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Script
Alex: Hey, Ryan. You’re not thinking about buying that MP3 player, are you? That’s a rip-off! You should of talked this over with me before. I mean, geez.
Ryan: What do you mean?
Alex: I mean before you buy anything on some auction Web site, you ought to check around, or you’ll end up paying through the nose. I mean these sites are set up to make fast money, and you never know what you’re paying for.
Ryan: Huh?
Alex: I mean they’re fly-by-night businesses. Look. For how much is that Web site selling their player?
Ryan: Uh. Two hundred bucks.
Alex: Two hundred bucks? That’s outrageous! I could of told you that. I mean some online shopping Websites know your a sucker who’ll pay anything, and they’ll take you to the cleaners. Come on. You can pick up the same thing on some other Web sites I know.
Ryan: Yeah, but this Web site says that they only had two players left [Oh, yeah.]; they’re on sale today, and they’re going to hold it for people because they make deals only on a first-come, first-served basis.
Alex: Did you check out any other Websites?
Ryan: Well, . . .
Alex: Ah, man. You should of done at least that. I mean, man, you’re so green. [Green?] That’s a sales gimmick, and these Websites know they have your number and (that) you’re ready to cough up a wad of cash for this thing. Listen, you have to look for the best deals, or you’ll end up paying an arm and a leg for worthless junk. Trust me on this one. Watch. I bet if you don’t buy today, the Website will start slashing the price tomorrow.
Ryan: But . . .
Alex: Okay, hey . . . go ahead and blow your money on that cheap player [Really?]. Just remember I told you so. What Web site is selling it anyway? I mean who’s the seller?
Ryan: Uh. You.
Alex: Oh really, Gee, what a great deal. Nice player!
Ryan: But you just said . . .
Alex: It’s . . . nah, nah, nah . . .
Vocabulary and Sample Sentences
- a rip-off: an item that is unreasonably expensive– You ought ta of bought the computer from me. The one you have was way too expensive . . . what a rip-off.
- pay through the nose: pay too much for an item– Unfortunately, he didn’t know much about car repairs and paid through the nose to get his car fixed.
- fly-by-night: an untrustworthy business that might close quickly– Although she didn’t realize it at the time, she bought the vacuum from a fly-by-night shop which quickly went out of business. She should of heeded my advice to buy the same thing at an established store.
- buck: dollar– The TV was on sale for $30 bucks, but I didn’t buy one at the time. Looking back, I ought ta of purchased at least two for future gifts.
- sucker:: a person who is easily tricked into doing something– I can’t believe I was such a sucker to buy that camera online. I really should of looked into things more carefully.
- take someone to the cleaners: get someone to spend a lot of money unnecessarily– You can find some good buys on the Internet, but you ought to check things out or some businesses might take you to the cleaners.
- pick up: get– Where did you pick up that video camera? It looks nice.
- on sale: available for purchase at a lower price– Ah. You could of bought that jacket on sale a week ago at a store around the corner.
- on a first-come, first-served basis: not reserving an item for sale– Sorry, but can’t hold the item since everything in the store is sold on a first-come, first-served basis.
- green: naïve or a novice at something, without experience– He’s so green that he’ll fall for any Internet scam.gimmick: a clever sales trick to get people to buy– That Website uses all sorts of gimmicks to get people to buy their products, but I still not sold on their company.
- have someone’s number: to know something about someone– Once you start ordering from that company, they’ve got your number and know that you’ll order again.
- cough up: give unwillingly– Hey, you could of saved money by not coughing up $50 for that cheap jacket.
- wad: a think pile or mass of something, like money or chewing gum– You shouldn’t of carried around that large wad of cash. That way, you might not of lost it. Next time, you might listen to my advice.
- pay an arm and a leg: spend a great deal of money– If you not careful, you’ll end up paying an arm and a leg for souvenirs in that country.
- slash prices: cut or reduce drastically– You ought to wait a little longer because I have a feeling that the store will slash prices on their winter clothing, now that the season is almost over.
- blow money : spend money carelessly– She blew all of her money on the last day of the trip.
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