088 – Rent Increase | ESL Podcast
ESL podcast about a rent increase. Learn Business English as well as spoken daily conversation
Tags: business
English Learning Reading
| Add and I were outside the other day on the starbucks patio near our apartment. We were both in great moods while enjoying our coffees and the sunshine. We were minding our own business when all of a sudden our landlord rudely interrupted our peaceful afternoon with a phonecall. She wanted to jack up our rent by 25%. I tried to bargain with her but it was no use. In the back of my mind I knew I was fighting a losing battle. The rent in the city had been going up for quite a while and we knew that sooner or later this was bound to happen. A: I’m trying to renegotiate my salary with my boss.
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Phrases and Vocabulary used:
Minding our own business: If you are "minding your own business" it means that you are not bothering or interfering with anyone else.
Jack up: This is a slang term that means to increase the price a lot. "That restaurant jacked up all their prices last week"
In the back of my mind: If you think about something in "the back of your mind" it means that you realize it but it isn’t one of your main conscious thoughts. It’s often the kind of thought you don’t want to face. It’s more of a feeling than a thought.
In the back of my mind I knew that my relationship with my girlfriend was going to end soon.
I knew in the back of my mind that I should quit my job and find a better one.
Fighting a losing battle: If you are fighting a losing battle it means that you are still trying to compete but you will eventually lose. For example, the child kept begging his mother to let him stay up late to watch a movie but the mother had already made up her mind to not allow it. The child was fighting a losing battle.
Bound to happen: If something is "bound to happen", it means that it was going to happen sometime in the future.
Don’t worry so much if you don’t like your job. If you keep improving yourself and keep meeting new people, getting a new job is bound to happen.
May 1st, 2008 at 10:31 am
hey,guys. Happy labors’ day
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:18 pm
The website looks awesome!!!
Thanks for the lessons and the articles.
This is a great way to learn English and you make it fun!!!
May 14th, 2008 at 7:02 am
Hey. Nice to hear your voice everyday.
I chanced on your website when I was looking for another something on the Net.
It is so lucky for me to find your website. I will keep listening and reading.
If Possible I want to make a request to you for creating some writing exercise program.
Just hope that. but even now you are doing very very great job.
April 23rd, 2009 at 7:55 am
Good day guys.
Please, look through your 088 monologue, placed on web site. I suppose the last sentence concerns to the previous dialogue: A: I’m trying to renegotiate my salary with my boss. Am I right?
And… thank you for your job!!
September 10th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
That’s great!!!!these guys speak very clear.Keep it up!!!!!!!!!!!
March 8th, 2010 at 11:39 pm
I KNOW IF I KEEP STUDING AND PRACTING ENGLISH, GETTING A NEW POSITION IN MY WORKPLACE IS BOUND TO HAPPEN.
October 12th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
the lessons are always great, however my suggestion is not to use words like SUCKS, because is very unprofessional. thanks a lot