Sinking Feeling
Li: | Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Li. |
Neil: | And I am Neil. Li, let me tell you about this strange dream I had yesterday ... we weren't here. We were somewhere else, in another country ...
(Sound of dreamy music) |
Neil: | We were lucky to find these cheap tickets and fly here to the United States, weren't we? This is a wonderful place, Li. |
Li: | Yes, this is a wonderful place! |
Neil: | ... where we found a boat and decided to sail on this river! Blue sky, blue water ... Don't you feel at one with nature, Li? |
Li: | Of course, yes, I do feel in harmony with nature. But we've been sailing for a while now and I'm not sure where we are ... Where are we, Neil? |
Neil: | I'm not sure either. What I can say is that ... this boat is rocking a lot, isn't it? ... |
Li: | Yes, but it must be normal. |
Neil: | ... and I must confess I'm not a very strong swimmer ... |
Li: | Don't think about it Neil, just admire the view. |
Neil: | But I have a sinking feeling! |
Li: | A sinking feeling Neil?! What's going on? Are your feet wet? Can you see water coming into the boat? |
Neil: | No, there's no water in the boat. Having a sinking feeling is what you say in English when you realise something bad is happening or about to happen. |
Examples |
Neil: | Well, while we were admiring the view a few minutes ago I saw a sign over there on the bank of the river that said: Niagara Falls. I've heard this name somewhere and I don't think it's good. I don't remember why but ... |
Li: | What?! Niagara Falls! Did you say that? It has a vertical drop of some 50 metres, Neil! Do you know that? |
Neil: | Yes, now I remember! I saw it in a movie! I have a sinking feeling! Grab this life jacket, Li! |
Li: | Thank you. Now I have a sinking feeling too! |
Neil: | Here we goooooooooooooooo! |
Li: | Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!
(Sound of alarm clock) |
Neil: | And that's when I woke up, Li. |
Li: | That's good, Neil. But now I have a sinking feeling. |
Neil: | Why is that? |
Li: | We have been so distracted chatting about your dream that we've missed our train and we will be late for work! Let's run and get a taxi. Bye! |
Neil: | Bye! |