A visit to the doctor’s

In this dialogue-aided lesson plan, students learn how to describe a number of typical medical ailments, symptoms and treatments. The lesson includes two simple doctor-patient dialogues. A basic knowledge of the present simple, present continuous and past simple tenses is assumed.

Doctor: Hi, I’m Dr. Wilson. What seems to be the trouble?

Grace: I’ve been under the weather for days.

Doctor: The flu is going around. Did you get the vaccine?

Grace: No, this year I didn’t get around to it.

Doctor: What are your symptoms?

Grace: I’ve had a splitting headache since yesterday morning. My whole body hurts.

Doctor: You have all the telltale signs of the flu. Let me take your temperature … 101. That’s on the high side.

Grace: My throat hurts, too.

Doctor: Let me take a peek. Yes, your throat is very red. It looks like a garden variety flu.

Grace: Are you going to prescribe some medicine for it?

Doctor: You can take Tylenol for your headache. Also, be sure to get plenty of rest and drink lots of water.

Grace: How long do you think this is going to drag on?

Doctor: You should be back on your feet in a week or so.

Grace: I have to get better quickly! I’m needed at the office.

Doctor: Well, there’s no magic bullet. You’re going to have to let this run its course.

Idioms

  • back on one’s feet → healthy again; returned to good health
    Example: I was sick for two weeks, but now I’m back on my feet.
  • (to) drag on → to last too long; to last longer than one wants
    Example: I’ve had a cold for three weeks. It just keeps dragging on!
  • garden variety → ordinary; common; not unusual
    Example: The necklace that Jim bought his girlfriend is not a garden variety piece of jewelry. It cost $100,000.
  • (to) get around to it → to have a chance to do something; to have time to do something
    Example: I know I need to have my cholesterol checked, but I just haven’t gotten around to it.
  • going around → spreading; going from one person to another
    Example: Your stomach hurts? You must have caught the bug that’s going around.
  • magic bullet → a drug or therapy that cures or prevents an illness, without harmful side effects; a simple solution to a problem (usually one that is too simplistic and doesn’t work)
    Example: Bedbugs are very hard to get rid of. Unfortunately, there’s no magic bullet.
    NOTE: this is often used in the negative: “no magic bullet”
  • on the high side → rather high
    Example: Emma stayed home from school yesterday because her temperature was on the high side.
  • or so → approximately (referring to a time period or quantity of something)
    Example: There were 200 or so people at the conference.
  • (to) run its course → to allow time for an illness to pass through one’s body
    Example: There’s no cure for the cold. Just let it run its course.
  • splitting headache → a very bad headache
    Example: Julia left work early, saying she had a splitting headache.
  • (to) take a peek → to have a quick look
    Example: Your car isn’t running well? Let me take a peek under the hood and see if I can figure out what’s wrong.
  • telltale signs → sure signs of a problem; typical symptoms that indicate something
    Example: Liz feels nauseous all the time and says she’s gaining weight. Those are telltale signs that she’s pregnant!
  • under the weather → feeling sick
    Example: If you’re under the weather, don’t go to work.
  • What seems to be the trouble? → What’s wrong?
    Example: “What seems to be the trouble?” asked the auto mechanic when we brought our car in to the shop.

Practice the Expressions

Imagine that you are at the doctor’s office. Choose the most appropriate replies to the doctor:

  1. Are you feeling under the weather again today?
    • a) Yes, I woke up with a headache.
    • b) Yes, I’m feeling much better than yesterday.
    • c) Yes, I see several storm clouds in the sky.
  2. Get plenty of rest and let this cold run its course.
    • a) Right. I’m planning on going running this afternoon.
    • b) Okay, I’m glad to hear the cold will go away so quickly.
    • c) Okay, I’ll stay home from work for the next couple of days.
  3. A runny nose and a sore throat are telltale signs of a cold.
    • a) I thought I might have a cold.
    • b) I knew I didn’t have a cold.
    • c) I thought it might be cold out today.
  4. Unfortunately, there’s no magic bullet for Lyme Disease.
    • a) Okay, please write me a prescription for it.
    • b) Right, I understand it can be difficult to treat.
    • c) Right, bullets don’t cure anything.
  5. What seems to be the trouble?
    • a) It’s no trouble at all.
    • b) My left ear has been hurting for several days.
    • c) Things are going very well.
  6. Your temperature is 100 degrees. That’s on the high side.
    • a) That’s good news.
    • b) I thought I was feeling a little warm.
    • c) I thought I was feeling a little cool.
  7. A stomach bug is going around.
    • a) I think I must have caught it.
    • b) I don’t know where it’s going.
    • c) I’m glad it’s going around.
  8. What do you usually take when you have a splitting headache?
    • a) I take aspirin or Tylenol.
    • b) I take a couple days off work.
    • c) I don’t take anything because it doesn’t hurt.
  9. You’ve got a garden variety cold.
    • a) Oh no! How will I ever recover?
    • b) Okay. I’m glad it’s nothing serious!
    • c) How could I have caught such an illness?
  10. Your cough shouldn’t drag on too much longer.
    • a) So you think it’ll last another couple of months?
    • b) So you think I’ll have it forever?
    • c) So you think it’ll be gone by next week?