Conversation:

Jodie:  I saw my mother off at the airport yesterday, and now I’m stuck with taking care of her dog until next Thursday.

Sarah:  I can’t believe my ears.  You hate dogs.  I was hoping that you would come keep me company today while I go shopping at the mall.

Jodie:  I’d love to take some time off and go with you, but I don’t have anyone who could fill in for me.  What am I supposed to do with the dog?

Sarah:  How about leaving it with a neighbor?  On second thought, bring it along.  We can drop it off at the doggie daycare.

Jodie:  Well then, you can count me in.  I deserve a break today.

Sarah:  Great.  You know how I get carried away when I shop alone.

Jodie:  Who knows?  We might come across some bargains.

Sarah:  Thanks for coming with me.  We’ll start off with lunch, and I’ll pick up the tab.

Jodie:  Thanks.  I appreciate the invitation.  It’s nice having a friend who has deep pockets.

Vocabulary:

• doggie daycare:  a business that takes care of dogs for the day
• deserve:  have paid for with my time and effort
• bargains:  inexpensive items
• appreciate:  be thankful for

Idioms:

• see (someone) off                         accompany (someone) and say good-bye (at the airport, train station, etc.)
• be stuck with                                   have (something/someone) one cannot get rid of
• not believe one’s ears/eyes     unable to believe what one hears/sees
• keep (someone) company        be with someone so they are not alone
• take time off (from)                     take a break
• fill in (for)                                           do another person’s job
• on second thought                      after reconsidering
• count (someone) in                     include (someone) in an activity
• get carried away                           become so involved that everything else seems unimportant
• come across                                    find (something) unexpectedly
• pick up the tab                               pay the bill
• have deep pockets                       have a lot of money

Notes:

Not believe one’s ears/eyes can also be hardly believe one’s ears/eyes.

Take time off can also be take some time off / take a little time off.

On second thought is similar to have second thoughts, which means to reconsider.

Count (someone) in has an opposite:  Count (someone) out, which means exclude (someone) from an activity.
Example:  If you’re going dancing tonight, you can count me out because I don’t dance.

Come across and run across have the same meaning.

© 2004 Ambien Malecot