Splash out
(Li bumps into Finn at an expensive hotel in the Caribbean)
| Li: | Glorious sunshine, lovely swimming pool ... Ah, this is the life! Oh, isn't that Finn? Finn! What are you doing here? |
| Finn: | Hello Li! I'm on holiday! You, too? |
| Li: | Yes! I am. |
| Finn: | Don't you love the Caribbean? And it's a great hotel, isn't it? Come on, sit by the pool with me here ... have some champagne ... |
| Li: | Oh, champagne?! |
| Finn: | Yes. What better than enjoying a little bubbly—a little champagne—here under the tropical sun? |
| Li: | But Finn ... last week you told me you had no money—you said you were skint. This is a pretty expensive holiday! |
| Finn: | Yeah. That's true. But you know what? Our boss called me into his room and said I was up for a promotion! So I thought—you only live once and you've got to splash out! Actually, I do fancy a swim. Here we go! |
| (Finn dives into the pool) | |
| Li: | Well, that big splash was Finn diving into the pool. Looks like he's enjoying his holiday! He also said it's good to 'splash out' now and again. |
| Finn: | Hi, Li. It's lovely here in the water! |
| Li: | Good, good! But his phrase 'to splash out' has nothing to do with diving. It means to spend a lot of money on pleasant things you don't really need—and it's our phrase in The English We Speak today. Let's hear some examples: |
| I was feeling sad last week, so I splashed out on a new computer and ... I felt great! | |
| I had to queue for ages to get my shopping yesterday. The shops were full of people splashing out after pay day. | |
| Li: | Here he comes. I hope he enjoyed his swim as I have some bad news for him. |
| Finn: | Ah, what a swim! It's great being here on holiday, isn't it Li? |
| Li: | Finn ... |
| Finn: | Yes? |
| Li: | You know you said our boss offered you a promotion ... ? |
| Finn: | Yes? |
| Li: | Well, did he actually offer it to you? |
| Finn: | Not exactly. He said I'm a very good worker, and ... well, he didn't actually offer me anything. But I thought ... well, he would ... |
| Li: | You see Finn, the promotion ... he offered it to me! |
| Finn: | Oh ... Li ... well ... congratulations and ... Well, I'd better pack and leave tomorrow ... It's an expensive hotel ... |
| Li: | Well, you're probably right. But our boss might consider you for a bonus later in the year. |
| Finn: | That would be good. Yes. |
| Li: | Sorry Finn. But let's not let the Caribbean sun go to waste. How about another splash—just a swim, I mean? |
| Finn: | OK. |
| Li: | I can race you to the other end. Come on! |
| Finn: | OK! Alright! Here we go! Bye. |
| Li: | Bye. |
| (Li and Finn run to the pool and dive into the water) |