* 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.”>
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.”>
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.”>
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.”>
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.”>
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.”>
Home Contents Topics Contacts Testimonials Tell a Friend about PhraseTeacher.com Audio Course “PhraseTeacher”
