The English We Speak – Get lost!

Rob: Hello and welcome to the English We Speak. I’m Rob.

Helen: And hello, I’m Helen. And today we’ve decided to come outside for a walk in the beautiful English countryside.

Rob: Mmmm, smell the wonderful fresh air. Isn’t it great to be outdoors?

Helen: Oh, well it was…but not now it’s raining. Come on Rob, I think we should head back.

Rob: Hold on Helen. Not that way! According to the map, it’s this way…

Helen: Rob, you’re always wrong. Just follow me but hurry up; we’re getting wet.

Rob: Oh, get lost!

Helen: Get lost? We are lost!

Rob: No Helen – get lost – I mean go away, leave me alone. Don’t tell me the way to go.

Helen: That’s not a very nice thing to say.

Rob: Well, it’s what you can say to someone if they’re really annoying you. So go away, get lost!

Helen: OK, if you say so. I’m off. See you back at the car!

Rob: I’ll get there first! OK, here are some other examples of using ‘get lost’:

• I’m tired of hearing about how you know everything. Just get lost!

• Get lost! I’m having a break so don’t disturb me.

• You say you climbed Mount Everest on your own?! Get lost, I don’t believe you.

Rob: Mmm, saying get lost is quite impolite so you need to be careful how you say it and who you say it to. Maybe I was a bit rude to Helen. Helen, Helen, come back…I didn’t mean to be so rude.

Helen: …well you weren’t being very nice. Anyway, I was going to come back and find you.

Rob: And why was that Helen?

Helen: Because I got lost. I needed the map!

Rob: Ha. Well, here it is. Come on follow me.

Helen: OK Rob. See you next time.

Both: Bye.

Rob: Right, it’s definitely this way.

Helen: Are you sure?

Rob: Yes, that’s what the map says.

Helen: Rob you’ve got the map upside down!