She's got a really useful right foot !!!

John	My sister's really keen on soccer.
Eric	Really, what team does she support.
John	She doesn't support any in particular. When I say keen, I mean she's an enthusiastic player. She plays for a local women's team.
Eric	Is she any good ?
John	Well, she's scored ten goals so far this season. She's got a really useful right foot.
Eric	Well if that's the case, you really must take me to see her play sometime.

What a bargain !!!

Jenny	Look what I've got.
Fay	Wow, that's the snazziest looking handbag I've ever seen. Where did you get it ?
Jenny	I got it in Paris on my last trip.
Fay	I bet it cost a fortune ?
Jenny	No it didn't, I got it for half price because the shop was having a clearance sale.
Fay	What a bargain ! You'll have to take me with you next time.

Explanation :

Something that is a bargain is good value for money, usually because it has been sold at a lower price than normal.

Example : At this price the wine is a bargain ...

You've been ripped off !!!

Terry	What do you think of my new suit ?
Michael	Not bad. I like the wide lapels and the pant cuffs. It reminds me of one I saw in the department store the other day. Did you get it there ?
Terry	No, I got it at that new outfitters on the main street.
Michael	How much did it cost ?
Terry	Three hundred and fifty dollars.
Michael	What ? You could have got the one from the department store for $200. You've been ripped off !

Explanation :

If someone rips you off, they cheat you by charging you too much money for something or by selling you something that is faulty

Example : The Consumer federation claims banks are ripping you off by not passing along savings on interest rates ...

My feet are killing me !!!

Marie	You look a bit tired. What have you been doing ?
Yvonne	Shopping for some new outfits.
Marie	Did you get what you want ?
Yvonne	I did, but it took me all day.
Marie	What do you want to do now ?
Yvonne	I just want to sit down somewhere and relax. My feet are killing me !

Explanation :

If you say that something is killing you, you mean that it is causing you physical or emotional pain.

Have you got them in my size ?

Shopper	Excuse me, could you show me to the skirts section please ?
Clerk	Certainly madam, please come this way..
Shopper	Ah! these are just what I've been looking for. Have you got them in my size ? I'm a size 8.
Clerk	Just a moment ..... ! I'm afraid not madam. We appear to be temporarily out of stock.
Shopper	Oh, how disappointing ! When will you next have some in ?
Clerk	We should be getting a delivery at the beginning of next week.

I've got it on thirty days' free trial !!!

Alistair	Why are you talking to your computer. Is it lonely ?
David	No, don't be silly, I'm trying out some new speech recognition software.
Alistair	How does it work ?
David	Well, I just speak what I want to say into the microphone and my words appear on the screen.  It's magic !
Alistair	It must be very expensive.
David	It's not cheap but I haven't actually paid anything yet.
Alistair	How come ?
David	I've got it on thirty days' free trial. If I'm not satisfied with it, I can return it free of charge as long as I do so within 30 days.

I haggled him down to $25 !!!

Danielle	I like your new anorak, it looks really expensive, where did you get it - in that upscale sports shop in the mall ?
Russell	Well thanks, but no I didn't. I got it in the market.
Danielle	How much did you pay for it ?
Russell	Not as much as the man asked for. He wanted $45.
Danielle	That would have been a bit steep, it's almost the shop price.
Russell	I know, but I haggled him down to $25, so I reckon I've got a bit of a bargain.

Explanation :

If you haggle, you argue about something before reaching an agreement, especially about the cost of something that you are buying.

Example : Ella showed her the best places to go for a good buy, and taught her how to haggle with used furniture dealers ....

She is impossible to please !!!

First clerk	I've just had a terrible hour and a half.
Second clerk	Why, what happened ?
First clerk	Well I had a lady customer come in who wanted to buy a pair of shoes. And you know we've got a really good range.
Second clerk	We certainly do. Did she buy a pair ?
First clerk	No, but she didn't leave before getting me to bring her every single pair we had in the shop. And she complained about every single one.
Second clerk	I'd say she was impossible to please.

He's a thoroughbred Boxer with an outstanding pedigree !!!

Jack	Is that your new dog ?
Jill	Yes, we've only had him a week.
Jack	He's really handsome and very lively.
Jill	He should be, he cost a fortune.
Jack	Why was he so expensive ?
Jill	He's a thoroughbred Boxer with an outstanding pedigree that's why. We got him from a top breeder.
Jack	Do you intend to show him ?
Jill	We're not sure; we'll take a breeder's advice on that.

Explanation :

A pedigree animal is descended from animals which have all been of a particular type, and is therefore considered to be of good quality.

Example : a pedigree dog

Our cat had a litter !!!

Millie	What a playful litter kitten! Is it a boy or a girl ?
Janet	It's a girl. We've decided to call her Winkie.
Millie	How sweet ! How old is she ?
Janet	Only six weeks.
Millie	Did you get her from a pet shop ?
Janet	No, our cat had a litter for four and she's the only one left.
Millie	How do you mean ?
Janet	Well we've given the other three to friends but decided to keep her, as she was the prettiest of the bunch.

Explanation :

A litter is a group of animals born to the same mother at the same time.

Example : a litter of pups

They get out of condition !!!

Jack	You're out exercising your dog I see.
Eric	Yes, dogs have to be exercised daily, otherwise they get out of condition.
Jack	What's his name ?
Eric	Rover.
Jack	That's a good name for a dog. Why is he woofing and wagging his tail ?
Eric	Can't you see ? He wants one of us to throw that stick as far as we can for him to fetch.
Jack	I can't disappoint him. Come on boys, ( throw stick ) go fetch !

