Lesson 20 -- Bob Gets an Angry Call From Carol
Speak English Like an American -- Lesson 20
Carol calls Bob to tell him that a customer found a hair in her cookie. Bob wants Carol to forget about this, but Carol thinks it's very serious. She refuses to buy any more cookies from Bob.
Carol: Bob, a lady came into the Villiage Market today
ranting and raving.
Bob: Oh yeah? What happened?
Carol: She found a blue hair in her chocolate chip cookie.
Bob: Aha, I can see how she'd be taken aback.
Carol: Does anybody in your family have a blue hair?
Bob: As a matter of fact, my son's girlfriend Amber has blue hair.
Carol: Bob, I can't sell your cookies any more.
Bob: Aren't you blowing things out of proportion?
Carol: The health department would throw the book at me
if they found out about this.
Bob: Could we just sweep this under the rug?
Carol: No, it's too serious.
Bob: But I was just getting a handle on the cookie business.
Now what will I do? I don't have any other way of
making a living.
Carol: My heart goes out to you, Bob, but you need to
get your act together. I want to sell chocolate chip cookies,
not hair cookies!
Bob: I guess I just knocked myself out for the past week for nothing.
Carol: Clearly!
Idioms,
As a matter of fact – in fact; actually
(to)blow things out of proportion – to exaggerate; to make more of something than one should
(to) find out – to learn ; to discover
(to) get a handle on – to gain an understanding of
(to) get one’s act together – to get organized; to start operating more effectively
(to) knock oneself out – to work very hard at something (sometimes too hard)
One’s heart goes out to (someone) – to feel sorry for someone
(to) rant and rave – to talk loudly , often in anger
(to) sweep (something) under the rug – to hide something, often a scandal
