• Recognise, understand and produce idiomatic expressions and British colloquial language (including commonly used slang) in the context of the pub and drinking.
  • Use repetition, intensifying adverbs, extreme words and expressions to emphasise things.
  • Use vague language to sound more natural and speak more fluently.
  • Improve listening skills for specific information.
  • Recognise subtle differences in meaning.
  • Improve understanding of informal and unfamiliar words in reading and listening exercises.
  • Improve understanding of spoken English at a fast pace.
  • Understand reading materials and listening exercises that include colloquial British language and unfamiliar terms, in the context of travelling in Chile.

Vocabulary flash cards for Chile lesson: 

https://quizlet.com/join/CCKChRNKb

Newspaper and website articles:

https://culturalatlas.sbs.com.au/chilean-culture/chilean-culture-religion

https://www.cfr.org/article/latin-americas-new-economic-model-may-emerge-chile

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falklands_War

https://candidrich.com/2023/08/29/city-profile-valparaiso-for-the-history-buffs-and-culture-vultures/

https://candidrich.com/2023/10/25/country-profile-chile-a-scarred-land-for-the-history-buffs-and-culture-vultures/

Exercise 1

Click on exercise 1 and read the blog entry ‘Getting acquainted with sunny Santiago’.

What are Rich’s key observations and comments regarding:

  • family and independence
  • contrasting impressions of Santiago
  • the importance of the internet
  • the impact of the landscape

Getting acquainted with sunny Santiago

Not one to be easily deterred and certainly not by my most recent *escapade in Romania, I decided to try again and head out on a new adventure.  I had always wanted to travel around South America; I’d spent two weeks in Colombia back in 2010 and I had a whale of a time, which drove my desire to explore more of the continent.  

I flew to Santiago, Chile in late November 2022. It’s always a worry when you have to say goodbye to elderly parents, but you have to live your own life, all you can do is hug them and pray you’ll see them on your return.   I was in a fortunate position that I could work online, so as long as there was good internet and a base to work from, I was set.  I chose to base myself in the capital, Santiago.  I’d always romanticised Santiago, it’d just sounded *sophisticated and *exotic, and it’d held a certain *mystique in my mind, ever since I was young lad, although admittedly I didn’t know much about Santiago or Chile for that matter.  After some googling, I found that Santiago had some of the fastest internet speeds on the continent; it seemed like a good place to start.  

However, my first impressions of the city did not fit with my romanticised *notion, which is often the case.  Initially, I found the city pleasant, *albeit a little soulless and *sterile, especially compared to places I’d visited in Colombia on my previous trip to South America 13 years ago.  I told myself that it was a good thing; a nice gentle introduction to life back on the continent and I was sure the secrets of the city would reveal themselves to me over time. On the plus side the weather was gorgeous from the get-go, a steady 30c and sunny every day, perfect for exploring.   

One of the first things I did upon arrival in the city, and this is something I’d recommend all visitors do to get a good feel for Santiago, is to take the *funicular up Cerro San Cristóbal hill, which is conveniently situated in the heart of the city. An alternative way to the top, for those feeling more energetic, is to hike through the hill’s *lush greenery to the summit providing a serene escape from the urban *hustle and bustle below.  Sitting proudly at the top is the iconic statue of the Virgin Mary, a *manifestation of the importance of Christianity to those she watches over. The panoramic *vistas that she looks out upon are quite spectacular.  Whilst gazing out over the urban sprawl below, the juxtaposition of the flatness of the city spread out before the Andes struck me.  One particular image that I noted would make a good screensaver, was the skyscrapers of the financial district in the forefront with The Andes *looming large in the backdrop. The mountains in fact are one of the first, if not the first, things you really notice about the city. Their omnipresence is inescapable, for instance, one late afternoon as the sun was coming down, I was riding the bus back home and as the bus thundered along one of the main veins out of the city, I looked down an adjacent street as we *whizzed by and bam, they hit me in the face.  I squinted from the low sun *perched above the horizon, before it, disappeared again behind more buildings. *Out of blue I felt slightly emotionally by this, and then questioned whether I was unstable, a question I often ask myself hehehe, before telling myself that it was a perfectly natural reaction.  The mountains finding me is something that happened a lot. They’d catch my eye out of nowhere, and then I was captivated, and my mind would *drift as if in their spell.  I’ve always been *mesmerised and drawn to mountains for as long as I can remember, and to be able to look out on to the Andes was something special, but I still wasn’t sure what to make of the city as a whole. 

*escapade (n) – a short and often spontaneous adventure or trip, typically characterized by excitement or unusual activities 

*romanticise (v) – to talk about something in a way that makes it sound better than it really is, or to believe that something is better than it really is 

*Sophisticated (adj) – having a high level of elegance or complexity, often suggesting very good taste. 

*Exotic (adj) – something that is foreign, unusual, or different from what is familiar, often associated with foreign cultures or places 

*mystique (n) –  an aura of mystery and fascination that surrounds a person, place, or thing, making it seem intriguing. 

*albeit (conjunction) – although  

*sterile (adj) – lacking inspiration, life, energy

*funicular (n) a special type of railway that travels up and down steep slopes, with the carriages being pulled by a strong metal rope 

*lush (adj) – a lush area has a lot of green, healthy plants, grass, and trees 

*hustle and bustle (phrase) – noise and activity 

*vistas (n) [ C ] – a view, especially a beautiful view from a high position 

*loom (v) – to appear as a large shape that is not clear, especially in a frightening or threatening way

*whizz (v) – to move or do something very fast 

*perch (v) – to sit on or near the edge of something 

*mind drifts or mind wanders (idiomatic expression) – the brain generates thoughts that are unrelated to what the person is actually doing at that moment.  

