Welcome to LIVE CONVERSATIONS “ROME: Lesson 4!” Any questions or comments? Please write us at: support@realenglishnow.com

Please watch the video below. Remember: Don’t write anything. Just watch and listen. By the end of the lesson you will understand everything!

[toggle title=”Click to reveal Movie Script”]

Mark: We had…Here’s a traveler tip. If you go to Rome, you can either wait in the two hour line to get tickets for – whatever it was, like 10 or 12 euro to get in. It’s pretty reasonable. Or you can bite the bullet… pay, I think its maybe 20 euro per person, and you get to go in with a group. Groups, you know, they get special deals, and they cut to the front of the line. It’s totally worth it, I think. And the one thing we learned from our Italian guide before we went in, is that this wasn’t the actual Colosseum. The Colosseum was this ginormous statue, I th(ink)…to… I guess it was Caesar or Augustus. Apologies to those who are fans of ancient Roman history. But that was the Colossus, you know? That was the Colosseum…was the huge statue to this guy’s honor. And then they built the stadium next door. And of course, people say, “Hey,” you know, “are you going to the colossus, you know, to see the show?” But it eventually….This stadium eventually took on the name of the statue, which was then later, I think — I don’t know what happened to it, I think it was melted down so it might have been made out of metal. But anyway, I thought that was an interesting bit of trivia.

Greg: Interesting.

[/toggle]

1.

[toggle title=”Click to reveal #1″]

tip = suggestion

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

If you go to Rome, my suggestion is to rent an apartment. It’s much cheaper than a hotel, and usually nicer, too.
If you go to Rome, my tip is to rent an apartment. It’s much cheaper than a hotel, and usually nicer, too.

Another suggestion is: Go in the spring. The weather is perfect and there are fewer crowds.
Another tip is: Go in the spring. The weather is perfect and there are fewer crowds.

My last suggestion is: Don’t go to any cafe near a tourist spot. The food is bad and the prices are high.
My last tip is: Don’t go to any cafe near a tourist spot. The food is bad and the prices are high.

Here’s a traveler’s suggestion: If you go to Rome, join a group to get into the Colosseum much quicker.
Here’s a traveler’s tip: If you go to Rome, join a group to get into the Colosseum much quicker.

[/toggle]

2.

[toggle title=”Click to reveal #2″]

to bite the bullet = to take the painful choice

Remember, the 2nd version (using “bite the bullet”) is how a native speaker will probably say these sentences.

Because we were in a hurry, we took the painful choice and took a taxi.
Because we were in a hurry, we bit the bullet and took a taxi.

I didn’t want my friend to go to jail, but what he did was wrong, so I took the painful choice and called the police.
I didn’t want my friend to go to jail, but what he did was wrong, so I bit the bullet and called the police.

I care about my girlfriend, but I was in love with someone else. So, I took the painful choice and told her the truth.
I care about my girlfriend, but I was in love with someone else. So, I bit the bullet and told her the truth.

At the Colosseum you can wait in a very long line, or you can take the painful choice, pay 20 Euros, and go in with a group very quickly.
At the Colosseum you can wait in a very long line, or you can bite the bullet, pay 20 Euros, and go in with a group very quickly.

[/toggle]

3.

[toggle title=”Click to reveal #3″]

cut to the front = go directly to the front

Did you see that guy? He just went directly to the front of the line!
Did you see that guy? He just cut to the front of the line!

We were in a hurry, so the airport security guys let us go directly to the front of the line.
We were in a hurry, so the airport security guys let us cut to the front of the line.

With this VIP card, you can go directly to the front of the line.
With this VIP card, you can cut to the front of the line.

Groups get special deals, and they go directly to the front go directly to the front of the line.
Groups get special deals, and they cut to the front go directly to the front of the line.

[/toggle]

4.

[toggle title=”Click to reveal #4″]

totally worth it = a very fair value
Also note: totally not worth it = not a fair value

The U2 tickets were $100 but they were a very fair value. The concert was amazing!
The U2 tickets were $100 but they were totally worth it. The concert was amazing!

They want $200 for a pair of Levi jeans? That’s totally not worth it.
They want $200 for a pair of Levi jeans? That’s not a fair value.

There’s a long line to see the Vatican Museum, but it’s a very fair value. The museum is incredible!
There’s a long line to see the Vatican Museum, but it’s totally worth it. The museum is incredible!

Going in with a group is a very fair value, I think.
Going in with a group is totally worth it, I think.

[/toggle]

5.

[toggle title=”Click to reveal #5″]

ginormous = huge (humorous, colloquial) (A combination of “giant” and “enormous”)

If you can use “ginormous” at the right time, your American friends will laugh and be very impressed by your knowledge of English!

Microsoft is a huge company.
Microsoft is a ginormous company.

War and Peace is a huge book.
War and Peace is a ginormous book.

I can’t go out tonight. I have this huge term paper to write by Tuesday.
I can’t go out tonight. I have this ginormous term paper to write by Tuesday.

The Colosseum was actually this huge statue.
The Colosseum was actually this ginormous statue.
[/toggle]

6.

[toggle title=”Click to reveal #6″]

to take on = to acquire

The term “electronic mail” eventually acquired the shorter name, “email.”
The term “electronic mail” eventually took on the shorter name, “email.”

The founders of the United States did not like having an all-powerful King. So, they acquired a democratic form of government.
The founders of the United States did not like having an all-powerful King. So, they took on a democratic form of government.

The New York Yankees baseball team acquired a new pitcher from Tokyo today.
The New York Yankees baseball team took on a new pitcher from Tokyo today.

The stadium eventually acquired the name of the statue.
The stadium eventually took on the name of the statue.

[/toggle]

7.

[toggle title=”Click to reveal #7″]

bit of trivia = an (interesting) fact

Here is an interesting fact: Did you know that Rome was the first modern city to reach a population of one million residents?
Here is a bit of trivia: Did you know that Rome was the first modern city to reach a population of one million residents?

People originally shook hands to show they had no weapons. I think that’s an interesting fact.
People originally shook hands to show they had no weapons. I think that’s an interesting bit of trivia.

I heard an interesting fact today about the President: In high school, he was voted Most Likely to Become a Professional Comedian.
I heard a bit of trivia today about the President: In high school, he was voted Most Likely to Become a Professional Comedian.

So, the Collosus was a statue, first. I thought that was an interesting fact.
So, the Collosus was a statue, first. I thought that was an interesting bit of trivia.
[/toggle]

Easy: If you go to Rome, my suggestion is to rent an apartment. It’s much cheaper than a hotel, and usually nicer, too..

Advanced: If you go to Rome, my ___ is to rent an apartment. It’s much cheaper than a hotel, and usually nicer, too.

Easy: Because we were in a hurry, we took the painful choice and took a taxi.
Advanced: Because we were in a hurry, we ___ ___ _____ and took a taxi.

Easy: Did you see that guy? He just went directly to the front of the line!

Advanced: Did you see that guy? He just ___ to the front of the line!

Easy: The U2 tickets were $100 but they were a very fair value. The concert was amazing!

Advanced: The U2 tickets were $100 but they were ______ ____ __. The concert was amazing!

Easy: Microsoft is a huge company.

Advanced: Microsoft is a ________ company.

Easy: The term “electronic mail” eventually acquired the shorter name, “email.”

Advanced: The term “electronic mail” eventually ____ __ the shorter name, “email.”

Easy: Here is an interesting fact: Did you know that Rome was the first modern city to reach a population of one million residents?

Advanced: Here is _ ___ __ _____: Did you know that Rome was the first modern city to reach a population of one million residents?