Going out
Do you always take your mobile phone with you when you go out? Do you bring food or snacks with you when going out? Where do you usually go? Have your going out habits changed?
Vocabulary
- Out and about (adverbial phrase) – active and moving around, especially outside of one's home. → Example: I think I'm out and about just about every day.
- Get-together (noun) – an informal social gathering. → Example: It's usually someone's home for a get-together.
- The done thing (idiom) – the socially accepted or expected action in a particular situation. → Example: I used to go out more often, but that was just because it was the done thing.
- Give in to peer pressure (phrasal verb) – to do something you don't want to because your friends or social group persuade you. → Example: It was more about giving into peer pressure than any genuine desire to be out.
- Genuine desire (noun phrase) – a real, sincere wish to do something. → Example: It wasn't my genuine desire to go, but I went anyway.
- In case of an emergency (phrase) – in the event of a serious or dangerous situation requiring immediate action. → Example: It's good to have your phone with you in case of an emergency.
- Invite someone over (phrasal verb) – to ask someone to come to your home for a social occasion. → Example: It's a great way to thank someone for inviting you over.
- Premixed (adjective) – (of a product) having the ingredients mixed in advance by the manufacturer. → Example: I sometimes bring a premixed cocktail to a party.
- Hit and miss (idiom) – unpredictable; sometimes good and sometimes bad. → Example: Bringing food can be a bit hit and miss since you don't know what people like.
- Be allergic to (something) (verb phrase) – to have a medical condition that causes you to react badly or fall ill when you eat or touch a particular substance. → Example: You never can tell what people might be allergic to these days.
- Paint the town red (idiom) – to go out and enjoy oneself flamboyantly. → Example: When I was younger, I used to love painting the town red every weekend.
- Homebody (noun) – a person who prefers to stay at home rather than go out. → Example: I'm a real homebody; I enjoy a quiet evening on the sofa.
- Uncouth (adjective) – lacking good manners, refinement, or grace. → Example: Partying all night seems a bit uncouth to me now.
It’s that time of the year… again.
Questions and Answers
Maria: How often do you go out?
Rory: Oh, that depends on what you mean. If you mean just leaving the house, then I think I'm out and about just about every day. But if you mean going out to socialize, then not that often. Unless going to the houses of my friends counts.
Maria: Where do you usually go?
Rory: Well, like I said, it's usually someone's home for a get-together. I don't think I've ever been one for going to a bar or clubbing or anything like that. Even when I do go out, I really don't like it.
Maria: Have your going out habits changed?
Rory: Well, I certainly used to go out in town more often, but that was just because it was the done thing. So it was more about giving into peer pressure than any genuine desire to be out and about. Nowadays, I'm much more into staying at home or visiting friends in their homes.
Maria: Do you always take your mobile phone with you when you go out?
Rory: Almost always. It's good to have in case of an emergency or when you want to share something with friends. Or, I'm almost afraid to admit, if you get bored and want some light entertainment, even when you're already at a party.
Maria: Do you ever bring food or snacks with you when going out?
Rory: To someone's home? Absolutely. It's a great way to thank someone for inviting you over or just asking you around to their place. I always try to bring something for everyone, like champagne or, and something for myself, like some kind of premixed cocktail or something like that. Food can be a bit hit and miss since I'm no cook and you never can tell what people might be allergic to these days.
Rory: Oh, that depends on what you mean. If you mean just leaving the house, then I think I'm out and about just about every day. But if you mean going out to socialize, then not that often. Unless going to the houses of my friends counts.
Maria: Where do you usually go?
Rory: Well, like I said, it's usually someone's home for a get-together. I don't think I've ever been one for going to a bar or clubbing or anything like that. Even when I do go out, I really don't like it.
Maria: Have your going out habits changed?
Rory: Well, I certainly used to go out in town more often, but that was just because it was the done thing. So it was more about giving into peer pressure than any genuine desire to be out and about. Nowadays, I'm much more into staying at home or visiting friends in their homes.
Maria: Do you always take your mobile phone with you when you go out?
Rory: Almost always. It's good to have in case of an emergency or when you want to share something with friends. Or, I'm almost afraid to admit, if you get bored and want some light entertainment, even when you're already at a party.
Maria: Do you ever bring food or snacks with you when going out?
Rory: To someone's home? Absolutely. It's a great way to thank someone for inviting you over or just asking you around to their place. I always try to bring something for everyone, like champagne or, and something for myself, like some kind of premixed cocktail or something like that. Food can be a bit hit and miss since I'm no cook and you never can tell what people might be allergic to these days.