Explanation :

If someone is out of condition, they are unhealthy and unfit, because they have stopped exercising regularly.

Example : He was too out of condition to clamber over the top.

He's got a taste for exotic pets !!!

Hughes	I'm always a bit apprehensive about visiting Peter.
Jeanie	Why's that ? He's such a nice chap.
Hughes	He is, but he's got a taste for exotic pets.
Jeanie	I didn't know that, such as ?
Hughes	Well, last week when I was there he had a baby iguana running around the place.
Jeanie	A lizard ! Ugh, that would give me the creeps.
Hughes	It's not my idea of a pet. But that's not the only thing he's got. He's had a three-foot python for quite a while now as well.
Jeanie	He ought to get a job in a zoo.

Explanation :

If you have a taste for something, you have a linking or preference for it.

Example : That gave me a taste for reading.

To be neutered !!!

Mary	Can I see the new kittens ?
Isobel	Of course, they're over here with their mother in this basket.
Mary	There are five ! Aren't they tiny and so sweet ?
Isobel	Yes, they're only a few hours old and their eyes haven't opened yet.
Mary	Is this the mother cat's first litter ?
Isobel	Yes it is, and happily they all seem to be healthy.
Mary	Do you expect her to have more in the future ?
Isobel	No, we'll be taking her to the vet to be neutered as soon as she has recovered from the birth.

Explanation :

When an animal is neutered, its reproductive organs are removed.

Example : We ask the public to have their dogs neutered and keep them under close supervision.

That's my aim !!!

Danny	I've just had a great piece of luck.
Fred	Don't tell me you've won the lottery this week.
Danny	Not quite, I've got a free weekly riding lesson at the local riding stables.
Fred	I know you love horses. How did you manage that ?
Danny	I offered to muck out the stables and to help groom the horses for four hours every week.
Fred	That's not a bad bargain. It won't be long before you're an accomplished horseman if you can keep the arrangement going for any length of time.
Danny	That's my aim.

Explanation :

The aim of something that you do is the purpose for which you do it or the result that it is intended to achieve.

Example : ..... a research program that has largely failed to achieve its principalaims.

We must keep him on a leash !!!

Martha	I'm really enjoying this walk in the country and so is the dog.
Hank	Yes, he's running here, there and everywhere.
Martha	Oh look, there are sheep in the next field !
Hank	I'll grab him straight away and put him on the leash. Here boy !
Martha	Thank goodness you managed to catch him before he spotted the sheep and started chasing them.
Hank	Yes, we must keep him on leash from now on. Farmers around here are likely to shoot on sight any dogs they catch worrying their sheep.

Explanation :

A dog's leash is a long thin piece of leather or a chain, which you attach to the dog's collar so that you can keep the dog under control.

Example :  All dogs in public places should be on a leash.

That was for the best !!!

Dan	The parents of children in our street are a lot less worried these days.
Chris	Why's that ?
Dan	One of the neighbors had a very fierce dog which scared everyone. Last week it bit one of the children so badly, she had to be treated in hospital.
Chris	That must have been an awful experience for the little girl. But why did you say they are not worried now ?
Dan	Well they complained about the dog to the police and the police forced the owner to put it down.
Chris	Oh I see. Well I'm sure that was for the best.

Explanation :

If you say that something is for the best, you mean it is the most desirable or helpful thing that could have happened or could be done, considering all the circumstances.

Example :  In the long run, it was for the best ..............

We had to have our cat put to sleep !!!

Cindy	What's the matter, you look as if you've been crying ?
Betsy	I have, I've just come from the vet's.
Cindy	What happened ?
Betsy	We had to have our cat put to sleep. She had a tumor which was incurable.
Cindy	Oh dear ! I'm really sorry to hear that. How old was she ?
Betsy	She was 15, which is quite old for a cat. But she really was like one of the family. That's why we're all so upset.

Explanation :

If a sick or injured animal is put to sleep, it is painlessly killed by a vet.

Example :  I'm going take the dog down to the vet's and have her put to sleep.

Heel girl, heel ! Sit !!!

Zoe	Is that your new dog ? What is it ?
Fay	Yes, she's a chow chow and only six months old.
Zoe	Are you taking her for a walk ?
Fay	That too, but I'm also giving her obedience training.
Zoe	Let's have a demonstration.
Fay	All right, here we go : [ To the dog ] Heel girl, heel ! sit !!!There's a good girl.
Zoe	That's very impressive. She came to heel and sat straight away.
Fay	Yes, she's a very obedient dog.

You have to walk a dog every day !!!

Tania	Why is your dog whining and looking at you so expectantly ?
Barry	It's the time of day. He always does that around now.
Tania	What does he want ?
Barry	He wants me to take him out for a walk.
Tania	Are you going to ?
Barry	Oh yes, but I like to tease him a bit by pretending not to notice.
Tania	Do you take him out every day ?
Barry	Of course, you have to walk a dog every day because it needs the exercise to stay healthy.

Explanation :

If you walk your dog, you take it for a walk in order to keep it healthy.

Example :  I walk my dog each evening around my local streets.

It's very attached to him !!!

Eddie	I'm sorry that the parrot is squawking its head off.
Denise	What's the matter with it ?
Eddie	Well it's just spotted a cat outside the window and it really doesn't like cats.
Denise	Do you ever let it out of its cage ?
Eddie	My father does. It's very attached to him so it perches on his shoulder and behaves itself when he's around.
Denise	Would you ever let it out ?
Eddie	Oh no, because it's more than likely to give me a nasty nip if I do.

Explanation :

If you are attached to someone or something, you are very fond of them.

Example :  She is very attached to her family and friends.