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Greg: What do you think is a good average…You start to get what I call “Vegas legs,” and which just means your legs get tired because you do so much walking from hotel to hotel to hotel. So, I think three days is kind of good for me. That’s…That’s what I shoot for. Four days, I’m not sure. What do you think is a good average amount of time for Las Vegas?

Mark: Yeah, I think three days is perfect. I think I once spent five days in Vegas and that felt like two days too long. So, I think three is perfect.

Greg: Right, I think so.

Greg: Ok so…Is this your hotel room where you stayed, or…? what hotel is this, anyway?

Mark: This is The Mandalay Bay. I did not take this picture. This is just from their website, but this is the suite that we stayed in. Actually, I take that back. It wasn’t Mandalay Bay. It was THE Hotel at Mandalay Bay. Have you ever been there?

Greg: That’s the…Is that the name of it: The Hotel at Mandalay Bay?

Mark: Yeah, you gotta love it. All three letters are capitalized so, a native speaker of English is going to really feel that when you say, “THE Hotel.” And they should notice how we’re pronouncing that word. We’re not saying “The Hotel.” That doesn’t have that affect. You know (Words of Experience Video) what I mean?

Greg: Right, right.

Mark: When you say “THE Hotel”, that means it’s like — you’re literally saying it’s like, “This is the greatest hotel in the world!” (“Or at least in the city.”) Don’t you…Don’t you think?

Greg: Definitely, definitely. It has that emphasis, yes. For people who’ve never been to Las Vegas, most of the hotels have a theme or…..some sort of theme, I guess is a good word. But what…But how about Mandalay Bay? What’s the theme of that hotel?

Mark: I think it was the South Pacific. It wasn’t really as clear as some of the other hotels, to be honest with you. But, you’re talking about themes. Look out the window, what do we see? We see the Pyramid of Luxor, Egypt. If you can really squint…In the background you see the Paris Eifel Tower, you know?

Greg: Right.

Mark: My favorite joke is: I would love to do a casino called “Las Vegas” and it would be consisted of one pyramid, one, you know, Eiffel tower, one Statue of Liberty. That would be, you know, the ultimate theme.

Greg: Right.

Mark: What were the last few hotels you’ve stayed in?

Greg: We stayed in the Luxor with Megumi’s parents. That was pretty cool. The Imperial Palace, I think I’ve stayed in maybe the last three times because they always had really good rates and it’s kinda right in the middle of things.

Mark: Yeah, perfect location.

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to shoot for = try to do

Remember, in these four groups of sentences below, a native speaker will usually use the 2nd version. So, “shoot for” is the advanced phrase we want to learn.

When I go to the gym, I try to do 30 minutes of swimming and 30 minutes of weightlifting.
When I go to the gym, I shoot for 30 minutes of swimming and 30 minutes of weightlifting.

We try to do 3 meetings a day, so that we can check the progress of the project.
We shoot for 3 meetings a day, so that we can check the progress of the project.

We try to do 15 orders every hour. Otherwise, our workload gets too large.
We shoot for 15 orders every hour. Otherwise, our workload gets too large.

That’s what I try to do.
That’s what I shoot for.

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anyway = by the way

Remember, the 2nd version (the sentences with “anyway”) is what a native speaker would say.

My friend and I listened to a few songs on a CD, then my friend asked, “What group is this, by the way?”
My friend and I listened to a few songs on a CD, then my friend asked, “What group is this, anyway?”

I really enjoyed that restaurant we visited last night. What was the name of it, by the way?
I really enjoyed that restaurant we visited last night. What was the name of it, anyway?

What movie did you see by the way?
What movie did you see anyway?

Greg was looking at pictures for a few minutes, then he asked: “What hotel is this, by the way?”
Greg was looking at pictures for a few minutes, then he asked: “What hotel is this, anyway?”

