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Small talk with a client in English (advanced)
Advanced English for small talk with a client. Key line: “Maya, thanks for making the trip—was the *traffic* as *dramatic* as everyone warned me?”
Full script
Lin
Maya, thanks for making the trip—was the traffic as dramatic as everyone warned me?
Them
Honestly, it looked bad, but I somehow hit every green light.
Lin
That's impressive; my commute this morning was basically a patience test.
Them
Then I'm glad I arrived cheerful instead of frazzled.
Lin
Same here—I was hoping the coffee would make me look composed.
Them
It's working so far, though now I kind of want coffee too.
Lin
We can definitely fix that once we're settled in.
Them
Perfect—if the meeting's half as smooth as my traffic, we're golden.
Key phrases
The lines worth keeping. Read them once before you go out.
come specially
✓ make the tripShows extra effort
Stronger than just come
smooth trip
✓ hit every green lightThe trip went smoothly
Common in speech: very smooth
tests patience
✓ a patience testreally tests you
For queues, traffic, delays
settled in
✓ once we're settled inafter we get settled
Sit down first, then start
Quick answers
come specially: what to say in English
Say “make the trip” — shows extra effort. Stronger than just come.
smooth trip: what to say in English
Say “hit every green light” — the trip went smoothly. Common in speech: very smooth.
tests patience: what to say in English
Say “a patience test” — really tests you. For queues, traffic, delays.
settled in: what to say in English
Say “once we're settled in” — after we get settled. Sit down first, then start.