Las Vegas Lesson 9

Welcome to Lesson 9. 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!

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Mark: Right.

Greg: And speaking of which, I have a keno story that I almost don’t even want to tell it, because it brings tears to my eyes. But I’ll tell it anyway.

Mark: That’s the kind of story we like to hear! Yeah.

Greg: So, I was playing keno, and I had decided on…I even remember…I remember the pattern in my head. I think it was number two, eleven, and eighty. And I decided I was going to play those numbers, and those numbers only, and just wait until they came up. And hopefully I will have spent less than I made when they did finally come up.

Mark: Right.

Greg: And I played all night. Probably, four hours. And I was just sitting there. All my other friends were having fun, but I was like, “No. I’m going to sit here, and I’m going to play this and I’m going to win,” I think it was eighty. I think, had I hit that, the amount I was betting, it would have been a hundred and eighty-nine dollars or something like that. And…You know, not a bad little win.

Mark: I see.

Greg: So, I played all night. I didn’t hit my numbers. And this was on day two. So, day three, we are leaving. So I decided, “Okay, I’m going to play in the morning, and I’m going to eat breakfast, and I’m going to play keno while eating.” Because the girls will walk around with the Keno tickets. So even in the restaurants, and stuff. And every restaurant, everywhere, you can play keno. Even while you’re eating. So, I sit down, and the keno girl comes and the waitress comes at the same time. And I hadn’t ordered…

Mark: Don’t tell me…

Greg: And the waitress — Yes! — the waitress says, “Can I take your order?” And I’m…I didn’t have money out of my pockets. I wasn’t prepared. The card wasn’t ready for the keno girl. It was just bad timing. So I was like, “Okay, I won’t play this one game. I’m not going to play it.” And-

Mark: Don’t even….

Greg: So, I order. I ordered the breakfast, because the waitress was waiting for me. The keno lady passes by. I’m watching this game, going, “Please just don’t,” you know, “Please don’t…don’t come up. Don’t happen. I,” you know…”The keno gods, I’m sorry! I skipped one, even though I swore I wasn’t going to miss even one.” My numbers came up.

Mark: Oh man!

Greg: Unbelievable!

Mark: That is. Holy cow!

Greg: I couldn’t believe it. I was like…I was like, “if there are gambling gods, or something, they are saying to me with this statement, “You should not gamble ever again!”

Mark: That’s funny. That’s not the moral of the story that I get. It’s not about, “Don’t gamble!” It’s: “Keep your promises!” You promised to play straight, you know, at breakfast, and you reneged on that promise. That’s what the gods were punishing you for. It wasn’t that you are gambling at all. It’s that you reneged on your promise.

Greg: Yeah. Actually, you’re probably right. But, I was so frustrated and upset I missed…I missed that point.

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Step 1

Listen to Audio #1 below.
Listening before reading is very important. Please, DO NOT read the text yet. If you don’t understand the audio, that’s okay. Listen now, at least two times.

step2

Click below (where it says, ‘Click to reveal #1’) and compare the sentences. See the highlighted phrases? They both have the same meaning. But the 1st one is what students of English say. (For example: “on the same topic”) The 2nd one is what native speakers say, (“speaking of which”). Listen one more time, and then go to Step #3.

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speaking of which = on the same topic

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

“…and then I went to the mall to get some new sneakers.”

Oh, on the same topic: I went to the mall yesterday and got this sweater. Do you like it?
Oh, speaking of which: I went to the mall yesterday and got this sweater. Do you like it?

I saw Karen yesterday. On the same topic: Have you seen her new hairstyle?
I saw Karen yesterday. Speaking of which: Have you seen her new hairstyle?

I love apples. On the same topic: Can you buy some apples when you go to the market?
I love apples. Speaking of which: Can you buy some apples when you go to the market?

And on the same topic, I have another keno story I think you’ll enjoy…
And speaking of which, I have another keno story I think you’ll enjoy…

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step3

Make a flashcard. Write one of the example sentences on your card, and underline the new phrase. On the other side of the card, write the translation in your first language. Please make these flashcards now, as you go through the lesson. Then repeat Steps 1 – 3 for each word below.

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it brings tears to my eyes = it makes me want to cry (Often said jokingly)

Remember, the 2nd version (the sentences with “it brings tears to my eyes”) is what a native speaker would say.

It makes me want to cry when I think about how much money I spend on cigarettes,
It brings tears to my eyes when I think about how much money I spend on cigarettes.

Her voice is so beautiful. When she sings, it makes me want to cry.
Her voice is so beautiful. When she sings, it brings tears to my eyes.

My car finally stopped working. It made me want to cry.
My car finally stopped working. It brought tears to my eyes.

I have a funny story about gambling, but I don’t want to tell it. It makes me want to cry when I think of how much money I might have won.
I have a funny story about gambling, but I don’t want to tell it. It brings tears to my eyes when I think of how much money I might have won.

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to come up (regarding numbers) = to be chosen

To win a prize, all six of your numbers have to be chosen.
To win a prize, all six of your numbers have to come up.

If my number is chosen, I will win $2500.
If my number comes up, I will win $2500.

After my numbers weren’t chosen, I decided to quit gambling for the night.
After my numbers didn’t come up, I decided to quit gambling for the night.

I decided to play those numbers until they were chosen.
I decided to play those numbers until they came up.

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to hit = to choose the winning numbers of (in reference to lottery-type games, bingo, etc.)

I chose the winning numbers of the jackpot!
I hit the jackpot!

I didn’t win anything, but Jill chose the winning numbers of a big prize. She won $5000!
I didn’t win anything, but Jill hit a big prize. She won $5000!

I really need a new car, so I hope I choose the winning numbers for the jackpot.
I really need a new car, so I hope I hit the jackpot.

If I had chosen the winning numbers of that, I would have won $200 or so.
If I had hit that, I would have won $200 or so.

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and stuff = things like that / places like that

In London I only bought postcards and things like that. Touristy gifts.
In London I only bought postcards and stuff. Touristy gifts.

If you grab the radio and speakers and things like that, I will grab everything else.
If you grab the radio and speakers and stuff, I will grab everything else.

We visited the museums and places like that while we were in the city.
We visited the museums and stuff while we were in the city.

Even in the restaurants and places like that you can play keno.
Even in the restaurants and stuff you can play keno.

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Oh, man! = Wow, that’s unfortunate!

My wallet was stolen!
Wow, that’s unfortunate!
Oh, man!

Wow that’s unfortunate! Somebody ate the last piece of pizza. I really wanted it.
Oh, man! Somebody ate the last piece of pizza. I really wanted it.

I think we just got a flat tire.
Wow that’s unfortunate.
Oh, man!

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Holy cow! = wow! (An expression of amazement, like, “Wow!”)

Wow, did you see that? That skateboarder just jumped over two cars!
Holy cow, did you see that? That skateboarder just jumped over two cars!

Wow! I can’t believe we almost crashed the car.
Holy cow! I can’t believe we almost crashed the car!

Wow! Did you see that guy jump off the side of the building?!
Holy cow! Did you see that guy jump off the side of the building?!

The one time I didn’t place a bet is the one time my numbers came up.
Wow….that’s unbelievable.
Holy cow….that’s unbelievable.

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Step 1.

First, read the “Easy” sentence. Then, try to think of the advanced expression that we learned which has the same meaning as the highlighted expression.

Easy: I saw Karen yesterday. On the same topic: Have you seen her new hairstyle?

Advanced: I saw Karen yesterday. ______ __ ______: Have you seen her new hairstyle?

Step 2.

Play the audio file to check your answer.