WhimsicalLL

BOB VISITS THE VILLAGE MARKET

Bob goes to the Village Market, a supermarket in town. He asks Carol, the owner of the store, if she would like to sell Susan's Scrumptious Cookies. Carol agrees, but isn't able to tell Bob how much she'll pay him.
 

Bob: Thank you for making time for me today, Carol.
Carol: Don't mention it, Bob. What's up?
Bob: My wife baked these cookies from scratch. Please take one.
Carol: Mmmm, chewy. These are out of this world!
Bob: My wife's a great cook.
Carol: You can say that again. I don't want to make a pig of myself, but let me take a few more.
Bob: Oink oink! Just kidding!
Carol: I'd like to sell these at the Village Market. My customers will go nuts over these!
Bob: How much would you pay us for each cookie?
Carol: I'm not sure. I need to roll up my sleeves and figure out the finances.
Bob: Can you give me a ballpark figure now?
Carol: I don't want to jump the gun. Sit tight for now, and we'll talk things over this evening.

IDIOMS - LESSON 10

ballpark figure - an approximate number
EXAMPLE 1: The auto mechanic didn't know exactly how much the repairs would cost, but he was able to give me a ballpark figure.
EXAMPLE 2: The plumber estimated that it would cost $150 to fix our sink, but that was just a ballpark figure.

Don't mention it! - you're welcome
EXAMPLE 1: "Thanks for bringing the cookies," I said to Susan. "Don't mention it!" she replied.
EXAMPLE 2: "Thanks for picking up my suit at the dry cleaners." - "Don't mention it. It was my pleasure."

(to) figure out - to solve; to determine
EXAMPLE 1: Ted couldn't figure out one of his math problems, so he
asked his sister for help.
EXAMPLE 2: Susan is sure she'll never figure out why kids today behave the way they do.

from scratch - from the beginning; using all fresh ingredients rather than using a prepared mix
EXAMPLE 1: The house was in such bad shape, they decided to tear it down and re-build it from scratch.
EXAMPLE 2: You baked these muffins from scratch? They're delicious!

(to) go nuts [slang] - to react with great enthusiasm
EXAMPLE 1: When Tiger Woods got a hole-in-one during the golf
tournament, the crowd went nuts.
EXAMPLE 2: When Eminem appeared on stage, everybody went nuts.
NOTE: This expression also means "to go crazy" or "to become crazy with anger." Example: Jim went nuts when his wife told him she was leaving him for another man.

(to) jump the gun - to start doing something too soon or ahead of everybody else
EXAMPLE 1: Nicole really jumped the gun by writing her acceptance
speech before the results of the elections were announced.
EXAMPLE 2: The bookstore jumped the gun by selling the new Harry Potter book two weeks before its official release date.

just kidding - talking more to get a laugh than anything
EXAMPLE 1: I was just kidding when I said your new orange dress makes you look like a pumpkin.
EXAMPLE 2: Are you sure that's your boyfriend? I thought he was your grandfather. Just kidding!

(to) make a pig of oneself [slang] - to overeat; to eat too much
EXAMPLE 1: I made a pig of myself by eating four slices of pie.
EXAMPLE 2: Of course you could eat another hamburger, but you don'twant to make a pig of yourself.

(to) make time for - to put time in one's schedule for something
EXAMPLE 1: Don is a busy lawyer, but he always makes time for his family.
EXAMPLE 2: I'll be sure to make time for you when you visit me.

out of this world - see Lesson 6

(to) roll up one's sleeves - to prepare to work
EXAMPLE 1: Let's roll up our sleeves and finish making these cookies!
EXAMPLE 2: You'd better roll up your sleeves and finish your homework.

(to) sit tight - to wait patiently
EXAMPLE 1: Nicole won't hear back from the colleges she applied to until April. For now, she'll just have to sit tight.
EXAMPLE 2: Sit tight, the doctor will be with you in a few minutes.

(to) talk over - see Lesson 1

What's up? - What's going on? What's new?
EXAMPLE 1: What's up? I haven't spoken to you in a long time.
EXAMPLE 2: You never call me anymore. What's up with that?

you can say that again - I agree with you
EXAMPLE 1: You think our house needs repairs? You can say that again — even our toilet is broken!
EXAMPLE 2: "The weather is so nasty today." - "You can say that again! I don't even want to go outside!"

PRACTICE THE IDIOMS

Imagine that you are Bob and that you're meeting with Carol from the Village Market to sell her your cookies. Choose the most appropriate replies to Carol's questions and statements:

1) Carol: "I'm glad I was able to make time to see you today."
Bob's reply:
a) "I guess I'll see you tomorrow then."
b) "It must be nice to have so much free time."
c) "Yes, thanks for fitting me into your busy schedule."

2) Carol: "What's up?"
Bob's reply:
a) "Fine, thank you."
b) "I'd like to discuss a business deal with you."
c) "I don't know. Let me check with my wife."

3) Carol: "These cookies are out of this world. What do you think?"
Bob's reply:
a) "I agree. They're delicious!"
b) "I don't know where they are."
c) "No thanks. I've already had ten cookies."

4) Carol: "Did your wife make these from scratch?"
Bob's reply:
a) "No, she made them from flour, eggs, and sugar."
b) "Yes, she did. She loves to bake."
c) "Yes. She bought a roll of Pillsbury frozen dough and heated it in the oven for 15 minutes."

5) Carol: "I ate seven cookies. Do you think I've made a pig of myself?"
Bob's reply:
a) "Not at all. These cookies are hard to resist!"
b) "Yes. You look just like a pig."
c) "Yes. Pigs love to eat cookies too."

6) Carol: "I think my customers will go nuts over these cookies."
Bob's reply:
a) "I agree. After all, they're very good!"
b) "Nuts? Sure, we can put nuts in the cookies."
c) "I disagree. They'll probably like them."

7) Carol: "Bob, I'm not ready to give you a ballpark figure yet."
Bob's reply:
a) "Okay, how about one dollar per cookie?"
b) "When you're ready, we can sell them in the ballpark."
c) "Okay, I can wait until tomorrow."

8) Carol: "I don't want to jump the gun by discussing details now." Bob's reply:
a) "I understand. Take some time to think about it."
b) "I didn't say anything about selling you guns."
c) "Thanks, I'd love an answer right now."

Review for lessons 6-10

Choose the best substitute for the phrase in bold:

1) This apple pie is out of this world.
a) not bad
b) from another planet
c) delicious

2) Jane was feeling on edge, so she went to a day spa to relax.
a) anxious
b) relaxed
c) angry

3) You ate 15 cookies? You really made a pig of yourself!
a) turned into an animal with a snout and tail
b) made yourself sick
c) ate more than you should have

4) Bob wasn't sure he wanted to work for his wife's cookie company, but she talked him into it.
a) forced him
b) convinced him
c) asked him

5) Nancy doesn't have a clue about the Internet. She's never even used e-mail.
a) understands deeply
b) knows nothing
c) is learning a lot

6) Stop beating around the bush! I don't know what you're trying to tell me.
a) avoiding the subject
b) hitting the trees
c) repeating yourself

7) Paul likes to draw silly cartoons of his classmates on the blackboard before class. He's a wise guy.
a) bad student
b) smart person
c) sarcastic person

8) Tom needed to learn how to ride a horse before his trip to Ireland, so he took a crash course.
a) short, intensive class
b) class in falling down
c) semester-long class

9) Laura made a bundle when she was younger, and now she spends every day on the golf course.
a) had a good job
b) made lots of money
c) stole money

10) The doctor will be with you soon. Please sit tight.
a) come back later
b) wait patiently
c) follow me