New year's resolutions

If you haven’t made any yet, here are a few suggestions…

Changing one’s habits

Ben: Hi Alice, did you have a good Christmas?

Alice: Oh the usual - lounging about in front of the TV and overeating. And yourself?

Ben: Much the same. I got drunk on Christmas Eve and made a complete fool of myself. I’ve decided to give up alcohol in the new year.

Alice: But your social life revolves around pubs!

Ben: That’s why I’m going to enrol at the gym and play squash at least once a week.

Alice: I’ve resolved to exercise, too. My New Year’s resolution is to lose weight. I’m going to go on the raw food diet.

Ben: That’s all the rage. But don’t you only eat uncooked fruit and vegetables?

Alice: No, it’s not vegan. You can eat raw meat or fish, too...

Ben: But you’ll be miserable - you’ve got such a sweet tooth.

Alice: Yes, but I’m determined to give up chocolate once and for all. I must start off the new year on the right foot.

Ben: It’s going to be anything but a happy one - I’m dreading it already!

Alice: Don’t - New Year’s resolutions are supposed to give us hope. How about going for a coffee? I know a place that does great cheesecake.

Ben: But I thought you were giving up sweet things?

Alice: I am. But it’s not the first of January yet...

Essential Words

The conversation

lounge about = flemmarder

overeat = trop manger

get drunk = se soûler

make a fool of oneself = se rendre ridicule

give up = renoncer à

enrol = s’inscrire

lose weight = perdre du poids

raw food diet = régime qui consiste à ne manger que de la nourriture crue

be all the rage = faire fureur

uncooked = cru

vegan = végétalien

have a sweet tooth = être friand de sucreries

start off on the right foot midnight = bien démarrer

dread = redouter, apprehender

sweet things = sucreries

More resolutions

cook healthier¹ meals

cut² down on alcohol

cycle to work

get up earlier

leam to swim

not leave the washing-up until the next moming

pass my driving test

read in English

reply to e-mails straight away

spend less money on clothes

stop snacking³ between meals

stop smoking

switch off the TV before midnight

walk up the stairs rather than take the lift

¹sain ; ²boire moins ; ³grignoter