16 - Slimy Limey!
Language for politely refusing
How do you say no politely? Anna needs help following the call from Mr Lime asking her out to lunch. She wants to say no, but doesn't want to sound rude. Her dilemma is how to refuse his offer politely. She finally plucks up the courage to call him, but how does he respond?
Intermediate · 161019 · 2016-10-19
How do you say no politely? Anna needs help following the call from Mr. Lime asking her out to lunch. She wants to say no, but doesn’t want to sound rude. Her dilemma is how to refuse his offer politely. She finally plucks up the courage to call him, but how does he respond? Language for politely refusing This episode focuses on politely refusing a request to do something.
1. Thank you for your offer. But I'm really sorry, I won't be able to.
BBC UK: Thank you for your offer. But I'm really sorry, I won't be able to.
2. I'm afraid it is against company policy...
BBC UK: I'm afraid it is against company policy…
3. It wouldn't be appropriate.
BBC UK: It wouldn't be appropriate.
4. With regret, I'm going to have to say no.
BBC UK: With regret, I'm going to have to say no.
1. Narrator
Hello! You're joining us again after Anna's call from Mr. Lime - he asked her to lunch, remember. Now Anna and Denise are flapping.
BBC UK: Hello! You're joining us again after Anna's call from Mr Lime – he asked her to lunch, remember. Now Anna and Denise are flapping.
2. Denise
...and before you know it, he'll be asking you to marry him! Trust me Anna, this has happened to me dozens of times!
BBC UK: ...and before you know it, he'll be asking you to marry him! Trust me Anna, this has happened to me dozens of times!
3. Anna
But I thought he was only interested in the lemons! Please promise me you won’t mention this to anyone.
BBC UK: But I thought he was only interested in the lemons! Please promise me you won’t mention this to anyone.
4. Denise
Okay, I promise.
BBC UK: OK, I promise.
5. Anna
Oh, shhhh!
BBC UK: Oh, shhhh!
6. Tom
Good morning. What's going on?
BBC UK: Good morning. What's going on?
7. Denise
Mr. Lime has asked Anna to lunch!
BBC UK: Mr Lime has asked Anna to lunch!
8. Tom
And?
BBC UK: And?
9. Denise
And it's not to talk business! I saw him looking at her with big eyes, from the moment he first saw her!
BBC UK: And it's not to talk business! I saw him looking at her with big eyes, from the moment he first saw her!
10. Anna
Denise!
BBC UK: Denise!
11. Tom
Old Slimy Limey eh? Lucky Anna!
BBC UK: Old Slimy Limey eh? Lucky Anna!
12. Anna
He's not slimy, it's just...
BBC UK: He's not slimy, it's just…
13. Tom
Don't tell me you said yes?!
BBC UK: Don't tell me you said yes?!
14. Anna
Well I didn't know what to say.
BBC UK: Well I didn't know what to say.
15. Tom
You didn't?
BBC UK: You didn't?
16. Anna
No, no, I said I was busy and would call back. I wanted to just say no, but with everyone complaining that I'm not polite on the phone... I just... I didn't know how to say it politely.
BBC UK: No, no, I said I was busy and would call back. I wanted to just say no, but with everyone complaining that I'm not polite on the phone... I just... I didn't know how to say it politely.
17. Tom
Ha ha, I'll tell you what to say.
BBC UK: Ha ha, I'll tell you what to say.
18. Anna
Hang on, let me write it down... why do all the pens keep disappearing?
BBC UK: Hang on, let me write it down... why do all the pens keep disappearing?
19. Denise
Here's one.
BBC UK: Here's one.
20. Anna
Thanks. Okay, I'm listening Tom.
BBC UK: Thanks. Okay, I'm listening Tom.
21. Say
go...
BBC UK: go...
22. Anna
(writing) go...
BBC UK: (writing) go...
23. Tom
...away... Slimy Limey.
BBC UK: ...away... Slimy Limey.
24. Anna
Go away Slimy Limey. Are you sure?
BBC UK: Go away Slimy Limey. Are you sure?
25. Tom
Of course!