Discussion
Maria: Going out. So Rory, tell us, what does it mean? So go out. What's the meaning of this?
Rory: I think it just means going out from your home to have a nice time. Most people do that by going out to a different part of their town or city or maybe another city and partying there. But for many people nowadays going out can also mean going to someone else's house and having a nice time there.
Maria: We also have "go out" as a phrasal verb, which means to have a romantic relationship with somebody. For example, "We've been going out for five months." So we've been boyfriend and girlfriend for five months. But here "going out," it's just go somewhere for fun, dear listener. It doesn't mean work or studies. Usually we go to a restaurant, to a cafe, to visit somebody's house, so that's all going out. So pretty much you go out of your house to do something fun, pleasant, all right?
And we can also say eat out, dine out when you have some food outside your home. So, "Oh, sometimes I eat out on the weekend." So you go to a restaurant outside your house to have some food. But if you go to a park, if you go to a garden, a park, it's also going out, just for a walk. I'm out and about every day. So I go out my house, I walk somewhere, I come back. So you can say, "I'm out and about just about every day." So pretty much every day. Well, it's a fact about you, Rory, you are out and about.
Rory: Am I? Well.
Maria: You never stay at home just all day long, just at home.
Rory: I do. I like staying at home. Do you not like staying at home?
Maria: Oh, yeah, I love it. When the weather is dreadful, it snows and it rains at the same time and it's just gray and dark, I just stay in for a week. I just don't go out for a week because it's just horrible. The weather is just so nasty and you just can't go out. So all the shopping, I order all the shopping. But that's in winter. But then I'm out and about when it's sunny and spring, summer.
Right, dear listener. You can say that I usually go to my friends' houses. So Rory, what do I say if I go to my friends' houses? How do I put it naturally?
Rory: I don't know, I go and visit them in their homes, or we have get-togethers there instead.
Maria: Can you say like "I go to my friend's place"?
Rory: Yeah. Or "my friends' places." Maybe you want to have more than one friend.
Maria: Yeah, cause go to someone's place means to visit there in their home. Where do people usually go when they go out? So around the world. So, AI tells me that restaurants, bars, coffee shops, parks. But also entertainment venues, dear listener. Maybe you go out to the theater, to the museum. Not Rory, dear listener. Cuz Rory just tells us boring stuff.
Rory: Oh, thanks.
Maria: Usually it's someone's get-together. So a get-together is when you meet your friends and you just yay, let's go to someone's house for a get-together. You just meet your friends at somebody's house. Or sometimes I go to a bar. I sometimes go clubbing. Or dear listener, you can say, I go to the gym, I go to a shopping mall, I go to a museum, I go to the beach. So that's all going out. Zoos. Maybe you go to a zoo every week, I don't know. And then theguardian.com has an article, "Meet generation stay at home."
Rory: Hey, it's us.
Maria: Why bother? Stay at home, people. You don't need to go out. Just stay at home. What do you call people who enjoy staying at home, Rory?
Rory: Normal people.
Maria: What do you call people?
Rory: Me? I call them like myself.
Maria: Homebodies. Yeah, homebodies. You can say that "my going out habits haven't changed over the years." Or "I've changed my going out habits. I used to go out to the center, but now I don't," right? Or "I used to go clubbing a lot. I used to go out every Friday night, and it was a night out. So I would come back at 4 a.m. in the morning," something like this. But not anymore. Now I prefer staying at home. Rory, what did you mean when you said it was the done thing?
Rory: Oh, the done thing is just the thing that everybody does, or the thing that is expected.
Rory: I think it just means going out from your home to have a nice time. Most people do that by going out to a different part of their town or city or maybe another city and partying there. But for many people nowadays going out can also mean going to someone else's house and having a nice time there.
Maria: We also have "go out" as a phrasal verb, which means to have a romantic relationship with somebody. For example, "We've been going out for five months." So we've been boyfriend and girlfriend for five months. But here "going out," it's just go somewhere for fun, dear listener. It doesn't mean work or studies. Usually we go to a restaurant, to a cafe, to visit somebody's house, so that's all going out. So pretty much you go out of your house to do something fun, pleasant, all right?
And we can also say eat out, dine out when you have some food outside your home. So, "Oh, sometimes I eat out on the weekend." So you go to a restaurant outside your house to have some food. But if you go to a park, if you go to a garden, a park, it's also going out, just for a walk. I'm out and about every day. So I go out my house, I walk somewhere, I come back. So you can say, "I'm out and about just about every day." So pretty much every day. Well, it's a fact about you, Rory, you are out and about.