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I take that back = What I said is not correct

“I take that back” is a very common phrase in American English. Here are our example sentences…

This Thursday we have a meeting at 4 o’clock. No. What I said is not correct. The meeting is at 4:30.
This Thursday we have a meeting at 4 o’clock. No, I take that back. The meeting is at 4:30.

The car broke down before we arrived at the hotel. Actually, what I said is not correct. It stopped working directly after we arrived at the hotel.
The car broke down before we arrived at the hotel. Actually, I take that back. It stopped working directly after we arrived at the hotel.

There were three people in the room with us. No. What I said is not correct. There were four people staying with us.
There were three people in the room with us. No. I take that back. There were four people staying with us.

Actually, what I said is not correct. It wasn’t Mandalay Bay. It was THE Hotel at Mandalay Bay.
Actually, I take that back. It wasn’t Mandalay Bay. It was THE Hotel at Mandalay Bay.

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gotta love it = is great

McDonald’s is great.
Gotta love McDonald’s.

I won some money in Las Vegas. It’s great!
I won some money in Las Vegas. Gotta love it!

The end of Star Wars was awesome. It was great.
The end of Star Wars was awesome. You gotta love it.

Yeah, it’s great.
Yeah, you gotta love it.

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sort of = type of

Six dollars for a small coffee? Is this some type of joke?
Six dollars for a small coffee? Is this some sort of joke?

Yelling in the office? We don’t encourage that type of behavior.
Yelling in the office? We don’t encourage that sort of behavior.

You need a pen? We don’t sell that type of merchandise here.
You need a pen? We don’t sell that sort of merchandise here.

For people who’ve never been to Las Vegas, most of the hotels have some type of theme.
For people who’ve never been to Las Vegas, most of the hotels have some sort of type of theme.

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cool = fun and interesting

Roger’s house is really fun and interesting! He has a pool, lots of video games, and even an ice-cream maker!
Roger’s house is really cool! He has a pool, lots of video games, and even an ice-cream maker!

That new car is fun and interesting. It has many new features.
That new car is cool. It has many new features.

The new show is really fun and interesting, You should watch it!
The new show is really cool. You should watch it!

The Luxor hotel is pretty fun and interesting.
The Luxor hotel is pretty cool.

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right in the middle of things = in a good area with many activities nearby

If you visit Washington, D.C., try to stay near Dupont Circle. It’s in a good area with many activities nearby.
If you visit Washington, D.C., try to stay near Dupont Circle. It’s right in the middle of things.

The best place to stay in New York City is near Times Square. It’s in a good area with many activities nearby.
The best place to stay in New York City is near Times Square. It’s right in the middle of things.

The new store downtown is in a good area with many activities nearby.
The new store downtown is right in the middle of things.

The Imperial Palace is in a good area with many activities nearby.
The Imperial Palace is right in the middle of things.

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Easy: When I go to the gym, I try to do 30 minutes of swimming and 30 minutes of weightlifting.

Advanced:When I go to the gym, I ___ ___ 30 minutes of swimming and 30 minutes of weightlifting.

Easy: My friend and I listened to a few songs on a CD, then my friend asked, “What group is this, by the way?

Advanced: What group is this, _____?

Easy: This Thursday we have a meeting at 4 o’clock. No. What I said is not correct. The meeting is at 4:30.

Advanced: This Thursday we have a meeting at 4 o’clock. No, __ ___ ___ ___. The meeting is at 4:30.

Easy: I won some money in Las Vegas. It’s great!.

Advanced: I won some money in Las Vegas. ____ ___ __!

Easy: Six dollars for a small coffee? Is this some type of joke?

Advanced: Six dollars for a small coffee? Is this some ____ __ joke?

Easy: The new show is really fun and interesting, You should watch it!

Advanced: The new show is really ___. You should watch it!

Easy: The best place to stay in New York City is near Times Square. It’s in a good area with many activities nearby.

Advanced: The best place to stay in New York City is near Times Square. It’s __ __ __ ____ __ ____ .