Conversation:

Shirley:  Hi, Juan.  Do you mind if I sit here?

Juan:  Be my guest.  It’s a free country.

Shirley:  Would you rather I leave you alone?

Juan:  No, no.  I have to kill time anyway before my dentist appointment.  I hate to bring this up, but I don’t think I’ve forgiven you for standing me up that time you asked me over.  Where did you go, and why didn’t you call me?

Shirley:  Actually, that’s the reason I wanted to talk to you in person.  Do you remember when I told you about Stan, my old boyfriend?

Juan:  Yes, I remember.  I thought you were over him?  How is old Stanley anyway?

Shirley:  It’s not Stanley.  Stan is short for Stanton, remember?  He came back last week, and we got back together again.  That’s why I haven’t phoned you.

Juan:  Well isn’t that just fine!  I guess I can rule out a relationship between us now.   Is there anything I can say to change your mind?

Shirley:  No Juan, save your breath.  I’ve made up my mind.  Stan is the one for me.

Juan:  Well, I hope you two will be very happy together.

Click on the audio recording  below to hear the lesson.

Vocabulary:

rather:  prefer
forgiven:  stopped being angry
fine:  okay
one:  person

Idioms:

• be my guest                                                       do what you want without getting permission
• leave (someone/something) alone      don’t disturb
• kill time                                                              spend time waiting
• bring up                                                             introduce (a topic) / raise (a child)
• stand (someone) up                                   cancel a date without telling the other person
• ask (someone) over                                    invite (someone) to one’s home
• in person                                                          in front of one another
• be over (someone)                                       no longer love (someone)
• short for                                                           a shorter name (nickname) for
• rule out                                                             eliminate as a possibility
• save one’s breath                                         saying anything will have no effect
• make up one’s mind                                  decide

Notes:

Be my guest and feel free are similar in meaning, but be my guest is used alone.  Feel free can be used alone or with an infinitive phrase.  Example:  Feel free to eat what you want in the kitchen.

kill time and have time to kill have similar meanings, but have time to kill means “have extra time.” Example:  I have time to kill before my interview.  Do you want to go for coffee?

Bring up has 2 meanings:  The other meaning is “raise (a child).”  Example:  I was brought up in Riverside, California..

In person and face to face have the same meaning.

© 2013 Ambien Malecot