Daily English 7 (2 of 2)

“I always have to stand in line” because it's so busy.

To stand in line means to wait behind other people.

In England, they would say to queue; in the US we say to stand in line.

I say, “That's usually a pain.

” When we say something is a “pain” (pain) we mean that it's very inconvenient or uncomfortable - something you do not like.

People will also say a pain in the neck or a pain in the “butt” (butt).

Those are the same basic meanings.

Something that's a pain in the neck or a pain in the butt means it's not something that you like, it's very inconvenient.

“On Fridays, I usually go out to lunch” - I go to eat somewhere else - “with a few friends from work.

On casual Fridays, we can kick back a little and take it easy.

” “Casual” (casual) is the same as informal.

In many companies in the United States, they have casual Friday, and that's a day where you do not have to wear as nice of clothing.

Maybe you'll wear a t-shirt and not a suit jacket, or you don't have to wear a tie, and it's also a day where people feel a little more relaxed.

Usually it has to do with what you can wear to work.

Well, in the story I say that “On casual Fridays, we can kick back a little and take it easy.

” “To kick back” (kick back) – two words – means to relax.

It's an informal expression that means that you are relaxing, and take it easy also means relax.

Kick back is a little more informal; it's something that you might do, for example, with your friends.

And, if you drink alcohol, you might have some alcohol and relax; that's to kick back.

Now let's listen to the story, this time at a normal speed.

[Start of story]

On the way to the office, I was thinking about what I have on my agenda today.

When I get to my desk, there is a stack of new memos and papers in my inbox.

When I turn on my computer, I see at least two-dozen emails I need to go through.

Just as I start in on the email, my phone rings.

It's my project manager, Julie, asking me to come in for a conference call with our head office.

I don't get back to my desk for nearly two hours.

By that time, I was ready for a break.

At 10:30, I head down to the break room and get some hot water at the water cooler to make some tea.

There were a couple of other people on break, having snacks out of the vending machine and reading the new notices on the bulletin board.

I run into Sam, one of my friends at work, and we chat a little before going back to work.

Before long, it's time for lunch.

I usually bring my lunch with me to work and eat it at my desk.

If I don't have time to pack a lunch, I sometimes go across the street for some take-out.

The only trouble is, it's always so busy during the lunch hour and I always have to stand in line.

That's usually a pain.

On Fridays, I usually go out to lunch with a few friends from work.

On casual Fridays, we can kick back a little and take it easy.

[End of story]