Background: This esl podcast is about a casual telephone conversation with a friend. Here we discuss some slang and some different ways of casualy talking on the phone. Maybe someone will guess that you are a native speaker if you start using some of this language next time you are on the phone!

Learning English [bad word]  [bad word] club17650165

Otis:  Hello,

Andy:  Hey what’s up?

Otis:  Not much.  I’m in the office right now but I’ve got a few minutes to kill before my boss gets back.

Andy:  Cool.  What are you up to this weekend?

Otis:  Not sure yet.  I’ve got no plans as of now but I’m definitely up for something.

Andy:  How about a round of golf Saturday afternoon and then we’ll hit the town later.

Otis:  Sounds perfect.  Oh no, that’s right, I think I have some kind of boring work function I have to go to. 

Andy:  That sucks, is there any way you can get out of it?

Otis:  I’ll try to think of something. 

Andy:  You better.  It’s going to be a great afternoon.

Otis:  I’ll see what I can do.  I’ll keep you posted. 

Andy:  Alright.  Make sure you get back to me by Thursday.

Otis.  Will do.

Andy:  Ok.  Later

Otis:  Later 

 
Key vocabulary and phrases that are discussed in the podcast:
 

Hey what’s up? – It’s a very casual question that you would say to your close friends.  It means,  “What are you doing?”, but you don’t always need to answer it.  We often just say “not much” to answer this question.  You can also return the question by saying, “not much, you?”  or “not much, what’s up with you?”.  If you want you can answer this question with what you are doing.  So if someone asks “what’s up?”  you can say, “oh not much, just watching tv” or something like that.  Never ask “what’s up?” in a formal situation.

 

minutes to kill – We often talk about “killing time”.  It is usually used in a situation where you have nothing that you need to do for a while and are in no position to do something fun.  For example, if you change airplanes, then you might need to wait a few hours in the airport.  Maybe you would walk around to “kill time”.  You could say to your friend, “what do you want to do?  We’ve got a few hours to kill until our next flight?”

 

What are you up to? - This means “what are you doing?”  it is a very casual expression and you can use it in past, present, and future.  “What were you up to last night?”,  “What are you up to now?”, and “What are you up to next weekend?”.

 

I’m definitely up for something -   This means you definitely want to do something.  You aren’t sure what but you don’t just want to sit around and do nothing.  If you say.  “I’m up for anything” that means that you don’t care and will do anything the other person suggests.  You are not picky if you are up for anything.

 

hit the town - Another casual expression meaning that you will go out in the city.  Usually talking about a fun night of going to different restaurants and bars or whatever.

 

I have some kind of boring work function -  The idea of saying “some kind of” here shows that the work function, like a work dinner, is something you don’t want to do.  It’s like you don’t even care what it is, you just know that you don’t want to do it.

 

Is there any way you can get out of it? - This question is asking if there is any way that you can cancel your plans.  Maybe thinking of an excuse, or a lie, to not attend the work function.  Maybe telling your boss that you have to go to your best friend’s wedding.

 

I’ll keep you posted -  very useful expression that means, “I will keep you informed” or “I will let you know”

 

Get back to me - That means “tell me when you get the answer”

 

Will do - a slang phrase meaning “I’ll do it”

 

Later - friends can say “later” to each other when they get off the phone.  It’s the same thing as saying “bye”.  Its informal so don’t say it