Vocabulary

00:00 - 00:54 A. Yeah right! often used to say that you

Scene Central Perk, everyone’s there. don’t believe something
MONICA: What you1 guys don’t
B. opening act: the preliminary perfor-
understand is, for us, kissing is as
mance before the main one (for example,
important asi any part of it.
opening band at a concert).
JOEY: Yeah, rightA!.. Are you seri- C. to sit through (sth): to endure some-
ous2? thing you don’t enjoy. It could be that
you’re literally sitting, but it can also be Stand-up
PHOEBE: Oh, yeah! used for when you’re standing up. comedian

RACHEL: Everything you need to D. to come out (of sth): to exit or leave
know is in that first kiss. the inside of a place.

E. (to be) over = to be finished.

MONICA: Absolutely.
F. Look for (sth) = to seek sth or sb.
CHANDLER: Yeah, I think for us,
kissing is pretty much like an open- Pronunciation
ing actB, you know? I mean it’s like 1. what you: Whuh-chuh (whatcha)
the stand-up comedianii you have
to3 sit throughC before Pink Floyd- 2. are you serious: u sih-ree-us
comes outD. 3. you have to: u hav-duh
4. bought the ticket: baw-the-ticket
ROSS: Yeah, and-and it’s not that
we don’t like the comedian, it’s
just that-that... that’s not why we
Grammar & References
bought the ticket4. i. AS [adjective] AS...: we use this structure to
express that two things or people are similar or
have the same characteristics. >> Mary is AS
CHANDLER: See, the problem is,
intelligent AS Julie.
though, after the concert’s overE, no
matteriii how great the show was, ii. stand-up comedian: a type of comedian
you girls are always looking forF that performs standing up on a stage.
the comedian again, you know? I
mean, we’re in the car, we’re fighting iii. NO MATTER how/what/etc..: we use
this structure to say that something makes no
traffic... basically just trying to stay
difference. >> No matter what you do, she won’t
awake. change her mind. >> No matter who you are or
how rich you are, you need to pay your dues if
you want to belong in our group.

0:55 - 02:39
RACHEL: Yeah, well, word of advi- NOT: advices (advice is not countable)
ceA: Bring back the comedian. Oth-
erwiseB next time you’re going to
find yourself sitting at home, listen- C. to have issues: emotional problems that
ing to that album alonei .
JOEY: Are we still talking about1
sex?
Ross & a co-worker organizing an exhibit
which includes mannequins of cave people. E. to bang (sth/ against sth): to hit
2:00
ROSS: No, it’s good, it is good, it’s
just that- mm- doesn’t she seem a
little angry?
MARSHA: Well, she has issuesC.
ROSS: Does she? ii
MARSHA: He’s outD bangingE
other women over the head with a
club, while she sits at home trying
to get2 the mastodonPIC smell out
of the3 carpetPIC!
ROSS: Marsha, these are cave peo-
plePIC. Okay? They have issues like
‘GeeG, that glacier’sPIC getting kind
of close.’ See?
MARSHA: Speaking of issues , F
isn’t that your ex-wife?
ROSS: My? No, no.
MARSHA: Yes, it is. Carol! Hi!
Vocabulary
A. word of advice = a piece of advice. mastodon
B. otherwise = on the contrary.
limit you. issue is often something import-
ant that should be adressed, talked about.
D. (to be) out = to be outside, out of the carpet
house.
something with a lot of force. A club is a
weapon.
G. Gee: mild exclamation communicating
surprise or enthusiasm. In this case, Ross
uses it to denote sarcasm (common collo-
cation: “gee whiz”- expresses amazement)
F. speaking of (sth): we use this phrase
when we want to direct the conversation cave people
towards a topic that relates to a word that
has just been mentioned. >> Speaking of
alcohol, when are we going to go out?
Pronunciation
1. talking about: talkin-bout
2. trying to get: tryin-duh-get
3. out of the: ow-duh-thuh
(ow rhymes with cow)
Grammar & References glacier
i. listening album alone: this metaphor that
Rachel uses means ‘masturbation.’
ii. Does she?: we use question tags to get a
confirmation from the other person on some-
thing we said. If the statement is affirmative,
the question tag is in the negative (>>You’re 25
years old, aren’t you?); if the statement is neg-
ative, the question tag is affirmative (>> You
didn’t do your homework, did you?).

