Advanced English Conversations - Robert Allans, Ahmet Mustafaoglu, Metin Emir 2019

Set (24) - Let’s not waste our breath

Dialogue

Sarah: Michael is a brain. I’m sure he’s gonna get the job. I read all the applications; and he’s unquestionably the cream of the crop.

Emily: But there’s something fishy about him. I just can’t put my finger on it.

Sarah: Come on! Aren’t you judging a book by its cover?

Emily: I just can’t put up with people who are full of themselves.

Sarah: We can’t turn him down anyway. You know he’s Mary’s cousin and she’ll pull some stings to get him hired.

Emily: As long as our hands are tied, let’s not waste our breath.

Sarah: Obviously; You can hardly ever find a person who has made their own way these days. It’s all favoritism and patronage.

Vocabulary

A brain: an intelligent person.

The cream of the crop: the best among others.

Fishy: (adj) arousing feelings of doubt or suspicion.

To put one’s finger on (something): to discover the exact reason why a situation is the way it is, especially when something is wrong.

Judge a book by its cover: make judgments depending on appearances.

Put up with: to tolerate; to endure.

Full of oneself: very self-satisfied and with an exaggerated sense of self­worth.

Pull strings: secretly use influence or power.

Hands are tied: unable to act freely.

Waste one’s breath: to speak or argue without result.

Make one’s own way: to rely on one’s own abilities.

Exercise;

Fill in the gaps with the appropriate expressions;

a brain

the cream of the crop

fishy

to put one’s finger on (something)

judge a book by its cover

put up with

full of oneself

pull strings

hands are tied

waste one’s breath

make one’s own way

a. There's something odd about him, but I can't quite ..........

b. The researchers and institutions in this network are ..........

c. We’ve got the best .......... in the country working on this problem.

d. He tried to .......... with people he knew to avoid being called up.

e. This country prides itself on letting people .........., relying on no one else's work but their own.

f. I'm convinced there is something .......... going on.

g. I've far better things to do than .......... Arguing.

h. I'd like to help you, but my ..........

i. I'm too tired to .......... any nonsense.

j. Learn about the saying! You can't ..........

k. She doesn't care about other people's feelings. She's ..........