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

Set (81) - I had better back out of this commitment

Dialogue

Mike: It’s time I put my cards on the table; I have no intention of marrying her.

Jackie: Didn’t you say that you would move mountains to be with her?

Mike: That was a thing of the past.

Jackie: I’m not siding with her, but the fact that you’re wishy-washy will leave you holding the bag someday.

Mike: Honestly, I have no guts to take responsibility. I had better back out of this commitment before I’m trapped in marriage forever.

Jackie: Go away! You’re such a wimp!

Vocabulary

Put one’s cards on the table: be open and honest, reveal one's intentions.

Move mountains: to do or achieve something that is incredibly difficult.

A thing of the past: a thing that no longer happens or exists.

Side with: to favor or support one position in a dispute.

Wishy-washy: (adj) having no definite opinion; unable to decide.

Leave someone holding the bag: to put someone in an awkward position, leave someone else to take blame.

Guts: courage; bravery.

Back out of: to withdraw from.

Trapped: to be caught in.

A wimp: (noun) spineless, non-assertive person.

Exercise;

Fill in the gaps with the correct phrases;

put one’s cards on the table

move mountains

a thing of the past

side with

wishy-washy

leave someone holding the bag

guts

back out of

trapped   

a wimp

a. The world's our atlas if we have the .......... to flip a coin and take a chance.

b. She could not, in good conscience, .......... her deal with him

c. Rescuers used a special device for finding people .......... collapsed buildings.

d. It was the only country to .......... the rebel group, offering them military and financial aid.

e. Although there are certainly a lot of positives to homeschooling, none of them matter if you feel .......... about your decision.

f. After the accident, he just vanished and ..........

g. I'm afraid I'm .......... when it comes to climbing up ladders.

h. His fans .......... to catch as many of his performances as possible

i. In today's society, it certainly seems like manners are becoming ..........

j. I would have a confrontation with him and ..........