Rory: Am I? Well.
Maria: You never stay at home just all day long, just at home.
Rory: I do. I like staying at home. Do you not like staying at home?
Maria: Oh, yeah, I love it. When the weather is dreadful, it snows and it rains at the same time and it's just gray and dark, I just stay in for a week. I just don't go out for a week because it's just horrible. The weather is just so nasty and you just can't go out. So all the shopping, I order all the shopping. But that's in winter. But then I'm out and about when it's sunny and spring, summer.
Right, dear listener. You can say that I usually go to my friends' houses. So Rory, what do I say if I go to my friends' houses? How do I put it naturally?
Rory: I don't know, I go and visit them in their homes, or we have get-togethers there instead.
Maria: Can you say like "I go to my friend's place"?
Rory: Yeah. Or "my friends' places." Maybe you want to have more than one friend.
Maria: Yeah, cause go to someone's place means to visit there in their home. Where do people usually go when they go out? So around the world. So, AI tells me that restaurants, bars, coffee shops, parks. But also entertainment venues, dear listener. Maybe you go out to the theater, to the museum. Not Rory, dear listener. Cuz Rory just tells us boring stuff.
Rory: Oh, thanks.
Maria: Usually it's someone's get-together. So a get-together is when you meet your friends and you just yay, let's go to someone's house for a get-together. You just meet your friends at somebody's house. Or sometimes I go to a bar. I sometimes go clubbing. Or dear listener, you can say, I go to the gym, I go to a shopping mall, I go to a museum, I go to the beach. So that's all going out. Zoos. Maybe you go to a zoo every week, I don't know. And then theguardian.com has an article, "Meet generation stay at home."
Rory: Hey, it's us.
Maria: Why bother? Stay at home, people. You don't need to go out. Just stay at home. What do you call people who enjoy staying at home, Rory?
Rory: Normal people.
Maria: What do you call people?
Rory: Me? I call them like myself.
Maria: Homebodies. Yeah, homebodies. You can say that "my going out habits haven't changed over the years." Or "I've changed my going out habits. I used to go out to the center, but now I don't," right? Or "I used to go clubbing a lot. I used to go out every Friday night, and it was a night out. So I would come back at 4 a.m. in the morning," something like this. But not anymore. Now I prefer staying at home. Rory, what did you mean when you said it was the done thing?
Rory: Oh, the done thing is just the thing that everybody does, or the thing that is expected.
Maria: And dear listener, if you partied all night, so you went partying all night long, perhaps your friends made you do it. So you gave in to peer pressure. Cuz everybody went out partying all night. Maybe you felt this pressure from your friends and you had to do it just because of them, not because you wanted to, right? You gave in to peer pressure. It wasn't my genuine desire. Genuine, like real desire, my wish. It wasn't my genuine desire, but I did it because of peer pressure. And you can say that "today, I'm much more into staying at home. I'm much more into visiting friends in their homes." So I prefer visiting friends in their homes, or I'm more into visiting friends in their homes. So Rory, when was the last time you went out to a bar or clubbing maybe till 2 a.m.?
Rory: I can tell you the answer to that exactly. I went out to a bar about three weeks ago, and it was the worst experience I've ever had. So it just confirmed everything I am doing normally is right.
Maria: Really? So you stayed till what?
Rory: I stayed for about five minutes. It was so bad. We went out for, to give context, it was my friend's birthday. So we went out to a restaurant, and that was nice. I had a good time. And then people said, oh, let's go to this bar. Now, again, for context, this is a bar that we went to when we were teenagers. It's a really, really old bar. It's not the best bar in town. And they were like, oh, it'll be fun. It'll be like old times. And I was thinking, old times were about 20 years ago. Why do we want to repeat this? So, I was already not thrilled about it. And then we went there and there were people singing karaoke really badly and the place smelled of bleach. I went to the bathroom and I regretted that also, because that was just terrible. And then they asked me for what I wanted to drink at the bar, and I asked if they had any bourbon, and they said no. And I was like, oh, yeah, that's about right. So, yes, it wasn't a great time. I wish I'd never gone. It seemed like a huge waste of money.
Maria: You see, dear listener, Rory gave in to peer pressure. He didn't want to go, but still.
Rory: Well, even when I did go, I made my thoughts clear, even as I was carried along by the peer pressure.
Maria: I have my mobile phone with me in case of an emergency. An emergency, dear listener. Or in case of an emergency, it's just something a dangerous, serious situation, an accident.