02:39 - 03:56
ROSS: Okay, okay, yes, it is. How
about1 I’ll, uh, catch up withA you
in the Ice Age.
Ross gestures Carol into the exhibit.
ROSS:Hi.
CAROL: So.
ROSS: You look great. I, uhi... I hate C. you never know: we use this phrase
that.
CAROL: Sorry. Thanks. You look
good too.
ROSS: Ah, well, in here, anyone
who... stands erect... So what’s
new?B Still, uhi...
CAROL: A lesbian?
ROSS: Well... you never knowC.
How’s, um.. how’s the family?
CAROL: Marty’s still totally para-
noidD. Ohi, and, uhi-
ROSS: Why- why are you here ,
Carol?
CAROL: I’m pregnantPIC.
ROSS: Pregnant?!
TV CHARACTER: Oh, looks likeii
she didn’t leave in such a hurryE
after allF.
Vocabulary
A. to catch up (with sth/sb): To meet Paranoid
find/ meet somebody later Also, to learn
about the lastest news in someone’s life.
The joke here is that Ross is talking about
an exhibit that represents an era of history.
B. what’s new?: we ask this question to
people when we haven’t seen them in a
long time and we want to know what has
been of their lives. in a hurry
when we want to say that maybe, contrary
to expectations, something surprising
happened.
D. paranoid: the crazy, the irrational
fear that bad things are going to happen. pregnant
E. (to be) in a hurry: to do things faster
than usual due to a lack of time.
F. after all = in spite of expectations of
the contrary. >> Don’t be afraid of asking
her out, you have nothing to lose after all.
Pronunciation
1. how about: How-bout
2. why are you here: Wire-u-here
2
Language Notes
i. uh/ um/ oh/ uh- notice how often we
use these sounds to fill the spaces of an
awkward/ strange moment.
ii. (it) looks like: we use this phrase to say
what we think is happening. We can re-
place the verb ‘look’ with ‘appears, seems,
sounds’ and the meaning doesn’t change
much.
t
03:56 - 04:40
CHANDLER: Oh, I think this is
the episode of Three’s CompanyPIC
where there’s some kind of misun-
derstandingi+A.
PHOEBE:...Then I’ve already seen
this one! (Turns off the TV.)
MONICA: Are you through withB
that?
JOEY: Yeah, sorry, the swallowing
slowed me downii.
MONICA: Whose little ball of pa-
perPIC is this?!
CHANDLER: Oh, uh, that would be
mine. See, I wrote a note to myself, in an argument.
and then I realised I didn’t need the
note, so I balled it upC and..now I
wish I was dead.
PHOEBE: She already fluffed that D
pillowPIC... Monica, you know, you
already fluffed that-but, it’s fine! 1. I just don’t want to give them
MONICA: Look , I’m sorry, guys, I
just don’t want to give them1 any
more ammunition than they al-
E
ready have.
CHANDLER: Yes, and we all know
how cruel a parent can be about the
flatnessF of a child’s pillow.
Vocabulary Three’s
A. misunderstanding: a disagreement Company
or failure to understand something that
might create a conflicting situation be-
tween people.
B. to be through (with sth): to have fin-
ished doing or using something.
C. to ball (sth) up: to shape something
into a ball. ball of paper
D. to fluff (sth): fluff (noun) is a small
particle of cotton or other soft material.
The verb ‘to fluff ’ in this case as used in ‘to
fluff a pillow’ means to give the pillow a
more comfortable, rounded shape.
E. ammunition: literally, ammunition is
anything that can be used in armed com-
fluff
bat, but figuratively (as is the case here) it
means things that can be used against one
F. flatness: in this case, it’s the opposite
of fluffy. Something that is plane, flat, and
hard.
Pronunciation
fluff a pillow
I-jus-don-wanna-give-them
References & Jokes
i. There’s some kind of misunderstanding:
Chandler’s sarcasm here implies that there’s ammunition
always conflicting moments and misunder-
standing in the soap opera Three’s Company.
Phoebe thinks he’s being serious.
ii. Swallowing slowed me down: Joey
sarcastically states something obvious to
expose Monica’s excessive and unnecessary
urgency.
 04:40 - 05:36 Vocabulary
Thighmaster
A. twirly: moody (not very common)
PHOEBE: Monica- Hi! Um, Mon-
ica, you’re scaring me. I mean, B. to get all: we use all as an adjective to
you’re like, you’re like all chaotic1 intensify the adjective that’s to follow.
and twirlyA, you know... And not-
C. as far as (sth) is concerned: concern-
not in a good way.
ing, regarding. We use this expression to
state something while drawing a relation
JOEY: Yeah, calm down2. You don’t to sth or sb. You might say ‘as far as my
see Ross getting allB chaotic and family is concerned, religion is not an im- engagement
twirly every time they come. portant part of our lives’. Another similar ring
expression is AS FAR AS sb KNOWS >>
MONICA: That’s because as far as As far as I know, she won’t go to the party.
my parents are concernedC, Ross
can do no wrongD. You see, he’s the D. can do no wrong: a common collo-
prince. Apparently they had some cation meaning that he’s perfect and his
big ceremony before I was born. defects are overlooked/ ignored.

E. Ew, ew, ew: used to express that some-

CHANDLER: (looking outside) thing is gross/ nauseating.
Ew, ew, ew, ew ew ew ew ew!E

MONICA: What?
CHANDLER: Ugly Naked Guyi got
a ThighmasterPIC!
ALL: Ewww!
Pronunciation
1. chaotic: kay-aw-dik
2. calm down: kawm-down (The ‘L’ in calm
is silent, and when said emphatically we stress
‘down’ as much as ‘calm’)

