Ñèñòåìà Orphus

17                                             Everyday Conversational Expressions                           Particular Conversational Matters p.6

 

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* 17 Particular Conversational Matters (p.6 of 9)

 

17.34   When a thing is broken or out of order

 

It doesn't work.   Listen   <“Something is wrong with the clock. It doesn’t work.”>

It's broken.   Listen   <“Look at this key. It’s broken.”>

It's out of order.   Listen   <“The refrigerator is leaking. It’s out of order.”>

It's out of service.   Listen   <“The pump number five at the gas station won’t pump gasoline. It’s out of service.”>

It's dead.   Listen   A “There is no power in it anymore.”   <“I can’t start the car. There is a problem with the battery. It’s dead.”>

It's on the blink.   Listen   A “It is not working right.”   <“Our TV set doesn’t show the picture well. It’s on the blink.”>

It's on the fritz.   Listen   A “It is not in working order.”   <“Our toaster is burning bread. It’s on the fritz.”>

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17.35   When what you get is not what you expected

 

It's a far cry from what I expected.   Listen   <“I read your report. It’s a far cry from what I expected.”>

I expected something more.   Listen   <“I watched his new movie. Honestly, I expected something more.”>

It's not what I expected.   Listen   <“I don’t have much to say about his new book. It’s not what I expected.”>

It's not what I anticipated.   Listen   <“I feel sort of disappointed with the way he is handling the situation. It’s not what I anticipated.”>

It's not what I hoped for.   Listen   <“I received your recent test results. I must admit, it’s not what I hoped for.”>

It's not what I had in mind.   Listen   <“I got your formal proposal. It’s not what I had in mind.”>

It's not what I pictured.   Listen   <“I don’t like my life in Antarctica. It’s not what I pictured.”>

It's not what it’s cracked up to be.   Listen   A “It is not what it is expected to be.”   <“I don’t really like my sister’s unmarried life. It’s not what it’s cracked up to be.”>

I was hoping for more.   Listen   <“The return on my investment is meager. I was hoping for more.”>

I was counting on more.   Listen   <“This deal isn’t really profitable. I was counting on more.”>

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17.36   When you feel deceived

 

I've been cheated.   Listen   <“My business partner stole my money. I’ve been cheated.”>

I was taken advantage of.   Listen   <“She took off with my savings and car. I was taken advantage of.”>

I got taken.   Listen   <“The last thing I remember about her is her promise to come back. She never returned. I got taken.”>

I got taken to the cleaners.   Listen   A “I got cleaned out.”   <“He took my money and never supplied the merchandise. I got taken to the cleaners.”>

I got a bum deal.   Listen   A “I got a bad deal.”   <“I paid him for the information, but I never received it. Most likely, he simply didn’t have this information. I got a bum deal.”>

I got left holding the bag.   Listen   A “I got left dealing with the consequences.”   <“She made a lot of debts to my name, and disappeared. I got left holding the bag.”>

They got the best of me.   Listen   <“We had a deal, but they didn’t live up to their end of the bargain. They got the best of me.”>

I didn't get what I bargained for.   Listen   <“They supplied the material of lower grade to me. I didn’t get what I bargained for.”>

I got screwed.   Listen   A “I got swindled.”   <“He admitted his debt before me and paid me the first installment. Then, he went bankrupt. He still owes me much money which I will never receive. I got screwed.>

I was taken for a ride.   Listen   A “I was made to believe something that turned out to be a lie.”   <“We agreed to meet in a certain place at a certain time. He never showed up. I was taken for a ride.”>

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17.37   When you highlight your extra effort

 

I gave you the royal treatment.   Listen   <“You can’t complain about my care. I gave you the royal treatment.”>

I've treated you like a king.   Listen   <“Why aren’t you satisfied with my service? I’ve treated you like a king.”>

I've gone out of my way to please you.   Listen   A “I have done more than was necessary.”   <“No wonder you are so happy. I’ve gone out of my way to please you.”>

I've gone the extra mile.   Listen   A “I have worked extra to reach a goal.”   <“I managed to win this contract. How? I’ve gone the extra mile.”>

I've bent over backwards for you.   Listen   A “I have assumed an unnaturally crooked position to please you.”   <“Why aren’t you happy? I’ve bent over backwards for you.”>

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17.38   When you praise a busy person

 

You are as busy as a bee.   Listen   <“Mother, look at you! You are as busy as a bee.”>

You are as busy as a beaver.   Listen   <“Brother, you’re amazing. You’re as busy as a beaver.”>

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17.39   When you give advice to a busy person

 

You're doing too much.   Listen   <“You have to think of your health. You’re doing too much.”>

You're trying to do too much.   Listen   <“You’re trying to do too much. It doesn’t guarantee the result, though.”>

You're overdoing it.   Listen   <“Boss, take a breather. You’re overdoing it.”>

You're taking too many things on.   Listen   <“You’re taking too many things on. You’ll send yourself to an early grave.”>

You're taking on too much.   Listen   <“You’re taking on too much. You don’t need to do the work of your subordinates. You’ve got to organize their work instead.”>

You're carrying the world on your shoulders.   Listen   <“You look worried, and I don’t like it. You’re carrying the world on your shoulders.”>

You can't be all things to all people.   Listen   <“Remember, you have obligations to your family. You can’t be all things to all people.”>

You can't please everybody.   Listen   <“You are burning your candle at both ends. Stop it! You can’t please everybody.”>

A woman's work is never done.   Listen   <“Sister, sit down for a minute and rest. A woman’s work is never done.”>

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