMPLE 2: If we don't get the ball rolling on our vacation plans soon, we'll end up going nowhere.
  • How's it going?
    → How are you?
    EXAMPLE 1: "How's it going?" I asked Ted. "Everything's fine. How are you?" he replied.
    EXAMPLE 2: "How's it going?" Vladimir asked me. "Not bad," I replied.
  • (to) make a living
    → to earn enough money to support oneself
    EXAMPLE 1: Many people laugh at him, but Bill actually makes a living selling gourmet dog food.
    EXAMPLE 2: Danny makes some money playing his guitar on street corners, but not enough to make a living.
  • now you're talking
    → you're saying the right thing
    EXAMPLE 1: You want to offer me free tickets to the J. Lo concert? Now you're talking!
    EXAMPLE 2: You'd like to offer me a $10,000 raise and a corner office? Now you're talking!
  • out of the question
    → impossible
    EXAMPLE 1: My friend Emily wanted me to climb Mount McKinley with her, but I told her it was out of the question.
    EXAMPLE 2: You want to borrow my new car and drive it across the country? I'm sorry, but that's out of the question.
  • (to) sweeten the deal
    → to make an offer more attractive
    EXAMPLE 1: IBM offered to sweeten the deal by giving John a company car if he agreed to work for them.
    EXAMPLE 2: We really want you to take the job here at Magna Corporation, so let us know what we can do to sweeten the deal.
  • take it or leave it
    → accept or reject an offer, usually a final one
    EXAMPLE 1: The highest salary we can offer you is $50,000 a year — take it or leave it.
    EXAMPLE 2: I'm offering to do the dishes for one week if you'll help me with my science project. Take it or leave it.
  • (to) twist (someone's) arm
    → to persuade someone; to convince someone
    EXAMPLE 1: Ted didn't want to get another tattoo on his back, but Amber twisted his arm.
    EXAMPLE 2: Okay, you've twisted my arm. You can borrow my new car and drive it across the country.
  • worth one's while
    → worthy of one's effort or time
    EXAMPLE 1: It would be worth your while to audition for the game show Jeopardy. You'd probably win a lot of money.
    EXAMPLE 2: Let me make it worth your while to work weekends. I'll pay you an extra $10 per hour on Saturdays and Sundays.
Practice The Idioms

Abe, owner of Honest Abe's Furniture Store, is talking to Jeff about a new advertising campaign for the store. Jeff owns an advertising agency. Complete the dialogue using these idioms:

  • get the ball rolling
  • drive a hard bargain
  • crunch some numbers
  • how's it going
  • out of the question
  • now you're talking
  • twisted my arm
  • make a living

Abe: Hi, Jeff. __________ ?

Jeff: Fine, thanks. I've only scheduled a half hour for this meeting, so we'd better __________ .

Abe: Jeff, I need you to come up with a new advertising campaign for my furniture shop.

Jeff: I've had a chance to __________ , and you'll need to pay me $30,000 to come up with some new ideas.

Abe: Thirty thousand dollars? That's really __________ .

Jeff: Listen, Abe, I need to __________ too. I've got a wife and seven children at home.

Abe: I'll pay you $20,000.

Jeff: If you want quality work, you have to pay for it. Let's say $25,000?

Abe: Okay, okay. You've __________ . I'll pay you $23,000.

Jeff: __________ . That's a fair price.

Abe: You certainly __________ .

Jeff: I know, but you'll be happy with my work.

Answer Key
Practice The Idioms

Abe: Hi, Jeff. How's it going?

Jeff: Fine, thanks. I've only scheduled a half hour for this meeting, so we'd better get the ball rolling.

Abe: Jeff, I need you to come up with a new advertising campaign for my furniture shop.

Jeff: I've had a chance to crunch some numbers, and you'll need to pay me $30,000 to come up with some new ideas.

Abe: Thirty thousand dollars? That's really out of the question!

Jeff: Listen, Abe, I need to make a living too. I've got a wife and seven children at home.

Abe: I'll pay you $20,000.

Jeff: If you want quality work, you have to pay for it. Let's say $25,000?

Abe: Okay, okay. You've twisted my arm. I'll pay you $23,000.

Jeff: Now you're talking. That's a fair price.

Abe: You certainly drive a hard bargain.

Jeff: I know, but you'll be happy with my work.

Answer Key
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