June, 18, 2020 Striking up a conversation	
Conversation: Running into a friend	
Nicole:  Hi, Jen. What’s up? I haven’t seen you for ages.
Jen:  Nicole! Fancy running into you here. Do you have time for a cup of coffee?
Nicole:  Sure. We really need to catch up. Do you work around here?
Jen:  At the dress shop across the street. I’m a sales assistant for the time being, but I’m hoping they’ll promote me to buyer after I have some experience on the floor.
Nicole:  Oh—I love that shop. Their clothes are so trendy and different from the run of the mill. You look fantastic—I’ll bet their sales have gone up since you started working there.
Jen:  Well—I try! The thing is, I enjoy the work, because I love the clothes, and I like helping people find what works for them. It’s actually quite fulfilling.
Nicole: Good for you. And I think the idea of becoming a buyer is great. Before you know it, you’ll be working on your own designs. I remember how you used to dream of being a fashion designer.
Jen: Yeah, and I think this is a step in the right direction. Now, what are you up to? The last I heard, you were about to move across country. I hope you’re back to stay!
Nicole:  As a matter of fact, I just got back a couple of months ago. I’m glad I went, because now I know I really want to be here. I’m working as a waitress right now but am hoping to get a teaching job. I’ve applied to most of the local school districts so have my fingers crossed I’ll get something this fall.
Jen:  What do you want to teach? I’ve heard there are openings for high school teachers in Howard County.
Nicole:  No way! I haven’t even applied there. I’ll do it as soon as I get home. Man, that’ll be awesome if they need a biology teacher. Thanks for the tip! Which reminds me—waiting tables isn’t all bad. On weekends I get pretty good tips. And banking on the info you just gave me, I think I’ll follow you back to work and splurge on a new dress!
Jen:  Great. I already have in mind some things for you to try on.
Later:
Nicole:  Wow. I love this one. I guess I’m getting ahead of myself, but I have a feeling this is just what I need for the interview with the principal.
Jen:  And for the first day of school!
Nicole:  Thanks so much for your help. Now I’m really pumped! I’m so happy I ran into you today.
Jen:  Me, too. Let’s make sure we get together more often.
Nicole:  Yeah. I promise I’ll keep in touch.
Jen:  Take care, and let me know what happens. Bye for now.
Nicole:  Bye—and thanks again	
Improving your conversation	
collocations	explanation	
What’s up?- как дела? 
What are you up to?- чем занимался?
.	•	is an informal way of asking people how they are: Hey, Kim—what’s up? Oh, not much. How are you?
•	is a way to ask people what they have been doing lately: So, what are you up to these days? Oh, just working, as usual. How about you?	
Run into- столкнуться	•	means to see someone by chance or in an unexpected place.	
Fancy running into you here- неожиданно встретиться	•	means I didn’t imagine I would see you. It is often said when you see people in places where you normally don’t see them. Other expressions you could use in this situation are fancy meeting you here and what a coincidence.	
For ages- целую вечность
	•	For ages and in ages mean for a very long time.	
Before you know it- не успеешь оглянуться
	•	Before you know it means very quickly	
As soon as- как только
	•	As soon as indicates that something will happen at the same time that something else happens.	
Used to-бывало
	Used to has several uses.
•	To be used to (something) indicates a custom or habit, e.g. At first it was difficult to live here, but now I am used to the cold weather.
•	Used to (do) can indicate action that was once habitual but is no longer done, or a situation that was once true but no longer is, e.g. She used to live next door to us.
•	Used to (do) can also indicate an action that was done routinely in the past, e.g. When we were little, we used to swim in the lake.	
Try on- примерять
Try out-опробовать, испытать
Try to/try and- совершить попытку
Try + verb in -ing form (something)- попробуйте что-то предпринять, попытайтесь
I try- я стараюсь	•	Try on means to put clothing, shoes, or accessories on to see if they fit or if you like them, e.g. I would never buy shoes without trying them on first. Try this dress on. Let’s see how it looks.
•	Try out means to use a car or other equipment to see how well you handle it or if you like it, e.g. Your new camera looks awesome! Would you like to try it out?
•	Try to/try and indicate an effort to do something that may not be easy.
•	Try to be here before eight o’clock./Try and be here before eight o’clock.
•	Try + verb in -ing form (something) indicates a suggestion for solving a problem or problematical situation, e.g .I can’t get the door open. Try turning the key in the other direction.
•	I try is a way to express modesty after receiving a compliment, e.g.You are a good cook! Thank you; I try.	
I’ll bet- держу пари	•	I’ll bet indicates sincere belief that what you are going to say is true, even though you have no proof, e.g.What’s Maria up to? I’ll bet she’s making a lot of money.
•	However, if you are replying to someone else’s statement with I’ll bet, this indicates that you do not believe it, e.g. I hear Maria’s making a lot of money. I’ll bet.	
No way- ни за что	•	No way is another expression that can mean two opposite things: definitely no or that’s good news, e.g. Are you going to Claudia’s party? No way! She hardly speaks to me. We’re going to the beach for a week. No way! That sounds like a lot of fun!	
On the . . .-находиться на...	•	To be on the floor means to be working as a salesperson in a store, e.g. I’ll bet you’re tired after being on the floor all day.
•	To be on the job means to be working on a project that requires physical labor, e.g. We’re installing the electricity in How long have you been on the job? the new building up the street.	
Trendy- модный	•	Trendy is an adjective that describes the latest fashions, e.g .It looks like long skirts are trendy again this year.	
Run of the mill	•	Run of the mill is a way to describe something very ordinary or nondescript. If used before a noun, it has a hyphen between each word; if used without a noun, there are no hyphens, e.g. My shoes are comfortable but not trendy. They are quite run of the mill. This book is quite interesting. It’s not just a run-of-the-mill romance novel.	
Tip- чаевые	•	A tip is an extra payment made to a server, taxi driver, beautician, barber, or anyone else working to provide a service, e.g. The waiter gave us great service, so he got a good tip. 
•	A tip can also be a helpful suggestion, e.g. The teacher told us to answer the easy questions first. That was a good tip.	
The thing is- дело в том, что 	•	The thing is introduces an explanation for a situatio, e.g. Why aren’t you ready for school? The thing is, I can’t find my backpack. How does that guy keep his job? He never does anything. The thing is, he’s a friend of the boss’s sister.	
A step in the right direction- шаг в верном направлении	•	A step in the right direction refers to an action that will lead to success, e.g. I’m so glad you’ve decided to go to college. That’s definitely a step in the right direction.	
Be about to- собираться что-то сделать	•	To be about to means to be going to do at that moment, e.g. I can’t talk anymore. We’re about to leave for the airport. Fasten your seat belt. The plane is about to take off.	
Which reminds me-которое напомнило мне о

