Question 1
Choose the best substitute for the phrase or sentence in bold:
I'll take a Coke. Hold the ice!
When you order food or drinks, hold the … means "don't add it": Hold the ice! = Don't put in any ice! Another example: A burger, hold the onions. Not "Don't forget the ice", which means the opposite.
Question 2
Let me know what you want to drink. You name it, we've got it.
You name it, we've got it means "whatever you ask for, we have it", so there is a large selection. Not "a few different drinks", because the phrase stresses that almost everything is available.
Question 3
I'd like a vodka on the rocks.
A drink on the rocks is served over ice cubes; the "rocks" are the ice. Example: a whisky on the rocks. Not "with rocks": the expression is not literal.
Question 4
Come on in and join the party!
Join the party is a friendly invitation to come in and be with the other guests: talk, eat and have fun. Not "join our club": it has nothing to do with becoming a member.
Question 5
I brought a little something for your baby.
A little something is a modest way to say a small gift. People use it when they give a present. Example: I got you a little something for your birthday.
Question 6
Sorry I'm late for dinner. I got held up at the office by an unexpected phone call.
Be/get held up means be delayed: something made you late. The clue is Sorry I'm late. Not "disturbed": the call interrupted the speaker, but the meaning of held up is that it made them late.
Question 7
One cappuccino coming right up.
Waiters say (One) … coming right up to mean "I'll bring your order very soon". Example: Two coffees coming right up! It is about bringing the order, not the bill or the empty cup.
Question 8
Did you hear about the pile-up on Route 80?
A pile-up is a road accident involving many cars, when several cars crash into each other. Not "rush hour traffic", which is just a lot of slow cars, with no crash.
Question 9
My wallet was stolen in Rome. What a nightmare!
What a nightmare! means "What a terrible situation!". Use it for a very bad experience, such as losing your wallet. It talks about the situation, not the city.
Question 10
After working hard all week, I'm ready to just chill out.
Chill out is an informal way to say relax. The clue is after working hard all week. Example: Let's just chill out at home tonight.
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Free worksheets for class or home
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.“