Do you know the English expression “to apply for (something)“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?
Will: Have you applied for a bank loan yet?
Liam: No, I’m going to apply for it next month.
Does it mean:
a) attach something
b) put something on something
c) formally request something
d) pay back something
The answer is below!↓
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Answer: c) formally request something
Photo by Negative Space on Pexels.com
Mrs Bateman is sitting on the bus. There are many people on the bus. They are mostly students. They are laughing and shouting.
Mrs Bateman is tired. She is in a very bad mood.
Look at these young people, she thinks. They are noisy. Their clothes are terrible.
She looks at the young woman sitting next to her. The young woman has pink hair. She is wearing jeans and big black boots. Her T-shirt is very short and tight. She has a ring in her nose and many earrings in her ears. The young woman smiles at her. Mrs Bateman looks away.
Her parents must be so ashamed, she thinks. I am sure she is lazy and rude. Young people today are not polite. When we were young, we were polite and well-dressed.
She looks at another young person. This boy has shaved his head. He has many tattoos. He even has tattoos on his head. And that boy! I am sure he is some kind of criminal!
The bus stops. An old man climbs onto the bus. He asks for a ticket. The bus driver says, “Three dollars, please.”
The old man takes out his wallet. He looks in his wallet. “Oh, I don’t have enough money.”
“Then get off the bus,” says the driver. “If you can’t pay, you can’t ride on the bus.”
The old man turns to get off the bus.
“Excuse me,” says the young woman with the pink hair. She stands up and goes to the front of the bus. “I will pay for you,” she says to the old man. She gives $3 to the driver.
“Thank you,” says the old man.
“No trouble,” says the young woman. She goes back to her seat next to Mrs Bateman.
The old man moves along the bus. He is looking for somewhere to sit, but the bus is full.
“Here, Grandad,” says the boy with the tattooed head. He stands up. “Have my seat.”
Well, thinks Mrs Bateman. I have a lot to think about. Young people today look very different, but they are kind.
She smiles at the young woman with the pink hair.
“Your parents should be very proud of you,” she says.
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The other day, my car had its 12-month inspection (１２か月点検). The inspection itself is not so expensive, unless they find a problem…
For a few days before the inspection, the warning light in my car had been coming on, and the alarm had been sounding. This only happened when I turned the engine on, and only lasted for about two seconds. But I was worried. So, when I took my car to the inspection place, I asked the mechanic to look into the problem.
He called me a few hours later to say that the problem was the battery. It was old and becoming weak. He recommended I buy a new battery. So I did. The battery was double the cost of the inspection, so I ended up paying more than I expected.
But it’s better to be safe than sorry. (←This is an English proverb!) It’s better to spend the money now, and be safe, than to have trouble later, when I’m driving on the highway, or am far away from my home.
Cars are expensive to buy, and they cost money to maintain. I suppose this is the price we pay for convenience.
Do you know the English expression “to fall behind“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?
Ben: Keith was in hospital for a month, but now he is back at school and struggling.
Gloria: Why is he struggling?
Ben: He fell behind the other students while he was ill.
Does it mean:
a) fall over behind people
b) make less progress than other people
c) stand behind someone
d) make others move at a slower pace
The answer is below! ↓
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Answer: b) make less progress than other people
Do you know the English expression “to be a tough cookie“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?
Zoe: How is your brother? I heard he lost his job and lost his house.
Andrew: Oh he’s fine. He has many problems but he’s a tough cookie. He’s already looking for a new job and he’s staying with our parents while he looks for a new house.
Does it mean:
a) to be strong
b) to be rude
c) to be tough towards other people
d) to be poor
The answer is below! ↓
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Answer: a) to be strong
Do you know the English expression “to be eye-catching“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?
Jenny: I like your red dress. It’s very eye-catching!
Lily: Thanks! I want to stand out at the party!
Does it mean:
a) fashionable
b) painful
c) too bright
d) noticeable
The answer is below!↓
Photo by Andre Furtado on Pexels.com
Answer: d) noticeable
Do you know the English expression “to give (something) a whirl“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?
Oliver: Hey, have you started ballet dancing?
Grace: Yes, it looked fun so I thought I’d give it a whirl.
Does it mean:
a) twirl around something
b) try something
c) do something for a short time
d) do something with a lot of effort
The answer is below!↓
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
Answer: b) try something
Do you know the English expression “to not be caught dead (doing something)“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?
Jane: Did you see the dress Helen was wearing today? It was pink, yellow and red.
Michelle: I saw it. I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing that!
Does it mean:
a) would never (do something)
b) would not (do something) before I die
c) catch someone and tell them not to (do something)
d) talk about someone who died
The answer is below! ↓
Answer: a) would never (do something)
Photo by PhotoMIX Ltd. on Pexels.com
I had a meeting with our web designer yesterday. He made our website five years ago. I like the website, but I think it needs an update. So, I asked him to change the layout, add Facebook and Twitter feeds, and to make a mobile version.
Five years ago, I didn’t think about a mobile version. But the world is changing. More and more people are using their mobile phones to access the Internet. So I think we need a website that is easy to use and read on a smartphone.
We are also going to add more books in the future, so we need a better layout. I’m not a designer, so I’m going to let the designer decide which layout is the best. I trust him to make us a nice site which is easy to use. I’m looking forward to seeing what he creates!
Do you know the English expression “to cut to the chase“? Read the conversation below. What does Katy mean when she says “can you cut to the chase”?
Katy: Thank you for your detailed report of your meeting with the client John. We appreciate it. But can you cut to the chase and tell us if the client wants to work with us or not?
John: Sure. She wants to work with us.
Does it mean:
a) chase someone
b) talk in more detail
c) tell us the important point
d) stop talking
The answer is below!↓
Answer: c) tell us the important point
I Talk You Talk Press EXTRA 
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