Note: for definitions of words in italics, see exercise 2

  • Family and Independence: Rich expresses concern about leaving elderly parents but also highlights the importance of pursuing personal independence and adventure, ultimately choosing to embark on his journey. 
    • “It’s always a worry when you have to say goodbye to elderly parents…” 
    • “…all you can do is hug them and pray you’ll see them on your return.” 
  • Contrasting Impressions:  Rich discusses how his initial romanticised impressions of Santiago, Chile, did not match the reality he experienced upon arrival. He initially found the city pleasant but somewhat soulless and sterile compared to their previous travels in South America.  
    • “Initially, I found the city pleasant, albeit a little soulless and sterile…”
    • “A nice gentle introduction to life back on the continent…” 
  • The Internet: Rich notes the importance of fast internet, highlighting the practical considerations in selecting Santiago as their base. 
    • “After some googling, I found that Santiago had some of the fastest internet speeds on the continent; it seemed like a good place to start.” 
  • The Landscape: The story describes the Andes Mountains and their impact on the Rich’s emotions and perceptions, with a particular emphasis on their captivating beauty. 
    • “One particular image that I noted would make a good screensaver was the skyscrapers of the financial district in the forefront with The Andes looming large in the backdrop.” 
    • They’d catch my eye out of nowhere, and then I was captivated, and my mind would drift as if in their spell. 

Exercise 2

Find the words below in italics in the text and use the sentence to think about their meaning.  Then click on ‘exercise 2’ and check you understand their meaning by matching them with their definition. 

  • deterred (v) 
  • (have a) whale of a time (idiom) 
  • romanticised (v) 
  • notion (n) 
  • serene (adj)  
  • manifestation (n) 
  • juxtaposition (n) 
  • omnipresence (n) 
  • out of the blue (idiom) 
  • mesmerised (v) 

Match each word 1-10 to its correct definition a-j:  

  1. deter  
  2. have a whale of a time  
  3. romanticise  
  4. notion  
  5. serene  
  6. manifestation 
  7. juxtaposition  
  8. omnipresence 
  9. out of the blue  
  10. mesmerise 

a) if something happens _________, it is completely unexpected  

b) a belief or idea  

c) to talk about something in a way that makes it sound better than it really is, or to believe that something is better than it really is 

d) a sign of something existing or happening 

e) to prevent someone from doing something or to make someone less enthusiastic about doing 

f) the act or an instance of putting two or more things next to each other to compare or contrast or to create an interesting effect

g) the fact of being present or having an effect everywhere at the same time 

h) enjoy yourself very much 

i) peaceful and calm; worried by nothing 

j) to have someone’s attention completely so that they cannot think of anything else

Answers: 1e, 2h, 3c, 4b, 5i, 6d, 7f, 8g, 9a, 10j 

  1. deter – to prevent someone from doing something or to make someone less enthusiastic about doing something by making it difficult for that person to do it or by threatening bad results if they do it 
  2. have a whale of a time – enjoy yourself very much 
  3. romanticise – to talk about something in a way that makes it sound better than it really is, or to believe that something is better than it really is 
  4. notion – a belief or idea 
  5. serene – peaceful and calm; worried by nothing 
  6. manifestation – a sign of something existing or happening 
  7. juxtaposition – the act or an instance of putting two or more things next to each other to compare or contrast or to create an interesting effect 
  8. omnipresence – the fact of being present or having an effect everywhere at the same time) 
  9. out of the blue – if something happens _________, it is completely unexpected 
  10. mesmerise – to have someone’s attention completely so that they cannot think of anything else 

Exercise 3

Use the words in the box to complete the sentences. The first one is done for you.

  1. The presence of security cameras can deter potential criminals from committing crimes in the area.
  2. In the age of social media, the _______  of smartphones is undeniable. 
  3. As he looked back over the years, he couldn’t help but _______ their kiss under the starry sky, it was the happiest he’d ever been.
  4. The modern architecture of the building stood in stark _______ to the historic structures surrounding it. 
  5. During the vacation, they _______ exploring the beaches and trying out new water sports. 
  6. The magician’s tricks _______ the children, leaving them wide-eyed and filled with wonder.
  7. Yesterday, I received an unexpected job offer completely _______ . 
  8. The _______ that time only moves forward in a straight line has been challenged by various scientific theories.  
  9. The sudden success of the project was a clear _______ of the team’s hard work and dedication. 
  10. In the middle of the bustling city, she found a _______ spot by the fountain, where the sound of water and the surrounding greenery calmed her.

  1. The presence of security cameras can deter potential criminals from committing crimes in the area.
  2. In the age of social media, the omnipresence of smartphones is undeniable. 
  3. As he looked back over the years, he couldn’t help but romanticise their kiss under the starry sky, it was the happiest he’d ever been.
  4. The modern architecture of the building stood in stark juxtaposition to the historic structures surrounding it. 
  5. During the vacation, they had a whale of a time exploring the beaches and trying out new water sports. 
  6. The magician’s tricks mesmerised the children, leaving them wide-eyed and filled with wonder.
  7. Yesterday, I received an unexpected job offer completely out of the blue. 
  8. The notion that time only moves forward in a straight line has been challenged by various scientific theories.  
  9. The sudden success of the project was a clear manifestation of the team’s hard work and dedication. 
  10. In the middle of the bustling city, she found a serene spot by the fountain, where the sound of water and the surrounding greenery calmed her.

Exercise 4

Watch the video ‘An Ode to the Irish Pub’.

  • Does any of the information surprise you?
  • If you’ve been to an Irish pub on your travels or in your home country, does it match with your own experience and observations?

Exercise 5

Can you remember What the numbers, quantifiers and phrases in the box refer to?

Listen again and find out.

An ode to the Irish Pub on foreign soil – a home from home 

Very shortly after arriving in Santiago, England were to play their final football World Cup group game against Wales. I finished work and headed out to watch the match. Not knowing the city, I chose Flannery’s, an Irish pub. In my experience of living and travelling abroad, Irish bars are always a safe bet when you want to find fellow countrymen to support your team with, or just friendly locals and expats alike to socialise. Expat bars in general are a home from home – a harbour in a *tempest; a *heady mix of tourists, backpackers, professional ex-pats and the not so professional, that all somehow ended up living far from home. I’ve spent many an hour in such bars, especially during my time navigating the expat scene in South Korea, leading to regrets and good memories albeit blurry ones, in equal measures. I’ve met many a character in my time in such bars – from the heavy drinkers that have their own barstool (the *bar flies) to those just passing through; these bars are a magnet for those wanting familiarity, companionship and *camaraderie.  

