Global English
Lesson 01
Cancelling an Appointment
Let’s Talk Institute ( P ) ltd – Global English Lesson 01
Lesson 04 – Canceling an Appointment
Lesson Introduction:
In business and in life, you never know what's going to happen, and so if something unexpected comes
up and you and you can't make it to a scheduled appointment, what will you do? In today's podcast,
learn some useful English phrases to help you handle these situations in a professional manner.
Lesson Video Cast
Dialogue: ( click the image to watch the podcast)
A : Hello, John speaking.
B: Hi John. This is Mary calling.
A: Oh, hi Mary, what's up?
B: I'm just calling about our meeting today. I wonder, is it possible to reschedule our appointment in the
afternoon? I have a bit of an emergency that I need to take care of.
A: Let me see, it shouldn't be too much of a problem...
B: I'm really sorry, I hope it doesn't inconvenience you too much, it's just this thing came up, and ...
A: Mary, you know what, I can't make it to our meeting, either. Why don't we postpone it to tomorrow
afternoon at the same time?
B: Sounds great. See you tomorrow.
Global English series: http://www.letstalkpodcast.com 2
Let’s Talk Institute ( P ) ltd – Global English Lesson 01
Vocabulary Review:
Vocabulary Speech Definition
what's up what is the matter Phrase
reschedule schedule something for a verb
different time
inconvenience cause problem or trouble verb
come up occur in an unexpected way verb
Make it come verb
Postpone decide to do something at a later verb
time
No wonder not surprisingly Phrase
Supplementary Vocabulary:
Vocabulary Speech Definition
scheduling conflict two or more appointments NCS
scheduled at the same time
call off cancel verb
double-book have two appointments or verb
meetings at the same time
push back move a meeting or appointment PHRASE
to a later time
rain check a promise or offer to do PHRASE
something in the future that is
not possible to do now
Phrase Expansion:
Reschedule
I'm not feeling well. Could you reschedule my meeting with John to tomorrow afternoon?
The meeting at eleven o'clock has been rescheduled.
Our team meeting needs to be rescheduled because Sarah can't come.
Inconvenience
I don't want to inconvenience you, so I'll pick up the flowers on my way home.
Would I be inconveniencing you too much if we changed our meeting to three o'clock?
I was really inconvenienced by the transport strike.
Global English series: http://www.letstalkpodcast.com 3
Let’s Talk Institute ( P ) ltd – Global English Lesson 01
Postpone
Since Ram is late again, we have to postpone the meeting.
I'm sorry Rachna, but our vacation has been postponed until next month.
Unfortunately, the flight will be postponed.
Make it.
I'm sorry I can't make it to the meeting today. I'm very sick.
Can you make it to this marketing event on Friday?
Because of this technical problem, I'm afraid I won't be able to make the deadline.
No wonder
Rakhi has lived in the States for 5 years. No wonder she speaks English so fluently.
No wonder he got that job! He's a friend of the hiring manager.
It's no wonder that you got promoted. You've been working really hard for it.
Come up
I'm sorry that I'm late; this thing came up at work, and I had to stay to take care of it.
I can't talk right now; something came up.
Sorry I missed the meeting; something came up.
Exercises.
Choose a word on the left side, then match it to the closest meaning on the right side.
1.
• double-book • occur in an unexpected way
• came up • cause problem or trouble
• inconvenience • two or more appointments scheduled at the
same time
• scheduling conflict • a promise or offer to do something in the future
that is not possible to do now
• rain check • have two appointments or meetings at the same
time
Global English series: http://www.letstalkpodcast.com 4
Let’s Talk Institute ( P ) ltd – Global English Lesson 01
2.
• No wonder • not surprisingly
• make it • schedule something for a different time
• call off • cancel
• what's up • come
• to reschedule • what is the matter
Sentence re-ordering
The following sentences are not in order . arrange them in the right order by numbering
them.
i. Hello, John speaking.
ii. I'm really sorry, I hope it doesn't inconvenience you too much, it's just this thing came up, and ...
iii. I'm just calling about our meeting today. I wonder, is it possible to reschedule our appointment
in the afternoon? I have a bit of an emergency that I need to take care of.
iv. Oh, hi Mary, what's up?
v. Hi John. This is Mary calling.
vi. Let me see, it shouldn't be too much of a problem...
vii. Mary, you know what, I can't make it to our meeting, either. Why don't we postpone it to
tomorrow afternoon at the same time?
Multiple choices.
Choose the best answer from the choices given.
1. I'm not feeling well. Could you _____ my meeting with John to tomorrow afternoon?
a) What’s up
b) Push back
c) reschedule
d) postpone
2. I was really _____ by the snow storm.
a) Call off
b) Make it
c) inconvenienced
d) rain check
Global English series: http://www.letstalkpodcast.com 5
Let’s Talk Institute ( P ) ltd – Global English Lesson 01
3. I'm sorry I can't _____ to the meeting today. I'm very sick.
a) Make it
b) To reschedule
c) Rain check
d) Push back
4. The meeting at eleven o'clock has been _____.
a) Scheduling conflict
b) Call off
c) Reschedule
d) Double book
5. Unfortunately, the flight will be _____.
a) Rain check
b) To re schedule
c) Scheduling conflict
d) Postponed
6. Our team meeting needs to be _____ because Sarah can't come.
a) Scheduling conflict
b) Came up
c) No wonder
d) rescheduled
7. Since Ram is late again, we have to _____ the meeting.
a) Push back
b) Call off
c) Postpone
d) No wonder
Global English series: http://www.letstalkpodcast.com 6