2010年ESL之餐饮娱乐 02 Ending a Restaurant Meal_在线英语听力室

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02 Ending a Restaurant Meal

GLOSSARY

to clear the plates – to take dirty plates away from the table after people havefinished eating

* Once you’ve finished eating, I’ll clear the plates so that you two can talk at thetable more comfortably.

out of (one’s) way – no longer in front of another person; no longer blocking orfilling the space that one needs to use for something else

* Could you please move those boxes out of his way? I’m afraid he’s going totrip over them.

doggie bag – a small bag used to carry uneaten food home from a restaurant sothat one can eat it later* She asked the waiter for a doggie bag so that she could take home the leftoverpasta and eat it for lunch the next day.

to wrap (something) up – to package something; to put something in a box orwrap it in plastic or paper to protect it so that it can be used later

* Each December 30th, they wrap up their Christmas ornaments and put themaway until the next year.

to leave room for (something) – to still have space for something, especially tostill have space in one’s stomach so that one can continue to eat more food

* Breccia stopped eating her meal so that she could leave room for dessert.

stuffed – very full, with no room for anything else

* After the Thanksgiving dinner, we were all so stuffed that we sat on the couchand didn’t move for hours.

check – a bill; a small piece of paper showing what one ordered at a restaurant,how much each item cost, and the total amount of money owed

* Waiter, I think there’s a mistake on our check. We didn’t order lobster.

to come right up – to appear or to be available very soon

* - I’d like a cup of coffee, please.

* - Coming right up.

personal check – a small, rectangular piece of paper used to transfer moneyfrom a personal bank account to another person or business

* The store had to stop accepting personal checks, because too many peoplewere writing checks without enough money in their bank accounts to cover them.

credit card – a small piece of plastic that is used to make purchases, with themoney being paid to the credit card company later

* They cut up their credit cards so that they couldn’t continue to spend moneythey didn’t have.

cash – paper or metal money

* Could you please loan me $5? I don’t have any cash, but I want to buy asandwich in the cafeteria.

ATM – automated teller machine; a machine that allows one to take money out ofone’s bank account even when the bank is closed

* Using the ATM is faster than going into the bank to cash a check.

to run out on the check – to leave a restaurant after eating but without paying

* When a couple ran out on the check, the restaurant owner called the police.

ASAP – as soon as possible; as quickly as one can

* Could you please pay the bills ASAP? Some of them are already overdue.

no rush – an informal phrase used to show that one is not in a hurry and thatanother person should take as much time as he or she needs*

- I’ll have the report finished and on your desk first thing tomorrow morning.

* - No rush. Take your time. I don’t need it until the end of the week.

COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. What does the server mean when she asks, “Can I clear these plates?”

a) She wants to know whether she can eat the uneaten food.

b) She wants to know whether she can take the plates home.

c) She wants to know whether they’re finished eating.

2. What does Alvin mean when he says, “I’m stuffed”?

a) He can’t eat any more food.

b) He doesn’t like the food there.

c) He’s on a diet and can’t have dessert.

______________

WHAT ELSE DOES IT MEAN?

to be out of (one's) way

The phrase “to be out of (one’s) way” means to not be in a place where oneinterferes with what another person wants to do, or to not block or fill the spacethat one needs to use for something else: “Can you get all that stuff out of myway? There isn’t enough room on the counter to cook.” The phrase “to be in(someone’s) way” means to be using the space that another person needs, or tobe blocking the path that someone wants to take: “I can’t turn right, because thatother car is in my way.” The phrase “to be out of (one’s) way” also means to bein a very inconvenient location, far from where one was planning to go: “Wehardly ever go to the new park, because it’s really out of our way.”

check

In this podcast, the word “check” means a bill, or a small piece of paper showingwhat one ordered at a restaurant, how much each item cost, and the totalamount of money owed. A “personal check” is a small, rectangular piece ofpaper used to transfer money from a personal bank account to another person orbusiness: “Can I write a personal check to cover our check, or do you take creditcards?” A “check” is also an examination or review of something: “Every month,the school organizes a locker check to look for hidden drugs.” Finally, the phrase“to keep (something) in check” means to keep something under control withoutletting it get worse: “Do you think we’ll be able to keep the water damage incheck until the plumber arrives?”

CULTURE NOTE

Most American restaurants and “diners” (informal restaurants) have similar itemson their dessert menu. For example, most dessert menus include apple “pie,”

which is a dessert made with a round piece of thin, sweet bread filled with sweetfruit and sometimes covered with another piece of the round, sweet bread. Other“flavors” (tastes) of pie are also common, such as pumpkin pie and bananacream pie, but apple pie is probably the most common. There is even a phrase,“as American as apple pie,” used to describe things that are characteristic of theUnited States. If the pie is served “a la mode,” it is served warm with ice cream.

