Bài hội thoại doc

Bài hội thoại

I couldn't help it !!!
Daryl I am upset. Somebody told my boss I have a part-time job.
Smith And he doesn't like that ?
Daryl No, he doesn't. He thinks that I am too tired to work.
Smith I am sorry. I have to admit I told him.
Daryl You told him ? Why ?
Smith I couldn't help it. He asked me point-blank.
Explanation :
If you can't help the way you feel or behave, you cannot control it or stop it
from happening. You can also say that you can't help yourself.
If you say something point-blank, you say it very directly or rudely, without
explaining or apologizing.
It was a real eye-opener !!!
Natasha That was a really fantastic end-of-year party. Nobody wanted to
leave.
Yvette Yes, I reckon it was the best our office has ever had. Natasha What
did you like best ?
Yvette What I enjoyed most was when they persuaded people to stand up on
the stage and do karaoke.
Natasha Yes that was a lot of fun. The girl from accounts was amazing I
thought.
Yvette Yes, she's normally so shy but she sang like a professional
performer. You'd never have thought she would have had the confidence to
do that.
Natasha It was a real eye-opener.
Yvette She has real talent. Maybe she ought to think about going
professional.
Explanation : Eye-opener - Something that surprises you and teaches you
new facts about life, people, etc Example : Living in another country can be

a real eye-opener.
I couldn't care less !!!
Jim We'll need to hire a car for our trip next week. Could you fix it ?
Julia No problem. Give me fifteen minutes or so.
Jim Is everything fixed ?
Julia Not quite. I need to know whether you want a four-door sedan deluxe,
a two-door sports model, or a station wagon.
Jim Julia, I couldn't care less what kind of car it is as long as it has four
wheels and goes.
Julia Ok, well let's take the sports model. That should be fun.
Explanation : I couldn't care less - You are not interested in or worried
about something or someone.
Any idea why they were stalling ?
Warren How did your business trip go ? It was your first one overseas, right
?
Yoko Well, I came back with mixed results. We got some business but we
didn't get the big deal we were expecting.
Warren That was going to be with the Savory Corporation, wasn't it ?
Yoko That's right. It was frustrating. We seemed to be making good
progress in the negotiation and then they began to stall.
Warren Any idea why they were stalling ?
Yoko We weren't sure, but I've since learned that our biggest competitor was
there at the same time as we were.
Warren Maybe they were talking to them the same time as negotiating with
you.
Yoko I think that's pretty likely.
Explanation : Stall - To delay taking action or avoid giving an answer in
order to have more time to make a decision or obtain an advantage
Example : She says she'll give me the money next week but I think she's just
stalling.

The police had got a tip-off !!!
Cora There's a police cordon around our block so I can't get into my
apartment. What's going on ?
Harley Haven't you heard ? There's a suspected terrorist in an apartment on
the fourth floor.
Cora What ! That's the one above mine. How did they find out about him ?
Harley Somebody said that the police had got a tip-off from a foreign
intelligence service about him.
Cora Why is it taking so long to get him out ?
Harley Well they were also tipped off that he was armed, so they are being
very cautious.
Explanation : Tip-off - Piece of secret information
Selling Like Hot Cakes !!!
Ivy Do you have the new Jay Chou CD?
Clerk I'm afraid that it's sold out. It's been selling like hot cakes.
Ivy Are you serious?
Clerk Yes! It's really popular. As soon as we stock them, they sell out.
Ivy When do you think you'll have more in stock?
Clerk We should be getting some in by this afternoon.
Ivy Great! Can you hold one for me? I can't wait to get my hands on one.
Explanation : Sell like hot cakes - To be bought quickly and in large
numbers Example : His new video game is apparently selling like hot cakes.
The fine is steep !!!
Cory Jane, please don't talk on your cellphone while you're driving.
Jane Why, what's the problem ? It's Jim. He wants to know what time we'll
be arriving.
Cory Well, first of all it's dangerous, you should be concentrating on the
road. Second, if you get caught, the fine is really steep.
Jane Well, the road is clear and there are no police cars around.
Cory Have you checked in your rear-view mirror ?

Jane Oh my God ! There's a patrol car just coming up behind. Quick, take
my phone.
Explanation : Steep - Excessive, too much Example : They are having to
face very steep taxes.
He's wavering on that commitment
Delia I've seen you looking a lot more cheerful than you are at the moment.
Owen Well this isn't the best day I've had this year.
Delia Is it something to do with the new business strategy ?
Owen How did you guess ? You know the boss said he would commit three
hundred thousand dollars to my latest business development project ?
Delia Yes, you fought very hard for that I remember.
Owen Well, he's wavering on that commitment. Says the company may
not be able to afford it.
Delia That's a bit of a blow.

Explanation : Waver - To hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness
A taste of their own medicine !!!
Lee Why are you looking so upset, Dr. Hack
Dr Hack I've just had an encounter with a very rude and unreasonable man.
Can you believe it ? I was waiting for my wife to come out of a shop when a
van drew up behind me. He started hooting at me and tried to squeeze past
my car. Unfortunately, he scraped the side of my car and scratched it.
Lee So, what did you do ?
Dr Hack I got out to talk to him. Well, to my great shock, he also got down,
holding an iron pipe !
Lee My goodness 1 Did he hit you with it ?
Dr Hack No, but he hit my car with it. Then, he marched off.
Lee Did you take down his license plate number ?
Dr Hack No, I was too shocked to do anything.
Lee That's a pity. Otherwise you could report him to the police.

Dr Hack I think I too should carry around an iron pipe. The, I can give the
road bullies a taste of their own medicine.
Explanation :
give sb a taste of their own medicine - to treat someone as badly as they
have treated you