Rory: Oh, but in case of emergency is a collocation. But in case of is a good way of talking about conditionals without using if.
Maria: Yeah. For example.
Rory: So, I do take my phone in case I'm bored, or in case of emergency, or in case I need to call my mother. I don't know, maybe not when I go out. I don't feel the need to call my mom when I go out.
Maria: In case of, like if I'm bored. I take my mobile phone if I'm bored or in case I'm bored. Excellent. We can bring some food or snacks when you go out, especially when you visit someone in their home. And it's a great way to thank somebody for inviting you over. So people invite you over to their place or people invite you over round to their place, right? And you bring something. Usually a bottle of wine or a bottle of champagne. Rory brings a bottle of nice champagne. And Rory brings a premixed cocktail. So you kind of you mix a cocktail and you bring it in a bottle in a special glass or how does it work?
Rory: Oh, yeah. It's premixed. Usually you make the cocktails by putting in everything when you're there. But if it's premixed, then it's made before that. I should say these things are usually filled with sugar and are not very good for you. So I would definitely not recommend them for a regular thing, but maybe once every couple of months is okay.
Maria: And you can say that food can be a bit hit and miss. Hit and miss means that you never know what food people enjoy. So it's kind of it's a bit dangerous, risky to bring food. So if something is hit and miss, you can't depend on it to be of good quality or it may be not accurate. So you can say, "I don't usually bring food because it can be a bit hit and miss. So I usually take a bottle of wine. People might be allergic to food that I bring." So to be allergic to something. You never know what people might be allergic to.
Rory: I can tell you the answer to that exactly. I went out to a bar about three weeks ago, and it was the worst experience I've ever had. So it just confirmed everything I am doing normally is right.
Maria: Really? So you stayed till what?
Rory: I stayed for about five minutes. It was so bad. We went out for, to give context, it was my friend's birthday. So we went out to a restaurant, and that was nice. I had a good time. And then people said, oh, let's go to this bar. Now, again, for context, this is a bar that we went to when we were teenagers. It's a really, really old bar. It's not the best bar in town. And they were like, oh, it'll be fun. It'll be like old times. And I was thinking, old times were about 20 years ago. Why do we want to repeat this? So, I was already not thrilled about it. And then we went there and there were people singing karaoke really badly and the place smelled of bleach. I went to the bathroom and I regretted that also, because that was just terrible. And then they asked me for what I wanted to drink at the bar, and I asked if they had any bourbon, and they said no. And I was like, oh, yeah, that's about right. So, yes, it wasn't a great time. I wish I'd never gone. It seemed like a huge waste of money.
Maria: You see, dear listener, Rory gave in to peer pressure. He didn't want to go, but still.
Rory: Well, even when I did go, I made my thoughts clear, even as I was carried along by the peer pressure.
Maria: I have my mobile phone with me in case of an emergency. An emergency, dear listener. Or in case of an emergency, it's just something a dangerous, serious situation, an accident.
Rory: Oh, but in case of emergency is a collocation. But in case of is a good way of talking about conditionals without using if.
Maria: Yeah. For example.
Rory: So, I do take my phone in case I'm bored, or in case of emergency, or in case I need to call my mother. I don't know, maybe not when I go out. I don't feel the need to call my mom when I go out.
Maria: In case of, like if I'm bored. I take my mobile phone if I'm bored or in case I'm bored. Excellent. We can bring some food or snacks when you go out, especially when you visit someone in their home. And it's a great way to thank somebody for inviting you over. So people invite you over to their place or people invite you over round to their place, right? And you bring something. Usually a bottle of wine or a bottle of champagne. Rory brings a bottle of nice champagne. And Rory brings a premixed cocktail. So you kind of you mix a cocktail and you bring it in a bottle in a special glass or how does it work?
Rory: Oh, yeah. It's premixed. Usually you make the cocktails by putting in everything when you're there. But if it's premixed, then it's made before that. I should say these things are usually filled with sugar and are not very good for you. So I would definitely not recommend them for a regular thing, but maybe once every couple of months is okay.
Maria: And you can say that food can be a bit hit and miss. Hit and miss means that you never know what food people enjoy. So it's kind of it's a bit dangerous, risky to bring food. So if something is hit and miss, you can't depend on it to be of good quality or it may be not accurate. So you can say, "I don't usually bring food because it can be a bit hit and miss. So I usually take a bottle of wine. People might be allergic to food that I bring." So to be allergic to something. You never know what people might be allergic to.
Rory: But you don't. You could kill someone.
Maria: Right, because some people are really allergic to nuts. And if you make a cake using nuts, and then you don't know that they're allergic to nuts.
