Conversation:

Carla:  I’m thinking of getting involved in a multi-level marketing business. The company has a line of cleaning products which make everything spic and span. I can make a lot of money depending on how hard I work.  The sky is the limit. What do you think?

Phil:  Right off the bat, I can think of a couple of reasons why that’s not a good idea.  First of all, you’ll have to buy inventory and store it in your home so you have it to sell.  And what happens if you don’t sell your product? I’ll tell you.  You’re up the creek without a paddle.  Every month you have to buy more product even if you haven’t sold all your stock.

Carla:  Yes, but I’m sure I can make a go of this.  At least I want to try.

Phil:  I think someone’s trying to pull the wool over your eyes.  Most people who go into this kind of business fail.

Carla:  Even if that’s true, I think I’ll give it my best shot. I’m tired of not having any money.  I just want my piece of the pie.

Phil:  All I know is a friend of mine joined a network marketing company and they took him to the cleaners.  He spent thousands of dollars with little return.  But you know, it’s your funeral.  Do what you want.

Carla:  Would you consider doing it with me?  There would be less risk that way.

Phil:  Yea, that’ll be the day!

Carla:  Well, if you change your mind, let me know.

Idioms:

• spic and span:                                               very, very clean
• the sky is the limit:                                     there are no limits
• right off the bat:                                           without delay
• up the creek without a paddle:             in a terrible situation with no solution
• make a go of:                                                 be successful with
• pull the wool over one’s eyes:               stop someone from knowing something
• give it one’s best shot:                              do the best one can do
• piece of the pie:                                           part of the wealth of the world
• take (someone) to the cleaners:          take all one’s money
• it’s one’s funeral:                                        it’s one’s future failure
• that’ll be the day:                                        that will never happen
• change one’s mind:                                   change the way one thinks

Notes:

You can say: make a go of this, make a go of it, or make a go of (something)
Example: I know I can make a go of starting my own business.

Notes:

make a go of this can also be make a go of it

© 2014 Ambien Malecot

Conversation:

Sahar:  Natalia, do you have a minute?

Natalia:  Sure.  What’s on your mind?

Sahar:  I found out that Hossein hasn’t been on the level with me.

Natalia:  What do you mean?  Are you getting cold feet about marrying him?

Sahar:  No it’s not that.  I love him, but the other day I found some photos of him with a strange woman, and I’ve been a basket case ever since.

Natalia:  Well you knew he had been around the block before you two got together.  It was probably a photo of an old girlfriend.

Sahar:  I don’t think so.  We had a heart to heart last week, and I was completely above board with him about all my old boylfriends.  The only old girlfriend he told me about was a blond, but the woman in the photo was a brunette.

Natalia:  Although there’s a fine line between not telling the whole truth and lying, maybe he didn’t want to come clean all at once.  I’d give him some time if I were you.

Sahar:  Okay.  I hope you’re right.  It would be a crying shame if the wedding were called off.

Vocabulary:

got together:  became a couple
a blond:  a woman with blond hair
brunette:  a woman with brown hair
all at once:  immediately
called off:  cancelled

Idioms:

• have a minute                         have time to have a short talk.
• on one’s mind                         being thought about
• on the level                                telling the truth
• cold feet                                      doubt about something you planned
• the other day                           a day not too long ago
• a basket case                            a person who is overly nervous or upset
• been around the block        have had many experiences
• have a heart to heart            have an emotional conversation
• above board                              totally honest, legally done
• a fine line                                   not much of a difference
• come clean                                 be totally truthful
• a crying shame                        too bad, a sad event

Notes:

Have a minute can also be have a second.

The opposite of above board is under the table when talking about something being illegal.

a basket case and in bad shape have the same meaning.

© 2014 Ambien Malecot

© 2013 Ambien Malecot