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

Set (31) - I beg to differ

Dialogue

Josh: Albert is a top-notch manager who never backed out of any agreement.

Bill: Well; I beg to differ. You'd better wash your hands of this affair before you end up in jail.

Josh: What? Jail! Do you think I’m sticking my neck out by this partnership?

Bill: Don’t you see that you’re asking for trouble by selling smuggled cars? Are you out of your mind?

Josh: I have to. Sales have fallen off and all I can do is sitting around twiddling my thumbs. Business stinks.

Bill: You’re right. Money doesn’t grow on trees.

Vocabulary

Top-notch: (adj) excellent; the best.

Back out of: not to do something that you had said you would do.

I beg to differ: a way of saying "I do not agree" that is polite.

Wash one’s hand of: to get out of: to refuse responsibility for.

Stick one's neck out: to expose oneself to some risk, danger, or responsibility.

Ask for trouble: to act in a way that is likely to incur problems or difficulties.

Fall off: to drop off; to decrease.

Twiddle one’s thumbs: be bored or idle because one has nothing to do.

Stink: to be of extremely bad quality, to be terrible.

Money doesn’t grow on trees: it is not easy to get money.

Exercise;

Fill in the gaps with the appropriate expressions;

top-notch

back out of

I beg to differ

wash one’s hand of

stick one's neck out

ask for trouble

fall off

twiddle one’s thumbs

stink

money doesn’t grow on trees

a. She put me on hold and left me .......... for ten minutes.

b. I'm going to .......... for you and present your idea to the boss.

c. Find yourself a .......... university, preferably one with room to spare.

d. The government is trying to .......... its commitment to reduce pollution.

e. Giving him such a powerful car when he's only just learned to drive is ..........

f. The trash really .......... - why don't you take it out?

g. I .......... with you, but you have stated everything exactly backwards.

h. Orders slowed; causing sales to .......... dramatically.

i. I've done all I can for him, and now I'm .......... him.

j. I can’t give you any more pocket money, Alice .........., you know.