Speak English Around Town Lesson 13 Idioms, Proverbs, Expressions MCQ Test
LESSON 13 – At a Dinner Party
AT A DINNER PARTY
Delayed by traffic, Lori and Mike arrive late to a dinner party. Their hosts, Lisa and Todd, tell them not to worry and then take their drink order.
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.
Language Lens: “Better off”
Use “better off” to:
=> Give advice to someone
=> Say what should be done
Form it like this:
would (or ‘d) + be + better off+ verb in -ing form
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.
Form it like this:
would have (or would’ve) + been + better off+ verb in -ing form
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.
IDIOMS
- (to) chill out
→ to relax (especially after hard work or a bad experience)
Example: After taking three tests, I’m ready to just chill out.
Note: You can also just say “chill” without the “out.”
- coming right up
→ I’ll bring that immediately
Example: One cup of coffee coming right up!
- (to) get held up
→ to be delayed
Example: Sorry I’m late. I got held up in a meeting.
- (to) hit the spot
→ to be just what one wants
Example: I was really hot. This iced tea really hits the spot!
- hold the
→ do not put in the ______; to not include something that would normally be part of a drink or dish
Example: I’ll take a cheeseburger, hold the onions.
- Join the party!
→ mix with the other guests
Example: “Join the party!” said Gina as we walked in the door.
- (a) little something
→ a small gift
Example: I got you a little something for your birthday.
- on the rocks
→ with ice (when speaking of alcoholic drinks)
Example: Do you want your drink on the rocks?
- pile-up
→ a traffic accident, usually involving many vehicles
Example: Don’t take Route 95. I just heard on the radio that there was a 25-car pile-up by Exit 14.
- (to) sit in traffic
→ to be caught in traffic and unable to drive much, if at all
Example: Don’t leave Manhattan for Long Island at 4 p.m. on Friday. You’ll be sitting in traffic for hours!
- What a nightmare!
→ What a bad experience!
Example: Our flight was canceled, and we ended up spending the night at the airport. What a nightmare!
- You name it, we’ve got it
→ we have a big selection
Example: “What drinks do you have?” – “You name it, we’ve got it!“
- You shouldn’t have
→ this is a polite way to respond when somebody gives you something
Example: “I brought you some chocolates for your birthday.” – “You shouldn’t have.“
