Using English at Work：60 Socializing with Coworkers(6)

Next, Van tells a funny story about the last date he went on that didn't go very well.

Van's story is about something that went wrong on his date.

We have a good laugh over his story.

"To have a good laugh" means¹ to laugh very loudly and for a long time about something that is funny.

Many people go to comedy clubs or watch funny movies because they want to have a good laugh.

We all had a great time at happy hour and it was a good way to kick off the weekend.

"To kick off" means to start something with some action or event.

You might kick off a party with some good music, or kick off a conference² with a keynote or introductions³.

We've kicked off, or begun, the weekend by going to this happy hour and having a lot of fun.

Now let's listen as I describe how I socialize with my colleagues⁴ again, this time speaking at a normal speed.

When I walk past Van's desk on my way out of the office, I see that he's talking to a group of people.

He stops and asks if I want to go with them to the happy hour at the restaurant and bar down the street.

It has been a busy week and I need to blow off some steam.

On top of that, I don't have any big plans for the evening, so I say, "yes."

Eight of us walk down the street to Steve's Cantina.

We find a table in the back of the bar and look at the drinks menu.

Happy hour is from 4 to 7 p.m., and the drinks are half price.

We order our drinks and I go to get some snacks and appetizers⁶.

I look at the food that's available and I see a lot of deep-fried foods and chips and dip, so I load up and go back to the table.

One of the guys, Brian, starts to grumble⁷ about work and to bad-mouth the boss.

I'm in no mood to talk about work, so I change the subject.

I ask everybody what his or her plans are for the weekend.

Diana says that she's planning to kick back and relax.

Rodrigo says he has a hot date.

Van tells us a funny story about the last date he went on that didn't go very well. We have a good laugh over it.

We all have a great time at happy hour and it's a good way to kick off the weekend!

That's the end of our 10th and final lesson; it's also the end of our course.

I hope you've enjoyed listening to this course as much as we did putting it together.

Please visit our website at elspod.com to find other courses to help you improve your English.

From Los Angeles, California⁸, I'm Jeff McQuillan. Thanks for listening.

This course has been a production of the Center for Educational Development, in beautiful Los Angeles, California. Visit our website at eslpod.com.

This course was produced by Dr⁵. Jeff McQuillan and Dr. Lucy Tse. Copyright⁹ 2008.s

1 means   

n.方法，手段，折中点，物质财富

参考例句：

• That man used artful means to find out secrets.那人使用狡猾的手段获取机密。
• We must get it done by some means or other.我们总得想办法把它干完。

2 conference   

n.（正式的）会议；讨论

参考例句：

• We're having a conference and we'd like you to sit in.我们将举行一次会议，希望你来旁听。
• The conference will come to a close this afternoon.今天下午会议闭幕。

3 introductions   

n.介绍( introduction的名词复数 )；引言；引进；新采用的东西

参考例句：

• With a smile, he makes introductions all round. 他微笑着将在场的人一一作了介绍。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• This book has a superfluity of introductions and summaries. 此本书中有多余的介绍和摘要。 来自辞典例句

4 colleagues   

n.同事，同僚( colleague的名词复数 )；同人

参考例句：

• He wanted to confer with his colleagues before reaching a decision. 他想与他的同事先商议一下再作出决定。
• She is held in high esteem by her colleagues. 她深受同事的敬重。

5 Dr   

n.医生，大夫；博士(缩)（= Doctor）

参考例句：

• Dr.Williams instructs us in botany.威廉博士教我们植物学。
• The ward of the hospital is in the charge of Dr.Green.医院的这间病房由格林医生负责。

6 appetizers   

n.开胃品( appetizer的名词复数 )；促进食欲的活动；刺激欲望的东西；吊胃口的东西

参考例句：

• Here is the egg drop and appetizers to follow. 这是您要的蛋花汤和开胃品。 来自互联网
• Would you like appetizers or a salad to go with that? 你要不要小菜或色拉？ 来自互联网

7 grumble   

vi.抱怨；咕哝；n.抱怨，牢骚；咕哝，隆隆声

参考例句：

• I don't want to hear another grumble from you.我不愿再听到你的抱怨。
• He could do nothing but grumble over the situation.他除了埋怨局势之外别无他法。

8 California   

n.加利福尼亚(美国)

参考例句：

• He was elected governor of the state of California.他当选为加州州长。
• We were driving on a California freeway.我们正沿着加利福尼亚的一条快车道驾车行驶。

9 copyright   

n.版权，著作权

参考例句：

• He retained the copyright of his book.他保留此书的著作权。
• This company has a proprietorship of the copyright.这家公司拥有版权所有权。