3 great examples of sharp endings in spoken English
By The English Farm, September 01 2023
We remember the ending more clearly than the rest, so a memorable conclusion is a key aspect to a strong answer.
Business English
Speed Reading: How to be a fast, efficient reader
By Hina, June 24 2023
Use this post to discover your reading speed and learn how to read more quickly.
What’s your elevator pitch?
By Huda, August 06 2022
An elevator pitch is a great way to introduce yourself and make a lasting impression on your listener. It opens the door for future communication and helps you sound memorable within a short period of time.
How to talk about confidential projects in English
By Matthew, March 12 2022
How do you maintain confidentiality without being rude? Recognize a bad way and learn some good ways to express confidentiality.
Why you should take meeting notes in English
By Cassandra, December 12 2021
Asking questions in meetings can be tough, even for native speakers. For non-native speakers, doing it in English can be a nightmare.
We mostly remember beginnings and endings, which is a problem
By The English Farm, August 15 2020
When you speak, how much does the audience remember, and which parts do they remember? The answer may help you re-think how to be an impressive communicator.
When should you use complex language?
By The English Farm, July 04 2020
Should you use jargon with your colleagues? How about with your clients? How about in a speaking test? Here's a simple but powerful rule to guide you.
Use BUDGET correctly and impressively
By Di, March 14 2020
The English word “budget” is complex. There are many ways to use it, and it is often misused by non-native speakers.
Think outside the box
By Pamela, October 15 2019
If you’re faced with a unique and complicated issue at work, you may need to think outside the box to find a solution.
When you think outside the box, you try to use your imagination to come up with new and unusual ideas. The purpose of thinking outside the box is to challenge yourself to think differently about a subject, so that you can approach it from a new perspective and ideally, produce original ideas and solutions.
Put something on the back burner
By Pamela, September 16 2019
When you put something on the back burner, you put it on hold to deal with at a later time. You could put something on the back burner because it’s not important, it’s not urgent, or you just don’t have the time or resources to deal with it at the moment. Regardless of the reason, if you put something on the back burner, you have judged it to be low priority.
A lot on your plate
By Pamela, August 26 2019
When you have a lot on your plate, you have a lot of important tasks to manage. This could mean that you’re trying to balance multiple projects at one time, or you’re dealing with one large, demanding project.
Want your answer to stand out? Use a little crass language
By The English Farm, July 27 2019
Many non-native English speakers make the mistake of thinking that formal language is always a safe language choice. This is not the case. These days, the American workplace style is becoming more casual and language is going the same way.
The big picture
By Pamela, June 16 2019
When we look at the big picture, we view a situation as a whole. We do not focus on the small details of its individual parts.
Have you ever worked on a long-term project that was delayed because too much time was spent on the small details? When we look at the big picture, we focus on the most important facts of a situation. We then evaluate how those facts will affect the overall situation in the future.
Up in the air
By Pamela, April 15 2019
If you’re working on resolving an issue but the outcome is still uncertain, you can say it’s up in the air. This means that there are still actions or decisions that need to be made before it is settled.
If you’re planning a meeting or business trip but the exact details are not confirmed, you can say it’s up in the air. This implies that you have a general idea of what you’re going to do, but the details still need to be decided.
Draw up
By Di, April 01 2019
The words "draw" and "up" take on a new meaning when you put them together. The idiomatic phrase "draw up" is usually used to talk about plans or contracts. It means to prepare a written document with details of a plan or arrangement.
Draw up can be used in any tense. Here are some examples of how to use it:
Across the board
By Di, March 11 2019
If something applies to everyone or everything, it's across the board. It's most often used to talk about money.
Here are some examples of how to use this phrase:
- The new tax rates apply across the board.
- Good news! Our profits were so good last quarter, we'll be giving bonuses across the board!
You can also use it as an adjective:
Cut a deal
By Di, March 04 2019
When two people or organizations negotiate an agreement so that each one profits, they cut a deal. You each have to give up, or "cut", some of what you want so that you can both make some profit, even if it's not as much as you wanted.
Here are a couple of examples:
The G.B.C. test is now tougher, but more realistic
By The English Farm, February 09 2019
The G.B.C. test now has nearly an infinite number of questions that can be asked, just like in te real world. Assessors will also interrupt, as often happens in conversation and business meetings.
To drink a drink - when nouns become verbs
By Di, September 01 2018
Verbing—changing nouns into verbs—is happening so fast these days that non-native speakers can struggle to keep up. The rapid rate of change in technology, and the globablization of English, add to the speed of verbing.