TRACK 12

DR FINGERS’ VOCABULARY CLINIC

in a meeting
DR FINGERS’ VOCABULARY CLINIC

HERE ARE SOME MORE USEFUL AND INTERESTING EXPRESSIONS FOR YOU TO LEARN.
THIS MONTH, THINGS YOU MIGHT SAY IN A MEETING.

(To put it) in a nutshell

To get to the point TO SUMMARISE SOMETHING.
TO SAY WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY; TO BE DIRECT. “So, in a nutshell, the actor was struggling for years,
A: “Well, erm, I’m not quite sure how to say this, erm, I...” finally became successful and eventually won a lot of
B: “Come on! Get to the point!” awards.”

To be long-winded
To get the ball rolling TO SAY SOMETHING IN AN
TO DO SOMETHING THAT INDIRECT WAY USING LOTS OF To speak your mind
HELPS START AN ACTIVITY. UNNECESSARY WORDS. TO SAY EXACTLY WHAT YOU
“OK. Thanks for coming to the “Marshall took 20 minutes to say THINK.
meeting. I think I’ll get the ball something that could’ve been “It’s not always good to speak
rolling by asking you all to write said in two minutes. He’s so long- your mind – it might be upsetting
down six ideas for the new office.” winded.” to others.”

A talking-point To get a word in edgeways

AN INTERESTING SUBJECT FOR DEBATE OR NOT TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK BECAUSE
DISCUSSION. SOMEONE ELSE IS TALKING TOO MUCH.
“That scandal involving MPs' expenses is going to be “Mandy dominated the meeting and no one could
a major talking-point on all the news channels.” get a word in edgeways.”

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 TRACK 13 TRACK 14 TRACK 15
Unusual news stories from around the world.
QUIRKY NEWS &CORNYCRIMINALS
quirky news

QUIRKY NEWS , CORNY CRIMINALS & RIDDLES

ANSWERS ON PAGE 47
Quiet versus Rowdy
New guidelines on supporting football teams.
Riddles
CAN
YOU
SOLVE

S
port creates passion. supporter all my life and this THESE?
And passion can is the first time we’ve ever
1 I can be
create noise. But been told to keep quiet,” said
officials at Middlesbrough Mathew Snape, 53. quick, but then I’m
deadly. I’m a rock,
Football Club are shell, and bone
determined to control their Later, the club issued an medley. What
supporters’ enthusiasm. apology. “We want to make am I?
it absolutely clear, as Sue says in her letter, that 2 A man is born
“Over the last few games this season the Middlesbrough FC encourages the fans to in March but his
stewards have tried hard to persuade you back the team with passion and noise. The fans’ birthday is in
all to sit down in this area of the ground,” backing is absolutely essential and we would September. How
wrote Sue Watson, the Safety Officer for never discourage passionate support. Sue’s is this possible?
Middlesbrough Football Club. “We need you letter was a result of a number of fans moving
3 How much food
can you eat on
to work with the stewards towards a safe from the North Stand to Block 53a to create a an empty
environment, this compromise is the way louder atmosphere in that area. Unfortunately, stomach?
forward and respects the wishes of other fans, other supporters who have sat in that area for
who want to sit in the same area as you.” some years have been upset by those new to
the block constantly standing and banging on GLOSSARY
a supporter n
Sue Watson goes on to ask fans to control the the plastic sheeting at the back of the stand.” someone who likes/follows/
amount of noise they make. “Make as much supports a football team or other
organisation or person
noise as you like when we score, but this Fans of the club are currently left wondering a steward n
a person who helps to control the
constant noise is driving some fans mad.” how they are supposed to show their support crowds at a football match, etc.
Many fans were left perplexed. “I’ve been a without making any noise. to try hard exp
to make an effort
a compromise n

Corny Criminals
an agreement
to score vb
if a team “scores”, it hits the ball into
the opponent’s goal
to drive someone mad exp
to make someone angry/confused, etc.
perplexed adj
confused
to issue an apology exp
HERE’S ANOTHER PART IN OUR SERIES ON GOOD, to say that you are sorry – usually in
BAD AND FUNNY CRIMINALS. an official way
to back vb

Two thieves try to rob

to support; to give support to
Later, the owner of one of the offices called the to discourage vb

a bank.
if you “discourage” someone from
police. They discovered the abandoned tools and doing something, you try to stop
holes. “I can only assume they must have taken a them from doing it
a branch n
A group of criminals has just won the long time to do it,” said inspector Woodruff, who a “branch” of a business is one of the
award for worst robbers in Britain. is investigating offices/shops, etc. which belong to it
to drill a hole into something exp
the attempted to make a hole in something by using an
electric drill (a machine for making holes)
One day earlier this year, two friends decided to robbery. “They to deter vb
rob a branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland. Their probably fled if something “deters” you, it stops
you from wanting to do something
plan was simple: they would drill a hole into because they to belong to exp
if something “belongs to” you, it is
the bank, climb through and steal the money. ran out of time yours / your property
However, instead of drilling a hole into the bank, or were too a ceiling n
the top part of a room
they accidentally drilled into an empty office suspicious that to flee vb
building next door. But that didn’t deter them. the authorities to escape; to run away
thought-out adj
Not wanting to give up, they drilled another hole. were coming. No one
planned
deadly adj
But once again, they ended up in an empty office It was clearly will
recognise that can cause death; very dangerous
that did not belong to the bank. Eventually, they not the most me in this a medley n
mask. a collection of different things
tried drilling down into the floor, hoping to gain thought-out an empty stomach exp
access through the bank’s ceiling, but gave up operation we’ve if you have an “empty stomach”, you
are hungry because you haven’t
after a while. seen.” eaten anything for a period of time

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