Contrary to what many believe, Ireland’s biggest export is not its drinking – Irelands biggest exports are in fact pharmaceuticals, technology apparatus, organic chemicals, and electrical machinery, but perhaps its biggest cultural export is its drinking.  

Ironically, in Ireland itself there has been a sharp decline in alcohol consumption in recent years due to a shift in attitudes and a changing drinking culture moving away from the getting plastered and a being up for the ‘*craic’ mentally. and yet, the global thirst for Irelands drinks and culture seems *unquenchable. 

Irelands drinks export business is *not to be sneezed at, approaching €2 billion in 2022, up by 22% year-on-year since the pandemic, and reaching 119 markets around the world. It’s no surprise then to find Irish pubs dotted all over the place and even in some of the most unexpected *far-flung corners of the globe.  In my experience having been to more than a fair few of them on my travels, I’d say they are more than just the sum of their parts, each one has its own history, *patronage and clientele *regaling each other with drunken stories; for better or worse these places are living, breathing entities. Irish bars are conceivably second only to Chinese, Indian and Italian restaurants for crossing cultural and geographical divides.    

Colm Dalton, from Kerry in Ireland, who is on a mission to visit every Irish pub on the planet, estimates, there are around 6,500 worldwide.  If you were then to factor in Canadian, American, Kiwi, Aussie bars and the like; well, I wouldn’t like to guess the number but it’s safe to say a shitload.  Colm has visited over a hundred Irish bars in around 35 countries on his quest to visit them all, and says that “…as you’d expect, with the good comes both the bad and the ugly”.  

I’m not sure how many I’ve visited on my travels, I’m certainly on no mission, but my numbers have probably got to be up there. One thing I can say is that Irish pubs regardless of where they are stationed, are more alike than they are different – with dark wood panelling, and worn wooden tables, chairs and bar stools. Gaelic signs and countless other Irish *paraphernal *adorn the walls. Classic rock ballads play in the background and Guinness or a similar dark ale is always on tap. And more often than not they show sporting events, so when I didn’t know anyone in Santiago, that’s where I headed, and Flannery’s did not disappoint, it was all of the aforementioned. 

*tempest (n) – a violent windy storm (used metaphorically in this instance)

*heady (adj) – having a powerful effect, making you feel slightly drunk or excited

*barfly (n) – an alcoholic that spends most of their time in the bar/pub

*camaraderie (n) – a sense of friendship, trust, and goodwill among people who spend time together or share similar experiences

*plastered (adj) – very drunk

*craic (n) – an Irish term for fun, entertainment, or a good time, often associated with social gatherings and enjoyment

*unquenchable (adj) – used for describing a feeling that is so strong that it cannot be satisfied

*(something is) not to be sneezed at (idiom) – means that something should not be underestimated or disregarded; it’s worth considering or appreciating

*far-flung (adj) – distant, remote, or located at a considerable distance from a central point

*patronage (n) – the support or financial sponsorship of an individual, organization, or business by a patron

*regale (v) – to entertain or amuse someone with stories, anecdotes, or enjoyable experiences

*paraphernalia (n) –  Items or equipment associated with a particular activity or purpose, often used in a specific context

*adorn (v) – to decorate or embellish something, such as a space or object, with decorative elements or ornaments

Many an hour: This phrase refers the time Rich has spent in expat pubs, interacting with various people. 

Equal measures: This phrase refers to having both positive and negative experiences or feelings while spending time in expat bars. 

Many believe: Ireland’s biggest export is its drinking. 

A sharp decline: This expression refers to a significant decrease in alcohol consumption in Ireland in recent years. 

Approaching €2 billion: This number represents the value of Ireland’s drinks export business in 2022, which is close to reaching €2 billion. 

22% year-on-year: This percentage indicates the year-on-year increase in the value of Ireland’s drinks export business since the pandemic. 

More than a fair few: This phrase suggests that Rich has visited a substantial number of Irish pubs during his travels. 

6,500: This number represents the estimated total count of Irish pubs worldwide. 

A shitload: This informal expression is used to emphasize that there is a significant number of Irish and other themed expat bars around the world. 

Over a hundred: This phrase indicates Colm has visited more than one hundred Irish bars during their travels. 

35: This number indicates the approximate number of countries in which Colm Dalton, the person mentioned in the essay, has visited Irish bars. 

Numbers have probably got to be up there: This phrase implies that the Rich has quite possibly visited a similar number of Irish pubs to Colm, although he is uncertain about the exact count. 

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/farming-food/2023/01/11/food-and-drink-exports-hit-record-167bn-in-2022-despite-inflationary-challenge/ 

https://www.ibec.ie/drinksireland/news-insights-and-events/news/2023/01/11/irish-drinks-exports-reach-record-high-approaching-2-billion 

https://www.ladbible.com/news/dnatesthelpsfindsiblings-702082-20230324 

Exercise 6

Understanding Vocabulary – ‘Slang’

Click on the the exercise 6 button, then decide which word in the sentence is a slang word for being very ‘drunk’.

Which word in this sentence below means being very drunk?  

Ironically, in Ireland itself there has been a sharp decline in alcohol consumption in recent years due to a shift in attitudes and a changing drinking culture moving away from the getting plastered and a being up for ‘the craic’ mentally. 

In this context ‘plastered’ means to be very drunk.

Exercise 7

Can you think of any other words that mean ‘to be drunk’?  

Click on ‘exercise 7’ button and decide which words from the list mean to be ‘drunk’.

Look at the words below – some of the words mean to be drunk or very drunk. Which ones?  