Rory: And then you're a murderer and how are you gonna feel then?
Maria: All right, yeah, that's true. Horrible. We have an idiom dear listener about going out. Paint the town red.
Rory: Oh, we used that before though.
Maria: Yeah, but do people use it? It's kind of like a cliche, it's old, old fashioned.
Rory: Well, I was using it sarcastically there because I am very much not the kind of person who paints the town red. I'm the kind of person who maybe paints the town transparent.
Maria: Yeah, and if you say paint the town red, that means go out, enjoy yourself by drinking alcohol, dancing, laughing with friends. So that's pretty much what you usually do when you're 21 years old, 22 years old, you just party, clubs, bars, alcohol, lots of friends. So paint the town red an idiom informal. So when I was young, I what?
Rory: I like to paint the town red.
Maria: Yeah, but if you don't dear listener, then you can say "I'm getting on a bit." So, Rory, what does it mean? I'm getting on a bit.
Rory: I'm getting older.
Maria: I'm getting older. And going out is not my thing. Painting the town red is not my thing. And you can say partying all night seems a bit...
Rory: Uncouth.
Maria: Why are you using such strange words? Uncouth? What what's that?
Rory: What's wrong with uncouth?
Maria: What's this?
Rory: It means that you don't have grace or good manners.
Maria: Oh.
Rory: Or refinement. And I am very refined. Everyone that knows me knows that I'm refined.
Maria: Uncouth, dear listener. Behaving in a rude, unpleasant way. So I prefer a quieter life. So a calmer life. I prefer peace and quiet. Sweet. And now we're ready for a joke about going out. Are you ready, dear listener? The joke is amazing.
Rory: Well, I think the joke is my social life.
Maria: So, dear listener. Rory, you keep silent, okay?
Rory: Oh, okay. That was very uncouth.
Maria: Why didn't the skeleton go out on the town? Because he had nobody to go with. Rory, could you explain the joke?
Rory: Well, nobody means no people, but if you're a skeleton, you have no body. You just have bones. Oh, wow. Thank you for listening.
Maria: Thank you very much for listening. We'll get back to you in our next episode, okay, dear listener? Bye.
Rory: Bye.
Maria: Right, because some people are really allergic to nuts. And if you make a cake using nuts, and then you don't know that they're allergic to nuts.
Rory: And then you're a murderer and how are you gonna feel then?
Maria: All right, yeah, that's true. Horrible. We have an idiom dear listener about going out. Paint the town red.
Rory: Oh, we used that before though.
Maria: Yeah, but do people use it? It's kind of like a cliche, it's old, old fashioned.
Rory: Well, I was using it sarcastically there because I am very much not the kind of person who paints the town red. I'm the kind of person who maybe paints the town transparent.
Maria: Yeah, and if you say paint the town red, that means go out, enjoy yourself by drinking alcohol, dancing, laughing with friends. So that's pretty much what you usually do when you're 21 years old, 22 years old, you just party, clubs, bars, alcohol, lots of friends. So paint the town red an idiom informal. So when I was young, I what?
Rory: I like to paint the town red.
Maria: Yeah, but if you don't dear listener, then you can say "I'm getting on a bit." So, Rory, what does it mean? I'm getting on a bit.
Rory: I'm getting older.
Maria: I'm getting older. And going out is not my thing. Painting the town red is not my thing. And you can say partying all night seems a bit...
Rory: Uncouth.
Maria: Why are you using such strange words? Uncouth? What what's that?
Rory: What's wrong with uncouth?
Maria: What's this?
Rory: It means that you don't have grace or good manners.
Maria: Oh.
Rory: Or refinement. And I am very refined. Everyone that knows me knows that I'm refined.
Maria: Uncouth, dear listener. Behaving in a rude, unpleasant way. So I prefer a quieter life. So a calmer life. I prefer peace and quiet. Sweet. And now we're ready for a joke about going out. Are you ready, dear listener? The joke is amazing.
Rory: Well, I think the joke is my social life.
Maria: So, dear listener. Rory, you keep silent, okay?
Rory: Oh, okay. That was very uncouth.
Maria: Why didn't the skeleton go out on the town? Because he had nobody to go with. Rory, could you explain the joke?
Rory: Well, nobody means no people, but if you're a skeleton, you have no body. You just have bones. Oh, wow. Thank you for listening.
Maria: Thank you very much for listening. We'll get back to you in our next episode, okay, dear listener? Bye.
Rory: Bye.
It’s that time of the year… again.
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