Speakeasy

In the nick of time

In this week�s conversation, Dej and Doi are using the word nick. Read the conversation with a friend and, using the definitions in the box, fill it in the blanks. Try making your own conversations using this week�s word.

Photograph courtesy of EPA

Doi: Hey Dej. You arrived just ............1............... .

The meeting�s about to start and everyone�s waiting for your presentation. Whoa! Wait a minute. You can�t go in there looking like that.

Dej: Why not?

Doi: Your face is all bloody. What happened?

Dej: I was in a hurry this morning.

Doi: What does that have to do with it?

Dej: Let me explain. While I was washing, I realised that I was running late and in my hurry to get here on time, I ............2 ...............myself shaving.

Doi: Here�s some tissue.

Dej: Hey! Wait a minute. Where�s my wallet? Someone ..................3...................my wallet! Geez! This is shaping up to be a terrible morning.

Doi: Don�t worry. We can postpone the meeting until tomorrow. Go get cleaned up.

Definitions

nick (v): to cut the surface of something slightly
in the nick of time (idiom): just in time to prevent something bad from happening
nick (v): to steal something

Vocabulary

whoa (exclamation): used for telling someone to do or say something more slowly
geez (exclamation): used when you are very surprised or angry about something
postpone (v): to arrange for an event, etc. to take place at a later time or date