ESL Podcast 457 – Apologizing for a Bad Date

I really blew it last night. I finally asked my neighbor, Fatima, out on a date and she walked out on me in the middle of it.

I didn’t blame her. I wanted to make a good impression on her, but I felt I was floundering a half an hour into the date. I decided¹ to liven things up a bit with a few drinks. I got carried away and got stinking² drunk. What an idiot! I had to call her to apologize.

Fatima: Hello.

Rob: Uh, hi, Fatima. This is Rob calling.

Fatima: Oh.

Rob: Please don’t hang up. I need to apologize for my atrocious behavior last night. I was a real jerk and I’m really, really sorry.

Fatima: I appreciate the apology. Thanks, but I have to go now.

Rob: Hold on one second, please! I want to explain. I thought I was boring you at the beginning of the date and that’s why I started in on the drinks. I’m not normally a lush, really! I was nervous and worried that things weren’t going well, and I thought a couple of drinks would loosen me up.

Fatima: Okay, I understand that, but that doesn’t excuse the groping.

Rob: Groping? What groping?

Fatima: You don’t remember? You insisted on a goodnight kiss.

Rob: I did? It’s all a blur³. I don’t remember anything after you called me a creep.

Fatima: You tried to kiss me and I walked out. Can you blame me?

Rob: No, I can’t. I deserved much worse. After that, I can also understand why you’d never want to speak to me again. Is there any way I can make it up to you?

Fatima: I really don’t know...

Rob: I promise not to have a drop of alcohol.

Fatima: I’ll have to think about it.

Rob: And I’ll have both of my hands tied behind my back the entire time.

Fatima: Maybe. Let me sleep on it.

At least it wasn’t a “no.” There’s a glimmer⁴ of hope for a second chance!


Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 stinking   

adj.臭的，烂醉的，讨厌的v.散发出恶臭( stink的现在分词 )；发臭味；名声臭；糟透

参考例句：

• I was pushed into a filthy, stinking room. 我被推进一间又脏又臭的屋子里。
• Those lousy, stinking ships. It was them that destroyed us. 是的！就是那些该死的蠢猪似的臭飞船！是它们毁了我们。 来自英汉非文学 - 科幻

3 blur   

n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚

参考例句：

• The houses appeared as a blur in the mist.房子在薄雾中隐隐约约看不清。
• If you move your eyes and your head,the picture will blur.如果你的眼睛或头动了，图像就会变得模糊不清。

4 glimmer   

v.发出闪烁的微光；n.微光，微弱的闪光

参考例句：

• I looked at her and felt a glimmer of hope.我注视她，感到了一线希望。
• A glimmer of amusement showed in her eyes.她的眼中露出一丝笑意。