Nicola: Hi, Cat, that looks like a lovely salad you got there.
Cat: Thanks it is.
Nicola: What has it got in it?
Cat: Um, I cheated and I bought one of those pre-packaged lettuce with herbs and some leftover food from last night, but it's good. It's got some couscous and vegetables, some grilled veggies, and then salad and olive oil and vinegar for dressing.
Nicola: Ah, so you're a bit of a cook or, I don't know, you enjoy preparing food.
Cat: Yeah, I guess so. I wouldn't call myself a cook but I enjoy eating well.
Nicola: OK, so do you go out much to eat, or do you kind of stay at home, or?
Cat: I can't afford it right now, but I wouldn't mind going out every now and then.
Nicola: Let's say if you had a $100 now, and you could go to any restaurant,
anywhere in the world, where would you go?
Cat: I would go for very expensive sushi. I think. Something good.
Nicola: And anything else? What about for dessert?
Cat: Oh, I don't know. One of those fancy restaurants and buy a $20 dessert or something like that, if there is such a thing. I don't even know. Creme brulee. That's one of my favorites.
Nicola: Creme brulee! What's creme brulee?
Cat: We'll have to ask one of our French friends for that one. What's that mean? Cream? Creme brulee. I don't know. It's good though.
Nicola: Is it ice-creamy or creamy or?
Cat: It's got, um, what is it? It's that dish. It's a custard, with a, they put the heat. A hot, like a flare gun. What is it? It's a heat gun over the custard and it makes the sugar harden and then on the inside it's all custard. If that makes sense. It's really good. It's nice, though.
Nicola: It sounds really good.
Cat: Yeah!
Nicola: Oh, so you'll have to meet yourself a Frenchman and get him in the kitchen.
Cat: I'll have to find one in the kitchen.
Nicola: Well, good luck. Thanks for talking to us.
Cat: Yeah! See you next time.
cheat
I cheated and I bought one of those pre-packaged lettuce
with herbs.
When you 'cheat' it means that you achieve something
through underhand means and do not do it the proper way.
Notice the following:
- Never cheat on exams or you will get caught.
- I don't like playing sports with you, you always cheat.
afford
I can't afford it right now.
To 'afford' something means that you have enough money to
pay for it.
Notice the following:
- I can not afford to go out this weekend.
- That house is in our budget, we can afford to rent it.
every now and then
But I wouldn't mind going out every now and then.
To do something 'every now and then' means that you do it
occasionally, but not on a regular basis.
Notice the following:
- Every now and then I go into the country and visit my
uncle.
- The train is late every now and then.
fancy
One of those fancy restaurants.
When something is 'fancy' it means that is smart and of a
higher class and usually expensive.
Notice the following:
- I am not sure if those curtains are suitable for the bedroom as they are too fancy.
- I feel uncomfortable when I go to fancy hotels on
holiday.
harden
It makes the sugar harden.
When something hardens it means it becomes a hard solid.
Notice the following:
- It takes a few hours for the concrete to harden.
- Leave it in the freezer and it will harden.
Vocabulary Quiz
fancy • harden