RACHEL: Has anybody seen my

engagement ringPIC?
PHOEBE: Yeah, it’s beautifulii.
RACHEL: Oh God, oh God, oh
God oh God oh God oh God....
PHOEBE: No, look, don’t touch
that!
References
i. The Ugly Naked Guy: You know this is a
nickname they’ve given their neighbor because
they don’t say “the” before it. This is also how
we know they’ve seen him before. If it was the
first time, it would be an ugly naked guy.
ii. Yeah, it’s beautiful: The humor is that Phoe-
be thinks Rachel is proud of her ring, which
is how “have you seen my ring?” would sound
with a different intonation. But, Rachel is actu-
ally looking for her ring.
 05:36 - 06:27
RACHEL: Oh, like I wasn’t dread-
ingA tomorrow enough, having to
give it back to him1... ‘Hi Barry!
Remember me? I’m the girl in the
veilB that stomped on your heartC
in front of your entire family2!’ Oh
God and now I’m going to have to
return the ring, without the ring,
which makes it so much harder...
D. easy: when we say easy to someone,
MONICA: EasyD Rach, we’ll find it. like easy, man, what we’re saying to that
(To all) Won’t we! person is relax or calm down (take it easy).
CHANDLER AND JOEY: Oh!
Yeah!
JOEY: Alright, when did you have
it on3 last?
PHOEBE: DoyE! Probably right
before she lost it!
CHANDLER: You don’t get a lot
of 4 ‘doy’ these days...
RACHEL: I know I had it this
morning, and I know I had it when I
was in the kitchen with...
CHANDLER: ...Dinahi?
RACHEL: (looks at the lasagne and
realizes something) Ohhhhh, don’t be
mad..
MONICA: You didn’t.
RACHEL: Oh, I am sorry...
Vocabulary to dread sth
A. to dread (sth): to be in fear or with a
very negative feeling about a future event.
B. veil: a piece of clothes women wear
over their head at their wedding.
C. to stomp on (sb’s heart): to stomp on
veil
sth means to step on it with force in order
to destroy it. This can be used in a meta-
phorical sense referring to sb’s heart.
E. doy: (not so common) used to express
that what’s just been said is so obvious that
it’s not even necessary to say it. It’s just an-
stomp on sb’s
other way of saying, with a sarcastic tone,
heart
no kidding, or duh.
Pronunciation
1. give it back to him:
GIV-it-BAK-to-im
2. in front of your entire family
in-FRUN-uv-yir-en-TIRE-FAmily
3. when did you have it on
WEN-juh-HAV-ih-dAWN
4. you don’t get a lot of
u-don-GEH-duh-law-duv
Pronunciation & References
Content & Function Pronunciation Focus:
The above examples of pronuncation include
stressed content words IN RED and reduced
function words in blue
i. Dinah: a reference to the lyrics of the popu-
lar American kids song, I’ve Been Working on
the Railroad. (As often happens, we didn’t get that joke
when we heard it. We had to research it)
 Vocabulary
06:27 - 07:26 A. straight: not curved. (straight road) glass pan
MONICA: I gave you one jobi!
(Starts to examine the lasagne through the
bottom of the glass panPIC.)

RACHEL: Oh, but look how

straightA those noodlesB are!
B. noodles: the long narrow type of pasta, noodles
CHANDLER: Now, Monica, you but also used as a general word for pasta.
know that’s not how you look for an
C. huh?: we add this little word at the end
engagement ring in a lasagnePIC...
of a statement to invite the listener to in-
dicate agreement. >> Looks like you’ve had
MONICA: I just... can’t do it1.
fun, huh? It can be used instead of “right?”
CHANDLER: Boys? We’re going in. D. how do you fit into this? another way lasagne
of saying “what’s your part in this?”
somebody knocks on the door (it’s Ross)
Pronunciation
ROSS: Hi. 1. can’t do it: cAn-do it (the T is not pro-
nounced but you can gain meaning from
MONICA: Wow. That is not a happy the intonation). The affirmative “I can do
hi. it” on the other hand, is pronounced I-kin
do it.
ROSS: Carol’s pregnant.
2. right about: Ri-duh-bout
PHOEBE: Ooh! I found it!
3. kind of: Kine-duv
MONICA: W-w-wh-... wha-ii...
References
ROSS: Yeah. Do that for another i. GIVE sb (just) ONE JOB: we say this when a
two hours, you might be where I am person failed at doing something correctly. >>
Are you telling me you forgot to feed the pets for
right about now2+iii.
the entire week? I gave you just one job!

CHANDLER: Kind of3 puts that
whole pillow thing in perspectiveiv,
huhC, Mon?
RACHEL: Well now, how-how do
you fit into thisD whole thing?
ii. They are stunned/ shocked: the joke is how
can 2 women make a baby together?
iii. Ross is beyond stunned: he has been in
that state for 2 hours.
iv. put that pillow thing into perspective: Ross’
situation changes Monica’s perspective about
the importance of the pillow being so fluffy.
 07:26 - 08:29 Vocabulary
sonogram
A. to be involved (in/with sth): being
part of, associated. >> When the earth-
ROSS: Well, Carol says she and Su-
quake happened, a lot of people got in-
san want me to be involvedA, but if
volved to help.
I’m not comfortable1 with it, I don’t
have to be involved.. basically it’s B. to be up to (sb): if something is up to
totally up to me .
B
you, it means you are the one that gets to snack
decide on something. >> It’s up to me to
PHOEBE: She is so great ! I miss
i
make the decision in this company.
her .
2

C. presumably: apparently, one assumes

MONICA: What does she mean by D. to go down to/somewhere: ‘go down
‘involved’? to’ means the same as ‘go to,’ but it denotes
traveling the distance between where
CHANDLER: I mean presumablyC, you’re at and the place you’re going. curry
the biggest part of your job is doneii.
E. no matter what/how, etc.: in spite of
ROSS: Anyway, they want me to go whatever happens; regardless of what hap-
downD to this sonogramPIC thing pens. >> No matter what I do or say to her,
with them tomorrow. she just seems to always be mad at me.

