A2-55 / CEFR A2 / EPISODE 55

Reporting a Theft

Describing an incident and lost belongings

SceneAt a police station. Tina's bag was snatched while she walked alone; she called Frank to help report it.

At a police station desk, Tina speaks to an officer as Frank rests a hand on her shoulder. — Select the illustration to view it at full size in a new tab.

Narrator

Tina's bag was snatched while she was walking alone. Luckily, her phone was in her coat pocket. She called Frank, and he met her at the police station.

一人で歩いていたティナは、バッグをひったくられた。幸い、携帯はコートのポケットにあった。彼女がフランクに電話すると、彼は警察署まで来てくれた。

Tina01

Officer, a man grabbed my bag and ran off!

お巡りさん、男の人が私のバッグをひったくって逃げたんです！

Officer02

Okay, take a breath. Where did it happen?

わかりました。深呼吸してください。どこで起きましたか？

Tina03

Outside the train station, about fifteen minutes ago.

駅の外です。15分くらい前でした。

Officer04

What did the man look like?

その男はどんな見た目でしたか？

Tina05

He was wearing a black jacket and a red cap. He was about my height.

黒いジャケットと赤い帽子で、背は私と同じくらいでした。

Officer06

And what did the bag look like?

バッグはどんな見た目でしたか？

Tina07

Bright pink, with silver glitter moons and my name in huge letters.

鮮やかなピンクで、銀色のラメの月と、大きな文字で私の名前が書いてあります。

Officer08

That should be easy to recognize. What was inside?

それなら、見ればわかりそうですね。中には何が入っていましたか？

Tina09

My wallet, a small camera, and a pink notebook.

財布と小さなカメラ、それにピンクのノートです。

Officer10

We'll check the cameras around the station right away.

すぐに駅周辺の防犯カメラを確認します。

Frank11

I said those letters were too big. I take that back.

文字が大きすぎると言ったけど、取り消すよ。

Tina12

See? If I get it back, I'll make the letters even bigger.

ほらね？戻ってきたら、文字をもっと大きくするわ。

WORDS & CONTEXT

Words & context

“Tina's bag was snatched”

Snatch means to seize something suddenly. The bag was snatched. uses the passive to describe the victim's experience of having a bag stolen.

“a man grabbed my bag and ran off”

Grab means to seize firmly, and run off means to run away. Together they form a basic description of a bag-snatching incident for the police.

“What did the man look like?”

What did he look like? asks about appearance, such as clothing or build. Do not confuse it with What does he like?, which asks about preferences.

“That should be easy to recognize.”

Recognize means to know something when you see it, to identify it. The officer is saying that the color, the decorations, and the big name will help identify the bag. The line does not promise that its location is known or that it will definitely be found.

“I take that back.”

Said about something you said, take ... back means to withdraw or retract it. Frank had said the name lettering on the bag was too big, but on hearing that it will help identify the bag, he retracts his comment.

“If I get it back, I'll make the letters even bigger.”

Get ... back means to have something returned to you, and even bigger means bigger still. Using if, Tina says she will make the letters bigger in case the bag comes back. The punchline is that when Frank admits the big letters are useful, Tina gets carried away and wants to make the bag even flashier. At this point the search is just beginning and the bag has not been recovered.

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