A Conversation
Idioms:
Jim: The train slowed down for ten minuets this morning. I was late to work again.
Stacy: Well. I took the train last month and I was late to work almost everyday. You can't rely on the New York City train. Now, I am back again to driving.
Jim: I can't afford to drive every day. With the gasoline price hike, I paid 60 dollars more for the gas last month.
Stacy: I have no choice. Almost everyday last month my boss literally waited for me at the door; looked at his watch, and then gave me that hard look.
Jim;. That's ridiculous. Is he going to pay for yours gas bill?
Stacy: Of course not! You know how it's like: take it or leave it.
Jim: I just heard on the news this morning, per gallon of gasoline has come down to to $3.50 (3 dollars 50 cents).
Stacy. Really? That's not a bad news. Right?
Jim: It still is too much for me. I drive to work almost an hour. So my gas bill will still be too high, even with falling gas prices. Besides, my wife drives to work, too.
Stacy: Oh. That's an entirely different ball game. I am alone, so my gas bill is much lower than yours.
Jim: Then the new gasoline price at $3.50 is a good deal for you.
I have no choice: I don't have any other choice. If you have no choice, that means you must accept the situation as it is. Example: My job is not good but I have no choice. This sentence means: I don't like my job but I don't have any other job. So I have work on this job.
a different ball game: slang. a matter at hand. Example: This is an new offer. It is an a whole new ball game. It is much cheaper than the other offer.
give somebody a hard look: slang. to look at somebody with disapproval. If you give a hard look at somebody, that means you disapprove of that person. You send a message: I do not like what you have or said. He gave me a hard look after I said: "Men are not as responsible as women in marriage."
how it is like: conditions in a place, work place, country or environment
take it or leave it: accept the situation, or refuse it and walk out.
not a bad news: idiomatic expression. It means: It is good what I hear. Not bat at all.
transportation: noun. Vehicles we use to travel from one place or the other. Vehicles are car, bus, taxi-cab, train. boat, and plane
gasoline: petroleum used for transportation vehicles
slow down: verb. to become slower in speed, action or thinking. Example: The crime has slowed down in New York. The crime decreased in New York.
slow down is a regular verb. It takes 'ed' at the end for the past and past perfect. I slowed down my work schedule. I have slowed down my work schedule.
rely on: to take something for granted. Example: I rely on my husband. He helps me around the house when I work until late. This sentence means: My husband is very helpful in the house. He helps me all the time. So I know I can trust him. Don't rely on his promise. He may not keep his promise. This sentence means: If you believe what he promises. he may not do what he promises. So do not believe him.
the train: ride the train to travel from one place to the other. There is no difference between saying "I take the train." and "I ride the train." I always take the train. My wife rides the train on weekends. These two sentences are the same meaning and correct English. Take the train is more common in the US.
to be late to: To arrive late at work, your appointment, entertainment or any place or event. Example: Hurry up, Jane. We are late to the movie.This sentence mean: The movie will start soon or already started. I don't want to be late to my appointment. This sentence means: I don't want to go there late. Late is an adjective. Adjectives can take auxiliary verbs to form a sentence. Auxiliary verbs are represented by the forms of 'to be'. The forms of to be: I am, you are, he is, she is, we are, they are. Examples: I am smart. She is beautiful. They are rich. In these sentences, 'smart', 'beautiful' and 'rich' are adjectives. Each of these complete sentences expresses a complete idea.
to be back: To come back, go back. Adverbs also form complete sentences with the to be forms of helping verb' to be' Back is an adverb. Examples: I am here. 'here' is an adverb. She is upstairs. 'upstairs' is an adverb.
with gasoline prize hike:If you use 'with' next to a phrase before a complete sentence or after it. the phrase suggests a complete idea. Example: With this stupid doctor, I am getting better. This sentence means:because my doctor is stupid, I don't think I am getting better
literally: adverb. exactly so, precisely so. Literally is used to emphasize the exact accuracy of a statement. Example; He literally insulted me. If someone literally insults you, this person must have used statements that anybody else would take those statements as insulting. These persons words are clearly insulting. He ate literally 15 sandwiches at the party. He ate exactly 15 sandwiches. Nothing less, nothing more. Literal means exact meaning, concrete meaning.
Really: adverb. Is that so? Really is used to show some doubt or surprise to an idea expressed. If you say "Really" after you hear something in conversation, that means you feel supervised, It is little bit hard to believe
Example:
A: I have lost so much weight in two weeks on this diet. Now I am size 6.
B: What size were you before?
A: I was 10.
B: Really? I want to try your diet.
In this sentence, really means: I am surprised. This is fantastic. Wow! But 'B' doesn't mean: Oh, you lie. That cannot be true. No one can lose that much weight in two weeks. Really simply I am surprised to hear that.
drive to work: to drive a car to go to work
falling gas prices: Gas prices are coming down. The verb 'fall' can be used metaphorically as well in literal meaning. Example. The Microsoft stock prices are falling again. This sentence means: the microsoft stock are getting cheaper to buy. He fell from his balcony and his legs are broken. This sentence means: he fell physically from the balcony down to the ground, and broke his legs.
fall (present tense) fell (past), fallen (present perfect)
a good deal for you: a good price you pay. Good value you get out. Example, Take this insurance. That is a good deal for you. This sentence means: you have good benefits for the price you pay and perhaps the cost is not that high.
look at: verb to give a look at something in this conversation. Look is used with different conjunctions. To look at means you are facing a person, a thing or place in. You can also look at something to study it, to get an idea about it. Example, I looked at your web site yesterday and I liked it. This sentence means: I looked at the web pages to have an idea. I looked at your proposal. It is to much money for me now. So I cannot accept it.
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