Lily asks
If you had a free weekend and some money, how would you spend it?
How to build your answer
What if: four moves, about a minute.
- 1Pick oneChoose quickly. “I'd go for…”
- 2Why that oneThe reason it wins.
- 3Picture itWhat it would look like. “I'd probably…”
- 4The catchWhat could go wrong, or what you'd miss.
Lily's answer, three ways
The same story, from easy to advanced. Tap a highlighted phrase to learn it.
Easy
Lily's voice note
Ooh, I'd get the train to the seaside, to Brighton. It's only an hour from London. I'd leave early on Saturday, walk along the beach and eat fish and chips by the sea. Then I'd find a little B and B with a view of the water. On Sunday I'd sleep in, have a big breakfast and look around the old shops. With the money left over, I'd treat myself to something small, maybe some earrings. It'd be a proper change of scene.
Phrases to borrow
treat yourself
/triːt jɔːˈself/
buy or do something nice just for you
I've worked hard this week, so I'm going to treat myself to a takeaway.
a change of scene
/ə ˈtʃeɪndʒ əv ˈsiːn/
being in a different place for a while, to feel refreshed
I needed a change of scene, so I worked from a café.
Natural
Lily's voice note
I'd get out of London and go to Brighton. It's only an hour on the train, so I'd leave early on Saturday. I'd walk along the beach, eat fish and chips by the sea, and spend the afternoon wandering around with no plan. At night I'd stay in a little B and B with a view of the water. On Sunday I'd sleep in, have a big breakfast and look around the old shops, maybe buy some earrings. I'd come home feeling like a new person.
Phrases to borrow
get out of somewhere
/ɡet ˈaʊt əv ˈsʌmweə/
leave a place, usually to have a break
We try to get out of the city every summer.
wander around
/ˈwɒndə əˈraʊnd/
walk slowly with no special plan
We spent the afternoon wandering around the old town.
feel like a new person
/ˈfiːl ˈlaɪk ə ˈnjuː ˈpɜːsən/
feel much better, fresher or happier
After a good holiday, I feel like a new person.
Advanced
Lily's voice note
Right, I'd hop on an early train to Brighton on Saturday. It's only an hour from London, which still amazes me. I'd walk the whole beach with the wind in my hair, then eat fish and chips by the sea while the seagulls watched every chip. I'd stay in a little B and B with a view of the water. On Sunday I'd sleep in, linger over a huge breakfast, then spend ages poking around the old shops. I'd splash out on a pair of earrings, nothing crazy. Then home on Sunday night, completely back to my old self.
Phrases to borrow
linger over something
/ˈlɪŋɡə ˈəʊvə ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
take a long, slow time over something you enjoy
We lingered over our coffee and nearly missed the start of the film.
poke around
/pəʊk əˈraʊnd/
look around a place slowly, just out of interest
We spent the morning poking around the market.
splash out on something
/splæʃ ˈaʊt ɒn ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
spend a lot of money on something special
We splashed out on a fancy hotel for our anniversary.
be back to your old self
/biː ˈbæk tə jɔː əʊld self/
feel normal and happy again after a difficult time
After a week in bed, he's back to his old self.
Your turn: answer Lily
If you had a free weekend and some money, how would you spend it?
Answer out loud, in your own words. Try one phrase you just borrowed.
Dreams & goals
get out of somewhere
leave a place, usually to have a break
“We try to get out of the city every summer.”
heytardy