to have (someone) over

Welcome to English as a Second Language Podcast number 762: Eating a Family Dinner.

This is English as a Second Language Podcast episode 762. I’m your host, Dr. Jeff McQuillan, coming to you from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California. Welcome to our podcast.

Go to our website at eslpod.com to download a Learning Guide for this episode – and improve your English faster than a speeding bullet!

This episode is a dialogue about having dinner with a large number of people. Let’s get started.

My roommate, Jim, invited me over to his house for a family meal. I’m an only child, so I’m not used to a big family dinner. I felt like a fish out of water. …

Jim’s mother: Sit down, everybody. Dinner’s ready.

Phil: Thank you for having me over, Mrs. Moreno.

Jim’s mother: Don’t mention it. Just sit down and eat. Jim, pass the potatoes, and Dana, don’t hog the peas. Hand them both to Phil.

Phil: Thank you, Mrs. Moreno, but I’ve already taken a helping of each dish.

Jim’s mother: Then you need to