02 Lesson 1: An Embarrassing Moment
Main ideas of the story
- The writer goes with friends to a downtown restaurant to celebrate Rawan's promotion.
- The evening is lively and cheerful until the writer, clumsily reaching for the salt, knocks over his drink and Sarah's juice onto her new white dress.
- There is an unbearable silence; Sarah is annoyed and goes to clean her dress; the writer feels helpless and pale as a ghost.
- Sarah returns, understands his embarrassment and says such accidents happen.
- The writer learns the value of true friends who stand by you, and to be more careful.
Idioms
- Hit the town = go out and enjoy yourself in the city.
- Pale as a ghost = extremely pale because of shock.
- Stand by your side (stand by someone) = support someone, especially in difficult times.
- In thin and thick = in good and bad times.
Key vocabulary
1mortifying
Meaning
- extremely embarrassing
Example
- A mortifying situation.
2lively
Meaning
- full of energy
Example
- The atmosphere was lively.
3dull
Meaning
- boring
Example
- Our dull weeknight meetings.
4unaware
Meaning
- not knowing
Example
- He was unaware of the disaster.
5clumsiness
Meaning
- lack of careful movement
Example
- Owing to my clumsiness...
6helpless
Meaning
- unable to do anything
Example
- I felt helpless.
7disaster
Meaning
- a sudden terrible event
Example
- The party became a disaster.
8promotion
Meaning
- moving to a higher job
Example
- Rawan got a promotion.
9glamorous
Meaning
- attractive and exciting
Example
- A glamorous dress.
10confidence
Meaning
- belief in yourself
Example
- He felt confident.
Synonyms and antonyms
- lively - dull / quiet; mortifying - embarrassing (synonym); unaware - aware; helpless - powerless (synonym), capable (antonym); cheerful - gloomy.
Speaking: invitations
- Inviting: Would you like to...? Do you want to join us...?
- Accepting: Yes, I'd love to. That sounds great.
- Declining politely: I'm sorry, I can't. Thanks, but maybe another time.