* 17 Particular Conversational Matters (p.4 of 9)
17.22�� When you encourage a person to be careful
Be careful!�� Listen�� A �Be watchful and prudent.��� <�I am going to Antarctica.� � �Good heavens! Be careful!�>
Beware!�� Listen�� <�There is a dog in the backyard. Beware!�>
Caution!�� Listen�� <�Two lanes are merging ahead. Caution! Our lane is about to end. Slow down.�>
Watch out!�� Listen�� <�Watch out! There is a pedestrian on the sidewalk.�>
Watch it!�� Listen�� <�Watch it! There is a bicyclist on the road.�>
Look out!�� Listen�� <�Look out! This tree is about to fall.�>
Look sharp!�� Listen�� <�Look sharp! There are potholes on the road.�>
Be prepared!�� Listen�� <�The car in front of us is going to turn to the right. He is slowing down. Be prepared!�>
Safety first.�� Listen�� <�Buckle up before you drive. Safety first.�>
Watch your step!�� Listen�� <�Watch your step! The road is slippery.�>
Proceed with caution.�� Listen�� <�There is a road block ahead. Drive slowly. Proceed with caution.�>
Drive safely.�� Listen�� A �Be careful while driving.��� <�Good-bye, George.� � �Take care, Bill. It�s dark outdoors. Drive safely.�>
Look both ways before you cross the street.�� Listen�� <�There are many cars on the road today. Be very attentive. Look both ways before you cross the street.�>
17.23�� When you warn a person about danger
Behind you!�� Listen�� A �Look at the danger behind you!��� <As the car approached and nearly knocked Jim over, Jack shouted, �Behind you!�>
To your right!�� Listen�� A �Look at the danger to your right!��� <A skateboarder appeared from nowhere. To warn Cindy of the approaching danger, Bob told her, �To your right!�>
On your left!�� Listen�� A �Danger is on your left!��� <A bicyclist approached me from behind. He saw that I couldn�t see him, so he alerted me, �On your left!� I took to my right to avoid collision.>
Heads up!�� Listen�� A �Raise your head up to see the danger!��� <�The foreman saw a moving crane over the construction site and shouted to the workers, �Heads up!�>
17.24�� When you instruct a person to handle a situation with care
Play it safe.�� Listen�� A �Handle it with great care.��� <�This business meeting is very important for us. Play it safe.�>
Play it cool.�� Listen�� <�Your opponent may be bluffing. Don�t lose your temper. Play it cool.�>
Look before you leap.�� Listen�� A �Make sure that you achieve your goal before you make a move.��� <�Think twice before you say something at the business meeting. You�re playing with fire. Look before you leap.�>
Leave nothing to chance.�� Listen�� <�You�ve got to win this contract. Prepare a really good presentation. Leave nothing to chance.�>
Stop, look, and listen.�� Listen�� <�These trade talks are important for us. You don�t need to open your cards too soon. Stop, look, and Listen.�>
Slow down.�� Listen�� <�You want to achieve too much too soon. Slow down.�>
Take your time.�� Listen�� A �Don�t be too impatient. Use the time you have wisely.��� <�You still have a couple of weeks before you meet with the prospective investors. Put together a very good proposal. Take your time.�>
You�re not out of the woods yet.�� Listen�� A �The worst of your trouble is not over yet.��� <�The boss is still angry with you for your blunder. Don�t argue with him. You�re not out of the woods yet.�>
You�re skating on thin ice.�� Listen�� A �You are at risk.��� <�Are you going to submit the same recommendation to the director? He turned it down once, don�t you remember? You are skating on thin ice.�>
Make no mistake about it.�� Listen�� A �Do not be mistaken about this dangerous situation.��� <�Our business partners won�t like your proposal. Make no mistake about it. We know too well what we can expect from them.�>
17.25�� When you instruct a person to take evasive action
Get down!�� Listen�� A �Take the lowest position possible!��� <�This thing is going to explode! Get down!�>
Duck!�� Listen�� A �Bend the head and/or the body to avoid a blow!��� <�He�s going to hit you! Duck!�>
Hit the pavement!�� Listen�� A �Fall on the floor!��� <�There is a shooter on the roof! Hit the pavement.�>
Hit the deck!�� Listen�� <�He�s got a gun! Hit the deck!�>
17.26�� When you request passage through a crowd
Can I get by?�� Listen�� A �Do you mind if I pass by?��� (used with can or may or could)�� <When the elevator stopped, Bob said to the man in front of him, �This is my floor. Can I get by, please?�>
Coming through!�� Listen�� A �I am coming through, so let me pass, please.��� <The bus stopped and Jim told the passengers who blocked the door, �Coming through! I�ve got to get off�.>
Step aside.�� Listen�� A �Move out of the way.��� <�Step aside. Let me through, please.�>
Make way!�� Listen�� A �I need room for passing, so please get out of the way.��� <�Make way! I�m carrying a heavy load.�>
Clear the way!�� Listen�� A �I am coming through, so please get out of the way.��� <Bob and Tom shouted �Clear the way!� as they were pulling a large box up the stairway.>
Gangway!�� Listen�� A �I need clear passage.��� <�Gangway!� shouted the captain making his way through the crowd of passengers.>
Out of my way!�� Listen�� <�Out of my way!� cried the officer making his way through the crowd of soldiers.>
Get out of the way!�� Listen�� <�Get out of the way!� yelled the cop to the pedestrians as he chased the criminal in the street.>
Keep out of my way!�� Listen�� <�Keep out of my way!� shouted the furniture mover.>
17.27�� When you promise to attend to a person soon
I'll be there in a minute.�� Listen�� A �I�m coming to you, please be patient.��� <�Come here!� � �I�ll be there in a minute. I need to complete my little job.�>
I'll be there in just a moment.�� Listen�� <�Can you come down here?� � �I�ll be there in just a moment.�>
I'll be right there.�� Listen�� <�I need your help.� � �I�ll be right there.�>
I'll be with you in a moment.�� Listen�� <�Can you take a look at this document?� � �I�ll be with you in a moment.�>
I'll be right with you.�� Listen�� <�Can you come here for a minute?� � �I�ll be right with you.�>
Somebody will be with you in a minute.�� Listen�� <�Miss! We are ready to order our food.� � �Somebody will be with you in a minute.�>
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