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

Set 57 - It’s literally backbreaking!

Stacie: Are you OK? You look worn-out! What’s up?

David: Actually; I’ve had enough of my job. It’s literally backbreaking.

Stacie: Oh dear! Sounds like you’re struggling. Are you paid well?

David: Not really. I just get a living wage. And all the overtime is unpaid let alone working unsocial hours and doing menial tasks.

Stacie: You’ll just have to throw a sickie from time to time.

David: Yes, I’ve considered doing that, but I’m afraid of getting the sack if I do. I feel there might be some prospects for me there eventually, even if I am just being used as sweated labor at the moment.

Stacie: Well, with any luck you’ll eventually find that. You are well- known for your determination and perseverance.

David: I hope so. But they have a very high turnover of staff and it won’t be the course.

Vocabulary

worn-out: (adj) extremely tired; exhausted.

have had enough: to have had as much of something as is needed or will be tolerated.

backbreaking: (adj) (of manual labor) physically demanding.

living wage: the minimum income necessary for a worker to meet their basic needs.

let alone: not to mention.

unsocial hours: work late at night, early in the morning, at weekends, or on public holidays.

menial tasks: tasks that take very little training, skill, or talent.

throw a sickie: to tell one's employer, truthfully or otherwise, that one is ill and unable to attend work.

get the sack: to get fired; to be dismissed suddenly from a job.

prospects: the possibility of being successful, especially at work.

sweated labor: people who work for long hours and very low pay in an unhealthy situation.

with any luck: used before describing an event or a result that you are hoping for.

high turnover: a high rate of losing and recruiting new employees.

Exercise;

Fill in the gaps with the appropriate phrases or words;

1. She's hoping the course will improve her career ..........

2. Our budget is scarcely sufficient to pay people, ......... buy any new equipment.

3. Do they feel women should remain in marriages because their jobs do not pay a .......... ?

4. Can you keep quiet for a sec? I have .......... of your cute remarks.

5. Unstable employment and .......... do not allow for the accumulation of experience.

6. The textile industry still relies to some extent on ..........

7. Working .......... is just one of the stresses and strains of the job.

8. I tried so hard to do a good job in Mrs. Smith's garden, but I .......... anyway.

9. But hiring such people means that you have to pitch in and be willing to do the .......... yourself.

10 . ......... we should get to Newcastle by early evening.

11. Paul was fired after he .......... and went to watch a film.

12. These machines would relieve the peasants of their ................................... labour.

13. Even on Saturdays she was tired and .......... with the cleaning, shopping, washing, ironing.

1. prospects 2. let alone 3. living wage 4. had enough 5. high turnover 6. sweated labor 7. unsocial hours 8. got the sack 9. menial tasks 10. With any luck 11. threw a sickie 12. backbreaking 13. worn-out