Drill 4

Dialogue

A:Will you keep an eye on my books? I'll be back in five minutes.

B:Where are you going? Are you up to something? You look as though you are.

A:Not really. But here comes Dorothy. I'd just as soon she didn't see me.

B:Why not?

A:She had her heart set on seeing a movie. I promised to take her. Then I discovered I didn't have any money. I phoned her and said I was sick.

B:Relax. She's going out the other door. You're safe for the time being.

A:That was a close call.

Definitions

keep an eye on something, someone — watch in the sense of take care of Will you keep an eye on my baby while I go to the store?

be up to something — something doing something that one shouldn't do

Henry's been smiling to himself all morning. I think he's up to something, but I don't know what it is.

just as soon — prefer that one thing be done rather than another My wife wants to attend that lecture, but I'd just as soon stay home. have one's heart set on something — want something very much

I don't know what to do. My wife has her heart set on a new coat for her birthday, but I don't have enough money to buy it.

for the time being — for the present time

I need a new car, but for the time being this one will have to do.

a close call — a situation in which something bad almost happened I had a close call! A big truck almost hit me!

Substitution drill

Repeat the following sentences, using the substitutions listed.

1.Will you keep an eye on my books? my children?

the class? the students? our car?

my dog? Jim's cat?

2.Where are you going? Are you up to something? What are you doing?

Who are you calling? Who are you writing to? Why are you laughing? Why are you smiling? What are you drawing?

3.I'd just as soon she didn't see me.

they didn't find me.