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Buying cold medicine in English (advanced)

Advanced English for buying cold medicine. Key line: “Hi, could you help me pick something for a bad cold?”

Full script

LinHi, could you help me pick something for a bad cold?
ThemSure — what symptoms are you dealing with, and when did they start?
LinMostly a stuffy nose, a sore throat, and this glamorous movie-star cough.
ThemGot it. Do you want something for daytime, or do you need help sleeping too?
LinDaytime, please. I need to function, not accidentally nap through my whole afternoon.
ThemThen I'd go with this non-drowsy one. Any allergies or other meds I should know about?
LinNo allergies, and I'm not taking anything else — unless hot water counts as treatment.
ThemPerfect. Take it as directed, and hopefully your nose quits auditioning for a whistle.

Key phrases

The lines worth keeping. Read them once before you go out.

Ask for advice

✓ Could you help me pick something for a bad cold?

Polite way to ask for a recommendation

pick something = ask staff to help choose

Ask about symptoms

✓ What symptoms are you dealing with?

Use to ask about symptoms now

More specific than What's wrong

Not drowsy

✓ non-drowsy

For medicine that won't make you sleepy

Useful for daytime medicine

As directed

✓ Take it as directed.

Means to follow the directions

Common medicine label phrase

Quick answers

Ask for advice: what to say in English

Say “Could you help me pick something for a bad cold?” — polite way to ask for a recommendation. pick something = ask staff to help choose.

Ask about symptoms: what to say in English

Say “What symptoms are you dealing with?” — use to ask about symptoms now. More specific than What's wrong.

Not drowsy: what to say in English

Say “non-drowsy” — for medicine that won't make you sleepy. Useful for daytime medicine.

As directed: what to say in English

Say “Take it as directed.” — means to follow the directions. Common medicine label phrase.

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