RACHEL: So what are you going
to do3?
ROSS: I have no idea. No matterE
what I do, though, I’m still going to
be a father.
Joey starts to eat the rest of the lasagne
and everyone turns and stares at him.
F. snack: a smaller portion of food that is
generally eaten in between meals. It could
be a fruit, a chocolate, a few cookies, or a
small sandwich.
G. curry: a hot/ spicey type of spice that
comes from Asia.
Pronunciation
1. comfortable: kumf-tir-bull

JOEY: .....Well, this is still ruined, 2. I miss her: I-miss-er

right?
Monica and Rachel’s Apartment, Monica
and Ross pouring wine for their parents.
MRS. GELLER: Oh, Martha Lud-
win’s daughter is going to call you.
(Tastes a snackF) Mmm! What’s that
curryG taste?
3. what are you going to do?
Whuh-duh-yuh-gonna do?
References
i. She’s so great. I miss her! it’s not clear what
Phoebe means here or why it’s funny. Maybe it’s
because it’s just so awkward and out of place.
ii. The biggest part of your job is done! he’s
talking about making the baby.
 08:29 - 09:12 Vocabulary graduation
MONICA: Curry. A. to have a thing for sb: to have a crush
on someone; to be attracted to someone.
MRS. GELLER: Mmmm!
B. Anyway: discourse marker to denote
that you’re changing the topic or coming
ROSS: I- I think they’re great! I, I
back to what you were just talking about.
really do.

MR. GELLER: You remember the

Ludwins. The big one had a thing
for youA, didn’t she?
MRS. GELLER: They all had a
thing for himi.
ROSS: Aw, Mom...
Pronunciation
1. graduated: grA-jew-ay-did
2. I don’t know: I dunno
3. I told her you had a restaurant
I-TOLDer-YOU-HADa-RESt-rawnt
(CAPITAL represents stressed syllables)

4. could you: cou-jew?

MONICA: I’m sorry, why is this
cou rhymes with good and should
girl going to call me?
5. with the: wih-thuh
MRS. GELLER: Oh, she just grad-
uated1, and she wants to be some- References
thing in cooking, or food, or.... I
don’t know1. AnywayB, I told her i. Girls having a thing for Ross: As Ross’
you had a restaurant3. mother says this, we can see Monica was
right when she suggested Ross was the
favorite child in the family.
MONICA: No Mom, I don’t have a
restaurant, I work in a restaurant.
ii. That’s....easy: For some reason Mrs.
Gellers won’t stop being hard on Monica.
MRS. GELLER: Well, they don’t
She’s extremely nice to and proud of Ross,
have to know that...
but picky and demanding with Monica.
MONICA: Ross, could you4 come
and help me with the5 spaghetti,
please?

ROSS: Yes.

MRS. GELLER: Oh, we’re having

spaghetti! That’s.... easyii.
 Vocabulary
09:12 - 10:10 A. selfish: not wanting to share anything run into sb
MONICA: I know this is going to or thinking only about oneself and not
sound unbelievably1 selfishA on my caring for others.
partB, but were you planning on
B. on my part: for me. We use this phrase
bringing upC the whole baby/lesbi-
to express something we are or we did. >>
an thing? Because I think it might
That was a terrible mistake on my part.
take some of the heat off of meD.
C. to bring (sth) up: to mention some- alter
MRS. GELLER: What that Rachel thing in a conversation and start talking
E

did to her life.... We ran intoF her2 about it. >> Don’t bring up my ex when I’m
parents at the club, they were not with my current boyfriend.
playing very well.
D. take the heat off (sb): heat in this case
MR. GELLER: I’m not going to tell is animosity, critisism or the critical fo-
cus on something or someone. To take off
you what they spent on that wed-
means to remove it. The phrase means to chubby
ding... but forty thousand dollars is
remove the negative attention Monica’s
a lot of money!
parents place on her.
MRS. GELLER: Well, at least she E. that Rachel: the use of that is not com-
had the chance to leave a man at the mon with names, but here it indicates
alterPIC... connection or closeness to the person (in
this case, even though she’s criticizing her, it
MONICA: What’s that supposed to shows that Monica’s Mom remember’s Rachel)
mean?
F. to run into (sb): to encounter someone puzzles
you know by chance on the street (also, to
MRS. GELLER: Nothing! It’s an
bump into)
expressioni.
G. chubby: a less offensive way to say fat.
MONICA: No it’s not.
H. puzzle: a game or problem that tests
MR. GELLER: Don’t listen to your your ingenuity or intelligence. (see pic)
mother. You’re independent, and
you always have been! Even when Pronunciation
you were a kid... and you were 1. unbelievably: un-buh-lee-vuh-blee
chubbyG, and you had no friends,
you were just fine! And you would 2. we ran into her: we ran into-ir
read alone in your room, and your
puzzlesH... References
i. it’s an expression: clearly not true.

