I did a very popular item about a phrase book for folks going to Austria for Euro 2008, to help get by in the local dialect. The guide is REALLY useful if you get a bit creative. Say you decide to rob a convenience store. By mixing up actual phrases from various pages, you can say:
“All by yourself? Do you have a safe? Give me the money! Do you understand? Come on, you joker, let me get by! I’m making a quick getaway! ”
See what I mean? Here’s another creative example:
“I’m Karl and these are my friends I’d like to have a coffee with brandy or rum… Now I need a beer to get me back on my feet! I still feel the alcohol in my veins. Can’t we have just one last small glass of wine…? Today I fainted…”
How convenient is THAT? All it lacks is: “Hello, I’m Karl and I’m an alcoholic…”
Here is the guide. Maybe you’d like to put together your own creative phrases.
(above) drawing from the phrase book
(below) Austrian artist Christian Ludwig Attersee and art students present labels for wine bottles with soccer themes in Vienna March 31, 2008. REUTERS/Herwig Prammer
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2 comments so far
The pleasure’s all mine! Is there a tourist information center around? Do I have to stamp the ticket? When is breakfast? Listen, could you stop yelling right into my ear?
You’re making me deaf!
You’ve got no chance playing like that! Sorry, I’ve got to get to the football match.
- Posted by Lady WeaselWill it take much longer?
This vintage has a nose like Beckham’s forehead, a kick that totally lacks Beckham’s finesse and a finish like… Beckham’s team.
No, Bob, I am not a soccer fan.
- Posted by Shawn Hendricks