Advanced English Conversations (2) - Robert Allans, Matt Edie, A. Mustafaoglu 2020

Set 11 - I’m in no mood to cook

Jane: Let's find a cafe and grab a bite. And I could really do with a refreshing drink.

Mary: Good idea! I'm dying of hunger as well! I need a square meal. The restaurant down the street serves outstanding dishes. The crisps over there do strike my fancy. The place looks good and the set menu is reasonably priced. Let's go in.

Jane: Well, if the food over there is appealing, I’d love to give it a try. But crisps will only spoil our appetite. I’d rather go for something healthier. Wait a minute; I know you have a healthy appetite, but you had a hearty breakfast only three hours ago! You can’t be hungry already!

Mary: Right! The truth is I’m in no mood to cook after I get back home. Also being underweight tempts me not to abide by the rules.

Jane: I’m totally taken aback! What about the recommendations you have just got from you doctor?

Mary: Well; he was pointing out the importance of avoiding stress and frustration. Food is a different matter.

Vocabulary

grab a bite: to get something to eat.

could do with something: to need it or would benefit from it.

dying of hunger: to be very hungry.

a square meal: a substantial, satisfying, and balanced meal.

strike one’s fancy: to be appealing or pleasant to one; to be intriguing or of interest to one.

appealing: (adjective) attractive and interesting.

spoil one’s appetite: to destroy or reduce one’s ability to eat.

go for: to choose or decide on something.

hearty: (of food) wholesome and substantial.

in no mood to do something: feeling (or not feeling) like doing or experiencing something.

abide by: to obey or to follow a rule, decision, or instruction.

taken aback: to be surprised or shocked by it and you cannot respond at once.

a different matter: it is very different from the situation that you have just discussed.

Exercise;

Fill in the gaps with the appropriate phrases or words;

1. We don't have a lot of time, so let's just .......... a quick bite before the movie starts.

2. What’s taking the food to long to be served? I’m literally .......... of hunger?

3. I'm not going to declare my major until I've had a couple years in college to see what ends up striking my ..........

4. If Henry failed to .......... by these terms his barons were to transfer their allegiance to Philip and Richard.

5. You have to take control of your career. But relationships are a .......... matter.

6. I must admit that I was taken .......... when I heard we weren't receiving our bonuses this year.

7. This week, final exams or not, she is in no .......... to tolerate poor practices.

8. After an hour or so of workout, they tucked into a .......... breakfast of eggs.

9. I’ll .......... for grilled fish and salad for the main courser and then I’ll take the desert.

10. You'll spoil your .......... for dinner if you have a cake now.

11. Brightly colored packaging made the pens especially .......... to children.

12. He looks as though he hasn't had a square .......... for months, he looks underfed.

13. We .......... do with a new car. The one we've got is a bit past it.

1. grab 2. dying 3. fancy 4. abide 5. different 6. aback 7. mood 8. hearty 9. go 10. appetite 11. appealing 12. meal 13. could