a dialogue

Situation: Martha apologises to David for arriving late at work but she is having problems with her old car. He tries to persuade her that the car should be scrapped.

Style: Informal and between friends.

- Sorry, I’m late David but the car’s been playing up again.

- Surprise, surprise. I’ve told you you want to get rid of that heap of scrap. It’s been on its last legs for years and it’s a death trap.

- What do you mean? I’ve just had a new radiator put in it and it passed its MOT last year with flying colours. I reckon it’s got a few more years in it yet.

- Oh come on, get real! I’ll give you a rundown of why in my opinion it should have been condemned to the scrap heap years ago.

- Why should I get rid of a perfectly roadworthy car.?

- Well, firstly it’s a rust bucket, it’s bad for the environment, and I’ve seen it kangarooing down the high street pumping out clouds of toxic exhaust fumes like Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, leaving the unfortunate shoppers who happen to be in the vicinity coughing and spluttering in its wake and besides that, your work is suffering as a result. You’re late again.

- Oh, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again..

Functions:

1. Apologising: Sorry, I’m late David but the car’s been playing up again. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)

2. Giving an opinion: I reckon it’s got a few more years in it yet.

3. Asking someone to face reality (strong and informal): Oh come on, get real! (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)

4. Giving an opinion about a series of things: I’ll give you a rundown of why in my opinion it should have been condemned to the scrap heap years ago.

5. Expressing indignation or reluctance: Why should I get rid of a perfectly roadworthy car? (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)

6. Adding a further point: and besides that, your work is suffering as a result. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)

7. Apologising: Oh, I’m sorry. It won’t happen again. (note: please copy the tone and emphasis carefully here.)

.

Notes:

1. the car’s been playing up (phrasal verb: to play up = to not work properly or to behave badly) again = the car has not been working very well again

2. Surprise, surprise (here the speaker is using sarcasm – he means that it is not a surprise at all.) = What a surprise!

3. to get rid of (phrasal verb) = to dispose of (more formal)

4. heap of scrap (idiom) = old car that is very bad condition

5. It’s been on its last legs for years (idiom: to be on its last legs = to be ready to die) = It has been ready to be replaced for years

6. a death trap (idiom) = a very dangerous thing that could cause a fatality

7. I’ve just had a new radiator put in it = I got the mechanic to replace the old radiator

8. radiator = water storage container (in the cooling system of a car)

9. it passed its MOT last year with flying colours (idiom) = it passed its MOT with good marks

10. MOT = Ministry of Transport compulsory annual test (to prove the roadworthiness of a vehicle)

11. I reckon it’s got a few more years in (phrasal verb) it yet = I think it will work for a few more years still

12. get real (informal and strong. Be careful with this expression as it could cause offence. It is fine between friends, or in strong arguments) = you need to face reality

13. I’ll give you a rundown of why (more emphatic) = I’ll explain to you a series of reasons why

14. it should have been condemned to the scrap heap years ago (stronger) = it should have been taken to the scrap yard years ago

15. the scrap heap = scrap yard (place were cars are broken up after they are no longer useful)

16. Why should I get rid of (phrasal verb) = Why should I dispose of (more formal)

17. a perfectly roadworthy car = a car that is in good enough condition to be used on the road

18. a rust bucket (idiom) = a rusty old car

19. kangarooing down the high street (idiom) = moving down the high street with very erratic jumping movements (like a kangaroo)

20. pumping out (phrasal verb) = emitting (more formal)

21. toxic exhaust fumes = poisonous waste products (the waste products of a petrol engine)

22. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (note: this expression is onomatopoeic, in other words, it sounds like its meaning. If you say ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’, it is a bit like the sound of a car with its engine backfiring!) = a famous flying car (from the children’s film of the same name, based on the novel written by Ian Fleming)

23. who happen to be in the vicinity = who are by chance in the area

24. coughing and spluttering = making erratic engine noises

25. in its wake = after it has gone past (note: the white water left in the sea after a ship has passed is called ‘the ship’s wake’.)                 (Jane Lawson)