Out of the picture

(Finn is visiting Feifei)

Feifei:	Hi Finn. I am glad you could come to my house to take a picture of my special friend.
Finn:	My pleasure, Feifei. I take pride in being a great photographer. I brought some of my best pictures.
Feifei:	Let me have a look.
Finn:	Yes. I took this one during a trip to Paris.
Feifei:	I remember. The trip you took last summer with your girlfriend Ann.
Finn:	Oh, Ann ... She is out of the picture. Look at the Eiffel Tower. I bet you've never seen it from this angle.
Feifei:	And this other one ...
Finn:	Yes, yes. This other one I took at a dinner party in my flat.
Feifei:	Yes, with your flatmate Johnny.
Finn:	My ex-flatmate "Dirty Socks" Johnny. He is out of the picture too.
Feifei:	Finn, I can see him in this photo and ... you keep talking about having your friends out of the picture ... I want my friend to be in the picture!
Finn:	Oh, Feifei, no. Ann and Johnny appear in some of my snaps. But Ann is not my girlfriend anymore. She ran away with a Frenchman ...
Feifei:	Oh ... and what happened to Johnny?
Finn:	"Dirty Socks" Johnny moved out. He used to leave his socks everywhere!
Feifei:	Oh, so you are no longer in touch with them.
Finn:	Exactly. In English, when we say someone is "out of the picture" we mean we don't count on them anymore. They are no longer involved in a particular situation. Let's hear some examples.

• Divorce was good for Mrs Jones. She looks very happy with her husband out of the picture.
• My team is bound to lose this weekend now that our best player is out of the picture. He broke his leg yesterday.

Finn: So now that this is clear, where is your special someone? Shall we go out into the garden? The lighting is really good outside. I'll take a great picture!

Feifei:	Follow me. (Outdoors)
Feifei:	Here's my special friend!
Finn:	But this ... Feifei, this is a hamster!
Finn:	Yes! My pet's name is "Cutie Pie"! Oh my little sweetie, little friend! Isn't he cute, Finn?
Finn:	He is not very photogenic, I'm afraid, Feifei.
Feifei:	Come on, Finn. Look at him! (to the hamster) Sweetie yummy come to mummy. You're going to be in the picture! Yes, you are!
Finn:	Oh dear! I can kiss goodbye to my career as a serious photographer ...
Feifei:	Bye.
Finn:	Bye.