LESSON 17

Read and understand the following extra vocabularies and expressions below to help you
COMPREHENSION understand the sample dialogues used for each
HELPER

a. slacker (noun) - a person who does not work hard enough

b. taboo (noun) - (an action or word) avoided for religious or social reasons

c. adverse (adjective) - having a negative or harmful effect on something

d. degrade (verb) - to spoil or lessen the beauty or quality of something

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

With the help of your teacher, unlock the meaning of each of the pattern and expression by reading their given sample dialogue

1.) That's a new one for me.

MEANING:

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A and B are talking about the

new CEO…
A: The company is
having a new CEO this
coming summer.
B: That’s a new one for
2.) That's life.
me. What’s with the
MEANING:
change?
A: I heard the recent CEO
is a slacker.

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A is asking B about the job…

A: Did you get the job?
B: Negative. I am a
failure again.
A: Well, that’s life. We
all have experienced that.
Never give up!
3.) That's the spirit!  
MEANING:
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B is encouraging A…
4.) The bottom line is that + sentence
A: I didn’t pass the exam
MEANING:
but there is no need to
sulk because there is
always a next time. I can
do this!
B: That’s the spirit!
Let’s drink to that!

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A and B are talking about 5.) The damage is done.

cohabitation…
MEANING:
A: So you are talking
about cohabitation since
the beginning of your
presentation. So what’s
your point?
B: Well, the bottom line
is that cohabitation is
still considered a taboo
in some countries.

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A is apologizing to B…
A: I am so sorry for
believing and spreading
such rumor.
B: The damage is done, 6.) There's little to be said for + something
Jane. You are never going
 MEANING:
to gain back the trust of
the people who believed
in you.
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A and B are talking about

industrialization… 7.) Someone + has to tighten one’s belt  
A: Personally, there’s MEANING:
little to be said for
industrialization.
B: How come you say
that?
A: Apart from the
obvious adverse impacts
of industrialization to the
environment, there’s no
denying that
industrialization
degrades the moral
values of people.

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A is inviting B…
8.) Time is + on someone’s side  
A: So, just like always?
MEANING:
Shopping this Saturday?
B: I’ll pass for now.
A: Whoa! What’s the
drama?
B: I have to tighten my
belt these coming weeks.
I am saving for something
special, so no shopping
for me this Saturday.

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A and B are talking about…
A: When are we going to
make the final decision
for the approval of the
project?
B: We don’t have to
make a final decision
until next week, so time
is on our side.
 CHECK Task 1
HERE MATCH’EM
Suggested time to finish: 10 minutes
Directions:
Without looking at your notes, match the patterns and expressions in column A to their definitions in column B.
Write the letter of your answer at the space provided.

COLUMN A COLUMN B
1. That's a new one for me. A. said when someone has just told you a surprising
fact that you did not know before
____

B. said when something bad has happened to you or to

2. That's life someone that cannot be undone

____
C. used to approve or encourage someone's positive
3. That's the spirit!   attitude or action

____
D. the most important fact in a situation is …
4. The bottom line is that + sentence
  E. said to mean that it is too late to improve a bad
____ situation

5. The damage is done. F. said to mean that something has disadvantages

____

G. to say that someone spends less money than he/she

6. There's little to be said for + something did before because he/she has less money

____
H. this expression means that you do not have to do
something quickly whatever it is that you want or have to
7. Someone + has to tighten one’s belt   do

____

8. Time is + on someone’s side  

____
Task 2
SPOT WHAT’S NOT!
Suggested time to finish: 5 minutes
Directions:
According to their definition provided in Task 1, identify what makes each statement wrong. Strike through the
word or phrase that makes the statement erroneous, and write the correct word or phrase above it. If the
statement is already correct, then proceed to the next statement.

Example: heavily
It is raining cats and dogs is used to say that it is raining lightly.

1. That's an old one on me is said when someone has just told you a surprising fact that you did

not know before.

2. That's life is said when something bad has happened to you or to someone that can be

changed.

3. That's the spirit is used to disapprove or discourage someone's positive attitude or action

4. The bottom line is that + sentence is similar with the expression, “the most important fact in a

situation is …”

5. The damage is done is said to mean that it is too late to improve a bad situation:

6. There's little to be said for + something is said to mean that something has advantages.

7. Someone + has to tighten one’s belt is used to say that someone spends less money than

he/she did before because he/she has less money.

8. Time is + on someone’s side is used if you mean that you do not have to do quickly

whatever it is that you want or have to do.

Task 3
USE ME!
Suggested time to finish: 25 minutes
Directions:
On a separate sheet of paper, utilize each pattern and expression in a short dialogue between two characters.

1. That's a new one on me  

2. That's life
 
3. That's the spirit!  

4. The bottom line is that + sentence

5. The damage is done

6. There's little to be said for + something

7. Someone + has to tighten one’s belt  

8. Time is + on someone’s side  

ANSWER KEY:
LESSON 17
What’s in it for you?
1. That's a new one on me.  
- said when someone has just told you a surprising fact that you did not know before:
2. That's life.  
- said when something bad has happened to you or to someone that cannot be changed
3. That's the spirit!  
used to approve or encourage someone's positive attitude or action
4. The bottom line is that + sentence
- the most important fact in a situation is …
5. The damage is done.
- said to mean that it is too late to improve a bad situation:
6. There's little to be said for + something
 -said to mean that something has disadvantages:
7. Someone + has to tighten one’s belt  
-to say that someone spends less money than he/she did before because he/she has less money
8. Time is + on someone’s side  
If you say that time is on your side, or that you have time on your side, you mean that you do not have to do quickly whatever it is that you
want or have to do

Task 1
MATCH’EM
1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D
5. E
6. F
7. G
8. H

Task 2
SPOT WHAT’S NOT
1. old : new
2. can : cannot
3. disapprove : approve
discourage: encourage
4. no correction
5. no correction
6. advantages : disadvantages
7. no correction