Speak English Like An American

Bob works as a manager in a furniture store.
Peter, his boss, is not happy about sales.
Bob's new advertising compaign 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 compaign would save that day.

Peter : Let’s face it: your advertising compaign was a real flop.

Bob : Well then I’ll go back to the drawing board.

Peter : It’s too late 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 won’t have to put up with your non-sense 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
After all - despite everything; when every thing has been considered; that fact is

At least - anyway; the good thing is that….

(to)break the news -to make something known(to)

cost an arm and a leg -to be very expensivedead-end job -a job that won’t lend to anything else

(let’s)face it -accept a difficult reality

(to)give one the creeps -to create a feeling of disgust or horror

(to)go back to the drawing board -to start a task over because the last try failed; to start again from the beginning

(to)go belly-up - to go bankrupt

(to)give someone the ax -to fire someone

(to)lose one’s temper -to become very angry

(to)make up one’s mind -to reach a decision; to decide no put up with -to endure without complaint

real flop or flop -a failure

(to)save the day -to prevent a disaster or misfortune(as)sharp as a tack -very intelligent

(to)talk over -to discuss

top dollar -the highest end of a price range; a lot of money

Fill in the blank with the missing word:

1. I can't believe you bought a couch at Honest Abe's. Everything in that store costs an arm and a ________.
2. After Bob found out that his advertising campaign failed, he wanted to go back to the drawing ________.
3. When somebody isn't listening to you, there's no ________ in trying to argue with them.
4. Jose is really smart. He's as sharp as a ________.
5. The salespeople at Honest Abe's always look angry and never speak to anybody. No wonder they ________ Bob the creeps.
6. Bob got fired. He isn't looking forward to ________ the news his family.
7. Bob thought his new advertisements would bring in lots of customers and save the ________.
8. Fortunately, Bob no longer has to put ________ with his stupid boss at the furniture store.

Check your answer.

Leg
Board
Point
Tack
Give
Braking
Day
Up