Speak English Around Town Lesson 23 Idioms, Proverbs, Expressions MCQ Test
LESSON 23 – Running Late
RUNNING LATE
Anna apologizes for being late to a meeting. Rich is angry that shes late, but their colleague Kyle suggests they stop discussing it and start the meeting.
Anna: I’m sorry I’m late. I hope I didn’t hold up the meeting.
Rich: We’ve all been here since 9 o’clock. We’ve been waiting here for half an hour!
Anna: I’m sorry to keep you waiting.
Rich: Anna, I’m onto you. You’re always late!
Anna: I was meeting with a client across town and that meeting ran over.
Rich: It’s always one excuse after another with you, Anna. We’ve all got busy schedules.
Kyle: Rich, don’t make a mountain out of a molehill. Anna apologized for being late.
Rich: Next time you’re running late, give me a head’s up, I believe you have my phone number.
Anna: I didn’t realize that being 20 minutes late was going to be such a big deal.
Kyle: I suggest we get the ball rolling. We’re already running behind.
Anna: Good idea!
Language Lens: For/Since
Since and for both introduce periods of time.
=> Since refers to the time period when something began. Use since when referring to a specific time period, time of day, or date:
◼ since 1995
◼ since 11 a.m. yesterday
◼ since last year
◼ since the Renaissance
Examples with since:
◼ We’ve been living in Chicago since 1996. (specific time = since)
◼ I’ve been in Paris since last Monday, and I’m leaving tomorrow. (specific time = since)
◼ Jen has been watching TV since 5 o’clock. (specific time = since)
Note: You will never use since + ago. We’ve been running this business since last year. (NOT: since one year ago)
=> For is used to express the duration (or length) of the activity.
◼ for two years
◼ for an hour
◼ for decades
Examples with for:
◼ We have been living in Chicago for ten years. (duration = for)
◼ I’ll be in Paris for a week. (duration = for)
◼ I’ll be out of the office for several hours. (duration = for)
Common expressions with since and for:
◼ Joan has been studying Chinese for ages, and she still doesn’t speak it well! ( for ages = for a very long time)
◼ We’ll be staying in this apartment for the time being. ( for the time being = for now; for a while)
◼ Since when do you wear perfume to school? ( since when = When did you start doing that?)
◼ Ever since you told me that Cindy likes to gossip, I haven’t told her anything. (ever since = starting when; since the time when)
IDIOMS
- across town
→ on the other side of town
Example: The restaurant you suggested is across town. Can you recommend someplace closer?
- big deal
→ a problem; an issue
Example: When Paul’s pipes leaked and his kitchen flooded, it was a big deal.
- (to) get the ball rolling
→ to get started
Example: Emily and Tracy came up with a great idea for a new business, but they’re not sure how to get the ball rolling.
- (to) give someone a head’s up
→ to let someone know in advance
Example: Let me give you a head’s up. Ben is going to be calling you later this week for some career advice.
- (to) hold up
→ to delay
Example: If I’m not at your office at 11, please don’t hold up the meeting. I’ll come as soon as I can.
- It’s always one excuse after another with you
→ you never take the blame for things, instead you give an excuse
Example: Last night you couldn’t clean up after dinner because you had homework. Tonight, you can’t clean up because you have soccer practice. It’s always one excuse after another with you.
- (to) keep someone waiting
→ to be late for an appointment, causing the person you are meeting with to wait
Example: I’m a few minutes late. Sorry to keep you waiting.
- (to) make a mountain out of a molehill
→ to make a big deal out of something small; to get upset about a small issue
Example: I already apologized for forgetting to deposit the check. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.
- (to be) onto someone
→ to be aware of someone’s behavior; to be suspicious of someone about something
Example: I know Bill spends half his day on job search websites. I’m onto him.
- (to) run behind
→ to be behind schedule
Example: The hair stylist told me she was running behind because her previous client showed up 20 minutes late.
- (to) run late
→ to be late; to start something later than scheduled
Example: I’m calling my boss to tell her I’m running late and won’t be in the office until 9:30.
- (to) run over
→ to last longer than scheduled (referring to meetings, interviews, etc.)
Example: The meeting ran over by 15 minutes.
