Using English at Work：25 Taking a Break and Eating Lunch(2)（在线收听）

In this break room, my coworkers, or colleagues, Diana and Van, are standing next to the water cooler talking about a show that was on television last night.

A "water cooler" is a machine that keeps the water in a large container cold.

Some water coolers are able to keep water hot, too, for tea and other hot drinks.

I pick up the coffee pot and pour myself a mug of coffee.

A "coffee pot" is a container for holding coffee and keeping it warm for drinking later.

When you go to a restaurant, the waiter brings a coffee pot to your table and pours coffee into your cup.

A "mug" (mug) is a large cup with a handle (something you hold) that people drink out of.

A mug is often a little bigger than a normal cup.

If it's cold outside, you might want to drink a mug of tea or hot chocolate, for example.

In the story, I'm feeling really hungry, so I walk over to the vending machine.

A "vending machine" is a large machine that you put money into to buy a drink or food.

"Vending" comes from the verb "to vend," which means to sell.

Vending machines with cold sodas are probably the most common type you'll see, but there are also vending machines that sell hot drinks like tea and coffee.

Many vending machines sell sweet and salty "snacks," which are small pieces of food that we eat between meals.

You're not supposed to eat too many snacks, but sometimes they're so good you can't stop!

I'm looking over the candy bars and the potato chips.

"I'm looking over" means I'm examining, I'm looking at them.

A "candy bar" is normally a long, rectangular, sweet type of food usually made from sugar and chocolate.

"Potato chips" are thin slices of potatoes that have been fried and salted.

Candy bars and potato chips may not be healthy foods, but they are very tasty!

Before I buy one of these snacks from the vending machine, Diana says, "We're taking an early lunch. Do you want to join us?"