ESL Podcast 366 - Talking About Prices

price - cost; the amount of money that must be used to buy something; the amount of money for which something is sold

The price of chicken is usually less than the price of beef.

recession - a period of time when a country's economy slows down and there is less business activity

The United States had a recession in the 1980s and many people think that the country is entering another recession now.

necessity - something that one needs; something that one must have to live; something that is more than just a want or desire

If you don't find a job, how will you pay for your basic necessities, like food and housing?

to skyrocket - to increase very much and very quickly

When the band made its third CD, its popularity skyrocketed and soon its music was heard on the radio all the time.

shortage - a lack of something; the state of not having enough of something; having less of something than one needs

That country has a lot of gold and zinc, but a shortage of copper.

produce - fresh fruits and vegetables

There are a lot of apples in the produce section of the grocery store at this time of year.

to gouge - to extort; to charge more money than usual; to charge an unfair price

The university is gouging its students, charging $6,000 more in tuition this year than it did last year.

at the drop of a hat - very quickly, without cause or reason; without advance notice and/or without a reason for doing something

They said that they were going to buy the house, but then they changed their minds at the drop of a hat, without giving any explanation.

par for the course - normal; usual; typical; to be expected

Some parents think it is par for the course that their children drink alcohol in college.

you said it - an informal phrase used to show that one fully agrees with what another person has just said

Hermione said that she thought the government should spend more money on education and health care. Her sister nodded her head and said, "You said it!"

supply - the amount of something that is available, especially for sale

My economics professor said that when the supply of something increases, the price usually drops.

dirt cheap - extremely inexpensive; very low price

During the summer, tomatoes were dirt cheap, only $0.75 per pound!

to pass (something) on to (someone) - to share something with someone; to give something that one has received to another person

Mindy heard some great ideas for saving money and she decided to pass them on to her friends.

to have a mind to - a phrase used to show that one is thinking about doing something, or that one is tempted to do something

I have a mind to quit my job, but I don't want to do that until I've found another place to work.

boycott - an agreement not to buy or use something until conditions change

The families in this neighborhood decided that a boycott of that store was necessary to force them to stop selling adult magazines.

to keep (something) up - to continue to do something; to be able to do something

Gunther recently started exercising for two hours every day, but I don't think he'll be able to keep it up for very long.