Dialogues with Idioms
Friends discuss learning dialogues with idioms. The Grammar focuses on Conditionals and Gerunds.
Jailene: “Do you like college?”
Varana: “Of course I do. But French classes are hard.”
Jailene: “Why? Is it the pronunciation? The grammar?”
Varana: “I don’t have a problem there. But speaking is a problem. Trying to have a
conversation in French is hard for me.”
Jailene: “Maybe you have to study more vocabulary?”
Varana: “It’s not just vocabulary, it’s idioms too, and slang. Many native speakers use idioms
and slang and I just lose it.”
Jailene: “What do you mean, you lose it?”
Varana: “I get lost in the dialogue. I get totally confused.”
Jailene: “I think that’s normal when you first start a foreign language.”
Varana: “Maybe. But my other classes are fun, and I love the social part of college.”
Jailene: “Do you have many friends?”
Varana: “Yes, I have tons of friends. We do many things together.”
VOCABULARY WITH IDIOMS
Lose it is slang which means to become deranged, mentally disturbed or emotionally upset, even angry. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Tons of friends means a large amount or number of friends. See online Idioms Dictionary.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR
Suggested Topic for Comments: Gerunds
“Speaking is a problem.“
“Trying to have a conversation in French is hard.“
In both of these sentences from the dialogue, we have gerunds (Speaking, Trying) as sentence subjects. They take the -ing form of the verb and are functionally speaking Noun Subjects.
INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED DIALOGUE
Several new Idioms are “Lord it over” and “Hold back.” The Grammar focuses on Conditionals and Gerunds.
Anne: “Well, if it ain’t the gruesome twosome.”
Alice: “It ain’t. Bonnie has to go to class. See ya, girl!”
Bonnie: “Ciao.”
Anne: “You already graduated, Alice, it’s weird to see you here.”
Alice: “Sometimes I can’t hold myself back.”
Anne: “When I finish my M.A. you won’t be seeing me around here any more.”
Alice: “Is there any place better in the world than Academia?”
Anne: “Hmmm. Had not thought of it like that.”
Alice: “Perfect freedom. No boss lording it over you, no parents, no husband. Just study as you like and date whoever you want.”
Anne: “I guess you have a point. Maybe ‘whomever.’”
Alice: “I teach English, so I’m allowed to blow up the syntax if I want!”
Anne: “Good point. Seems like you’ve kept your freedom.”
Alice: “That’s my character. Anyway language is always evolving. What wasn’t allowed yesterday is now as common as pig tracks.”
Anne: “Alice, since I’ve got you here, tell me how I can ace this writing exam I have next week.”
Alice: “Who’s your prof?”
Anne: “Chandler.”
Alice: “Ya, I know her. You have to write a dialogue, right?”
Anne: “Yes. Up to five hundred words.”
Alice: “Load it up with passion and you’ll be fine. Conflict, overt or subtle. Make it boring and you’re dead in the water.“
Anne: “Got it, thanks!”
Alice: “No problemo.“
VOCABULARY WITH IDIOMS
Gruesome twosome is slang for two people or things considered as a duo or in tandem.
See online Idioms Dictionary. Note: the expression “Well, if it isn’t” or “Well, if it ain’t” is a way of expressing surprise at suddenly seeing someone. The speaker here combines it with the slang “gruesome twosome.”
Ain’t is not an expression Alice would normally use, but she is just echoing the other girl. It is slang, considered grammatically improper, meaning “is not,” “am not,” “are not” “have not,” and “has not.” See online Idioms Dictionary.
Hold back is a phrasal verb which means to restrain oneself. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Lord it over means to assert arrogant superiority over someone in relation to some achievement, advantage, good fortune, etc. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Blow up means to destroy something through an explosion. See online Idioms Dictionary.
As common as pig tracks means very common, ordinary, or widespread. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Ace means to do exceptionally well in something, especially an exam or other high-pressure situation. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Load up means to fill something up with a lot of something. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Dead in the water means completely defunct. See online Idioms Dictionary.
Got it means to have understood or comprehended something. See online Idioms Dictionary.
No problemo is a slang expression for “no problem.” See online Idioms Dictionary.
ENGLISH GRAMMAR
Suggested Topic for Comments: Conditionals
“Make it boring and you’re dead in the water.” This is another Conditional structure put together with an Imperative (remember that Conditionals can take the form of a statement, but sometimes also that of an imperative or a question, especially in informal conversation).
Learn Conversational English
About the Author
English Grammar Categories
480 English Idioms
Home