Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Vera2007]

Monica: Well, I was thinking, that you gave the guys such great haircuts, I thought, maybe you'd like to do mine?

Phoebe: Ohh! No.

Monica: Why not?

Phoebe: Because, I'm just, I'm incredibly *anal* and an unbelievable *control freak*.

Monica: No you're not.

Phoebe: I know I'm not, but you are, and I was trying to *spare* your feelings.

1. If a person is anal and an control freak. What is this person like?
2. What does "spare" mean here?
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Chandler: People do stupid things when they're upset.

Monica: My god, if I had a nickel for every guy I wish I hadn't...(Everyone looks at her), but this is about your horrible mistake.

3.I don't get what Monica was trying to say here.
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ROSS: I got it. Uh, Joey, women don't have Adam's apples.

JOEY: You guys are messin' with me, right?

4. what does "messing" mean here?

Thnaks a lot to Teachers!

[bud]

1. They're very similar terms. It's usually very exhausting to be around a person like this. They'll choose the movie you go to see together. They'll choose where you decide to eat. They'll choose which table you sit at. They're very forceful in getting their way (= in getting what they want). They're very focused on their own wants and needs, and do not seem to grasp that others might have different wants and needs. On the other side of the coin, they're very resistant to your suggestions, ideas and advice. At least not until they modify it in some way to make it their own. ("Anal" is shorthand for "anal retentive.")

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anal_retentive

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Control_freak

2. It's protecting someone from something that is painful or unpleasant.

3. "If I had a nickel for every [whatever]" is a way to say that "I'd be rich because [whatever] happens so often." (A nickel is worth only 5 cents, so you need a lot of nickels to be rich.)

I think Monica is implying that she has slept with many guys when she was upset, only to regret it afterwards.

4. Trying to fool/trick him. Joey thinks that, of course, women have Adam's apples.

[kerstin]

I think Monica is implying that she has slept with many guys when she was upset, *only* to regret it afterwards.

So she only regrets it afterwards?



thanx

[bud]

Yes, the regrets come afterwards.

[Vera2007]

Thanks bud,
So, what was Monica trying to say would be "My god, if I had a nickel for every guy I wish I hadn't had sex with them."
Is that right?

[bud]

Yes, I'm pretty sure that was the intended joke.