Grace is sick.

She calls her doctor´s office to make an

appointment for today hang on→ wait; give me some time
Example: The phone is for me? Hang on. I'll be there in
a minute.

(to) have an opening→ to have an available space in a

schedule
Example: Olivia is sick. I'm going to see if her doctor has
an opening for this afternoon.

I'm afraid not→ sorry, but I can't do that

Example: "Can you give me a ride to the airport on
Saturday morning?" -"No, I'm afraid not. I have other
plans."

in luck→ lucky; fortunate

Laura: Primary Medical Group. How may I help you?
Grace: I'd like to make an appointment with Dr.
Feinberg.
Laura: Your name?
Grace: Grace Lee.
Laura: What's the nature of your visit?
Grace: I think I've come down with the flu.
Laura: We have an opening tomorrow at three.
Grace: I can't wait that long. I'm really sick!
Laura: Well, unfortunately, Dr. Feinberg is booked
solid today. If he were free at all, I would squeeze
you in.
Grace: Can anybody else see me?
Laura: Hang on. Let me check ... You're in luck. Dr.
Wilson can see you at four o'clock this afternoon.
Grace: Don't you have anything earlier today?
Laura: No, I'm afraid not. We're short-staffed this
week.
Grace: So there's no way I can come in before four
today?
Laura: I'd like to help you, but my hands are
tied. If I were you, I would grab this four o'clock
appointment.
Grace: Okay. I'll take it.
Example: You want to see the football game on
Saturday? You're in luck! I've got an extra ticket.
my hands are tied→ there's nothing I can do
Example: I'd like to give you more time to finish the
test, but my hands are tied.
short-staffed→ without enough staff; having less staff
than usual
Example: Sorry you had to wait so long. We're short-
staffed today.
(to) squeeze someone in→ to make an appointment
available
Example: You want an appointment for a haircut today?
I can squeeze you in with Lynn at 3 o'clock.
What's the nature of your visit? → Why are you
coming?; Why do you need to see the doctor?
Example: You want to see Dr. Patel? What's the nature
of your visit?

at all→ to any extent; in any way

Example: "Did Kelly help organize the party?" - "No, she
was no help at all."
Example: "Is it a problem for you to come to the office
on Saturday?" - "No, not at all."

booked solid→ unavailable; having all appointments

taken
Example: We wanted to stay in the Palace Hotel during
our stay in Prague, but it was booked solid.

(to) come down with→ to become ill with; to catch a

sickness
Example: Your throat hurts and you feel warm? I hope
you're not coming down with something!
 Practice the Expressions
Fill in the blank with the missing word:

1. You ·want to come in for a massage this afternoon? We can squeeze you _____ at
five o'clock.
o a) out
o b)in
o c) up
2. I'm sorry. We can't give you an appointment until tomorrow morning. We're short-
_____ today.
o a) footed
o b) staffed
o c) handled
3. If you don't get a flu shot, you might come _____ with the flu.
o a) up
o b) away
o c) down
4. When I arrived at the doctor's office, the receptionist asked, "What's the _____ of
your visit?"
o a) nature
o b) matter
o c) reason
5. Sorry, I'm going to have to give you a speeding ticket. I'd like to give you a break,
but my _____ are tied.
o a) feet
o b) fingers
o c) hands
6. Jane: "Can you loan me $1,000 to pay my rent this month?" Joe: "No, I'm _____
not."
o a) afraid
o b) scared
o c) worried
7. Does Dr. Collins have any _____ tomorrow?
o a) open
o b) openings
o c) closings
8. We wanted to have dinner at Aquavit during our stay in New York, but unfortunately
the restaurant was _____ solid.
o a) reserved
o b) busy
o c) booked
9. You want to see Dr. Garcia this afternoon? Hang _____ . Let me see if she's
available.
o a) up
o b) on
o c) in
10. You're _____ luck. We had a cancellation so Dr. Garcia will be able to see you at 3
p.m. today.
o a) in
o b) on
o c) with