The doctor wants to stay at Frieda and Borg’s house for a while because he’s afraid of his mother-in-law, who give him the creeps, as he puts it. While they’re chatting on the sofa, the doctor falls asleep and starts to produce a strange smell. Frieda and Borg want to get rid of him.
You can watch the video first if you like.
Now let’s have a look at the dialogs again:
Table of Contents
The Battle-Ax Gives Me the Creeps
the creeps = an uncomfortable feeling of nervousness or fear
examples:
I get the creeps every time I see her.
I hate spiders. They give me the creeps.
battle-ax = an unpleasant older woman who speaks in an angry way and tries to control others
take to sb / sth = begin to like sb / sth
examples:
I took to you as soon as I first met you.
He bought a new car for his wife and she took to it immediately.
ask after = ask about
example:
He always asks after my daughter.
Shooting the Breeze
shoot the breeze = talk informally about unimportant things
example:
I enjoy shooting the breeze with my friends.
The Doctor Drops Off
drop off = fall asleep
examples:
Her husband usually drops off after dinner.
She dropped off while she was watching TV.
ho–hum /ˈhoʊˈhʌm/ = having or showing no excitement or enthusiasm
examples:
I’ve been leading a ho-hum [=boring] existence.
Why are you so ho-hum about what I just told you?
give off = emit, send out from a source
examples:
The star gives off very bright light.
The flowers give off a pleasant smell.
put sb up = allow sb to stay in your home for the night
examples:
Could you put me up for the night?
I can put you up in the spare bedroom.
Let’s Tickle Him
tickle = try to make sb laugh by lightly touching a very sensitive part of the body with your fingers, a feather, etc.
example:
She thinks I like it when she tickles me. But for me it’s just torture.
Cardboard Box
like an hour = about an hour
cardboard = a stiff and thick kind of paper that is used especially for making boxes
example:
The window is broken. Let’s temporarily cover it with cardboard.
Back to the One Who Gives Him the Creeps
heave = lift or pull with effort
example:
I heaved the backpack onto the chair. It was very heavy.
certified mail = mail for which a person must sign an official document stating that it has been received
example:
Please send the documents by certified mail.