* 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.�>
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