Chapter 1 Lesson 2 Flashcards
Rumour going about
To circulate: 1. often used with rumour or a 2. non life-threatening virus.
- There’s a rumour going about that more redundancies are in the pipeline.
- I’ve picked up the flu that’s going about at the moment.
To go about
deal with the problem or situation in a particular way:
even though I have been running my own business for quite a long while now, I still haven’t got a clue as to how to go about giving someone the sack
Loophole
A gap or a mistake in a particular law/rule which allows people having to obey it.
Our solicitor is bound to find a loophole enabling us to get round the law.
To keep someone posted
To keep someone up-to-date with the news/ what’s going on.
If you had kept me posted instead of dithering around, we would not have had all this mess to sort out.
To break even
Not to make a profit or a loss.
We reckoned that we’d just about break even in the first year, but, as it turned out,business really took off.
Backlog
- A large amount of work which has been building up over a period of time
I’ve got a backlog of paperwork to get through before I can turn my mind to these other issues. - A lot of people waiting to be dealt with with or seen.
There’s a backlog of people to see, but, off the record, if you turn up before nine, we would be able to fit you in.
1
To rub someone up the wrong way
To irritate someone.
Perhaps I’m being too touchy, but there’s something about the man that rubs me up the wrong way.
To come through (survive a difficult period of time)
We had to put up with a lot of hardships during our time in the army but we all came through it in the end.
To come through ( be evident)
His nasty streak only comes through when he’s being rubbed up the wrong way.
To come through ( to arrive after having being processed - documents)
We can’t put out these brochures until the news lease comes through.
The home office have told me that because of a backlog of applications, my visa is unlikely to come through until the new year.
To give someone a lot of stick - to get/ take a lot of stick ( to criticise/ tease continually -colloquial-)
We give him a lot of stick at work over his appalling choice of ties, but he’s too thick skinned to let it bother him.
To be up in the air (to be uncertain/ unsettled)
A: how’s your new office coming along?
B: everything is up in the air at the moment; I haven’t got a clue what’s going on
Dogsbody ( a person who is employed to do menial jobs only)
I’m sorry, but I won’t let you get away with treating me like your dogsbody anymore.
