ESL Podcast 628 – Introducing a New Product

http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=9436109

- to give sb the heads up : to let sb know info/event which is going to happen in future

Today's the day. I'm giving you the heads up.

- to roll out sth: to launch , to begin sth different

Our company is rolling out its new line of cell phones.

- state of the art : modern, advanced, newest, best

- never-before-seen: no one has ever seen, completely new

This line of phones has state-of- the-art technology and never-before-seen features. 

- in development : being working on, not finished yet

It's been in development for over a year a

- to keep sth under wraps : to keep sth secret

it's been really hard keeping it under wraps

- to put a clamp on sth: to stop sth from happening or be continuing

Those were just rumors, and the company put a clamp on those pretty quickly. 

- to come out : to be released / introduced

Wasn't the new line supposed to come out next month?

- to steal the thunder : to get buzz against of competitors

- to scramble : to do sth very quickly / faster

- ahead of schedule : before the deadline

Yes, and steal their thunder. We had to scramble to get the phones ready ahead of schedule

- to make a splash : to attract a lot of attention from people

They're really going to make a splash. 

--
Thanks,
Duy Lam

ESL Podcast 626 – Wiring Money to Another Country

http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=9406280

- by tomorrow : before the end of tomorrow

He needs $300 by tomorrow

- to wire sth: to send sth (money) electronically 

You can wire him the money from here

- blank : empty

- to fill out a form: to enter data to form

Here is a blank form. I can help you fill it out if you want me to. 

- recipient ~ sender

 Fill out the receiver or recipient information here and the sender information there

-- 

Thanks,
Duy Lam

ESL Podcast 620 – Making Quick and Slow Decisions

http://eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=9316793

- to go with : to choose a service or an option 

Which of these vendors do you think we should go with?

- to ponder : to consider, to think about very carefully

we've pondered the options a little longer.

- to sit on sb: to think about sb very carefully before making decision

We've sat on this for long enough, don't you think

- to be of two minds : to be undecided, to know the adv + disadv of things

I know you're of two minds about whether we should be switching vendors in the middle of the year

- sound (adj): logical, right

We had sound reasons for doing this, remember? 

- split-second (adj): rash

yes, I know that it wasn't a split-second decision

- debatable (a): indefinite, not sure , to be discussed more

 whether it'll really save us money is debatable. 

- ifs, ands or buts about it (expression) : there is no execute for it, no reason for it

I don't think there are any ifs, ands, or buts about it.

- to be set in stone : to be final, to be clearly decided, to be unable to be changed

Okay, I'm willing to make a tentative decision to go with GreatDeal Corp. as our new vendor, as long as that decision isn't set in stone. 

- to revisit : to think about again

- to work out : to be successful, to solve the problem

We'll revisit this decision in six months to see if they're working out. 

--
Thanks,
Duy Lam

ESL Podcast 616 – Having a Business Mentor

http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=9257135

-  to hash sth out: to discuss sth in great detail, to spend along time discussing

I simply go to her with my ideas and she helps me hash them out.

- out of the blue : unexpectedly , without planing

I contacted her out of the blue

- to click : to have good relationship in short time (a month)

We really clicked and now we meet once a month. 

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/radio/specials/1210_how_to_converse/page7.shtml

- to after : to want to have sth

A: Hi, you look great today. B: What do you after ?

Standard responses

Thank you, that's very kind!

Thank you, that's very kind of you (to say so).

nice

sweet

Showing surprise

You can show surprise at a compliment by explaining why it is unexpected. So, if someone compliments you on an item of clothing, you might say:

Oh, I've had this for ages.

Really? It was only cheap!

Sharing responsibility

If you receive a compliment for a piece of work which was a joint effort, it's important to make this clear.

Thanks! Ramesh worked on it too.

It wasn't all my work. Ramesh gave me a lot help.

That's very kind. I'll tell Ramesh - he helped me loads.

Returning the compliment

You can often respond to a compliment by returning the compliment - by giving a compliment back.

Oh, thanks very much! You look very nice too - I like your coat.

Humorous responses

In the UK, it is very common to respond to unexpected compliments by suggesting that the person paying you the compliment wants to ask a favour. This is a joke and probably won't cause offence to native English speakers.

What are you after?

What do you want?

Flattery will get you nowhere.*

* Flattery is the giving of praise and compliments that you don't really mean. This phrase means that it doesn't matter how many compliments you receive - you won't give any favours in return!

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Thanks,
Duy Lam

ESL Podcast 613 – Being a First-Time Parent

http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=9217363

- the birth of new baby : baby comes out of mom

I wanted to call and congratulate you on the birth of your new baby.

- first-time parent: first time being parent

That's great! How does it feel to be a first-time parent? 

- overwhelming (a): too strong, too powerful

- newborn (n): a baby was born just within two months ago

It's really overwhelming taking care of a newborn

- from scratch (n): very beginning, without any preparation 

I'm learning everything from scratch

--
Thanks,
Duy Lam

ESL Podcast 611 – Having an Overbearing Father

http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=9187534

- grown (a): become adult

I'm nearly a grown woman

- overbearing (a): control too much

You don't need be so overbearing. 

- to live by ~ to comply ~ to follow (rules)

you'll live by my rules

- curfew (n): the time you have to be at home (ex: 9pm )

I'll be home before curfew. 

- to tag along : to go swhere with sb when you're not expected to go with

I'm not going over to Damien's with you tagging along as our chaperon

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/language/wordsinthenews/2010/08/100802_witn_uae_blackberry_page.shtml

- outright ban: complete prohibition

But the firm's refusal has led the government to issue its strongest statement yet. It calls the devices "a threat to national security". But given its popularity here, an outright ban will be controversial.

- to spark : to cause

But given its popularity here, an outright ban will be controversial. The move has already sparked widespread criticism.

- lucrative : profitable

But whilst this country is a lucrative market for the firm, it remains a small one. There are just 500,000 BlackBerry users across the country.

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Thanks,
Duy Lam

ESL Podcast 610 – Preparing to Travel

http://www.eslpod.com/website/show_podcast.php?issue_id=9167648

- to hold my mail : to not to deliver mail 

I've gone to the post office and filled out a form so they'll hold my mail while I'm gone

- to suspend : to not to do things temporarily 

I've also called the newspaper office to have my newspaper delivery suspended

- utility : service provided by government to you (water, gas, electricity)

- to cut off: to stop providing a service

Tomorrow I'll arrange for my bank to automatically pay my bills so I won't have my utilities cut off 

- to have (got) sth covered (informal): to have already fixed the problem , to control the problem

It's nice of you to offer, but I've got it covered

- to board : to pay for the animal to be at kennel

- kennel : place to leave pet while you're not at home , like a hotel for pet

I could board him at a kennel,

- to pitch in : to help / assist sb for sth (small thing)

- to be a sucker : to be easily cheated

 I'm willing to pitch in, but I'm no sucker! 

--
Thanks,
Duy Lam