Episode 34
Listen to the Episode
Listen once for the main idea. Then use the transcript and repeat useful sentences aloud.
Download and study
Episode Resources
Download a file or continue to the transcript.
Best order: listen once, read while listening, then listen again without the text.
Full lesson
Read the Transcript
Follow the text while you listen, then repeat useful sentences aloud.
In today's episode:
I'll talk again about the most common business expressions.
Later, you'll practice your English speaking with a funny story with questions and answers.
Awesome! Let's get started!
A long shot
If you describe a solution to a problem as a remote possibility, it means there is little chance of success, but you think it's worth a try.
The idiom originates from the concept of a shot at a target from a great distance, therefore difficult to make.
Example:
"You could try to find that mysterious man. It's a long shot, but you could start surfing the internet."
To go broke
If you go broke, you experience a financial collapse. You'll lose most or all of your money.
Example:
"Our company is going to go broke anytime unless you stop spending money foolishly."
Start from scratch
The meaning of this expression is to start doing something over from the beginning. The root of the expression comes from races in which the scratch line was the starting point and wouldn't offer any advantage to anyone. Disabled people would be given shorter distances to run, but they would always start from scratch.
Example:
"The company expects me to start from scratch and redo the entire task because I missed a key point.
Down the drain
This metaphoric term refers to water going down a drain and being carried off.
If something is going down the drain, it means that it's getting worse or being destroyed, and it's unlikely to recover.
Example:
"Everything's ruined! My big plans, my great company. All those years of work are down the drain."
Go Out of Business
When a company goes out of business or something puts it out of business, it stops operating, especially because of financial problems.
Example:
"Highest interest rates can drive small companies out of business."
At stake
When something's at stake, it means that it's at risk. It could be lost or damaged unless you succeed.
Example:
"This surely seems like a risky investment. There's plenty of money at stake."
Corner the market
If a company corners the market in a particular type of product, it's more successful than any other company at selling that particular product.
Example:
"Our company has effectively cornered the market. By reducing our prices, our competitors won't be able to compete, and they'll soon go out of business."
Go the extra mile
When you're willing to go the extra mile, it means you're ready to make a major effort in order to accomplish something.
Example:
"People with a clear goal in mind are more willing to go the extra mile."
Throw in the towel / Toss the towel
When someone throws in the towel, they admit that they are defeated or can't do something any longer.
This idiom comes from boxing: throwing in the towel is a sign that a fighter accepts defeat.
Example: "It's a little early to throw in the towel; you've just started working on this project."
Thumbs up / down
Thumbs up is an expression of acceptance or approval, and thumbs down express the opposite, rejection or failure.
Example:
"Our boss gave us the thumbs up to continue with our project."
I hope you're enjoying yourself. Let's continue with a story with questions and answers!
Want more speaking practice? Continue with a complete audio course.
IMPROVE YOUR SPEAKING
Mini-Story: Speaking Practice
Answer the questions aloud with short and quick responses. Repeat the Mini-Story several times to improve your speaking and listening.
Steven was only 26 when he founded his own startup video game company starting from scratch.
How old was Steven?
26. He was only 26 years old.
Was he old?
No. No. He wasn't old. He was only 26. He was young.
Who founded his own video game company?
Jake?
Not Jake. Steven. He founded his own company.
Steven started a toy company?
Right?
No. No. Not a toy company. He started a video game company.
How did he start his business?
From scratch. He started his video game company from scratch.
He definitely took a long shot investing all his savings. Moreover, his family gave him the thumbs down.
Did Steven invest anything?
Yes. He invested all his savings.
Who got shot?
No one got shot. Taking a long shot means taking a risk.
Did he invest all his savings or only some of it?
Not only some of it. He invested all his savings.
His family supported him. Right?
No. No. His family didn't support him. They gave him the thumbs down. They disapproved of his new business.
Who gave the thumbs down?
Steven?
No. Not Steven. His family gave him the thumbs down.
One time he almost went broke. His company was about to go out of business because there was too much at stake. Steven dropped prices by 200% by selling video games online.
How many times did Steven go broke?
Ten times?
No. No. He didn't go broke ten times. He almost went broke one time.
Did Steven's company go out of business?
No. Luckily, his company didn't go out of business.
Who's eaten a stake?
No one has eaten any stake. When something's at stake, it means that it's at risk.
Did Steven drop or raise the prices by 200%?
He didn't raise the prices by 200%. He dropped the prices.
What did Steven sell online?
His house?
No. No. Not his house. He sold video games online.
Who started selling video games?
Steven's family?
No. Not his family. It was Steven who decided to start selling video games online.
After this rather risky decision, everyone except Steven assumed that his entire work would go down the drain.
When did everyone assume that his work would go down the drain?
After making the decision or before?
After making the decision. Not before.
How was the decision?
Was it risky or safe?
Risky. It wasn't safe at all. It was a risky decision.
Who assumed that his entire work would go down the drain?
Everyone except Steven assumed that his entire work would go down the drain.
However, things finally turned out well for Steven. By dropping prices, he managed to corner the market.
How did things turn out for Steven?
Well or badly?
Not badly. Things turned out well for Steven.
For whom did things turn out well?
For Steven. Things turned out well for Steven.
Did he lower the prices?
Yes. He lowered the prices. Steven dropped the prices of video games.
Who went to the corner of a market?
No one went to any market. Steven managed to corner the market.
His company was selling more video games than any other company.
How did Steven corner the market?
By dropping the prices. He cornered the market by dropping the prices.
Steven really went the extra mile to build a successful international online business.
How did Steven's business become successful?
By going the extra mile.
Where did he go?
He didn't go anywhere. Steven worked hard and made some risky decisions. That's why we say that he went the extra mile.
Did Steven build a successful or unsuccessful international business?
Not unsuccessful. He built a successful international business.
Did Steven sell video games online or in a physical store?
Steven sold video games online. He had an online business.
Although his family didn't support his business from day one, they never wanted to see Steven throwing in the towel.
Who didn't support Steven's business?
His family. His family didn't support his business.
Did his family want to see him throwing in the towel?
No. No. His family never wanted to see him throw in the towel.
Did Steven throw in the towel?
Absolutely not! Steven didn't throw in the towel. He went the extra mile until his business became a successful international company.
Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode.
Review
Vocabulary
Review the most useful words and expressions before listening again.
a long shot
an attempt with little chance of success.
go out of business
stop operating because of financial problems.
go broke
lose all or most of your money.
at stake
at risk of being lost or damaged.
start from scratch
begin again from the very beginning.
corner the market
become the dominant seller of a product.
down the drain
lost, wasted, or ruined.
go the extra mile
make more effort than is normally expected.
Want more speaking practice? Continue with a complete audio course.
Georgiana is English teacher who is a nice and hardworking woman. Thank you so much about helping and improving my english skills
I like the way she teach in her podcast, I find it very helpful to improve my English.
After listening & reading the Transcript really helps me to understand better.
Big Thanks to Teacher Georgiana.
Hi .Georgiana is one of the best teachers I’ve known.her teachiing method is perfect .and really nice accent these amazing mini-stories help me improve my speaking English skill.thank you very much dear teacher .you are admirable
Thank you so much Zahra!!