  • blindo/blind drunk
  • off his head
  • screwed
  • book wormed
  • pissed
  • shit the bed
  • wasted
  • wrecked
  • screwed the pooch
  • sozzled
  • smashed
  • poo pooed
  • elephant arsed
  • plastered
  • tipsy
  • shit faced
  • can’t be arsed
  • hammered
  • wankered
  • deaf drunk
  • legless
  • drilled 

Words that mean to be drunk: blindo/blind drunk, off his/her head, pissed, wasted, wrecked, sozzled, smashed, plastered, shit faced, hammered, wankered, legless, tipsy

Note: tipsy means only a little drunk.  

All the other words are incorrect and have either been made up or they have a different meaning. 

Exercise 8

Before starting this exercise click here to read the blog ‘Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing or hot Colombian woman in racy lace tops Part 1′.  (Link will open in new tab/window). Return to exercise tab/window after reading.

Read the first part of story quickly. What is it primarily about? 

  1. Rich’s quest for a job 
  2. Meeting the love of his life.  
  3. Meeting various random people in a pub while watching football.   
  4. Rich’s search for a decent pub 

Answer: 3. Meeting various random people in a pub while watching football.   

Exercise 9

Read it again and answer the questions True/False/Not Given. The first one is done for you. 

  1. T/F/NG: The author had a prior acquaintance with Maria before their encounter at the pub. 
  2. T/F/NG: David’s decision to offer Rich a job interview was based on his qualifications and skills.  
  3. T/F/NG: Rich would have accepted the job from David if it had been offered.  
  4.  T/F/NG: The author believes that getting a job from networking in pubs with strangers is an uncommon occurrence in the finance industry. 
  5. T/F/NG: Rich didn’t understand why Maria got irate when she was told she had come out of her top. Answer: F (False).  
  6. T/F/NG: Maria’s reaction to the wardrobe malfunction remained consistent throughout the evening. 

*heaving (adj) – very busy 

*lass (n) (UK informal) – a young woman,  primarily used by people in the North of England and Scotland.  

*smattering (n) (C usually singular) – a small amount or number of something 

*suited and booted (idiom) (informal UK) – dressed in formal clothes 

*knock off (phrasal verb) (informal) – to stop working  

*fixate (v) -to think about something to much and find it difficult to stop  

*right off the bat (idiom) – immediately 

*wanker banker (n) (British informal/slang) – an unpleasant stereotype of people who work in finance. Usually means that they are very arrogant.  

*testily (adverb) – in a way that shows someone is easily annoyed and impatient 

*impromptu (adj) – done or said without earlier planning or preparation  

*pulling (v) (slang) – to perform a dishonest act  

*power trip (phrase) (disapproving) – a guilt/power/ego trip is a period of time when you feel that particular feeling strongly.  

  1. F (False). ‘I noticed a very attractive lady, around 30, sitting alone and to my delight she asked if I would join her…We got talking; she told me that her name was Maria, and she was from Colombia but worked in Santiago in advertising.’
  2. Answer: F (False). The story suggests that David’s motivation for offering Rich a job interview was not primarily based on qualifications and skills but might have involved other factors like showing off. 
  3. Answer: F (False) ‘…he was clearly a cantankerous twat and not someone I would’ve been happy to work for, but I played along,…’ 
  4. Answer: T (True). The story does not suggest that Rich believes this type of chance meeting is common in the finance industry. ‘…I’d never heard of anyone getting a job in the world of finance from a chance meeting in the pub, so he was probably full of shit, but there’s a first for everything, I guess…’ 
  5. Answer: F (False) ‘…arguably a normal reaction to being embarrassed…’
  6. Answer: NG (Not Given). Although, she did react the same way to several people pointing out her wardrobe malfunction initially, we do not know whether Maria’s reactions remained consistent throughout the evening.

Exercise 10

How do you think the night might end for Rich? Do you think he had a good evening? Read and find out. 

Click here to read Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing or hot Colombian woman in racy lace tops part 2 (Blog post will open in a new window/tab). After reading return to this page to continue lesson.

*assortment (n) [ C usually singular ]- a group of different types of something 

*banter (n) UK informal) – conversation that is funny and not serious 

*(have) a blast (n) (US informal) – an exciting or enjoyable experience or event, often a party 

*dip into your pocket (expression) (informal) – to spend some of your money on something 

*splash the cash (phrase) (informal) – spend a lot of money  

*on the scrounge (n) (UK informal – disapproving or humorous) – someone who is on the scrounge is asking people for things or for money 

*hubris (n) [ U ] – a way of talking or behaving that is too proud 

*reciprocate (v) – to share the same feelings as someone else, or to behave in the same way as someone else 

*dimly (adv) – not giving or having much light 

*plonk (v) – to put something down heavily and without taking care 

*pinky (n) – a little finger 

*yank (v) – to pull something forcefully with a quick movement 

*No good deed goes unpunished (phrase) – means that the recipient might not properly appreciate a kind action. Or it may mean that doing something kind will lead to something bad happening to the doer.  

*capricious (adj) – changing mood or behaviour suddenly and unexpectedly 

*unhinged (adj) – mentally ill 

*frankly (adv) – used when giving an honest and direct opinion, often one that might upset someone 

*hyperbole (n) – a way of speaking or writing that makes someone or something sound bigger, better, more, etc. than they are 

*frenzied (adj) – uncontrolled and excited, sometimes violent 

*subside (v) – If a condition subsides, it becomes less strong or extreme 

*yelp (v) – to make a sudden, short, high sound, usually when in pain 

*gyp (n) – pain or trouble 

*won out (pv) – to succeed after a lot of difficulty 

*a lady of the night (noun) (EUPHEMISTIC) – a prostitute 

*whopper (n) – a big lie  

*evidently (adv) – in a way that is easy to see 

*(drunken) stupor (n) – a state in which a person is almost unconscious and their thoughts are not clear 

Exercise 11

Click on ‘exercise 11’ to begin.

