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

Set (79) - Let’s split the difference

Dialogue

Maggie: We have been falling out a lot recently - I think it’s time we clear it up. Let’s get everything out of our chests and have a heart-to- heart talk.

John: I will do provided you don’t hold anything back. What really matters is to get things straight and avoid getting into such arguments later on.

Maggie: Alright, your constant tangential remarks are trying my patience.

John: What about your leading questions? Don’t you see that you always try to get me cornered?

Maggie: Well, let’s split the difference. You don’t meddle in my private affairs nor do I in yours.

Vocabulary

Fall out: have an argument; to be at odds.

Clear up: to alleviate tension in a particular situation.

Get something out of one’s chest: unburden oneself; tell what's bothering you.

Hear-to-heart: candidly, intimately.

Hold back: to conceal, to hide.

Get something straight: to make a situation clear reaching an understanding.

Tangential: only slightly related to what you are doing or discussing.

Try one’s patience: to annoy one by continued unwanted behavior.

Leading question: a question that prompts or encourages the answer wanted.

Get someone cornered: to make someone talk to you when they have been trying to avoid this.

Split the difference: to find and agree upon the point halfway.

Meddle: to interfere in something that is not one's concern.

Exercise;

Fill in the gaps with the correct phrases;

fall out

clear up

get something out of one’s chest

hear-to-heart

hold back

get something straight

tangential

try one’s patience

leading question

get someone cornered

split the difference

meddle

a. Apparently, Gina .......... with Dave last week, and now they're not talking to each other at all.

b. She asked me when I was going to take her out on a date, and I was taken aback at such a ..........

c. Sometimes you have to .......... your anger and tears and walk away.

d. Let’s .......... one thing .......... I’m the boss and I tell you what to do.

e. See your GP about treatment options to help them to .......... more quickly.

f. Won’t you give up this nasty habit of .......... in front of strangers?

g. I had spent two months worrying about it and I was glad to ..........

h. The matter you raise is rather .......... to this discussion.

i. You have to be more sensible - no more .......... in others’ affairs.

j. It’s time Jessie became a bit punctual - her constant lateness is ..........

k. Nothing like a .......... talk in making peace among lovers.