500 frases en inglés realmente útiles (La serie completa) by Jenny Smith

secret and lying but until recently I felt that it was pretty clear cut . Anyway, in my area there is a young unemployed guy called Tim of about 25 who lives near me. He always seems to be hanging around and not doing much. One day he asked me if I needed any work doing. Usually I’d decline but I felt like giving him a chance so I got him to clean my garden. I was on my way out so I gave him the key to the shed and told him to get on with it. I was cutting it a bit fine for work so I didn’t get the chance to go into detail about what needed doing before I had to run off.

    Phrases:
    To be fed up with something: this is when you no longer have patience for something. You’ve had enough of something.
    Example: I’m totally fed up with his rudeness, next time he says something to me I’m going to scream.

    Some might say: this means that ‘this is an opinion some people hold’. It doesn’t necessarily mean that you hold this view as well.
    Example: He’s very old, some might say that it’s time that he retires and lets someone else run the company.

    There’s a fine line between A and B: this means that even though A and B are different the line between them is not always clear. It’s often used to illustrate that a situation or event could be viewed in a negative way.
    Example: There’s a fine line between being pushy because you want someone to achieve something and actually bullying them.

    To hang around: this means to wait/stand around not doing much.
    Example 1: The man asked the police to hang around until he was sure that the threat had passed.
    Example 2: I hate going shopping with my wife as I just end up hanging around waiting for her.

    Clear cut: very clear.
    Example: He was the clear cut winner.

    To cut it fine: to almost be late for something. For example if it usually takes at least 10 minutes to get somewhere and you only have exactly ten minutes to get there then you are cutting it fine. You may be on time but only just.
    Example: It’s Christmas eve and I still haven’t bought any presents. As per usual I’m cutting it a bit fine.

Part Two

    While I was at work it completely slipped my mind that he’d been working on my garden. So it was a pleasant surprise when I saw what a good job he had done. After that I got him to do my garden on an as and when basis . Also, that summer at my work, the caretaker retired so I suggested to Tim that he apply for the Job. At first he wasn’t up for it but I convinced him that it was better than just wasting his time all day sitting around. Eventually he applied for the job and got it, but he always seemed to be a bit uncomfortable. At first I thought that it was just a case of taking time to settle in , but after a few months of working there he was still acting strangely.

    Phrases:
    To slip one’s mind: to forget something. This has the feeling of being temporary and about something that is not that important .
    Example: I’m sorry that I forgot to return the library book, it completely slipped my mind.

    On an as and when basis: this means that this thing will happen at different times and dates when it is needed. It is not on a schedule. For example if you clean your car every week then that is not ‘as and when’. However if you clean it whenever it gets dirty then you can say ‘I clean it on an as and when basis’.
    Example: I go food shopping on an as and when basis, there’s no real schedule.

    To be up for something: to be keen to do something.
    Example: Are you up for going to France this weekend?
    Note: Be very careful when using this as it can sometimes refer to sexual activities.

    To settle in (somewhere): to become comfortable somewhere. To get used to living (etc) somewhere.
    Example: It took me a while to settle in when I moved schools but I like it here now.

Part Three

    One morning I arrived at work and discovered that Tim had been suspended from his job. I went to my boss and asked him what had happened. He told me that Tim