10:10 - 11:30
MR. GELLER: Look, there are
people like Ross who need to
shoot for the starsA, with his
museum1, and his2 papers get-
ting published. Other people are
satisfied3 with staying where
they are- I’m telling youB, these
are the people who never get
cancer.
time lapse
MR. GELLER: ...I read about
these women trying to have it
all, and I thank God ‘Our Little
Harmonica’ doesn’t seem to have
that problem.
MONICA: (trying to change the
subject) So, Ross, what’s going on
with you? Any stories? No news,
no little anecdotes to share with
the folksC?
ROSS: Okay! Okay. Look, I, uh- I
realize you guys have been won-
dering what exactly happened
between Carol and me, and soD,
well, here’s the dealE. Carol’s a
lesbian. She’s living with a wom-
an named Susan. She’s pregnant
with my child, and she and Susan
are going to raiseF the baby.
MRS GELLER: (To Monica)
And you knew about thisi?!
Vocabulary
shoot for the
A. shoot for the stars: to aim high in life. starts
To have goals of being successful in life.
B. I’m telling you: we use this phrase to
call the listener’s attention to what we’re
about to say.
C. the folks: parents. ‘folks’ can also be
used as an alternative to ‘guys.’
D. and so... therefore; for that reason.
E. here’s the deal: used before stating
something that’s particularly true to a
situation. It gives it more emphasis and we
get the listener ready to listen more atten-
tively. >> Okay, here’s the deal. You want to
change the world? Stop talking about it and
do it.
F. raise: to bring up a child. Common col-
location: Born and raised in.....
Pronunciation
1. museum: Mew-zee-um
mew rhymes with blue
2. and his: an-iz
3. satisfied: sA-dis-fide
sA rhymes with bad, fide rhymes with hide
References
i. Mrs. Gellers’ attitude towards Monica
` Mrs. Geller took advantage of every oportunity she
had to be critical of anything that Monica said or
did. Let’s go through each one of these things:
> Snack had a ‘weird’ curry taste.
> She didn’t think the pillows were well enough fluffed.
> The spaghetti was too ‘easy’ of a food to make.
> She implies that as opposed to Monica, Rachel at least got
close to getting married.
> She blames Monica when Ross brings up his relationship sta-
tus, because she didn’t tell her about it.
 Vocabulary
11:30 - 12:28 A. pro: short for ‘professional.’
get the job done

B. to get the job done: to finish a task,

Scene: Central Park, everyone’s there.
no matter what it takes. It implies doing
JOEY: Your folks are really that bad, something however tedius or difficult it is,
huh? without excuses.

C. boy: (from ‘Oh boy!’) exclamation used

ROSS: Well, you know, these people to express surprise or uneasiness. twins
are prosA. They know what they’re
doing, they take their time, they get D. this: we use this to add emphasis to a
the job doneB+1. description of somebody, slightly distanc-
ing yourself, in an either positive or nega-
MONICA: Boy, I know they say you tive way
can’t change your parents,... boyC, if
E. driven: strongly motivated to succeed. driven
you could- (To Ross) -I’d want yoursi.
high-powered is often used with career
ROSS: Mustii pee. F. clean (sth) up (sth): to clean a place by
picking this from the floor.
PHOEBE: You know, it’s even worse
F. only child: you don’t have siblings
when you’re twinsPIC.
(brothers or sisters)
RACHEL: You’re a twin? Pronunciation
1. They-get-the-job-done: separating the
PHOEBE: Oh yeah. We don’t speak. words and emphasizing each one gives
She’s like thisD high-powered, more power and focus to that phrase.
drivenE career type.
2. what does she do? WHuh-duh-SHE-DO
CHANDLER: What does she do2? 3. I kind of got to: I kine-uh-gaw-duh

PHOEBE: She’s a waitress. References

i. I’d want yours: Monica means to say that
RACHEL: All right, you guys, I they don’t sound like the same parents that she waiter
kind of got to3 clean upF now. has.

MONICA: Chandler, you’re an only ii. must: used to express obligation or some-
thing that can’t not be done. Here Ross sort of
childG, right? You don’t have any of grunts it, ommitting the “I” at the beginning.
this.
iii. waiters/ waitress: this job is not what
everybody was associating the high-powered,
CHANDLER: Well, no, although I
driven career type Phoebe was talking about.
did have an imaginary friend, who... Waiter is a general term, and waitress is for
my parents actually preferred. women.
t

12:28 - 13:41 Vocabulary

broom
A. to dump (sb): To break up with your
RACHEL: The lights, please.. romantic partner, often your boyfriend
or girlfriend. In a general sense, to dump
ROSS: ...How long was I in there? something means to dispose of it.
RACHEL: I’m just cleaning up.’ B. steer clear (of sth): to keep some dis-
tance between you and something (or
ROSS: Do you.. uh.. do you need1 someone).
any help?
C. the chances are: it’s probably or likely...
RACHEL: Uh.. okay, sure! Thanks! It’s quite common to ommit the determin-
ing article in this phrase. People often say
(She gives him the broomPIC then sits) ‘chances are’ instead of ‘the chances are.’

ROSS: Anyway.. um... So, you- uh- D. shell: when someone is a shell of what to dump sth
are you nervous about Barry to- he or she used to be, it means they are
morrow2? no longer of the excellence and greatness
than once was characteristic of them. Lit-
RACHEL: Oh.. a little.. erally, a shell is the outer, protective case
of a mollusc or crustacean (pic)
ROSS: Mm-hmm..
E. OB/ GYN: Obstetrics and gynacology
RACHEL: A lot.
shell
ROSS: Mm. Pronunciation
RACHEL: So, have you got any3 1. do you need: d-yuh-NEED
advice? You know, as someone
who’s recently4 been dumpedA? 2. tomorrow: duh-mar-row (when the
stress is on the second syllable, the first
ROSS: Well, you may want to steer one gets soften or even dropped as in “re-
steer clear ofB the word ‘dumped’. member = ‘member”)
Chances are he’s going to be this,
C 5

