British English · B1 · Unit 11
Repairs and services
Repairs and services
By the end you can
- Arrange for someone to repair something
- Agree on a price and a time
- Understand a quote for a job
Words and phrases
| British English | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| a plumber | someone who repairs pipes, taps and toilets | We need a plumber for the bathroom. |
| come out | come to your home to do a job | Could someone come out this week? |
| a quote | the price someone gives you before they do a job | Could you give me a quote first? |
| how much will it cost? | what will the price be? | How much will it cost, roughly? |
| including VAT | with the sales tax in the price (British) | Is that including VAT? |
| call-out charge | the money you pay for a worker to come to your home | There's a £60 call-out charge. |
| an electrician | someone who repairs electrical things | I've booked an electrician for Monday. |
| sometime between | at a time in the period from | I'll be there sometime between eight and twelve. |
| roughly | about, not exactly | It'll take roughly two hours. |
| a cowboy builder | a builder who does bad work for too much money (British, informal) | We had a cowboy builder last time, so I want references. |
| cash in hand | paid in cash, often with no receipt (informal) | He wanted to be paid cash in hand. |
| it's a deal | I agree (to a price or a plan) | £120 for the lot? It's a deal. |
Then talk it through
Arranging for a plumber to come and asking what it will cost. In the app you have this conversation out loud or typed, with the unit's goals to tick off and corrections at the end.