Find the following language features of emphasis in ‘part 2’ of ‘Beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing or hot Colombian woman in racy lace tops’.

  1. Find 3 examples of repetition, in the first two paragraphs
  2. Find 1 intensifying adverb, in the first two paragraphs
  3. Find 1 Extreme word, in the first two paragraphs
  4. Find an example of an expression with ‘like’, in paragraph 3

  1. Very very generous, more and more, round after round
  2. incredibly
  3. enormous
  4. It was like a special force’s move

Exercise 12

Language for emphasising

Click on ‘exercise 12’ to test your ‘language for emphasise’ knowledge and understanding. 

  1. List four other intensifying adverbs.
  2. List six other ‘extreme’ adjectives or verbs
  3. when people might use these ‘like’ expressions.
    1. It’s like a museum in here.
    2. It’s like a fridge in here.
    3. It’s like being at a rock concert. –
    4. It was like living in a war zone. –
    5. It’s like talking to yourself.
    6. It’s like a pig stye in here

  1. Four other intensifying adverbs: a. extremely b. incredibly c. absolutely d. remarkably
  2. Six other ‘extreme’ adjectives or verbs: Adjectives:  enormous, exquisite, devastating, breathtaking, astonishing, unbelievable.  Verbs: soar, dazzle, astonish, overwhelm, thrive, revolutionize
    1. somebody’s house that is very clean that you don’t feel comfortable or want to touch anything.
    2. a room that is very cold.
    3. somewhere that is very noisy, perhaps a noisy restaurant where you can’t hear each other speak.
    4. a noisy place like a neighbourhood or apartment, perhaps because your neighbours or parents often argue loudly.
    5. when someone ignores you or is not very responsive, perhaps someone who is very shy.
    6. a parent might say this to a child whose room is very untidy.

Exercise 13

Rewrite these sentences to add more intrigue and variety by using the language patterns provided in excercise 12.

  1. The roller coaster at the amusement park went fast.
  2. She spoke so softly that I could barely hear her, even in the quiet room.
  3. The storm raged for many hours and it was so violent that trees were uprooted and houses were damaged.
  4. The dessert was delicious, leaving us all wanting more.
  5. He ran quickly, breaking the school record for the 100-meter dash.
  6. The mountain peak was beautiful, with panoramic views that stretched for miles
  7. The movie was exciting.
  8. It hotel was so noisy I couldn’t sleep.

  1. The roller coaster at the amusement park went incredibly fast.
  2. She spoke so softly that I could barely hear her, even in the room so quiet it could have been a museum.
  3. The storm raged and raged and it was so violent that trees were uprooted and houses were damaged.
  4. The dessert was unbelievably delicious, leaving us all wanting more.
  5. He ran astonishingly quickly, breaking the school record for the 100-meter dash.
  6. The mountain peak was breathtaking, with panoramic views that stretched for miles.
  7. The movie was thrilling.
  8. The hotel was like a war zone, I couldn’t sleep.

Exercise 14

Watch the video blog entry ‘A messy weekend away’ and answer the questions below.  Then look at the transcript and check your answers, and the meaning of high-level words you don’t know in the definitions box. 

  1. How does Rich describe the Mercado El Cardonal in Valparaíso? 
  2. How does Rich feel about the streets and buildings in Valparaíso, and why does the city feel unique? 
  3. What did Rich enjoy about the walking tour in Valparaíso, and how did it help him learn about the city? 
  4. What are the historical funicular lifts in Valparaíso, and why does Rich think they are important to the city’s history? 
  5. How does Rich feel about paying for walking tours, and what does he suggest about giving tips to the guide? 

  1. How does Rich describe the Mercado El Cardonal in Valparaíso? 
  2. How does Rich feel about the streets and buildings in Valparaíso, and why does the city feel unique? 
  3. What did Rich enjoy about the walking tour in Valparaíso, and how did it help him learn about the city? 
  4. What are the historical funicular lifts in Valparaíso, and why does Rich think they are important to the city’s history? 
  5. How does Rich feel about paying for walking tours, and what does he suggest about giving tips to the guide? 

Video – Valparaíso – part 1 

Transcript

By this point, I’d been in Santiago for a little over a week. I felt relaxed and comfortable, but by no means blown away by the place. The food was expensive and *nothing to write home about, and the place seemed kind of dull. Yes, the weather was amazing, and the city felt safe and was convenient—swings and roundabouts and all that—but I was bored, *fidgety, and a bit lonely… I needed some adventure. So, I made up my mind to head off on some day and weekend trips away.  

Valparaíso has a reputation for being not only vibrant and colourful but also carrying a hint of *edginess and a touch *seediness. — it’d *piqued my interest. It’d be good to get out of the heat and density of Santiago for a few days to somewhere a little less sanitized. 

The bus from Santiago to Valparaiso takes about two hours. So, I got up on Saturday morning in no particular rush, I had a few its and bobs to do for work, ate breakfast, ordered an Uber to take me to the Bus Terminal, grabbed my stuff and headed out.  Once I arrived in Valparaiso, I Left the bus station behind, and headed toward the city center. Just a few blocks away, I came across Mercado El Cardonal – a sprawling indoor market with stalls *brimming with produce, including fruit and veg of every color, shape, and size, piled high on stalls, which spilled onto the streets. The vibrant marketplace is housed within a charming old wooden colonial building.  

I passed a lively street band – the music had that infectious, upbeat vibe that makes you feel like you’re on holiday somewhere exotic, which I was. this is more like it, I thought.  The sounds may well have had a Caribbean influence, but I’m not entirely certain – I’ll add some videos of the street music scene; maybe you can help me identify it. I was *Hank Marvin (starving), so I stopped in a restaurant that was *teeming with locals and ordered a beer and a fried beef sandwich. It was undeniably decent, and the portions were generous, the sandwich was so big in fact that I spent a lot of time wrestling with it and trying not to spill the contents down my top.  A World Cup game played on the TV, normally I’d have sat and watched for a bit but not today, I wanted to press on.  

