Tell me about a social occasion that didn't quite go to plan but turned out fine anyway.

A natural way to answer

I once hosted a dinner where the oven stopped working and the food was ruined. At first I was embarrassed, but we ordered takeaway instead and everyone relaxed. In the end it turned into a memorable, easy-going evening, and nobody minded at all.

Key phrases to use

• pack in — (of a machine) to stop working; to break down“My phone packed in right in the middle of the call.”
• roll with the punches — to adapt calmly to difficulties as they happen, instead of getting upset“When the plans fell through, we just rolled with the punches.”