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

Set (45) - Does this stand to reason?

Dialogue

Albert: I’ve had it up to here with Clare. She’s getting under my skin in the true sense of the word.

Jason: Did she put you on the spot again?

Albert: Much worse! She’s bossing me around as if she was the head of the department not me! Does this stand to reason?

Jason: Well; time to crack down, I suppose.

Albert: If I did, I’d be shooting myself on the foot.

Jason: Then, all you can do is to smooth things over so that you can adjust to the status quo.

Vocabulary

Have it up to here with someone: not endure any more of someone or something.

Get under one’s skin: to annoy or irritate someone intensely.

In the true sense of the word: totally; utterly; in every possible way.

Put someone on the spot: to cause them embarrassment or difficulty by forcing them to answer a difficult question or make an important decision.

Boss someone around: tell someone what to do, give orders.

Stand to reason: to be logical or rational.

Crack down: to become more strict.

shoot oneself on the foot: to foolishly harm one's own cause.

Smooth things over: make better or more pleasant.

Adjust to: to get used to a new situation by changing the way you do things.

Status quo: the existing state of affairs; the present situation.

Exercise;

Fill in the gaps with the appropriate expressions;

have it up to here with someone

get under one’s skin

adjust to

in the true sense of the word

put someone on the spot

crack down

boss someone around

stand to reason

shoot oneself on the foot

smooth things over

status quo

b. I know he's bothersome, but don't let him ..........

c. It .......... that it'll be colder in January than it is in November.

d. Why does Kerry always .......... by saying the wrong thing?

e. The Act contained provisions designed to preserve the ..........

f. David complained that his older sister was always ..........

g. The council has announced its intention to .......... on parking offences.

h. He .......... because he invited me in front of his mum and I didn't want to go.

i. How do you call the station behind my back? I .......... - get out!

j. It took her a while to .......... living alone after the divorce.

k. It’s a remote and stranded area. There are no people ..........