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

Set (83) - Tell me about it!

Dialogue

Rob: The story seems to be far-fetched, unreal; yet it happened.

Edie: I’m afraid it’s one of those stories that smooth-talking snake-oil salesmen employ to take people for a ride.

Rob: Not at all! The person who told it is as true as steel - she has never stretched the truth. It’s Rebecca!

Edie: You don’t say! Rebecca literally lives in the fantasy world.

Rob: Well, I could be wrong, but I never witnessed her telling lies!

Edie: Don’t go hard on yourself, dude! Tell me about it!

Vocabulary

Far-fetched: unlikely and unconvincing; implausible.

Snake oil: a valueless or fraudulent cure, remedy, or solution.

Take someone for a ride: to deceive or cheat someone.

As true as steel: very loyal and dependable.

Stretched the truth: to say something that is not completely honest in order to make someone or something seem better than it really is.

You don’t say: used to express amazement or disbelief.

Fantasy world: something existing solely in the imagination (but often mistaken for reality)

Tell me about it: a way of stating that they're talking about something you know very well or agree with.

Exercise

Fill in the gaps with the appropriate phrases:

far-fetched

snake oil

take someone for a ride

as true as steel

stretched the truth

You don’t say!

fantasy world

tell me about it

a. Here Rod continues his struggles in a .......... he's created, this time pursuing dark wizard Malraun and encountering an army of evil in the process.

b. While some of his tools are a little .........., many are actual tools of the trade.

c. Through all my troubles, my husband has been ..........

d. A: "Going on vacation with three kids is a lot of work." B: ".........."

e. He was accused of .......... about how much he had helped in the project.

f. Some kelp products are .........., but the good ones promote plant growth

g. A: "My wife's cousin is the starting quarterback for the New England Patriots." B: "..........! Have you ever met him?"

h. It's not pleasant to find out you've been .......... by someone you trusted.