Chocolate cake is also very common, as are “brownies” (small pieces of dense orheavy chocolate cake). These are often covered in “frosting” (a sweet, coloredsubstance put on top of cookies and cakes for decoration) and sometimes havenuts.

“Cheesecake” is made like a pie, but the “filling” (the part on the inside) is madefrom cream cheese and sugar. Cheesecake is very “rich” (very creamy and witha lot of calories) and comes in many flavors, like strawberry cheesecake andraspberry cheesecake.

Most restaurants also offer a small bowl of ice cream or a “sundae” (ice creamcovered with sauces, nuts, and cherries) as part of their dessert menu.

Some restaurants have begun offering dessert “shooters,” where a very small“portion” (serving size; amount for one person) is served in a “shot glass” (a verysmall glass, normally used for measuring or drinking liquor). That way, “diners”

(people who eat at a restaurant) can enjoy dessert without spending a lot ofmoney or worrying about all the extra calories.

______________

Comprehension Questions Correct Answers: 1 – c; 2 – a

COMPLETE TRANSCRIPT

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 559: Ending aRestaurant Meal.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 559. I’m your host, Dr.

Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development inbeautiful Los Angeles, California.

Our website is eslpod.com. If you enjoy these podcasts, consider making a smalldonation to us, or even better, becoming a member of ESL Podcast. Go to ourwebsite for more information.

This dialogue is about someone who is in a restaurant, and they want to leavethe restaurant. So it will describe common vocabulary and phrases you usewhen you are done eating and want to leave. Let’s get started.

[start of dialogue]

Server: Can I clear these plates and get them out of your way?

Alvin: Sure, we’re all done. Can I get the rest of that in a doggie bag?

Server: No problem. I’ll wrap it up for you. Is there anything else I can get you?

Did you leave room for dessert? How about some coffee or tea?

Alvin: No, I’m stuffed. Just the check for me, thanks.

Server: Sure, coming right up.

…Server: Here’s your check. I’ll take that when you’re ready.

Alvin: Do you accept personal checks?

Server: No, I’m afraid we don’t.

Alvin: How about credit cards?

Server: Yes, we do accept credit cards.

Alvin: Here’s my Discover card.

Server: Oh, we don’t accept that one.

Alvin: Okay, here’s my American Express.

Server: Sorry, but we don’t take that one either. We only accept Visa orMasterCard.

Alvin: I don’t have a Visa or MasterCard.

Server: We also accept cash, of course.

Alvin: I don’t have any cash on me. Is there an ATM nearby?

Server: There’s one about three blocks away, but you’ll need to leave somethingwith us so we know you’re not running out on the check.

Alvin: How about my doggie bag?

Server: How about your cell phone or your driver’s license?

Alvin: Okay, here’s my cell phone. I’ll be back ASAP.

Server: No rush. I’ll be right here making a few calls to Bora Bora.

[end of dialogue]

The “server,” the person who works for the restaurant that brings you your foodand asks you what you want to eat, says to Alvin, “Can I clear these plates andget them out of your way?” “To clear the plates” means to take dirty plates awayfrom the table after people have finished eating. In American restaurants it’scommon for the server – the waiter – or someone else, usually someone wewould call the “busboy” (busboy – one word) to come and ask you if you aredone eating, and then take your plates away from you even though you are stillsitting at the table. This isn’t done in every country, but it is done, verycommonly, here in the U.S. at both good restaurants – expensive restaurantsand cheap ones. The server asks, “Can I clear these plates and get them out ofyour way?” “To get something out of (one’s) way” means no longer in front ofyou, no longer blocking or taking up a space. This expression can have othermeanings also; take a look at the Learning Guide for additional explanations.

Alvin says, “Sure (meaning yes), we’re all done (we’re all finished). Can I get therest of that in a doggie bag?” Alvin is asking the server if he can get the rest ofhis food, the food that he didn’t finish on his plate, put in a small bag or containerso he can take it home with him and eat it later. That bag or container is called a“doggie (doggie) bag.” “Doggie” is another word for a dog. The idea is that youwould take it home, perhaps, and give it to your dog. But most people actuallytake it home to eat it themselves, so we use that expression even if you don’thave a dog. This is a custom that is quite different from many countries. Manycountries do not have the custom of taking the food that you did not finish at arestaurant home with you, but in the United States it’s very common, again, atboth inexpensive and expensive restaurants.

The server says, “No problem. I’ll wrap it up for you.” “To wrap (wrap)(something) up” means to put something into a box, or to wrap it in plastic toprotect it so you can use it later. We might also say “to package (something).”

So the waiter is going to put the food – the extra food that Alvin wants into a bag.