BBC UK: Of course!
26. Denise
Don't listen to him Anna. This is what you should say: Thank you for your offer. But I'm really sorry, I won't be able to. Then explain why, say I'm afraid... blah blah blah
BBC UK: Don't listen to him Anna. This is what you should say: Thank you for your offer. But I'm really sorry, I won't be able to. Then explain why, say I'm afraid… blah blah blah
27. Anna
Blah blah blah?
BBC UK: Blah blah blah?
28. Denise
Say it's against company policy to have non-business lunches with clients.
BBC UK: Say it's against company policy to have non-business lunches with clients.
29. Anna
Meaning?
BBC UK: Meaning?
30. Denise
You're not allowed to if it's not for business. Then say: It wouldn't be appropriate. So, with regret, I'm going to have to say no.
BBC UK: You're not allowed to if it's not for business. Then say: It wouldn't be appropriate. So, with regret, I'm going to have to say no.
31. Anna
Okay, I think I've got that all down. Thanks. He'll be waiting for my call. (dials phone)
BBC UK: Okay, I think I've got that all down. Thanks. He'll be waiting for my call. (dials phone)
32. Mr. Lime
Hello, Seb Lime speaking.
BBC UK: Hello, Seb Lime speaking.
33. Anna
Hello Mr. Lime.
BBC UK: Hello Mr Lime.
34. Mr. Lime
Anna! Please, call me Seb. So, when can I invite you to lunch?
BBC UK: Anna! Please, call me Seb. So, when can I invite you to lunch?
35. Denise
(whispering loudly) Thank you for your offer...
BBC UK: (whispering loudly) Thank you for your offer...
36. Anna
Well, thank you for your offer. But I'm really sorry, I won't be able to.
BBC UK: Well, thank you for your offer. But I'm really sorry, I won't be able to.
37. Mr. Lime
Oh?
BBC UK: Oh?
38. Denise
(whispering loudly) I'm afraid...
BBC UK: (whispering loudly) I'm afraid...
39. Anna
I'm afraid it's against company policy to have non-business lunches with people.
BBC UK: I'm afraid it's against company policy to have non-business lunches with people.
40. Mr. Lime
Really? Oh how tedious!
BBC UK: Really? Oh how tedious!
41. Denise
(whispering loudly) It wouldn't be-
BBC UK: (whispering loudly) It wouldn't be-
42. Anna
Shhh!
BBC UK: Shhh!
43. Mr. Lime
Pardon?
BBC UK: Pardon?
44. Anna
No, not shhh you Mr. Slimy I meant shhhh Denise!
BBC UK: No, not shhh you Mr Slimy I meant shhhh Denise!
45. Mr. Lime
Mr. Slimy?
BBC UK: Mr Slimy?
46. Anna
Oh no! I mean Mr. Limey - Lime - er Seb! You see, it wouldn't be appropriate. So, with regret, I'm going to have to say no.
BBC UK: Oh no! I mean Mr Limey – Lime – er Seb! You see, it wouldn't be appropriate. So, with regret, I'm going to have to say no.
47. Mr. Lime
I think I've understood. Goodbye Anna.
BBC UK: I think I've understood. Goodbye Anna.
48. Anna
Goodbye.
BBC UK: Goodbye.
49. Narrator
Oh dear, he didn't take that too well. But, apart from a little mistake, Anna did well there. Here are the phrases she used to politely refuse the offer of lunch: Thank you for your offer. But I'm really sorry, I won't be able to. I'm afraid it is against company policy... It wouldn't be appropriate. With regret, I'm going to have to say no. Good job Anna, bad luck Mr. Slimy!
BBC UK: Oh dear, he didn't take that too well. But, apart from a little mistake, Anna did well there. Here are the phrases she used to politely refuse the offer of lunch: Thank you for your offer. But I'm really sorry, I won't be able to. I'm afraid it is against company policy… It wouldn't be appropriate. With regret, I'm going to have to say no. Good job Anna, bad luck Mr Slimy!
Question
What excuse does Anna give Seb Lime for not going to lunch with him?
Answer
She says it is against company policy.