Daily English Phrases
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Entries in gift (6)

Thursday
Sep222011

“Maybe a few of us can all chip in and get her something really nice for her baby shower.”

English Lesson: Chip in

One of your friends is pregnant and about to have her baby. There's going to be a party for her next week. You want to get her something expensive, so you'd like to get three or four friends to buy it for her together. You suggest to one friend:

Maybe a few of us can all chip in and get her something really nice for her baby shower.

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Thursday
Jun022011

“It's just gathering dust in a closet somewhere.”

It's just gathering dust in a closet somewhere.

Your daughter gave you a waffle iron one year for your birthday. You haven't used it for a few years. Now someone is asking you where it is. You say:

It's just gathering dust in a closet somewhere.

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Sunday
Dec262010

“Oh, you shouldn't have!”

It's your birthday. One of your coworkers is giving you a birthday present. You didn't expect to get a gift from her. You want to express your surprise and politely say that she didn't need to get you anything. You say:

Oh, you shouldn't have!

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Sunday
Dec262010

“How lovely!”

You received a birthday gift from a coworker. You are opening it in front of her. It's a shirt for you. You want to make her think that you're happy about the gift, so you say:

How lovely!

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Thursday
Aug192010

“You're the one that kept complaining about how old and ugly our TV was!”

You bought a new TV for your wife for her birthday, and she's not happy. She says she didn't want you to buy it. You bought it because she was complaining about the old TV, so you can't understand why she's upset. You blame her:

You're the one that kept complaining about how old and ugly our TV was!

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Thursday
Mar042010

“She insisted that I take it.”

You visit your grandmother. When you're leaving, she tries to give you some money but you say "No thanks." She tells you that you have to take it. You describe these events to someone:

She insisted that I take it.

insist that (someone)(do something)

"Insist" means something halfway between "ask" and "order". When you "insist" on something, it means you won't accept "no" for an answer.