Spotlight - 11.2019

54 Spotlight 11/2019 EVERYDAY ENGLISH

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EVERYDAY ENGLISH

Work-life balance

DAGMAR TAYLOR presents four dialogues about

maintaining a good quality of life. Read them and try

the exercises.

MEDIUM AUDIO PLUS

Frank: Hi, honey. I’m really sorry,

but I’m only now leaving the

office. Just go ahead with

dinner.

Laura: The kids and I have already

eaten. It’s nearly eight o’clock!

I tried to call you, but you

didn’t pick up.

Frank: I’m sorry, I didn’t realize how

late it was. I had to finish off

the presentation for tomor­

row and I had my phone on

silent.

Laura: Oh, you’re meeting with that

potential new client tomor­

row, aren’t you? Did you get

your presentation finished?

Frank: Yes, I did. Let’s hope the client

likes it.

Laura: Fingers crossed. What time

will you be home?

Frank: It shouldn’t take too long.

If the traffic’s OK, in about

half an hour, I think.

Laura: OK. See you in a bit.

Frank: See you.

1. Late again
   It’s Thursday evening. Frank calls his wife, Laura, from the office.

Frank: (eating) You wouldn’t believe

how hungry I am. Mmm, this

is so good.

Laura: I’m really glad you like it. You

look absolutely knackered,

Frank.

Frank: I am. It was a really long day.

And tomorrow’s going to be

worse. But if we get this new

client, it’ll mean we have

enough work for a couple of

years.

Laura: That’ll be good. Thank good­

ness it’s Friday tomorrow, eh?

Frank: Yeah, but I’m going to have

to do my tax return at the

weekend or our accountant’s

going to kill me.

Laura: Oh, Frank. We were going to

go hiking with my sister this

weekend.

Frank: Sorry, I forgot all about that.

I feel really bad about it, but

I have to get it done. Work’s

been a nightmare recently

and I haven’t had time for

anything.

Laura: I know.

2. Thank goodness it’s Friday!
   Laura chats to Frank as he eats his dinner.

Tips

⋅ When someone tells you to go ahead^

with something, they’re giving

you their permission to start doing

something.

⋅ If someone doesn’t pick up,^ they

don’t answer their phone.

⋅ When your^ phone is on silent, you

won’t hear any ringing or alerts.

⋅ Someone might say fingers crossed

to tell you that they hope your plans

will be successful.

⋅ You can say see you in a bit when

you’re going to see someone a little

later.

Tips

⋅ Knackered^ [(nÄkEd]^ (UK ifml.)^ means^

“extremely tired”.

⋅ Eh? is the sound people make when

they want somebody to agree or reply.

⋅ A tax return is a form that people

fill in to give the government

information about how much they

have earned in a year.

⋅ If you feel really bad^ about some­

thing, you feel ashamed and sorry.

⋅ Something or someone described as^

a nightmare is unpleasant or very

difficult to deal with.

accountant [E(kaUntEnt]

, Buchhalter(in), Steuer-

berater(in)

alert [E(l§:t]

, Warnton

hike [haIk]

, wandern