Moral Maze – 4
Moral Maze – 4
I own a few properties and occasionally need the services of tradespeople. I have found a painter who is reliable, turns up on the right day, does a good job and doesn’t charge a fortune. However, he recently blurted out racist remarks. Should I try to enlighten him about the benefits of a multicultural society, disregard his comments, or find another painter?
Punctuation
You will have noticed the commas in the string of verbs and options, but omitted before ‘and’.
Vocabulary
A tradesman / tradeswoman – a person engaged in trading or a trade, typically on a small scale (plural = tradesmen / tradeswomen / tradespeople)
to turn up – to arrive, to put in an appearance
charge a fortune – to demand a large sum of money for a service or goods
(also to charge an arm and a leg / a bomb / the earth / a packet / a small fortune)
to blurt out – phrasal verb – to say something suddenly and without thinking, usually because you are excited or nervous
business = concern, responsibility
Eg It is none of my business if she wants to leave her job – i.e. she is free to do what she wants to, without my advising her otherwise.
Go away – this conversation is not your business = does not concern you
How much business is it of mine if I see someone commit a crime?
Mind your own business! – informal – This is my own private affair and I do not want you to take any interest in it.