ESL Podcast 329 – Being Persuasive

http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=4636655

Audio Index:
Slow dialog: 1:19
Explanations: 3:18
Fast dialog: 14:07

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Sylvia: How would you like to take my sister, Donna, to the movies this weekend? You'd be doing me a favor.

Joon: Why? What's wrong with her?

Sylvia: Nothing is wrong with her! She just broke up with her boyfriend of four years and she's down in the dumps. She's shy, so I thought I'd try to set her up on a date.

Joon: Off the top of my head, I can think of a dozen things I'd rather do than to take out anyone's little sister, including yours, no offense.

Sylvia: You don't know what you're missing. She may be shy, but she's very pretty and witty. If you met her, you wouldn't need me to persuade you.

Joon: I don't know. I'm not convinced. Whenever someone sets me up on a blind date, they always tell me how great the woman is. She never lives up to the hype.

Sylvia: I'm not going to twist your arm, but if you're on the fence, I have two free movie tickets to that new movie you want to see, just to sweeten the pot.

Joon: You do? Well, why didn't you say so earlier?

Sylvia: I'm glad I could tempt you. Here's her number. I'll tell her to expect your call. Be nice.

Joon: I'm always nice. Don't worry. I'll show her a good time.

Sylvia: Not too good!


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- a favor : sth you're asking sb else to do for you
- to be down into dumps : to feel upset/sad
- off the top of my head : a phrase to show you're saying sth without thinking about it very much
- no offense : say to sb before you're telling to them sth they don't like
- to be convinced : to believe sth
- to live up to sth: to meet the expectation of sth
- to be on the fence : not sure, to be undecided
- to tempt sb : to try to make do what you want to do (by giving sth for them)


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Thanks,
Duy Lam