Phone Rings During a Meeting
Your phone rings during an important business meeting or presentation, causing a brief interruption. You apologize to the speaker and attendees.
Dialogue
Listen and follow along with the conversation
Vocabulary
Essential words and phrases from the dialogue
sorry
An expression used to apologize for a mistake or inconvenience, like when something disrupts others. It's casual and common in everyday situations.
apologies
A more formal way to say sorry, often used in professional settings to express regret to a group of people.
silent
Refers to a phone mode where it doesn't ring or make sounds. Use this when setting your phone to avoid disturbances in quiet places like meetings.
pause
To stop something briefly, like a presentation, to handle an interruption. It's useful in work or class contexts.
fumbling
Handling something clumsily or awkwardly, often when in a hurry, like trying to turn off a ringing phone quickly.
continue
To go on or resume an activity after a stop. Say this politely to ask someone to keep going after an interruption.
Key Sentences
Important phrases to remember and practice
Oh, I am so sorry!
This is a quick, casual apology for an immediate mistake. Use it right when something like a phone ring happens to show regret. The structure uses 'I am so sorry' for emphasis on politeness.
No problem at all.
A reassuring response to an apology, meaning it's not a big issue. It's useful to calm someone down in professional or social situations. 'At all' adds emphasis to show it's completely fine.
My apologies, everyone.
A formal apology addressed to a group, ideal for meetings or presentations. 'My apologies' is a polite phrase, and 'everyone' includes all people present.
It happens. Don't worry about it.
This comforts someone after a small mistake, meaning accidents are common. Use it to ease tension. 'It happens' is an idiom for normal occurrences, and the imperative 'Don't worry' advises relaxation.
Please continue.
A polite request to resume an activity, like a presentation, after an interruption. 'Please' makes it courteous, and it's practical in formal settings to show respect.
Alright. So, as I was saying...
Used to restart a conversation or presentation smoothly. 'Alright' agrees to proceed, and 'as I was saying' refers back to the previous point. It's a natural transition phrase in English discussions.