Understanding 17
The Big Sale
Listen to the following audio
Answer the following questions
What special event took place at the mall?
What idiom described how people felt about shopping?
What did the narrator do before buying anything?
Sum up what happened as if you were explaining it to a friend.
Read the transcript if needed
“Yesterday, the mall held its annual summer clearance, and shoppers crowded every store. Bright red signs advertised discounts of up to 70 percent, and people rushed from one rack to another. Some laughed and said they were ready to shop till they drop, even if it meant standing in long lines. I wandered through the clothing section to look around and compare prices before choosing anything. At one shop, a woman grabbed the last jacket just as another reached for it, and the cashier quickly reminded everyone to stay calm. Despite the noise and chaos, most customers were excited about their bargains and left with bags full of clothes, shoes, and accessories.”
How would you use the following expressions?
Idiom: Shop till you drop – We use this idiom when someone shops for a very long time, often until they are exhausted.
Examples:
“She went to the mall to shop till she dropped.”
“On Black Friday, people love to shop till they drop.”
“They spent the whole weekend shopping till they dropped.”
Phrasal Verb: Look around – We use this phrasal verb when exploring or browsing before making a choice.
Examples in different tenses:
Present: “I usually look around before buying.”
Past: “We looked around the market yesterday.”
Continuous: “She is looking around the store now.”
Future: “They will look around for a new apartment.”

