Speak English Around Town Lesson 16 Idioms, Proverbs, Expressions MCQ Test

LESSON 16 – Handling a Delay at the Airport

HANDLING A DELAY AT THE AIRPORT 

Tom’s flight to Chicago on Flyaway Airlines has been delayed and now he worries he’ll miss his meeting. He talks to Mike, a representative of the airline.

VOICE: Attention passengers on Flight 394 to Chicago. This flight has been delayed. Please stand by for more information.

Tom: Excuse me, I’m on the flight to Chicago. When will it depart now?

Mike: It looks like it’ll be delayed at least two hours. I’ll keep you posted.

Tom: I have a 4 o’clock meeting in Chicago. If the flight gets in at 3:30, there’s no way I’ll make it.

Mike: Sorry, but there’s nothing I can do. There are lots of other people here in the same boat.

Tom: Are there any other flights to Chicago?

Mike: Yes, there’s a 1 p.m. departure, but it’s fully booked.

Tom: Can you put me on the waiting list?

Mike: I’ll add you to the list, but don’t hold your breath. There are quite a few people already on the list.

Tom: Can I fly another airline?

Mike: Other airlines won’t honor your Flyaway Airlines ticket.

Tom: Oh, for crying out loud! This is so annoying.

Mike: I’m sorry you’re annoyed, but there’s nothing more I can do.

Tom: Let me give you a piece of my mind. I won’t be using Flyaway Airlines again anytime soon!

Language Lens: Annoyed / Annoying

“Annoying” describes the person, place, or thing that causes one’s feelings. “Annoyed” says how one feels. Something is annoying, so one feels annoyed. Remember: the cause of the feelings ends in -ing. The way one feels ends in -ed. Here’s a list of other word pairs that follow the same pattern:

Examples:
◼ That was an exhausting trip. I feel exhausted!
◼ What shocking news! I’m shocked.
◼ The lecture was boring. I was so bored I almost fell asleep.
◼ These driving directions are confusing. I’m confused.
◼ The massage was energizing. I felt energized afterwards.
◼ This is exciting news! I’m so excited.

IDIOMS

• don’t hold your breath

→ don’t count on it; it’s unlikely

Example: Becky said she’d invite us over for dinner this week, but don’t hold your breath. She’s unreliable.

• for crying out loud

→ an expression one says when annoyed or angry

Example: For crying out loud! Somebody parked right behind us in the parking lot, and now we can’t get our car out!

• fully booked

→ having no availability; with all seats taken

Example: I wanted to take an 8 a.m. flight from New York to London, but the flight was fully booked.

• (to) give someone a piece of one’s mind

→ to tell someone what one really thinks

Example: Our waiter has been really slow all evening. I’m going to give him a piece of my mind!

• (to) honor a ticket

→ to accept a ticket

Example: Since Delta Airlines canceled my flight to Orlando, they promised that another airline would honor my ticket.

• in the same boat

→ in the same bad situation; sharing the same negative experience

Example: When the airport shut down due to a blizzard, I was stuck in the airport. Many other people were in the same boat.

• (to) keep someone posted

→ to update someone; to give someone the latest information

Example: Keep me posted on your flight status.

• no way

→ no chance

Example: The report is due on Friday? There’s no way we’re going to finish it on time.

• put someone on a (or the) waiting list

→ to add somebody to a list of people waiting for a service

Example: You want to upgrade to business class? I’ll put you on the waiting list.

• quite a few

→ many; a fairly large number

Example: Quite a few passengers were stuck at Kennedy Airport overnight after their flights were canceled due to bad weather.

• (to) stand by

→ to wait for further information

Example: Passengers for Flight 52 to Dallas, your flight has been delayed. Please stand by.