Speak English Like an American Lesson 11 Idioms and Expressions MCQ Test
LESSON 11 – Bob Drives a Hard Bargain
BOB DRIVES A HARD BARGAIN
Carol from the Village Market calls Bob to discuss Susan’s Scrumptious Cookies. Carol and Bob discuss how much Bob will receive for each cookie.
Carol: Hi Bob. How’s it going?
Bob: Fine thanks, Carol. How are you?
Carol: Can’t complain. Bob, I’ve had a chance to crunch some numbers. I can pay you 50c per cookie.
Bob: That’s out of the question. At that price, it’s not worth our while. The ingredients alone cost us 30c per cookie.
Carol: Okay, let me sweeten the deal — 60c per cookie?
Bob: Carol, my wife and I need to make a living from this business.
Carol: Okay, okay, you’ve twisted my arm. I’ll pay you 75c per cookie. Take it or leave it!
Bob: Now you’re talking! We’ll take it.
Carol: You drive a hard bargain, Bob.
Bob: Yes, but we make a good cookie.
Carol: Let’s get the ball rolling. Bring me 2,000 cookies on Monday morning by 9 a.m.
IDIOMS
- can’t complain
→ things are going well; I’m fine
EXAMPLE 1: “How’s business, Mike?” – “Can’t complain. I sold a lot of computers this month.”
EXAMPLE 2: “How are things going at your new job?”- “Can’t complain.”
- (to) crunch numbers
→ to perform calculations (especially financial calculations)
EXAMPLE 1: Scott loves to crunch numbers, so he decided to become an accountant.
EXAMPLE 2: Wendy spends all her time at work in front of the computer crunching numbers and analyzing sales data.
- (to) drive a hard bargain
→ to be tough in negotiating an agreement; to negotiate something in one’s favor
EXAMPLE 1: I wanted to pay less for the car, but the salesman drove a hard bargain.
EXAMPLE 2: Eric drove a hard bargain and got the company to raise their salary offer by $15,000.
- (to) get the ball rolling
→ to get started
EXAMPLE 1: Let’s get the ball rolling on this project. We’ve only got one week to finish it.
EXAMPLE 2: If we don’t get the ball rolling on our vacation plans soon, we’ll end up going nowhere.
- How’s it going?
→ How are you?
EXAMPLE 1: “How’s it going?” I asked Ted. “Everything’s fine. How are you?” he replied.
EXAMPLE 2: “How’s it going?” Vladimir asked me. “Not bad,” I replied.
- (to) make a living
→ to earn enough money to support oneself
EXAMPLE 1: Many people laugh at him, but Bill actually makes a living selling gourmet dog food.
EXAMPLE 2: Danny makes some money playing his guitar on street corners, but not enough to make a living.
- now you’re talking
→ you’re saying the right thing
EXAMPLE 1: You want to offer me free tickets to the J. Lo concert? Now you’re talking!
EXAMPLE 2: You’d like to offer me a $10,000 raise and a corner office? Now you’re talking!
- out of the question
→ impossible
EXAMPLE 1: My friend Emily wanted me to climb Mount McKinley with her, but I told her it was out of the question.
EXAMPLE 2: You want to borrow my new car and drive it across the country? I’m sorry, but that’s out of the question.
- (to) sweeten the deal
→ to make an offer more attractive
EXAMPLE 1: IBM offered to sweeten the deal by giving John a company car if he agreed to work for them.
EXAMPLE 2: We really want you to take the job here at Magna Corporation, so let us know what we can do to sweeten the deal.
- take it or leave it
→ accept or reject an offer, usually a final one
EXAMPLE 1: The highest salary we can offer you is $50,000 a year — take it or leave it.
EXAMPLE 2: I’m offering to do the dishes for one week if you’ll help me with my science project. Take it or leave it.
- (to) twist (someone’s) arm
→ to persuade someone; to convince someone
EXAMPLE 1: Ted didn’t want to get another tattoo on his back, but Amber twisted his arm.
EXAMPLE 2: Okay, you’ve twisted my arm. You can borrow my new car and drive it across the country.
- worth one’s while
→ worthy of one’s effort or time
EXAMPLE 1: It would be worth your while to audition for the game show Jeopardy. You’d probably win a lot of money.
EXAMPLE 2: Let me make it worth your while to work weekends. I’ll pay you an extra $10 per hour on Saturdays and Sundays.