this broken shellD of a man, you 3. got any: gaw-denny

know, so you should try not to look
terrific, I know it’ll be hard. Or, you 4. recently: ree-cen-lee
know, I can- uh, hey! I’ll go down
there, and I’ll give Barry back his 5. he’s going to be: he’s-gunna-be
ring, and you can go with Carol and
Susan to the OB/GYNE... 6. when did it get so complicated
wen-dih-dit-GET-SO-KAWMplicated
RACHEL: Oh, you’ve got Carol to-
morrow.. When did it get so com-
plicated6?
 13:41 - 14:58
ROSS: Got meA.
RACHEL: Remember1 when we
were in high school together?
ROSS: Yeah.
RACHEL: I mean, didn’t you think 1. remember: ‘mem-ber
you were just going to meet so-
mone, fall in love- and that’d be it2? 2. that’d be it: thA-did-be it
(Ross gazesB at her.) ..Ross?
ROSS: Yes, yes!
RACHEL: Oh! I never thought I’d
be here3..
ROSS: Me neitheri...
Scene: Carol’s OB/GYN, Carol is waiting.
ROSS: (entering) Hi. Sorry I’m late,
I got stuck at work. There was a big
dinosaur4.. thing.. anyway.
SUSAN: Hi.
CAROL: Ross, you remember Su-
san.
ROSS: How could I forget5?
SUSAN: Ross.
ROSS: Hello, Susan. (To Carol)
Good shake. Good shakePIC. So, uh,
we’re just waiting for...?
CAROL: Dr. Oberman.
Vocabulary (hand)shake
A. you got me: you can say this when you
don’t have an answer to a question.
B. gaze at sb/sth: to look at something or
somebody with a steady, fixated look.
Pronunciation
3. I never thought I’d be here
I-NEver-THAW-died-BE-HERE
4. dinosaur
Dy-nuh-sore (sore rhymes with store)
5. how could I forget?
HOW-cou-Die-fir-GET
cou rhymes with wood and should
Grammar & References
i. me neither: this words function like ‘me
too’ but it’s used with a negative sentence.
In this case, you can also say neither did I.
ii. good shake: the humor in this (possi-
bly) is that “good shake” is usually some-
thing between two men. Maybe he’s refer-
ring to Suzan being the masculine side of
the lesbian couple.
 14:58 - 16:13
ROSS: Dr. Oberman. Okay. And is
he-
SUSAN: She.
ROSS: -she, of course1, she- uh- fa-
miliar with our special situation?
CAROL: Yes, and she’s very sup-
portiveA.
ROSS: Okay, that’s great. No, I’m-
Oh.
CAROL: Thanks.
ROSS: Quack, quack..
CAROL: Ross? That opens my cer-
vix.
Scene Barry’s office
RACHEL: Barry?
BARRY: Come on inB.
RACHEL: Are you sure?
BARRY: Yeah! It’s fine, it’s fine. Rob-
bie’s going to be here for hours1.
ROBBIE: Huh?!C
BARRY: So, how are you doing2?
RACHEL: I’m- uh- I’m okay... You
look great!
Vocabulary gag reflex
A. supportive: providing encouragement
and emotional help.
B. come on in: this is actually the combi-
nation of two phrasal verbs. We say come
on to prompt people to do something
faster; it’s similar to ‘hurry up.’ Come in
means come inside. The combination of
these two phrasal verbs is come on in, and
it means come inside in this very moment.
C. huh? a very informal and often lazy
way to say “pardon” or ask the other per-
son to repeat.
D. to gag: when you gag, you feel you’re
choking and as if you were about to vomit.
The gag reflex is a reflex contraction at the
back of the throat that prevents choking.
E. I’ll be right there: I’ll arrive there
quickly.
F. I’ll be back in a sec: sec is short for sec-
ond, but it usually means longer
Pronunciation
1. going to be here for hours
gonna-be-here-fir-hours

BARRY: Yeah, well.. 2. how are you doing?: how-yuh-doin?

BERNICE: (over intercom) Dr. Far-
3. dumped him: dump-tim
ber, Jason Greenstein’s gaggingD.
BARRY: I’ll be right thereE. Be
back in a secF. (Barry leaves)

RACHEL: I dumped him3.

