What Do You Bring to a 'BYOB' Party?
2020-01-05
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1And now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English!
2Americans often try to say things as quickly as possible.
3So, for some expressions, we use the first letters of the words instead of saying each word.
4Many common expressions or long names are shortened this way.
5B-Y-O-B is a short way of saying, "Bring Your Own Bottle."
6For example, let's say I had a New Year's Eve party.
7I might include on the invitation, "Please come to my party and BYOB."
8The bottle each person brings is what the person wants to drink at the party or wants to share.
9However, an invitation to a special event - such as a wedding --would never say BYOB.
10An invitation to an official or very special event often has other letters written at the bottom. The letters are R-S-V-P.
11These letters represent the French expression, "Repondez S'il Vous Plait."
12In English the words mean, "Respond If It Pleases You."
13Americans use the letters as a short way to say, "Please answer this invitation."
14Another expression usually used for business and not parties is A-S-A-P.
15So, a colleague might say she needs something done ASAP.
16It means as soon as possible.
17She might also need something done by C-O-B. That means she wants to finish it by "Close Of Business" or the end of the work day.
18Beginning letters are often used to represent the names of universities.
19A famous one is MIT. That is short for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
20Another major university is UCLA.
21Almost no one ever says its real name, the University of California at Los Angeles.
22That takes way too long!
23Many American government agencies are also known by their beginning letters.
24For example, the F-B-I is the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
25The FBI investigates criminal activity in the United States.
26Then there is the I-R-S, the Internal Revenue Service.
27It is not a very popular agency because it collects federal taxes.
28And that's all for Voice of America's Words and Their Stories.
29Or maybe I should just say VOA's WATS.
30Until next time, I'm Anna Matteo.
1And now, Words and Their Stories from VOA Learning English! 2Americans often try to say things as quickly as possible. So, for some expressions, we use the first letters of the words instead of saying each word. Many common expressions or long names are shortened this way. 3B-Y-O-B is a short way of saying, "Bring Your Own Bottle." 4The letters BYOB are often found at the bottom of a written invitation to a simple social event or gathering of friends. For example, let's say I had a New Year's Eve party. I might include on the invitation, "Please come to my party and BYOB." The bottle each person brings is what the person wants to drink at the party or wants to share. 5However, an invitation to a special event - such as a wedding --would never say BYOB. 6An invitation to an official or very special event often has other letters written at the bottom. The letters are R-S-V-P. 7These letters represent the French expression, "Repondez S'il Vous Plait." In English the words mean, "Respond If It Pleases You." Americans use the letters as a short way to say, "Please answer this invitation." 8Another expression usually used for business and not parties is A-S-A-P. So, a colleague might say she needs something done ASAP. It means as soon as possible. She might also need something done by C-O-B. That means she wants to finish it by "Close Of Business" or the end of the work day. 9Beginning letters are often used to represent the names of universities. 10A famous one is MIT. That is short for the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Another major university is UCLA. Almost no one ever says its real name, the University of California at Los Angeles. That takes way too long! 11Many American government agencies are also known by their beginning letters. For example, the F-B-I is the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The FBI investigates criminal activity in the United States. Then there is the I-R-S, the Internal Revenue Service. It is not a very popular agency because it collects federal taxes. 12And that's all for Voice of America's Words and Their Stories. Or maybe I should just say VOA's WATS. 13Until next time, I'm Anna Matteo. 14Paul Thompson wrote this Words and Their Stories for VOA Learning English. 15________________________________________________________________ 16Words in This Story 17party - n. a social event in which entertainment, food, and drinks are provided 18colleague - n. fellow worker or professional