Using English at Work：56 Socializing with Coworkers(2)（在线收听）

Our final story begins with me walking past Van's desk as I'm leaving the office.

I see that he is talking with a group of other people.

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

A "happy hour' is a short period of time, usually one, two, perhaps three hours in the late afternoon and weekdays when many bars have drinks and food that costs less than usual.

Bars have happy hours to get more customers to come in for a drink after work.

Most happy hours are in the early evening, around quitting time between, for example, 5 and 7 or 5:30 and 7:30.

It's been a busy week for me and I need to blow off some steam.

"To blow off some steam" means to get rid of strong emotions and stress that have been building up over time.

After the end of a long, stressful week, many people need a way to blow off some steam and relax.

That's one of the reasons I'm interested in going with Van and the other people to happy hour.

If you and your wife have been fighting a lot recently, for example, you may want to play some sport with your friends to blow off some steam - to get rid of that stress.

Usually that doesn't work, but you can try it!

I agree to go to happy hour so I can blow off some steam, but I also have another reason.

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

The phrase "on top of that" means in addition, also, or moreover.

In other words, it's been a busy week, I need to blow off some steam, and in addition, I don't have any big plans.