By Sophie Mach

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Quite tight schedule today!

Cindy wants to have a talk with Nate sometime today, but Nate is very busy. He has a very tight schedule.

Cindy: Hi, Nate, do you think it's possible for us to have a talk sometime today?

Nate: I'd love to, but I've got a pretty tight schedule today.

Cindy: Oh, what have you got going on?

Nate: Well, I've got to finish a report by ten. Then I have to drive to the airport to pick up a client of mine at eleven. After that, I'll have a meeting with him over lunch. I guess I won't have a break until two o'clock. But then from three until five, I have to attend a senior staff meeting.

Cindy: Wow, that's cutting it close.

Take as much time as you need.

What would you say when you are very busy with something and can't just put it aside even though your wife is calling you?

Sophie: John, can you come downstairs for a minute right now?

John: I'm sorry I can't. I'm tied up with something urgent at the moment.

Sophie: Oh, are you on the stupid net again? When are you going to get off?

John: Just a minute, Dear! I'm looking at a new jewelry site. I wanna make sure I get the right gift for your birthday, don't I?

Sophie: Oh? In that case, I'm sorry to bother you. Take as much time as you need.

John: No problem.

Just Enjoy Life!

Joyce urges her friend Fred to finish his dinner quickly, but Fred complains that he doesn't want to rush all the time. He says he just wants to enjoy life.

Joyce: Aren't you finished with your dinner yet? You're slow!

Fred: No, I'm not! I just wanna enjoy life and not have to rush all the time.

Joyce: But they're waiting for us.

Fred: Oh, that's right. I almost forgot. I'll be done in a second. Gee! Why is life always so rushie-rushie?

Grab something to eat...

Janice is very busy with school. She doesn't even have time to sit down and enjoy a meal...

Mary: Where are you heading in such a rush?

Janice: I'm heading home.

Mary: Are we still going to have group study tonight?

Janice: Yeah. I'm just going to grab something to eat and then I'll come back to school.

Mary: See you then.

Janice: OK.

Vocabulary

tight （时间表等）排得满满的

pretty 相当，很，颇

attend 出席，参加（会议等）

cut it close <口>（时间、金钱等方面）几乎不留余地，抠得很紧

put aside 把……放在一边，（暂时）丢开

tie up （工作等）把……缠住，使无法分身

get off 文中指离开，下线

rush 仓促行事，匆匆完成

Gee <口> （表示惊奇、热烈或强调等）哎呀

rushie-rushie <口> 匆匆忙忙的

grab 赶，匆忙地做

Useful Key Vocabulary

Please fill in each blank with the correct form of a word or phrase given below:

put aside grab pretty rush tie up

1. He his book and began to listen to me.

2. That'll not only my money but also increase my cost.

3. Let's a sandwich and go to see the film.

4. They up the stairs.

5. Tom looks tired.

Answers:

1. put aside

2. tie up

3. grab

4. rushed

5. pretty

（来源：英语学习杂志）