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

Set (94) - This time they will sink or swim

Dialogue

Thomas: Despite a stellar cast, the film turned out to be a real train wreck.

Martin: Why don’t they have a go at a comeback? This time they will sink or swim.

Thomas: Do you think they have what it takes? That film is probably their swan song.

Martin: Do you think they are going to the dogs?

Thomas: Who knows? I heard they’re recruiting some has-been performer who may save the day.

Vocabulary

Stellar: (adj) featuring or having the quality of a star performer or performers.

Train wreck: a major or total failure, disaster, or catastrophe.

Have a go at: to try, often after others have failed.

Comeback: an attempt to reclaim a respected position, be successful again.

Sink or swim: fail or succeed by your own efforts.

Have what it takes: any ability for a job; courage.

Swan song: final appearance.

Go to the dogs: something is becoming worse than it normally was.

Has-been: person once popular but no longer in public favor.

Exercise

Fill in the gaps with the appropriate phrases:

stellar

train wreck

have a go at

comeback

sink or swim

have what it takes

swan song

go to the dogs

has-been

a. The pastrami offering at Langer's Deli is a .......... example of hot sandwich achievement.

b. I thought the recipe in the book looked good and we shall have .......... it ourselves.

c. This building turned out to be the .......... of Victorian architecture.

d. This project has become an absolute .......... We've wasted so much time and money already, I don't know how we'll make up the losses.

e. This firm's .......... since the new management took over.

f. She's pretty talented—I think she might .......... to become a Hollywood actress.

g. The young actor constantly sought media attention because he feared becoming a .......... too early in his career.

h. Now that we've bought the farm, we'll have to make a go of it, ..........

i. The team was trailing after the first half, but they made a .......... and won in the second half.