Monday Morning English with Mai

Week

103

 
Travel News wire...


SampleUK to ease visa restrictions for Chinese businessmen, students: UK prime minister David Cameron has promised to implement new procedures that will allow Chinese students and business leaders to process UK visas in just one day. He told business leaders during a visit to Shanghai "If you are investing in Britain, invest more."

This week's Natural Phrase

sloppy work

SampleKenneth: Did you get the roof fixed on your house?

Parker: Yes, but it still leaks when it rains. I think the workers did very sloppy work. I'm going to tell them to redo it.

Explanation: The phrase "sloppy work" means that the job was not done with much care. It may have been done quickly by workers who are not experienced professionals.


This week's Medical Phrase

hinder

SampleMr. Hamilton: Why can't I drink alcohol while I'm taking this medication?

Dr. Saunders: Alcohol will hinder the effectiveness of the drug, so we always ask patients to stay away from alcohol during treatment.

Explanation: The term "hinder" means to cause a problem or partially block the progress of something.

 

This week's Email phrase

pull the plug

SampleDear Conrad:
The new training program is costing too much money. We are paying more than 1,000 dollars for each new trainee. If we can't reduce that figure by next month, we'll have to pull the plug on the whole project.

Explanation: The term "pull the plug" means to cancel a program, or to stop paying for something. It is like pulling the machine's electrical plug from the wall.

 

 

 

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