In The Doghouse

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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• what the heck
• rookie mistake
• freak out
• no wonder

• surefire
• Do not pass go, Do not collect $200
• screw up
• kick someone out

• in the doghouse
• make it up to

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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Jason and Devan have been dating for a long time. They usually get along well and don’t fight. But last week, Devan explained to Marni that things aren’t as good as they used to be. Some of the magic is gone.

But now something bad must have happened because Devan has kicked Jason out of their home! When couples fight, someone usually ends up in the doghouse. If you’re in the doghouse it means you did something wrong and have to make it up to the other person. The phrase comes from the idea that if what you did is bad enough, you may have to go sleep outside with the dogs until you’re forgiven.

Watch as Mason discovers that, at least for a few days, the office has become the doghouse for Jason.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Mason

Jason

Mason:  Alright. It’s first thing in the morning, I just got here, for work, ‘cause I show up early every day, and this is what I find. I don’t know what this is about. Let’s find out. Dude! Jason!

Jason:  Whoa! Hey, hey!

Mason:  You’re making a mess in my office, man, what the heck’s going on?

Jason:  Uh, well, uh… I’ve actually been sleeping here the last couple of nights.

Mason:  What?

Jason:  I’m kinda in the doghouse with Devan.

Mason:  Oh, man. What did you do?

Jason:  I… well, I got a couple of texts from our old friend Amanda.

Mason:  No kidding! How’s she doing?

Jason:  She’s doing alright. you know, she’s having, you know, some theological issues at the convent that she wanted to discuss. And so I was texting her back and forth, and Devan went through my phone.

Mason:  Yeah?

Jason:  And she totally freaked out ‘cause she knows I used to have a thing for Amanda.

Mason:  Yeah, man, no wonder you’re in the doghouse. Your current girl can’t see you talking to an old girl. That’s a surefire trip to the doghouse. Like, “Do not pass go, Do not collect $200”

Jason:  Fair enough. I mean I should’ve known that she’d go through my phone, I mean she basically goes through every other aspect of my life, so…Just like guys are apt to do I upset my girlfriend and I’ve been thrown out of our house and into the doghouse.

Mason:  Ah. What are you going to do to get yourself out of the doghouse?

Jason:  Boy, I don’t know! I thought, you know, that if you just stayed there long enough and, you know, didn’t screw up again, that maybe…

Mason:  Rookie…rookie mistake, my friend. Like, I mean, maybe it’ll blow over. If you wait long enough. But the thing about being in the doghouse, it’s up to you to get out of the doghouse. You gotta buy flowers, you gotta buy chocolates, you gotta beg. Clean this crap up.

Jason:  Yeah, okay.

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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