Some days nothing works. The car won't start, the milk is gone, the lift stops between floors. Eight phrases for the day that doesn't go to plan — and for telling someone calmly what happened.
1. My Fault Entirely
Dan: The booking's for the wrong night.
Ivy: I think I messed up.
Dan: Can we change it?
Ivy: Ringing them now.
Dan: Any luck?
Ivy: They've moved it. No charge.
2. Nothing Left
Nils: Is there milk?
Ama: We've run out.
Nils: Since when?
Ama: Since your third coffee.
Nils: Black it is.
Ama: Black it is.
3. It Died on the Road
Sasha: Where are you?
Erol: Roadside. The car broke down.
Sasha: Are you somewhere safe?
Erol: Behind the barrier. Recovery's on its way.
Sasha: Ring me when they arrive.
Erol: Will do.
4. Stuck in the Lift
Rui: Are you on your way up?
Kate: I got stuck in the lift.
Rui: Seriously?
Kate: Twelve minutes. They've opened it now.
Rui: Take the stairs next time.
Kate: Forever, probably.
5. We'll Sort It Out
Hugo: The invoice has the old address.
Lea: I'll sort it out this afternoon.
Hugo: Does it delay payment?
Lea: A day, no more.
Hugo: Then it's not a crisis.
Lea: It never was.
6. Someone Has to Do It
Pete: Who's dealing with the complaint?
Uma: I'll deal with it.
Pete: It's a long one.
Uma: I've read it. Twice.
Pete: Better you than me.
7. Not Today, Thanks
Ola: Are we still painting on Saturday?
Finn: Can we put it off a week?
Ola: Any reason?
Finn: Rain all weekend.
Ola: Put off. Next Saturday.
Finn: Thanks.
8. Leave It With Me
Ines: Nobody's booked the room.
Marek: I'll take care of it.
Ines: By five?
Marek: By three. I know the man on reception.
Ines: Of course you do.
Words to know
| mess up | to do something badly or make a mistake I think I messed up. |
| run out | to have none of something left Is there milk? We've run out. |
| break down | to stop working (machines and vehicles) Roadside. The car broke down. |
| get stuck | to be unable to move or continue I got stuck in the lift. |
| sort out | to fix a problem or put things in order I'll sort it out this afternoon. |
| deal with | to take responsibility for a problem I'll deal with it. |
| put off | to move something to a later time Can we put it off a week? |
| take care of | to handle something so nobody else has to I'll take care of it. |
Quick practice
Complete each sentence with an expression from the lessons.
1. A: The booking's for the wrong night.
B: I think I ________ up.
2. A: Is there milk?
B: We've ________ out.
3. A: Where are you?
B: Roadside. The car ________ down.
4. A: Are you on your way up?
B: I got ________ in the lift.
5. A: The invoice has the old address.
B: I'll ________ it out this afternoon.
6. A: Are we still painting on Saturday?
B: Can we ________ it off a week?
Show the answers
1. messed 2. run 3. broke 4. stuck 5. sort 6. put
Common mistakes
Not: We've run out the milk.
Say: We've run out of milk.
Run out needs of before the thing. Without it, the sentence means you ran out of a building.
Not: My car broke yesterday.
Say: My car broke down yesterday.
A car breaks down. Broke alone means it snapped into pieces.
Not: I'll deal it tomorrow.
Say: I'll deal with it tomorrow.
Deal always keeps with. Compare sort it out, which takes no preposition at all.
Your turn
Think of the last week that went wrong. Say these five things aloud, using the phrases from this lesson.
- Describe one thing you messed up recently and how you fixed it.
- Say what you do when you run out of something at eleven at night.
- Tell the story of a car, bus or train that broke down.
- Offer to handle a problem for a colleague, using I'll deal with it.
- Name one job you keep putting off, and say why.
Quick review
Notice which phrases hold on to their little word. Run out of, deal with and take care of never lose theirs. Sort out and put off let it sit in the middle: sort it out, put it off. Say all five aloud until the shape is automatic.