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

Set 3 - Have you got a death wish or something?

Jim: What’s wrong with you? Have you got a death wishor something?

Richard: What do you mean? What’s the matter? You’re freaking me out!

Jim: You’re driving at top speed! The car’s engine is gonna blow up. Slow down for heave’s sake! I don’t want to die prematurely.

Richard: Come on! You want me to ride at snail’s pace! Don’t panic; you’re in good hands. All I’m trying to do is to catch the party on time.

Jim: You’re still picking up speed! I’d be out of my mind if I stayed a minute in this car. Stop the car; stop it. Pull over right away.

Richard: Okay; okay; don’t get worked up! I’ll slow down. Alas! You’ve missed the chance of observing my mind-blowing driving skills.

Jim: The most reckless driver ever!

Vocabulary;

have a death wish: to seem to be willing to take all sorts of needless risks.

freak someone out: to startle or frighten someone.

blow up: to explode; to go off.

prematurely: before the natural or suitable time.

at snail’s pace: extremely slowly

in good hands: in the safe, competent care of someone.

pick up speed: to move faster; to accelerate.

out of one’s mind: to be silly and senseless; to be crazy and irrational.

pull over: to drive one's vehicle to the curb or side of the road and bring it to a stop.

get worked up: to get upset or very excited about something.

mind-blowing: (adjective) overwhelmingly impressive.

reckless: (adjective) heedless of danger or the consequences of one's actions; rash or impetuous.

Exercise;

Fill in the gaps with the appropriate phrases or words;

1. The train began to pick up .......... as it went downhill.

2. It's easy to get .......... up when you're tired and everything seems to be against you.

3. If you get stopped by a police car, make sure you .......... over as far to the right as you can.

4. The roads were full of traffic and we were travelling at a snail's .......... for two hours.

5. He brought about his company's collapse by his .......... spending.

6. If Mike is your realtor, you're definitely in good .......... He's the best in the business.

7. The bomb might have .......... up if the children had tried to move it.

8. Watching your baby being born is a .......... experience.

9. He could lose his pension if he quits and leaves the company ..........

10. Look at the way that guy drives. He must have some sort of a .......... wish.

11. The sight of that huge needle completely .......... me out.

12. It's far too much work for me. I must have been out of my ........... when I agreed to it.

1. speed 2. worked 3. pull 4. pace 5. reckless 6. hands 7. blown 8. mind-blowing 9. prematurely 10. death 11. freaked 12. mind