ROBBIE: Okay.
 16:38 - 17:17
Scene: Carol’s OB/GYN
ROSS: So, umi- so how’s this, uhi,
how is this going to work?1 You
knowi, with us2? You knowi, when,
likei, important decisions have to be
made?
CAROL: Give me a ‘for instanceA’.
ROSS: Well, uh, uh , I don’t know,
i
okay, okay, how about3 with the, uhi,
with the baby’s name?
CAROL: Marlon-
ROSS: Marlon?!
CAROL: -if it’s a boy, MinniePIC if it’s i. discourse markers: again, notice Ross’ use of discourse mark-
a girl.
ROSS: ...As inB MousePIC?
CAROL: As in my grandmother.
ROSS: Still, you- you say Minnie, you presented above. The use of each preposition varies acording to the
hear Mouse. Um, how about, umi..
how about Julia?
C
CAROL: Julia..
SUSAN: We agreed onii Minnie.
Vocabulary Minnie Mouse
A. for instance: for example.
B. as in: for example, to compare
C. how about: we use this expression to
suggest something. >> How about eating
lentels? Would you like that for lunch?
Pronunciation
1. how is this going to work
Hows-this-gonna-work
2. with us: wih-thus (‘us’ is usually a function
word, but here Ross gives it extra emphasis.)
3. how about: how-bout
Grammar & References
ers to facilitate an ambiguous and awkward situation. Notice how
he uses these: um, uh, you know, like, well. These are unconscious
mechanisms of communication that help fluent speakers commu-
nicate.
AGREE ON VS AGREE WITH VS AGREE TO
The verb ‘to agree’ can be used with any of the three propositions
object it precedes.
pattern: agree ON doing sth / ON sth
> We agreed on having chicken for lunch.
> They’ll never agree on the same date.
pattern: agree WITH sth / WITH sb
> I don’t agree with that idea.
> The rules are the rules, wheather you agree with them or not.
pattern: agree TO sth / TO do sth
> We agreed to her demands.
> They agreed to do it on the condition they pay me.
 17:17 - 18:15
ROSS: ‘It’s funny , um, uh, we
A
agreed we’d spend the rest of our
lives1 together. Things change, roll
with the punchesB. I believe Julia’s
on the tableC..?
Barry’s office, Rachel is doing her makeup to a difficult situation as there’s no point in
as Barry enters.
BARRY: Sorry about that . So.
What have you been up to ?
RACHEL: Oh, not much. I-I got a
job.
BARRY: Oh, that’s great.
RACHEL: Why are- why are you4
so tannedD?
BARRY: Oh, I, uh- I went to
Arubai.
RACHEL: Oh no. You went on our
honeymoon alone?
BARRY: No. I went with, uh.. Now,
this may hurt.
ROBBIE: Me?!
BARRY: No! I went with Mindy.
RACHEL: Mindy?! My maid of
honorE, Mindy?!
BARRY: We’re kind of a thing
now5+F.
Vocabulary roll with the
A. it’s funny...: in this context funny has punches
nothing to do with amusement. Here it
means that something is odd, unusual and
curious. It’s common to introduce a com-
ment by beginning w/ this phrase
B. roll with the punches: to try to adapt
trying to fix it because it’s very unlikely we tanned
will succeed in doing it. >> She’s very sad
2
that she broke up with her boyfriend, but
3
she’ll roll with the punches and celebrates
her birthday tomorrow.
C. (sth is) on the table: to be an available
option, or something to be considered.
Also, to be left on the table is to not take maid of honor
advantage of an available opportunity.
D. tanned: with a golden-brown skin after
being exposed to the sun.
E. maid of honor: the bride’s best friend
who tends to her on the wedding day.
F. we’re (kind of) a thing: an expression
used to communicate a new relationship.
Commonly used with “kind of.” Synonym:
“we’re (kind of) an item.”
Pronunciation
1. we’d spend the rest of our lives
we’d-spen-the res-tuv-are-lives
2. sorry about that: worry-bow-that
bow rhymes with cow
3. what have you been up to?
whu-duh-yuh-been-up-to
4. why are you: wire-you
5. we’re kind of a thing now
We’re-kind-uv-uh thing now
 18:15 - 19:28 Vocabulary Hair Plugs
RACHEL: Oh! Well, um. You got A. (hair) plugs: hair implants.
plugsA!
B. to take: “they haven’t quite taken yet.”
BARRY: Careful! They haven’t quite In this case, taken means something simi-
takenB yet. lar to take root, or to become established.
With people, to take to (somebody), means
RACHEL: And yout got lenses ! C to enjoy or feel a connection with them.
But you1 hate stickingD your finger lenses
in your eye! C. lenses: Contact Lenses- a piece of glass
placed across the surface of eyes to help
BARRY: Not for her. Listen, I really vision. It replaces glasses.
wanted to thank you.
D. to stick (in sth): to insert or push into
RACHEL: Okay.. something.

BARRY: See, about a month ago2, I E. orthodontist: a specialist who focuses

wanted to3 hurt you. More than I’ve on the alignment of the teeth. orthodontist
ever wanted to hurt anyone in my
life. And I’m an orthodontistE. F. to spit: to eject saliva from mouth.

RACHEL: Wow. G. belong: be property of. >> This cell-

phone belongs to him.
BARRY: You know, you were right? t
>note: in questions, you can say
I mean, I thought we were happy. We ‘Who does this cell phone belong to?
weren’t happy. But with Mindy, now but it’s much more common to say
I’m happy. SpitF. ‘Whose cell phone is this?’

Pronunciation
RACHEL: What?
1. but you: buh-chew
ROBBIE: Me.
2. about a month ago
RACHEL: Anyway, um. I guess this bow-duh-month-ago (bow rhymes with cow)
belongsG to you. And thank you for
3. I wanted to
giving it to me.
i wa-nid-tuh (wa rhymes with law)
BARRY: Well, thank you for giving
it back.