	•	Which reminds me introduces new information that is remembered because of something that was just said. An alternative to this expression is speaking of which, e.g. I’m about to go shopping for Halloween costumes for the kids—which reminds me—do you still have the witch hat you borrowed from me last year? I heard that Brittany was in town. Speaking of which, did you know she was getting married?	
Have one’s fingers crossed- скрестить пальцы	•	To have one’s fingers crossed means to indicate strong desire or hope that something happens, e.g. I have my fingers crossed that we’ll win the game tonight.	
Pumped-накачанный, возбужденный

all fired up-адский; невообразимый; чертовский	•	To be pumped means to be very excited and ready for an occasion or event. An alternative expression is all fired up, e.g.The whole team is really pumped about the game tomorrow. We’re ready to win.	
Bank on- положиться на	•	To bank on means to rely on, count on, or trust certain information, e.g. Do you think our candidate will win the election? You can bank on it. All the polls say he’s ahead.	
Splurge-выставлять напоказ	•	To splurge means to spend more money than necessary on something, because you really want it, e.g. She got a bonus at work, so she splurged on a first-class ticket. Why don’t we splurge and buy the beautiful sofa instead of the run-of-the-mill one?	
Get together- собираться вместе
.
	•	To get together means to meet, e.g. They get together every week to discuss their research	
Keep in touch- поддерживать связь
	•	To keep in touch means to continue to contact each other, e.g.They have kept in touch for more than thirty years.
	
