Espacio de Fock

O N T H E T O W N 91

Dialogue

Jessica: You didn't miss out on anything. That restaurant was some clip joint.

Cynthia: How did you hear about this tourist trap—word of mouth?

Jessica: No, I picked it at random.

Cynthia: How was the chow?

Jessica: Terrible. Worse than a greasy spoon. When I saw the check I nearly passed out.

Cynthia: Do you think they padded the bill?

Vocabulary

miss out on clip joint tourist trap word of mouth at random chow greasy spoon pass out pad the bill

v.) lose an opportunity, miss a worthwhile event

n.) low-class nightclub or restaurant that overcharges people n.) any place that is overpriced and attracts tourists

n.) recommendation from other people adv.) without order or plan, haphazardly n.) food

n.) inexpensive restaurant with mediocre food v.) faint v.) add false expenses

Exercise I.

a) word of mouth b) padded the bill c) tourist trap d) at random e)chow f) miss out on g < greasy spoon h) clip joint i) passed out

1. Everybody in the army hated the _______________________

2. That restaurant was terrible. It was a ________________________

3. They charged us for too many drinks. I think they __________________________

4. Don't go to that terrible nightclub. They cheat you. It's a ____________________________

5. When I saw all that blood, I nearly _______________________

6. I wanted to go to that party but I was sick. I had to ___________________________ it.

7. They are very reputable and don't advertise. People know of it by ______________________________

8. He won a bicycle in the contest. They chose his name __________________________

9. That nightclub has a famous name but its show is terrible and its food is expensive. It's a

Exercise II.

1. I didn't buy that but they charged me for it.

2. That job is a great opportunity. I hope I don't lose it.

3. He fainted.

4. That nightclub cheats people.

5. That restaurant is cheap, but the food is bad.

6. That nightclub is overpriced but it's popular with travelers.

7. I'm hungry. Where's the food?

8. That restaurant was good. I ate there because of a friend's recommendation.

9. He opened his birthday presents in no particular order.

Lesson 92. A Hit

92 ON THE TOWN

Dialogue

Al: I heard that play was a big flop . Lee: On the contrary, it's a hit.

Al: Do you think they're going to be mobbed?

Lee: Jam-packed. It's a tearjerker. You'll have to go to a scalper for tickets.

Al: Then let's buy the tickets two years in advance.

Lee: We may be 6 feet under before we can see the show.

Vocabulary

flop/turkey n.) failure

hit n.) a success

mobbed adj.) crowded jam-packed adj.) crowded, full

tearjerker n.) story that makes you cry

scalper n.) a person who buys a ticket at the regular rate and sells it at a profit in advance adv.) ahead of time

6 feet under adj.) dead

Complete the sentences with the correct idiom.

c) a tearjerker d) a flop e) a scalper f) in advance g) 6 feet under 1. During Christmas, the stores are ______________________

2. If you continue to drink and smoke a lot, you'll be __________________________

3 . Doctors are so busy you have to make an appointment ___________________________

4. That movie was so sad. It was _____________________

5. I want a ticket to that show so badly. I'll pay anything. I'll go to _____________________________

6. Every day the subways are ____________________

7. Everyone is buying that record. It's _______________________

8. He wrote a book but no one bought it. It was _________________________

Exercise II.

1. That show was not a success.

2. There are a lot of people in the stores at Christmas time.

3. The book is very successful.

4. That movie made me cry.

5. That man makes a living selling concert tickets at twice their value.

6. If you want to eat in that restaurant, you need reservations ahead of time.

7. I won't stop eating candy until I'm dead.

. a real turkey.

Exercise I

a) a hit b) mobbed hi jam-packed

Lesson 93. A Nightcap

O N T H E T O W N 93

Dialogue

Tad: Do you want to go to a gin mill for a pick-me-up? Doug: Yeah.

Maybe if I wet my whistle, I'll perk up. Tad: A nightcap would hit the spot. Doug: Will I have to shell out much money? Tad: Don't worry.

I'll,lay it out.

Vocabulary

a gin mill a

pick-me-up wet one's whistle perk up a nightcap hit the spot shell out lay out

n.) a cheap bar or nightclub

n.) a drink or snack taken to refresh oneself v.) have a drink, especially alcohol

emerge from a depressed or uninterested mood i last drink one has before leaving or sleeping-refresh or satisfy pay

spend or pay

Exercise I.

a) a nightcap b) hit the spot c) shell out d) wet my whistle e) lay it out f) gin mills g) a pick-me-up h) perk up

1. I don't have enough money with me to buy that blouse. Do you think you c ou l d me?

2. In factory districts, --- can usually be found on every corner.

3. I'm so thirsty. I'd like to _____________________

4. When you come in from shoveling snow, a hot chocolate will usually ________________________

5. Stop being in such a bad mood. If w^re go out, you'll _________________________

6. When some people are tense and can't sleep at night, they sometimes have _____________________

7. I worked very hard today and I'm tired. I think I need ___________________________

8. I made a lot of long distance calls last month. I'm going to have to ___________________________

Exercise II.

1. I was so dirty from working in the garden. That shower refreshed me.

2. When you are employed by a fast-food restaurant, you must pay for uniforms.

3. I had such a tiring day. I need a drink.

4. The construction workers went to the bar after work to have a drink.

5. I feel tired. A cold shower will make me feel better.

6. I was tense today. I think I'll have a drink before going to sleep.

7. We went out for dinner but instead of choosing a fine restaurant, we mistakenly went into a cheap nightclub.

8. If you don't have enough money for dinner, I'll pay.

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