ROBBIE: Hello?!
 19:28 - 20:14
Carol’s OB/GYN
SUSAN: Oh, please! What’s wrong
with Helen?
ROSS: Helen Gelleri? I don’t think
so.
CAROL: Hello?A It’s not going to be
Helen Geller.
ROSS: Thank you!
CAROL: No, I mean it’s not Geller.
ROSS: What, it’s going to be1 Helen 3. because: cuz
Willick?
CAROL: No, actually, um, we talk-
ed about2 Helen Willick-Bunchii.
ROSS: Well, wait a minute, wha-
why is she in the title?
SUSAN: Because it’s my baby too.
ROSS: Oh, it’s funny, really? Um, I
don’t remember you making any
spermiii.
SUSAN: Yeah, and we all know what remember (sth/sb)
a challenge that is!
CAROL: All right, you two, stop it!
ROSS: No no no, she gets a credit, > I remember myself playing in this place.
hey, I’m in there too.
CAROL: Ross. You’re not actually
suggesting Helen Willick-Bunch-
Geller? Because3 I think that bor-
ders on B child abuse.
Vocabulary
A. hello?: we say ‘hello?’ with a sarcastic
tone before explaning something that is
obvious but that the listener doesn’t seem
to understand.
B. it borders on = it’s almost considered
as. We say this when something resembles
something else, especially if it’s bad. >>
Her comment bordered on discrimination.
Pronunciation
1. it’s going to be: its-gunna-be
2. talked about: tawk-tuh-bout
References & Grammar
i. Hellen Geller: the joke is that this
rhymes with Hellen Keller, the famous
deafblind author and speaker.
ii. American last names
in the United States, we only
generally have one last name.
But sometimes you’ll see
alternative examples of hyphenated last
names (i.e. Willick-bunch)
iii. remember
> I remember this place.
> I remember her.
remember (somebody doing something)
> Just because you don’t remember me ex-
ercising doesn’t mean I didn’t do it.
remember that (sth...)
> Remember that money doesn’t buy happi-
ness.
 20:14 - 21:15 Vocabulary
ROSS: Of course not, I’m... suggest- A. wind up: end up, result in a particular
ing Geller-Willick-Bunch. way. >> The first day I ever tried skating I
wound up in the hospital.
SUSAN: Oh, no, nonononono, you
see what he’s doing1? He knows no- B. get one’s way: to manage to do some-
one’s going to say2 all those names, thing that you’re not allowed to do. If you
he knows they’ll wind upA calling get something your way, you do it and no
her3 Geller, then he gets his wayB+4! one stops you and you there are no conse-
quences.
ROSS: My way?! You-you think this
is my way? Believe me, of all the C. knock knock: knock is the action/
ways I ever imagined this moment sound we make when we want to let peo-
in my life being, this is not my way- ple know that we’re about to enter the
you know what? Uh, um, this is too door, or that we want to enter their house.
hard. I’m not, I can’t do-
D. mother-to-be: another word for the ex-
DR. OBERMAN: Knock knockC! pecting mother (the woman who’s going to
How are we today? Any nausea5? have the baby). Another fun and common
idiom expressing pregnancy is (to have) a
ALL: Yeah. Yeah. A little. bun in the oven.

DR. OBERMAN: Well, I was just E. lie back: to relax your body and stretch
wondering about the mother-to- out (on your back.)
beD, but.. thanks for sharing. Uh, lie
F. look at that: an expression of amaze-
backE..
ment, or surprise, often said to yourself.
ROSS: You- uh- you know what, Pronunciation
I’m going to go. I don’t- I don’t think
I can be involved in this particular 1. what he’s doing: wuh-deez-doin
family thing right now.
2. no one is going to say
ultrasound noise with baby’s heartbeat no-wuns-gunna-say

ROSS: Oh my God. 3. calling her: callin-ir

SUSAN: Look at thatF. 4. gets his way: gets-iz-way

CAROL: I know. 5. Nausea: naw-zhuh

the zh sound is relatively uncommon in
English but it appears from time to time
 21:15 Vocabulary
At the apartment with ultrasound on TV A. tilt: to incline or cause something to
incline. >pic: Leaning Tower of Pisa.
ROSS: Well? Isn’t that amazing?
JOEY: What are we1 supposed to be
seeing here?
CHANDLER: I don’t know2, but.. I
think it’s about to attack the Enter-
B. to well up: (also: tear up) to slowly start
prise3+i.
to cry. (A well is where water accumu-
PHOEBE: You know, if you tilt your lates).
A

head to the left, and relax your eyes, it

kind of looks like an old potato.
ROSS: Then don’t do that, alright?
PHOEBE: Okay!
ROSS: Monica. What do you think4?
MONICA: Mm-hmm.
C. to work out: to end or result in success.
D. old: does not mean of an advanced age,
but something that is characteristic of that
person.
E. hairline: the line/ part on your fore-
head where your hair starts.

ROSS: Wh- are you welling upB?
MONICA: No.
ROSS: You are, you’re welling up.
MONICA: I Am not!
ROSS: You’re going to be an aunt5.
MONICA: Oh shut up!
F. cheap shot: an unfair attack (physically
or with insults).
Pronunciation
1. what are we: wuh-duh-we
2. I don’t know: I dunno
3. enterprise: inner-prize

RACHEL: Hi, Mindy. Hi, it-it’s Ra-
chel. Yeah, I’m fine. I-I saw Barry
today6. Oh, yeah, yeah he-he told me.
No, no, it’s okay, really- I hope you
two are very happy, I really do. Oh,
oh, and Min, you know, if-if every-
thing works outC, and you guys end
up getting married and having kids-
and everything- I just hope they have
his oldD hairlineE and your oldD nose.
(to all) Okay, that was a cheap shotF,
but I feel so much better now.
4. what do you think: Wuh-duh-yuh think
5. aunt: Ant/ Aw-nt (there are 2 common
pronunciations for this word.)
6. barry today: barry-duh-day
Grammar/ Cultural Notes
i. the enterprise: this is a reference to Star Trek
Starship Enterprise the famous American sci-
ence fiction TV and movie series.