Lily asks
What is the last thing you bought that you were happy with?
How to build your answer
Opinion: four moves, about a minute.
- 1Your viewAnswer straight away. “Honestly, I think…”
- 2One reasonYour main reason, not five.
- 3An exampleFrom your own life.
- 4The other sideShow you see it. “That said…”
Lily's answer, three ways
The same story, from easy to advanced. Tap a highlighted phrase to learn it.
Easy
Lily's voice note
A little coffee machine! I'd had my eye on it for months, and then it was in the sale. Before, I bought a coffee every day on the way to work. That got really expensive. Now I make a flat white at home in two minutes. It's so easy. My flatmate Mia loves it too, ha. I think it's paid for itself already. It's the best thing I've bought in a long time.
Phrases to borrow
have your eye on something
/hæv jɔː ˈaɪ ɒn ˈsʌmθɪŋ/
want to buy or get something for a while
I've had my eye on that jacket for weeks.
be in the sale
/biː ɪn ðə ˈseɪl/
be sold at a cheaper price for a short time
I got this dress in the sale for half price.
pay for itself
/ˈpeɪ fə ɪtˈself/
save you as much money as it cost
My bike has paid for itself, because I don't buy bus tickets now.
Natural
Lily's voice note
A small coffee machine for the flat. I treated myself after a really busy month at work. It was in the sale, too. Before, I bought a coffee on the way to work every day, and it cost a fortune. Now I make a nice flat white at home, and it only takes two minutes. My flatmate Mia uses it as much as I do! It's the best money I've spent in ages.
Phrases to borrow
treat yourself (to something)
/ˈtriːt jɔːˈself (tə ˈsʌmθɪŋ)/
buy something nice for yourself as a reward
I passed my exam, so I treated myself to a new book.
cost a fortune
/kɒst ə ˈfɔːtʃuːn/
be very expensive
Taxis in London cost a fortune.
in ages
/ɪn ˈeɪdʒɪz/
for a very long time
I haven't seen you in ages!
Advanced
Lily's voice note
Ooh, a dinky little coffee machine. I'd wanted it for ages, so when it went in the sale after a crazy month at work, I just went for it. Before, I'd grab a coffee every morning on the way to work, and it added up fast. Now I make a frothy flat white at home in two minutes, and my flatmate Mia's hooked too. It's good value, it's worth every penny and it's made my mornings. Best thing I've bought all year.
Phrases to borrow
/ˈɡəʊ fə ɪt/
decide to do something without waiting or worrying any more
The flat was perfect, so we just went for it.
good value
/ɡʊd ˈvæljuː/
worth the money you pay
The lunch menu is really good value.
/wɜːθ ˈevri ˈpeni/
good enough to justify the money you paid
The tickets were expensive, but the concert was worth every penny.
make someone's morning/day
/ˈmeɪk ˈsʌmwʌnz ˈmɔːnɪŋ | ˈdeɪ/
make your morning or day much happier
Your message really made my day.
Your turn: answer Lily
What is the last thing you bought that you were happy with?
Answer out loud, in your own words. Try one phrase you just borrowed.
Daily life
treat yourself (to something)
buy something nice for yourself as a reward
“I passed my exam, so I treated myself to a new book.”
heytardy