She says, “Is there anything else I can get you?” This is a common question atthe end of a meal for the waiter to ask. “Did you leave room for dessert?” thewaiter asks. “To leave room for (something)” means to still have space forsomething; in this case do you have space in your stomach for more food. It’s acommon way of waiters asking, “Did you leave room for dessert?” Of course, thewaiter wants you to buy dessert; he’s trying to - or she is trying - to sell you morefood. “How about some coffee or tea?” Alvin says, “No, I’m stuffed.” “To bestuffed” (stuffed) is an informal expression meaning I’m very full; I’ve eaten toomuch really. Alvin says, “Just the check for me, thanks.” Alvin is asking for thewaiter to bring the bill – to bring the check. “Check” has many other meanings inEnglish. Once again, you’ll find those in the Learning Guide.

The server says, “Sure, coming right up.” The expression, especially in arestaurant, “coming right up” means it will be here very soon, in a very shortamount of time. The server comes back and says, “Here’s your check. I’ll takethat when you’re ready,” meaning I’ll take your money or your credit card whenyou are ready to give it back to me. Alvin says, “Do you accept personalchecks?” Here, the word “check” doesn’t mean the bill; it means a piece of paperthat has you name on it and your bank’s name on it that you sign and give tosomeone, just like you would give them money. So, a check represents moneythat you are giving this person. The person, then, takes the check and puts it inhis or her own bank, and the two banks will transfer the money over. Howevermost restaurants, at least in big cities nowadays, do not accept personal checks.

The server says, “No, I’m afraid we don’t.” “I’m afraid” is just a polite way oftelling someone something perhaps they won’t like. “I’m afraid we don’t accept personal checks,” the waiter is saying. Alvin says, “How about credit cards?”

“Credit cards,” like Visa, MasterCard, American Express, are small pieces ofplastic that you give to someone when you want to buy something. They, then,will take the money from the credit card company, and later you have to pay themoney back to the credit card company – at least you supposed to; not everyonedoes!

The server says, “Yes, we do accept credit cards.” Alvin says, “Here’s myDiscover card.” Discover is another kind of credit card, like a Visa andMasterCard, but not a very popular one. The server says, “Oh, we don’t acceptthat one.” Alvin says, “Okay, here’s my American Express.” Well, manybusinesses accept American Express, but not as many as Visa and MasterCard.

So, this is a restaurant that does not accept American Express. The server says,“Sorry, but we don’t take that one either,” meaning we don’t accept that one; youcan’t use it to pay for your bill. “We only accept Visa and MasterCard.” Alvinsays, “I don’t have a Visa or MasterCard.” Now, Alvin is probably a little stupid,because if you live in the United States, and you want to use a credit card, youshould always have either a Visa or a MasterCard because you should knowmany businesses do not accept Discover or American Express.

The server says, “We also accept cash, of course.” Actual money that you givesomeone is “cash.” Alvin says, “I don’t have any cash on me,” meaning I don’thave any cash with me in my wallet. “Is there an ATM nearby (is there an ATMclose to here)?” An “ATM” is an automated teller machine. It’s a machine thatyou can get money out of from your bank account, any time of the day or nighttypically.

The server says, “There’s one about three blocks away, but you’ll need to leavesomething with us so we know you’re not running out on the check (or yourcheck).” “To run out on the check” means to leave a restaurant without paying.

You go, you eat, and then you leave and you don’t pay for it. Of course, that’sstealing; you’re stealing their food. We use this expression, however, “to run outon,” perhaps because sometimes people actually get up and run out of therestaurant so that they don’t have to pay. I don’t recommend that, by the way!

The server then asks Alvin to leave something with them so that they know hewill come back. Alvin says, “How about my doggie bag (how about the rest of thefood that I ate)?” Of course, that’s not really going to make you come backnecessarily, so the server says, suggesting something else, “How about your cellphone or your driver’s license?” Someone will definitely come back for theirdriver’s license or cell phone. Alvin says, “Okay, here’s my cell phone.” He gives it to the waiter – the server. He says, “I’ll be back ASAP.” “ASAP” means assoon as possible, as quickly as you can.

The waiter says, “No rush.” “No rush” means don’t hurry; it’s an informalexpression; take your time, take all the time you need. The server then tries tomake a joke, “I’ll be right here making a few phone calls to Bora Bora.” “BoraBora” is a small French Island about halfway between the United States andAustralia; it’s in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Bora Bora is considered a veryfar away place. The joke is that the waiter is going to his cell phone in order tomake these phone calls because, presumably, the phone call would beexpensive. Although nowadays, you can just talk to someone on the Internet andit’s free, so you probably don’t need to spend a lot of money. But the waiter isusing it as a joke; Bora Bora simply represents a far away place.

Now let’s listen to the dialogue, this time at a normal speed.