How was the party last night?
Nice. I had a good time and met some very nice people. But where are you off to in such a hurry?
I've been invited to a cocktail party. It's 6 o'clock now. I'm late.
But you told me that if you're invited to a party, you should plan to arrive a half hour late.
A party yes, but not a cocktail party.
What's a cocktail party like?
A cocktail party is generally held from 5:30 to 7:30. There are drinks and snacks, but no dinner. This cocktail party is being held by my department to celebrate Christmas.
It seems that you know something about American social customs.
I've still got a lot to learn. But American people understand that we're newcomers here and they don't hold it against us if we make a faux pas.
Make a what?
A faux pas is a French word. It means a mistake, especially in the area of social matters.
I see.