ESL Podcast 601 - Paying an Unexpected Visit

To what do I owe this pleasure? - A formal phrase meaning, "What are you doing here?" or "Why have you come to see me and how can I help you?" often used sarcastically

Oh! It's you! To what do I owe this pleasure? Last time we talked, you said you never wanted to see me again.

to drop in - to come for an informal, usually short visit without letting someone know about it ahead of time

Our neighbors have invited us to drop in for a cup of coffee anytime.

unannounced - without prior notice; without letting one know that something will happen; unexpectedly

It's really rude to go to a wedding unannounced. Guests are supposed to be invited.

neck of the woods - neighborhood; the general area where a person lives or works; the surrounding area

You left your sunglasses at our house last night, but I'll return them to you the next time we're in your neck of the woods.

to pay (someone) a visit - to visit someone; to come see someone in his or her home or office

How often do you pay your grandmother a visit?

out of the blue - unexpectedly; without warning or advance notice

Out of the blue, he asked her to marry him. What a surprise!

to happen to be - to do something by chance and accidentally, without planning it ahead of time

It's great that you just happened to be walking by when that man needed your help!

out with it - a phrase used to ask someone to say what he or she wants to say directly, without delaying or hiding anything

Come on, out with it! How much money do you need to borrow from me?

to pursue - to engage in an activity over a long period of time, trying to achieve or get something

Bryan has decided to pursue a Ph.D. in quantum physics.

to devote - to commit to using one's time, money, or other resources for a particular purpose

How many hours are you willing to devote to your job each week?

to make it - to be successful or to become famous in a particular field or occupation

What percentage of new restaurants really make it and are still in business five years after they open?

that's where you come in - a phrase used to emphasize how, when, and where another person will become involved in something

I need to call a client in China, but I don't speak Chinese, so that's where you come in. I need you to interpret for me.

to run interference - to be a mediator; to help someone do something by sharing information or messages with people who might otherwise create problems or difficulty

Mindy and her mother have never gotten along very well, but Mindy's brothers and sisters try to run interference whenever the family gets together.

to take (something) - to react to something; to accept, handle, or deal with something in a particular way

How did your husband take it when you told him you'd wrecked the new car?

I'm just saying... - a phrase used when one is slightly defensive and wants to emphasize that what one has just said was only an opinion, often used when the other person is angered or offended by what one has just said

I'm just saying, it might be a good idea to think carefully before dropping out of college to become a clown in a circus.

dirty work - something a person does not want to do because it is difficult, uncomfortable, or unpleasant, and tries to get another person to do instead

Don't ask me to call tech support about your cell phone. You do your own dirty work.