Lesson 23 -- Bob Has a Surprise Visitor
Speak English Like an American -- Lesson 23
Bob's former boss Peter, from the furniture store, comes to visit. He offers Bob his old job back, but Bob's not interested.
Peter: Hi Bob. I was just in the neighborhood so I thought I'd stop by.
Bob: Come on in. Take a cookie.
Peter: Thanks. I am glad to see you're not holding a grudge against me for firing you.
Bob: Not at all. At first, it burned me up, but I feel better now.
Peter: Good. I'm glad you have no hard feelings. How would you like your old job back?
Bob: What happened to your wonderful new manager?
Peter: She drank at work. By 5 o'clock, she'd be lying under a dinning room table, three sheets to the wind. Yesterday, I finally got rid of her.
Bob: Let me get this straight. You replaced me with some crazy woman who got plastered everyday on the job?
Peter: Yes. I lost my head.
Bob: I don't think you lost your head. I just think you've got rocks in your head.
Peter: Bob, I'm trying to level with you. I never should let you go.
Bob: No use crying over spilt milk.
Peter: So you'll come back and work for me?
Bob: Not on your life! Susan and I are very well off now. We just sold our new company for a small fortune.
Idioms,
(to) burn someone up – to make someone angry
Come on in – enter
(to) get plastered (slang) – to get drunk
(to) get rid of – to free oneself of; to throw out
(to) get (something) straight – to clarify ; to understand
(to) hold a grunge against (someone) – to stay angry with someone about a past offense
(to) let (someone ) go – to fire; dismiss employees
(to) level with (someone) – to speak openly and honestly with someone
(to) lose one’s head – to lose control of one’s behavior; to not know what one is doing
No hard feelings – no anger; no bitterness
No use crying over spilt milk – there’s no point in regretting something that’s too late to change
Not on your life – definitely not
On the job – at work
Small fortune – a good amount of money
(to) stop by – to pay a quick visit
Three sheets of the wind – drunk
Well off – wealthy; financially secure
