ESL Podcast 559 - Ending a Restaurant Meal
to clear the plates - to take dirty plates away from the table after people have finished eating
Once you've finished eating, I'll clear the plates so that you two can talk at the table more comfortably.
out of (one's) way - no longer in front of another person; no longer blocking or filling the space that one needs to use for something else
Could you please move those boxes out of his way? I'm afraid he's going to trip over them.
doggie bag - a small bag used to carry uneaten food home from a restaurant so that one can eat it later
She asked the waiter for a doggie bag so that she could take home the leftover pasta and eat it for lunch the next day.
to wrap (something) up - to package something; to put something in a box or wrap it in plastic or paper to protect it so that it can be used later
Each December 30th , they wrap up their Christmas ornaments and put them away until the next year.
to leave room for (something) - to still have space for something, especially to still have space in one's stomach so that one can continue to eat more food
Breccia stopped eating her meal so that she could leave room for dessert.
stuffed - very full, with no room for anything else
After the Thanksgiving dinner, we were all so stuffed that we sat on the couch and didn't move for hours.
check - a bill; a small piece of paper showing what one ordered at a restaurant, how much each item cost, and the total amount of money owed
Waiter, I think there's a mistake on our check. We didn't order lobster.
to come right up - to appear or to be available very soon
I'd like a cup of coffee, please.
Coming right up.
personal check - a small, rectangular piece of paper used to transfer money from a personal bank account to another person or business
The store had to stop accepting personal checks, because too many people were writing checks without enough money in their bank accounts to cover them.
credit card - a small piece of plastic that is used to make purchases, with the money being paid to the credit card company later
They cut up their credit cards so that they couldn't continue to spend money they didn't have.
cash - paper or metal money
Could you please loan me $5? I don't have any cash, but I want to buy a sandwich in the cafeteria.
ATM - automated teller machine; a machine that allows one to take money out of one's bank account even when the bank is closed
Using the ATM is faster than going into the bank to cash a check.
to run out on the check - to leave a restaurant after eating but without paying
When a couple ran out on the check, the restaurant owner called the police.
ASAP - as soon as possible; as quickly as one can
Could you please pay the bills ASAP? Some of them are already overdue.
no rush - an informal phrase used to show that one is not in a hurry and that another person should take as much time as he or she needs
I'll have the report finished and on your desk first thing tomorrow morning.
No rush. Take your time. I don't need it until the end of the week.