Upon reaching the city centre, I made a *spur of the moment decision to ascend the hills leading to the Cultural Park. The trek up, involved climbing winding hilly streets and steep staircases, all covered in graffiti and murals adding a *gritty charm. The city had character, that’s for sure! The Cultural Park occupied the hilltop, with artsy buildings nestled amid green spaces hosting exhibitions. But to be honest, it was the city and port views below that made the hike up worthwhile. 

Valparaíso is hilly, and I’d recommend just getting lost and strolling up at down the streets and alleys with their beautiful but *dilapidated crumbly buildings.  I do love getting lost in a city, walking around *aimlessly, but to be honest I’m also a big fan of walking tours and letting an expert guide me; they’re an easy way of learning about the history of the city, while having someone show you around the hidden gems and pointing out the *nooks and crannies, which you might not find otherwise. They’re also useful for getting some good local tips on places to eat, places to shop and *those kind of things. Not to mention they’re great for meeting people, perfect if you are travelling solo.  

After a quick bit of googling, I found a walking tour leaving from one of the main squares in about an hour, so I *moseyed back on down. This particular walking tour not only covered the main sites and their importance within the history of the city but also the *omnipresent street art.  The guide was, everything you want in a guide – engaging and informative.  He took us on a walk through the labyrinth of narrow streets adorned with those colourful murals and graffiti. He took us to several, whatchamacallem... funicular lifts, those kind of pulley lifts that consists of two counterbalanced carriages on tracks. When one carriage goes up, the other descends at the same speed. but they don’t go vertically up, they take you up on a steep incline.  

As I mentioned before Valparaíso is hilly, so I can see why they built so many of them at the end of the 19th beginning of the 20th century.  They must have been *state-of-the-art engineering *feats at the time, another nod to how wealthy the city once was.   16 of these historical elevators remain today although not all are operational.  

We walked past bands *busking, playing the same infectious beats I’d heard on my arrival, and passed by artists from all over the world *peddling their *wares. The sensory overload made the place *intoxicating. The tour finished down by the port. These tours often work on a voluntary payment system and It’s always tricky to know how much to give, but I normally go for around the 10-dollar mark. The idea is that you give what you think the tour was worth, depending on how much you can afford. Unfortunately, by the end of the tour the group has always thinned out – some early leavers hand the guide cash before departing while others just slip away. Punishment for such a *heinous crime? Maybe an afternoon in *the stocks might give them time to think.  

*nothing to write home about (idiom) – not exciting or special 

*fidgety (adj) – making continuous, small movements that annoy other people 

*edginess (n) – the quality in a film, book, piece of music, places etc. of being exciting in a way that can make somebody feel uncomfortable

*seediness (n) – the quality of looking dirty or in bad condition and likely to be involved in dishonest or illegal activities 

*pique someone’s curiosity, interest, etc (idiom) – to make someone interested in something and want to know more about it 

*brimming (adj) (UK)- completely full with something 

*Hank Marvin (rhyming slang) (UK informal) –  starving/very hungry 

*teeming (adj) – If a place is teeming, it is full of people 

*(on the) spur of the moment (idiom) – used to say that a decision, action, etc. is sudden and done without any planning 

*gritty (adj) – real, showing the unpleasant or difficult features of something as they really are 

*dilapidated (adj) – old and in poor condition 

*crumbly (adj) – breaking easily into small pieces 

*aimlessly (adv) – in a way that is aimless (= without clear intentions, purpose, or direction) 

*nooks and crannies (idiom) – small spaces in something or parts of something that are difficult to reach 

*mosey (v) – to walk or go slowly, usually without a special purpose 

*omnipresent (adj) – present or having an effect everywhere at the same time 

*state-of-the-art (adj) – very modern and using the most recent ideas and methods 

*feats (n) – something difficult needing a lot of skill, strength, courage, etc. to achieve it 

*peddle (v) – to sell things, especially by taking them to different places 

*wares (n) – small products for selling, especially in a market or on the street 

*intoxicating (adj) – (of an experience, etc.) making you feel excited, happy, and slightly out of control 

*heinous (adj) – very bad and shocking 

*the stocks (noun phrase) [ plural ] – in the past, a wooden frame that was fixed around someone’s feet, hands, and sometimes head, so that they were forced to sit or stand for a long time in public as a punishment 

Note: see next exercise for meaning of words in italics

  1. Rich describes Mercado El Cardonal as a vibrant market with a good variety of produce housed within a charming old wooden colonial building. 
  2. Rich appreciates the unique charm of Valparaíso’s hilly streets and buildings covered in street art – emphasizing the city’s character and distinctiveness. 
  3. The walking tour helped Rich learn about the city’s history and street art culture. It shows him areas of the city that are not easy to find or know about; it was highly informative; it had lots of local knowledge  
  4. The historical funicular lifts in Valparaíso are significant engineering feats, reflecting the city’s prosperous past and unique infrastructure. 
  5. Rich says that he usually gives around $10 as a tip for walking tours, and suggests people give what they think the tour is worth in relation to how much money they have. He also disapproves of people who disappear without paying and humorously suggests a punishment for them.

Exercise 15

Vocabulary – Vague language 

Listen to an adapted extract from the story, it has been changed slightly from the original that you have just listened to.  How it is different from the original?  

The bus from Santiago to Valparaiso is scheduled to take precisely 1 hour 48 minutes.  I got up on  Saturday at 8.47 in the morning,  I was in no particular rush. That morning, I had to mark some exam papers and essays, check attendance records and fire off 2 emails for work. I ate eggs on toast and a banana for breakfast and ordered an uber.  After 14 minutes the uber arrived.  I grabbed my bag containing a light fleece, a windbreaker, and a change of underwear, phone charger, a book, a toothbrush, shampoo, and soap, and headed out.

Exercise 16

Listen to the original and check the difference.   

