Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[jasonlulu_2000]

Dear Sir,

The following is what I came up against in reading.

Their experience suggests that the words an the printed invitations need to be made clearer. Everyone reads and understands the invitations differently. Most of us would agree that 6.30 -8.30pm means drinks only, go out to dinner afterwards; 8.00pm or 8.30pm means possible dinner, but 9.30pm and any time thereafter means no food, oat beforehand, roll up late.

But this is not always the case. If asked to a students' party at 6.30pm, it is normal for guests not to appear before midnight, if at all, and no one cares. Being the first to arrive - looking eager - is social death. When my mother is asked to a party for 6.30, she likes to be them, if not on lime, then no later than seven.

1. What does "oat beforehand, roll up late" mean?

2. What does " Being the first to arrive is social death"?

[CP]

1. It's a mistake. It's supposed to say, "means no food, [so you should] eat beforehand, [and] roll up late / arrive late."

The last sentence has mistakes, too. It should read: "When my mother is asked to a party for 6.30, she likes to be there, if not on time, then no later than seven."

2. It means that if you are the first to arrive at the party, eager to be there, you are proving yourself to be desperate, uncool, so not likely to get invited again.

You have to arrive fashionably late, and leave before the party gets dull. You are Brad Pitt or Angelina Jolie -- they are lucky you came at all!
_________________
You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[jasonlulu_2000]

Thank you.