Catch up- догнать, наверстать, встретиться	•	To catch up can mean to find out the news of a friend you haven’t seen in a while, e.g. Let’s get together for lunch tomorrow. We have a lot to catch up on!
•	It can also mean to reach someone who is ahead of you, e.g. She’s running so fast, we can never catch up with her.
•	Catch up can also mean to learn what the rest of the class learned when you weren’t at school, e.g. After being home sick for a week, Adrian had to work hard to catch up on his lessons.	
Get ahead of oneself- забегать вперед

	•	To get ahead of oneself means to make plans based on something that may not happen, e.g. What? You just met him and you’re already planning what to name your children? Aren’t you getting ahead of yourself?
•	Another expression that has the same meaning is to count one’s chickens before they hatch, e.g. You should never count your chickens before they hatch!
	
Have a feeling-- предчувствовать
	•	To have a feeling about something is to think that it might be true or might happen, e.g. They’ve never met, but I have a feeling they might like each other.
	
Make sure- убедиться
	•	To make sure means to follow all of the steps that will lead to a desired outcome, e.g. Yes, you can take my car, but make sure you bring it back by four o’clock.
	
Let someone know- дать знать
	•	To let someone know means to tell a person information that he or she needs, e.g. I’m not sure I can pick you up. I’ll let you know as soon as I find out if my car is fixed.	
Me, too- я тоже

	•	Me, too is a way of saying that you agree with something positive that someone has said or that you have an activity in common with someone else, e.g. I really like living in Springfield. Me, too. I’m going home now. Me, too.
•	Me, neither is used to express the same meanings after a negative statement, e.g.I really don’t like living in Springfield. Me, neither. I’m not going home yet. Me, neither.	
Exercise 1. Match the words or expressions in the first column with those in the second column that have a similar meaning. Note: There may be more than one match for each expression.

1. What a coincidence. 
2. That’s a wise decision. 
3. I’ll bet. 
4. I agree. 
5. speaking of which 
6. hopefully 
7. count your chickens before they hatch 
8. soon 
9. for a long time 
10. I don’t agree. 	
a. before you know it
b. Fancy meeting you here.
c. for ages
d. get ahead of yourself
e. I don’t think so.
f. I have my fingers crossed.
g. Me, neither.
h. No way!
i. Me, too.
j. That’s a step in the right direction.
k. What a surprise.
l. which reminds me
m. Wow!	

	
Exercise 2. Choose the most appropriate response to each question or remark.

1. What are you up to?
a. I’m not used to wearing a suit. c. I’m pumped up.
b. I used to try. d. I’m about to go on vacation.
2. I’m going back to school.
a. Me, neither. c. Don’t get ahead of yourself.
b. That’s a step in the d. Thanks for the tip.
right direction.
3. Be sure to talk to my friend. He’s in charge of the program.
a. Thanks for the tip! c. I’ll run into him.
b. I’ll try it out. d. I’m on the job.	
Exercise 3. Match each remark in the first column with all of the appropriate responses from the second column

1. That was great service. 
2. What’s up? 
3. This top is so trendy. 
4. I have a feeling she’s pregnant. 
5. Let’s get together soon. 
6. I have a little extra money. 
7. You can get a coupon online. 
8. He’s on the job now. 
9. I’m pumped up about my date. 
10. Do you think he’ll be there? 
	
a. I have my fingers crossed! 
b. I try! 
c. I’ll catch up with him later. 
d. I’ll keep in touch. 
e. Let me know how it goes. 
f. Let’s splurge! 
g. No way! 
h. Not much.
 i. Thanks for the tip. 
j. Try it on! 
k. Wow!
 l. I have a feeling he will.

	
Все материалы из  книги "English Conversation" by J. Yates.