The bus from Santiago to Valparaiso takes about two hours. So, I got up on Saturday morning in no particular rush, I had a few bits and bobs to do for work, ate breakfast, ordered an Uber to take me to the Bus Terminal, grabbed my stuff and headed out.

Exercise 17

Look at the phrases from the video and underline the vague language.

a. I got up on Saturday morning in no particular rush, I had a few bits and bobs to do for work… 

b. … ate breakfast, ordered an Uber to take me to the Bus Terminal, grabbed my stuff and headed out.  

c. The food was expensive and nothing to write home about, and the place seemed kind of dull. 

d. Just a few blocks away, I came across Mercado El Cardonal…

e. They’re also useful for getting some good local tips on places to eat, places to shop and those kind of things. 

f. The food was expensive and nothing to write home about… Yes, the weather was amazing, and the city felt safe and was convenient—swings and roundabouts...

g. He took us to several, whatchamacallem…funicular lifts…

a. I got up on Saturday morning in no particular rush, I had a few bits and bobs to do for work… 

b. … ate breakfast, ordered an Uber to take me to the Bus Terminal, grabbed my stuff and headed out.  

c. The food was expensive and nothing to write home about, and the place seemed kind of dull. 

d. Just a few blocks away, I came across Mercado El Cardonal…

e. They’re also useful for getting some good local tips on places to eat, places to shop and those kind of things. 

f. The food was expensive and nothing to write home about… Yes, the weather was amazing, and the city felt safe and was convenient— swings and roundabouts…

g. He took us to several, whatchamacallem…funicular lifts…

Exercise 18

Look at sentences 1-7 about use of vague language and match them to the vague language in sentences A-F. The first one is done for you.  

 

  1. Which sentence is vague language used to soften what you are saying, to make it sound less like criticism, and more polite/not as rude? (sentence ‘c’ – ‘kind of’) 
  2. Which sentence is vague language used instead of a specific number like 4?
  3. Which sentence is vague language used when we give one or two examples and want to say that there are more similar things that we could list without actually listing them all – used instead of et cetera when speaking? 
  4. Which sentence is vague language used instead of saying the things or jobs you need to buy or do?   
  5. Which sentence is vague language used when the name of the object has been forgotten or the speaker doesn’t know it? 
  6. Which sentence is vague language used to say someone’s possessions or things that they take somewhere with them without being specific? 
  7. Which sentence is vague language expression used to say the advantages and disadvantages of a place, situation or action balance/cancel each other out, but without actually saying what they are. 

a. I got up on Saturday morning in no particular rush, I had a few bits and bobs to do for work… 

b. … ate breakfast, ordered an Uber to take me to the Bus Terminal, grabbed my stuff and headed out.  

c. The food was expensive and nothing to write home about, and the place seemed kind of dull…

d. Just a few blocks away, I came across Mercado El Cardonal…

e. They’re also useful for getting some good local tips on places to eat, places to shop and those kind of things. 

f. The food was expensive and nothing to write home about… Yes, the weather was amazing, and the city felt safe and was convenient— swings and roundabouts... 

g. He took us to several, whatchamacallem…funicular lifts…

  1. …Which sentence is vague language used to soften what you are saying, to make it sound less like criticism, or being polite/not as rude? (sentence ‘c’ – ‘kind of’) 
  2. Which sentence is vague language used instead of a specific number like 4? (sentence ‘d’ – ‘a few ’) 
  3. Which sentence is vague language used when we give one or two examples and want to say that there are more similar things that we could list without actually listing them all – used instead of et cetera when speaking? (sentence ‘e’ – ‘those kind of things’) 
  4. Which sentence is vague language used instead of saying a list of small things or jobs of different types?  (sentence ‘a’ – ‘bits and bobs’) 
  5. Which sentence is vague language used when the name of the object has been forgotten or the speaker doesn’t know it? (sentence ‘g’ – ‘whatchamacallem’) 
  6. Which sentence is vague language used to say someone’s possessions or things that they take somewhere with them without being specific.  (sentence ‘b’ – ‘stuff’). 
  7. Which sentence is vague language expression used to say the advantages and disadvantages of a place, situation or action balance/cancel each other out, but without actually saying what they are. (sentence ‘f’ – ‘swings and roundabouts’) 

Exercise 19

Summary of vague language. 

Click on exercise 18 and use the guided discovery to help consolidate your knowledge.

Look at the sentences and circle the correct part in italics to complete the uses of vague language.  

  1. Vague language is used when you are speaking about something or someone whose name you can/cannot remember.   
  2. Vague language is often/not often used to avoid unnecessary details that the listener doesn’t need to know and the speaker doesn’t want to bore them with.   
  3. Vague language can be used to be less direct/more direct.  
  4. Vague language is formal/informal.
  5. Vague language is usually used when speaking/writing. 

  1. Vague language is used when you are speaking about something or someone whose name you can/cannot remember.   
  2. Vague language is often / not often used to avoid unnecessary details that the listener doesn’t need to know and the speaker doesn’t want to bore them with.   
  3. Vague language can be used to be less direct/more direct.  
  4. Vague language is formal/informal .
  5. Vague language is usually used when speaking/writing. 

Vague language uses

Use 1:  setting up social meetings  

  • If you say lets meet at 5,  that might sound a bit direct and like an order 
  • If you say lets meet around 5, this sounds like a suggestion.
  • If they have to be there before then maybe say, let’s meet at 5 at the latest. 

Use 2: In informal speech we use expressions to shorten lists; you don’t want to bore people with details.  For example, use ‘stuff’ instead of listing the items you need to buy at the shop. Or use an expression like ‘and that kind of thing’ when you just want to give one example but are making the listener know there are many others. 

Use 3: It can be used to be more polite. Look at the sentences below – the second sentence is vaguer and therefore less direct (more polite) 

  • Direct: The food is bland 
  • Indirect: The food is kind of bland 
  • Direct: I want to stay in tonight 
  • Indirect I sort of want to stay in tonight 

Use 4: Forgetting words or names. No native speaker knows every word in English and people forget words of things and names of people all of the time. So we can use vague language like ‘thingmabob’ or ‘whatsisface’ instead. 

