Bob's Day at Work

BOB'S DAY AT WORK Bob's Day at Work Bob works as a manager in a furniture store. Peter, his boss, is not happy about sales. Bob's new advertising campaign hasn't helped. Peter decides to fire him. Peter: Bob, I hate to break the news, but our sales were down again last month. Bob: Down again, Peter? Peter: Yeah. These days, everybody's shopping at our competition, Honest Abe's Furniture Store. Bob: But everything in there costs an arm and a leg! Peter: That's true. They do charge top dollar. Bob: And their salespeople are very strange. They really give me the creeps! Peter: Well, they must be doing something right over there. Meanwhile, we're about to go belly-up. Bob: I'm sorry to hear that. I thought my new advertising campaign would save the day. Peter: Let's face it: your advertising campaign was a real flop. Bob: Well then I'll go back to the drawing board. Peter: It's too late for that. You're fired! Bob: What? You're giving me the ax? Peter: Yes. I've already found a new manager. She's as sharp as a tack. Bob: Can't we even talk this over? After all, I've been working here for 10 years! Peter: There's no point in arguing, Bob. I've already made up my mind. Bob: Oh well, at least I won't have to put up with your nonsense anymore! Good-bye to you and good-bye to this dead-end job. Peter: Please leave before I lose my temper!

about to → ready to; on the verge of Example 1: It's a good thing Bob left the furniture store when he did. Peter was so angry, he was about to throw a dining room chair at him. Example 2: I'm glad you're finally home. I was just about to have dinner without you. after all → Despite everything; when everything has been considered; the fact is Example 1: You'd better invite Ed to your party. After all, he's a good friend. Example 2: It doesn't matter what your boss thinks of you. After all, you're going to quit your job anyway. at least → anyway; the good thing is that... Example 1: We've run out of coffee, but at least we still have tea. Example 2: Tracy can't afford to buy a car, but at least she has a good bicycle. Note: The second definition of this phrase is "no less than": There were at least 300 people waiting in line to buy concert tickets. (to) break the news → to make something known Example 1: Samantha and Michael are getting married, but they haven't yet broken the news to their parents. Example 2: You'd better break the news to your father carefully. After all, you don't want him to have a heart attack! (to) cost an arm and a leg → to be very expensive Example 1: A college education in America costs an arm and a leg. Example 2: All of the furniture at Honest Abe's costs an arm and a leg! dead-end job → a job that won't lead to anything else Example 1: Diane realized that working as a cashier was a dead-end job. Example 2: Jim worked many dead-end jobs before finally deciding to start his own business. (let's) face it → accept a difficult reality Example 1: Let's face it, if Ted spent more time studying, he wouldn't be failing so many of his classes! Example 2: Let's face it, if you don't have a college degree, it can be difficult to find a high-paying job. (to) give one the creeps → to create a feeling of disgust or horror Example 1: Ted's friend Matt has seven earrings in each ear and an "I Love Mom" tattoo on his arm. He really gives Nicole the creeps. Example 2: There was a strange man following me around the grocery store. He was giving me the creeps! (to) go back to the drawing board → to start a task over because the last try failed; to start again from the beginning EXAMPLE 1: Frank's new business failed, so he had to go back to the drawing board. EXAMPLE 2: The president didn't agree with our new ideas for the company, so we had to go back to the drawing board. (to) go belly-up → to go bankrupt EXAMPLE 1: Many people lost their jobs when Enron went belly-up. EXAMPLE 2: My company lost $3 million last year. We might go belly-up. (to) give someone the ax → to fire someone EXAMPLE 1: Mary used to talk to her friends on the phone all day at work, until one day her boss finally gave her the ax. EXAMPLE 2: Poor Paul! He was given the ax two days before Christmas. (to) lose one's temper → to become very angry EXAMPLE 1: Bob always loses his temper when his kids start talking on the telephone during dinner. EXAMPLE 2: When Ted handed in his essay two weeks late, his teacher really lost her temper. (to) make up one's mind → to reach a decision; to decide EXAMPLE 1: Stephanie couldn't make up her mind whether to attend Harvard or Stanford. Finally, she chose Stanford. EXAMPLE 2: Do you want an omelette or fried eggs? You'll need to make up your mind quickly because the waitress is coming. no point in → no reason to; it's not worth (doing something) EXAMPLE 1: There's no point in worrying about things you can't change. EXAMPLE 2: There's no point in going on a picnic if it's going to rain. (to) put up with → to endure without complaint EXAMPLE 1: For many years, Barbara put up with her husband's annoying behavior. Finally, she decided to leave him. EXAMPLE 2: I don't know how Len puts up with his mean boss every day. real flop or flop → a failure EXAMPLE 1: The Broadway play closed after just 4 days - it was a real flop! EXAMPLE 2: The company was in trouble after its new product flopped. (to) save the day → to prevent a disaster or misfortune EXAMPLE 1: The Christmas tree was on fire, but Ted threw water on it and saved the day. EXAMPLE 2: We forgot to buy champagne for our New Year's party, but Sonia brought some and really saved the day! (as) sharp as a tack → very intelligent EXAMPLE 1: Jay scored 100% on his science test. He's as sharp as a tack. EXAMPLE 2: Anna got a scholarship to Yale. She's as sharp as a tack. (to) talk over → to discuss EXAMPLE 1: Dave and I spent hours talking over the details of the plan. EXAMPLE 2: Before you make any big decisions, give me a call and we'll talk things over. top dollar → the highest end of a price range; a lot of money EXAMPLE 1: Nicole paid top dollar for a shirt at Banana Republic. EXAMPLE 2: Wait until those jeans go on sale. Why pay top dollar?

Fill in the blank with the missing word: I can't believe you bought a couch at Honest Abe's. Everything in that store costs an arm and a _____. a) foot b) leg c) hand After Bob found out that his advertising campaign failed, he wanted to go back to the drawing _____. a) board b) table c) room When somebody isn't listening to you, there's no _____ in trying to argue with them. a) edge b) tip c) point Jose is really smart. He's as sharp as a _____. a) tack b) nail c) screw The salespeople at Honest Abe's always look angry and never speak to anybody. No wonder they _____ Bob the creeps. a) take b) give c) allow Bob got fired. He isn't looking forward to _____ the news to his family. a) breaking b) cracking c) saying Bob thought his new advertisements would bring in lots of customers and save the _____. a) morning b) night c) day Fortunately, Bob no longer has to put _____ with his stupid boss at the furniture store. a) over b) in c) up

Practice The Idioms b a c a b a c c