A2-49 / CEFR A2 / EPISODE 49

Asking for Time Off

Requesting time off at work

SceneAt work. Frank asks his manager for next Friday off.

Frank discusses paperwork with his boss while Tina stands beside him. — Select the illustration to view it at full size in a new tab.

Narrator

Frank wants Friday off to spend the day with a close friend. He's asking his boss. He plans to finish his work first.

フランクは親しい友人と一日過ごすため金曜に休みたい。彼は上司に申請している。先に仕事を終わらせるつもりだ。

Frank01

Could I take Friday off next week, please?

来週の金曜日に休みを取ってもいいですか？

Boss02

Sure, but is there a special reason?

いいよ、でも何か特別な理由は？

Frank03

Yes, I'm spending the day with a close friend.

はい、親しい友人と一日過ごすんです。

Boss04

Ah. Anyone special?

ほう。誰か特別な人かい？

Frank05

Very special. Her name is Tina.

とても特別です。ティナという名前です。

Boss06

I see, I see. Say no more.

なるほど、なるほど。それ以上言わなくていいよ。

Frank07

No, I need to say more. She's my best friend. This is not a date.

いえ、そこは説明させてください。彼女は私の親友です。これはデートではありません。

Boss08

Frank, it's fine. Can you finish the project before Friday?

フランク、大丈夫だよ。金曜までにプロジェクトは終わるかい？

Frank09

Yes, I'll finish it by Thursday evening.

はい、木曜の夕方までに終わらせます。

Boss10

Good. Have a great time on your... date.

いいね。じゃあ……デートを楽しんでおいで。

Frank11

Thank you. We'll enjoy the day. It is not a date.

ありがとうございます。楽しい一日にします。……デートではありません。

WORDS & CONTEXT

Words & context

“Could I take Friday off next week, please?”

Take a day off means to be absent from work for that day. Take Friday off requests Friday as a day away from work.

“Anyone special?”

Someone special means a special person and is an indirect way to refer to a romantic partner or someone dear to you. The boss is asking whether this is a romantic interest, but Frank answers Very special. meaning Tina is his dear best friend. The misunderstanding comes from the two ways of taking "special."

“Say no more.”

Say no more. means “I understand; you needn't explain further.” The manager mistakenly assumes Frank is going on a date and thinks the situation is clear.

“We'll enjoy the day. It is not a date.”

Enjoy the day means to have a good time that day. Frank thanks his boss for approving the day off and says he and Tina will enjoy the day. He has not accepted the boss's word "date." Even after hearing that she is his best friend, the boss teases him once more with "date," and Frank, while saying thank you, dutifully corrects him. The punchline keeps the setting that the two are best friends, not a couple.

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