Note: These words are not normally used in written English, but we can use them when speaking when we don’t know what something or someone is called.  

Note: When you can’t remember someone’s name, we can use whatsername & whatserface for females and whatsisface & whatsisname for males.  For example, I have a meeting with whatsisface tomorrow. 

  • Some of these words make more sense than others, for example, ‘whatsername’  makes sense =what is her name. Whereas, ‘whatserface’ doesn’t make as much sense, but that’s OK. 

Exercise 20

Take a couple of minutes and try and think of more examples of vague language. When you are ready click on ‘exercise 20’ to see more examples.   

Look at the vague language and their definitions below – they have been grouped together in synonyms and can be used interchangeably. 

  • whatchamacallit – thingamabob – thingy – whatsit – thingamajig (nouns)
  • kind of – sort of (phrases) 
  • things like that -and of sorts – and that kind of thing – and so on (idioms) 
  • stuff – things (nouns) (remember that stuff is uncountable) 
  • bits and bobs – bit and pieces (phrases) 
  • a few (determiner) (bits of)  –  loads of (idiom) – a shitload (n) of  something
  • about- roughly (adverbs)  
  • there or there abouts – give or take –something like that (idioms) 
  • six of one half six of one half a dozen of the other. (idiom UK) definition =  said to mean that both of two people, situations or possible courses of action are equally bad or equally good.  The meaning is similar to ‘swings and roundabouts’ but can be used slightly differently.  

Exercise 21

Complete the sentences 1-15 with a phrase from a-k (the phrases in a-k are interchangeable). More than answer might be possible, for example phrases ‘a’ and phrases ‘g’ might fit. The first two questions are done for you.  

a)  whatchamacallit – thingamabob – thingy – whatsit – thingamajig

b) kind of – Sort of

c) things like that -and of sorts – and that kind of thing  – and so on

d) Stuff – things

e) bits and bobs – bit and pieces

f) a few bits of – loads of – a shitload of

g) about- roughly

h) there or there abouts – give or take –something like that

i)   whatsername – whatsisname – – whatserface – whatsisface

j) swings and roundabouts

k) six of one half six of one half a dozen of the other.

  1. “Don’t forget your ___d___, before you leave home for the night. See you tomorrow.” 
  2. “I’ve got some ___d / e___ to buy in the shops.“
  3. “I’ve spilt some milk on the table, pass me that cleaning______ over there would you.”
  4. “I’ve got some ______ to do around the house before my holiday.”  
  5. “The food was ______ strange, maybe I’m just not used to Indian food.”  
  6. “Jen’s new boyfriend ______, has just been named in the paper as a suspect for a bank robbery.” 
  7. “How far to until we get to the village, I’m starving and my feet are soaked. “Not long now, 3 miles, ______.”
  8. “Whether we pick up Simon first or Tom it’ll take the same time, so it’s a matter of ______ .”
  9. “Come over to mine in ______ 30 minutes and we can head to the pub together.” 
  10. “I’ve got  _____ work to do before the weekend.“
  11. “What does this _____do?” “You use it to trim hairs from your ears.” 
  12. “What do you think we should buy for mum’s birthday? Perfume or champagne?” “I don’t know, ______. 
  13. “Tom has finally got a girlfriend, I’m so pleased for him” “Yes, I met her last week at the party, oh _______ again, I’ve completely forgotten”.  
  14. “I found a little metal ______on the floor, do you know where it is from?”   
  15. “They are always fighting, they are both as bad as each other it’s ______.“

  • a. whatchamacallit – thingamabob – thingy – whatsit – thingamajig  
  • b. kind of – Sort of  
  • c. things like that -and of sorts – and that kind of thing  –  and so on
  • d.  Stuff – things
  • e.  bits and bobs – bit and pieces
  • f.  a few bits of   – loads of – a shitload of
  • g.  about- roughly
  • h. there or there abouts – give or take –something like that
  • i.  whatsername – whatsisname – – whatserface – whatsisface
  • j. swings and roundabouts  
  • k. six of one half six of one half a dozen of the other.
  1. “Don’t forget your ___d___, before you leave home for the night. See you tomorrow.” 
  2. “I’ve got some __d / e_ to buy in the shops.” 
  3. “I’ve spilt some milk on the table, pass me that cleaning ___a___ over there would you.” 
  4. “I’ve got some __d / e___ to do around the house before my holiday.”  
  5. “The food was __b____ strange, maybe I’m just not used to Indian food.”  
  6. “Jen’s new boyfriend ___i___, has just been named in the paper as a suspect for a bank robbery.” – whatsisname – whatsisface (male)  
  7. “How far to until we get to the village, I’m starving and my feet are soaked. “Not long now, 3 miles, ___h___”.  
  8. “Whether we pick up Simon first or Tom, it’ll take the same time, so it’s a matter of ___j/k___.”
  9. “Come over to mine in ___g___ 30 minutes and we can head to the pub together.”  
  10. “I’ve got  __f__ work to do before the weekend.”
  11. “What does this __a__ do?” “You use it to trim hairs from your ears.” 
  12. “What do you think we should buy for mum’s birthday? Perfume or champagne?” “I don’t know, ___j/k___.”
  13. “Tom has finally got a girlfriend, I’m so pleased for him” “Yes, I met her last week at the party, oh ___i___ again, I’ve completely forgotten.” whatsername – whatserface (female) 
  14. “I found a little metal ___a___on the floor, do you know where it is from?”   
  15. “They are always fighting, they are both as bad as each other it’s ___k___.” 

Exercise 23

After you have read the remainder of Rich’s blog posts in Chile click on ‘exercise 23 and then click the forum link. Click ‘reply’ to leave a comment on the forum. Feel free to comment on other students comments and ask questions.